As one of MovieMaker Magazine’s ‘20 Great Film Festivals in Vacation Destinations’ and named San Diego’s Best Film Festival for 7 years in a row, the San Diego International Film Festival continues to grow its influence as an important stop on the awards circuit due to its October timing and its proximity to Hollywood.

The 23rd Annual San Diego International Film Festival is pleased to invite all Filmmakers to join in ‘Celebrating the Power of Film’ October 16 – 20, 2024!

With curated screenings that inform, inspire and entertain, the Festival represents the very best in cinematic storytelling from around the globe. The Festival’s programming includes: Social Impact films affecting how we live, work and play in today’s complicated and often divisive world – Human Rights and World Issues, Environment, LGBTQIA+, Diversity & Inclusion – as well as putting a spotlight on key initiatives affecting the Military, American Indians, Women in Film, and San Diego’s BioTech and Life Sciences.

The Festival also presents studio premieres along with a full calendar of high-profile events, panels, parties, networking, the Opening Night Gala, Culinary Cinema and more!

Be a part of the 23rd Annual San Diego International Film Festival – submit your film today then plan to attend the Festival in October to celebrate with industry influentials, film lovers, celebrities and Filmmakers from around the world.

The slate of films that are selected at the festival offers a wide range of programming from creative narrative features to thought-provoking documentaries to engaging and enlightening short films. Topics in film we specifically cultivate include Social Impact, Women in film, American Indian Cinema, film exploring the role of veterans and the Armed Forces, Student Film projects, Equestrian, Animation and World Cinema.

Over the past 23 years our selected films have received 99 nominations and won 20 Academy Awards!

In 2023, we were proud to present:
• Over 100 features, documentaries and short films
• 8 studio and independent films
• 2 Oscars
• 28 Oscar nominations
• 4 Golden Globe wins
• 16 Golden Globe nominations

Gala Premieres which have been nominated for or won major awards from the festival include: THE HOLDOVERS, AMERICAN FICTION, DREAM SCENARIO, THE TASTE OF EVERYTHING, SILVER DOLLAR ROAD, ARMAGEDDON TIME, THE BANSHEES OF INISHERIN, EMPIRE OF LIGHT, CLOSE, GOOD NIGHT OPPY, TAURUS, THE LOST KING, THE INSPECTION, SHE SAID, C’MON C’MON, SPENCER, THE POWER OF THE DOG, FLEE, THE FRENCH DISPATCH, BELFAST, THE LOST DAUGHTER, NOMADLAND, BLITHE SPIRIT, JOJO RABBIT, THE IRISHMAN, MARRIAGE STORY, MOTHERLESS BROOKLYN, PARASITE, CLEMENCY, THREE BILLBOARDS OUTSIDE EBBING MISSOURI, THE BALLAD OF LEFTY BROWN, BREATHE, CALL ME BY YOUR NAME, MARSHALL, LION, DENIAL, HELL OR HIGH WATER, CAPTAIN FANTASTIC, ROOM, SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK, AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY, TWELVE YEARS A SLAVE, THE IMITATION GAME, WILD, WHIPLASH, ROOM and many more.

Filmmaker Hospitality & Benefits:
- Pass to attend the Festival where your film is showcased
- Hotel discounts for physical attending the festival
- Potential for one-on-one meetings with prominent entertainment industry professionals

SUBMISSIONS
The nonrefundable entry fee must be payable in US dollars to SAN DIEGO FILM FOUNDATION. Submission costs vary depending on category and discounts. When submitting to the festival you are agreeing that, if selected and the invitation accepted, to screen the submitted film during the dates of the festival. SDiFF will not pay any screening fees for the presentation of the film during the festival. The only exception would be if there is a negotiated agreement preceding the submission of the film to SDiFF.

ENTRY REGULATIONS
The SDiFF is a competitive showcase for domestic and international short films and short documentaries. The SDiFF reserves the right to determine the eligibility of any project submitted. All films must be a minimum of a San Diego Premiere and NO theatrical, cable, television, satellite, DVD, VHS, VOD, internet screenings or availability of any kind in the San Diego region prior to the SDFF dates. Only works completed from 2023 - 2024 are eligible for selection. There is no limit to the number of entries.

FILM ENTRIES
All foreign language entries must have English subtitles. Projects must be submitted for consideration as an online screener. Works in progress will be considered, please make a note your film is still a WIP when submitting. If you did not receive a confirmation of submission, please email programming@sdfilmfest.com.

COMPETITION
The San Diego International Film Festival is a competitive event and unless notified otherwise, all films officially selected are eligible for competition. For a list of competitive categories, please see our awards page. All films are nominated and voted upon by an impartial jury of filmmakers, industry professionals, festival programmers and film aficionados.

PRESS MATERIALS
If selected, the SDiFF will require an Electronic Press Kit (EPK) to include high-resolution production stills, key art, bio and filmography of the director, production notes and full cast and crew credits.

LIABILITY
Every precaution is taken when handling your film once submitted to us but we cannot accept responsibility for loss or damaged files that are submitted to us.

SHIPPING
If there is shipping involved in your physical file submitting to us we require that the entries must be paid by the entrant. The SDiFF will not pay the cost of shipping the print back to the filmmaker. SDiFF will not be responsible for expedited or overnight shipping charges to other organizations. Also, SDiFF cannot guarantee shipment of prints to other festivals during the days of the festival. All international entries must be sent 'free domicile' to the SDiFF office with all transportation charges, duties, and taxes prepaid by the shipper.

REPRODUCTION AGREEMENT
Submission of an entry gives the SDiFF permission to have excerpts of accepted work, including film trailers, shown in all promotional activities related to the festival.

NOTIFICATION
Films selected for the SDiFF will be notified no later than September 1, 2024.

Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Brian Lederman

    It was an absolute honor to premiere my short film "Pushover" at SDiFF 2023. Every aspect of the festival was top-notch; from the opening night screening and party, to the interesting panels, Q&A's, and (most importantly) a technically flawless screening to a packed house at the AMC in La Jolla! San Diego itself is the cherry on top. I won't think twice about submitting future projects! Thank you all so much from the bottom of my heart!

    December 2023
  • Michelle Danner

    Outstanding festival. So honored to have been able to showcase all of our hard work for such a great community.

    December 2023
  • Loved screening our film CATARACT at San Diego. Can't wait to be back!

    November 2023
  • Brendan Beachman

    Had an amazing 2 days (wish it was longer) at SDIFF! One thing that truly stuck out to me was the absolute commitment to the highest quality screening environment possible. We've had some issues in past festivals where sound levels are super low across the board for every film in our shorts block. At SDIFF the tech crew was extremely communicative with my editor and the results were the punchiest sounding, slickest looking screening we've had to date. Amazing fest top to bottom! Myself and the entire A WEDDING DAY team thank you for everything!!!

    November 2023
  • Stephanie Kaznocha

    Really enjoyed attending with my short film! Hope I get to come back again someday!

    November 2023