San Francisco Dance Film Festival (SFDFF) is a multi-day international event showcasing the best in dance film from around the world. With the recent additions of VR/360 films, live performances, gallery installations, and screenings of live captures from the world's great stages, SFDFF has become one of the most respected and influential dance film festivals. The festival now awards cash prizes and produces a touring reel to expand the reach of its programming.

A non-profit organization operating year round, SFDFF has the mission of supporting 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.

Entering its eleventh season in 2020, the festival continues to seek groundbreaking work in the field of screendance, and welcomes submissions of dance-based narrative shorts and features, documentaries, live performance captures, installations, and music videos.

Filmmaker Benefits:

— Eligibility for filmmaker cash awards up to $1,000
— Free Festival Pass providing admission to all programs and events during the festival
— Industry networking and discovery opportunities. Several of the films screened at SFDFF have gone on to receive distribution offers.
— Inclusion in our permanent digital archive.
— Opportunities for further exposure via our “On the Road” touring reel and other educational outreach programs
— “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 independent award jury.

— Best Documentary ($1,000)
— Best Live Performance Capture ($500)
— Best Screendance Film
• Under 10 minutes ($500)
• Over 10 minutes ($500)
— Best Student Film ($500)
— Best Art/Experimental ($500)
— Best Music Video ($500)

Audience Favorite awards, selected by audience survey from the individual screendance shorts programs, will be announced the week following the festival.

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 2017 or later.

— Student filmmakers must submit a current, valid student ID or proof of enrollment at the time the film was made, with your submission.

— Include high-resolution film stills and/or production photos with your submission. Remember to include photo credits.

— 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 2020 Festival and for future institutional promotion of SFDFF.

— Once submitted, a film cannot be withdrawn for any reason.
21 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • ali kenner brodsky

    It was an honor to be included in this lineup. The communication was stellar, I'm sorry I couldn't be there.

    February 2020
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  • Angela Rosales Challis

    Wonderful festival! Great place to get to know other filmmakers in the Screendance world. I met people from all over the world. The festival staff is very friendly and supportive. The films were of high caliber. You must submit, and if possible attend the festival.

    February 2020
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  • Chantal Caron

    Un festival de films sur la danse exceptionnelle !

    January 2020
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  • Fu LE

    So proud to be part of your selection 2019 ! Nice communication :)

    January 2020
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  • Jeffrey Teitler

    An amazing, high quality festival with excellent communication, support and attendance. An honor to participate.

    December 2019
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