San Francisco Dance Film Festival (SFDFF) is a multi-day international event showcasing the best in dance film from around the world. The 2026 Festival will take place in theaters and streaming in late fall, offering screenings, industry panels, live performances, and other opportunities for artists to interact.

SFDFF has become one of the most respected and influential dance film festivals in the world. SFDFF is presented by Dance Film SF, a non-profit organization operating year-round to support independent artists through screenings, panels, filmmaking workshops, and original film productions that bring together professionals from the communities of dance, filmmaking, and music in unprecedented collaborations.

The festival continues to seek groundbreaking work and welcomes submissions of all dance-based works. All forms of dance are welcome. See the category descriptions for full details.

Unsure about your film's category? No problem! Kindly choose the category that best reflects your film’s description. The programming team may adjust the category during review if a more suitable placement is identified.

Selected Filmmaker Benefits:

— Eligibility for filmmaker awards.
— Free Festival Pass providing admission to programs and events during the festival.
— Industry networking and discovery opportunities. Many SFDFF selections have gone on to receive distribution offers.
— Opportunities for further exposure via our "On the Road" touring reel and other educational outreach programs.
— Opportunities to have your film highlighted on SFDFF’s social media channels (Instagram: 120k followers; Facebook: 45k followers)
— Consideration for streaming opportunities with our digital partner, Marquee TV, and on Dance Film SF’s streaming platform.
— Inclusion in our permanent digital archive.
— “Official SFDFF Selection” laurel to help promote your film.

Awards & Prizes

All films selected for the Festival are eligible for the following awards. Winners will be chosen by an independent award jury.

— Best Documentary Feature
— Best Documentary Short
— Best Short Under 5
— Best Short Over 5
— Best Music Video

Additionally, Audience Favorite awards will be announced the week following the festival.

In addition to receiving an award, winning films may be presented at encore screenings.

Rules & Terms

FILM COMPETITION GENERAL RULES & GUIDELINES

— All dance-based films of any style or length will be considered.

— Films must have a production date of 2024 or later.

— Filmmakers must include high-resolution film stills and/or production photos with each submission, including photo credits.

— All films with dialogue or music lyrics must include a closed caption .srt file if selected

— Music for all films must be fully licensed for consideration.

— AI content must be disclosed at the time of submission.

— In order to receive the Student submission rate, student filmmakers must submit a current, valid student ID or proof of enrollment at the time the film was made, with their submission.

— As fellow artists, we take to heart the amount of work put into each film. Therefore, we are careful to ensure that each film is screened by at least three reviewers.

EXHIBITION FORMATS
Selected films will be requested in their native frame rate in QuickTime format using one of the following codecs: ProRes, ProRes HQ, or ProRes 4444. Blu-ray may be requested as an additional option for films over 20 minutes ONLY. A ProRes file will also be required as backup.

RELEASE
— The individual or production company submitting the film hereby warrants that they have cleared all necessary copyrights, including any underlying rights, to submit this film and its supporting materials to SFDFF and will hold SFDFF harmless from and against any and all third-party claims.

— By submitting your film, SFDFF is hereby granted the right to utilize any submitted materials, including video and still images, for purposes of promotion of the 2026 Festival and for future institutional promotion of SFDFF.

— Once submitted, a film cannot be withdrawn for any reason.
51 Reviews
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  • Nicole Spring

    I had an incredible experience attending the film festival in November with my film "Motherhood"! The team was so welcoming, making the entire event feel special from start to finish. The screenings that I attended were absolutely amazing, well-organized, and inspiring!

    I also appreciated the visibility on their website and the care they put into supporting filmmakers. It was such an honor to be among so many talented artists.

    A heartfelt thank you SFDFF!

    March 2026
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  • Shellée Haynesworth

    ✨ I had an incredible filmmaking experience at the 2025 San Francisco Dance Film Festival! ✨ Our film Camille A. Brown: Giant Steps screened as part of the Raising Voices shorts program — a powerful lineup celebrating artistry, identity, and movement. My co-director, Michelle Parkerson, and I were deeply honored that our film shared space with such visionary filmmakers and inspiring stories.

    A heartfelt thank you to the SFDFF board and staff for curating a beautiful festival experience and for championing dance on film in all its forms. I was inspired and uplifted by the energy of this creative community. I look forward to participating again in the near future.

    December 2025
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  • Sarah Niemann

    Great festival! Really enjoyed being part of it. Everyone was super nice and helpful and the selected films were super inspiring to watch.

    November 2025
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  • Tamara Ayrapetyan

    I was really honoured t be a part of this incredible festival!

    November 2025
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  • Maylis Arrabit

    It was a real pleasure to have Les Chaussures Rouges selected by SFDFF. The team was kind, responsive, and truly supportive of our work (Maddy especially) We felt valued as filmmakers. Thank you for creating such a thoughtful and encouraging environment, we were honored to be part of it. Merci <3

    November 2025
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