San Francisco International Film Awards

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San Francisco International Film Awards is a newly established physical event taking place in San Francisco. The festival’s mission is to celebrate films and the art of filmmaking. We hope to provide a venue for filmmakers to exhibit their latest work, meet other filmmakers, and learn from industry professionals . We also hope to serve as a forum for discussion and debate about films and filmmaking. Our biggest dream is that our festival can also be a tool for marketing your movies; we hope to generate buzz and interest in your new releases. And be sure that we will do our best so that the festvial allows honest, objective feedback from audiences who don’t have any connection to you or your film. We hope to see your movie soon at the festvial!

Best Narrative Feature Film
Best Narrative Short Film
Best Indie Feature (low budget)
Best Indie Short (low budget)
Best Documentary Feature
Best Documentary Short
Best Super Short Film
Best Experimental Film
Best Mobile Phone Film (Feature)
Best Mobile Phone Film (Short)
Best Humanitarian Film (Feature)
Best Humanitarian Film (Short)
Best Social Justice (Feature)
Best Social Justice (Short)
Best Animation Film
Best Drama Film
Best Sci-Fi Film
Best LGBTQ Film
Best Student Film
Best Women Film
Best Comedy Film
Best Human Rights Film
Best Covid-Theme Film
Best Horror Film
Best Web/TV Pilot
Best Web/TV Series
Best Director Short Film
Best Director Feature Film
Best First Time Filmmaker (Feature)
Best First Time Filmmaker (Short)
Best Producer
Best Cinematography
Best Editing
Best Actor in a Short Film
Best Actress in a Short Film
Best Actor in a Feature Film
Best Actress in a Feature Film
Best Original Song
Best Composer of the Future
Best Original Story
Best Trailer

Rules of Submission

Works submitted in languages other than English must be formatted with English subtitles.

Works-in-progress and rough cuts can be submitted by the deadline.
If your film is selected for the physical event, please be prepared to submit a digital still file as soon as possible.

We will inform the selected projects for the live screening between the time of their submission and the official notification date for the festival.

FEE WAIVERS:
While we would like to provide submission fee waivers to as many filmmakers as possible we are generally unable to at this time. We are a small, volunteer-run organization that depends on income from sources like submission fees to survive. You are always free to request a waiver or discount for special circumstances, but please be aware that will most likely be unable to provide one. Thank you for your understanding.

Participation in the festvial implies acceptance of the Rules and Regulations by producers and their agents.

THIS FILM HAS BEEN SUBMITTED FOR CONSIDERATION WITH THE KNOWLEDGE AND CONSENT OF THE PRODUCER(S) LISTED IN THIS FORM.
I ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY for the accuracy of the information supplied in this application and I authorize the Festival to reproduce company contact information in its publications exactly as supplied below. The festvial collects personal information supplied in the application solely to facilitate management and administration of its activities and responsibilities as it relates to the film being submitted. By supplying this personal information you consent to its use.

Permission for film clips not exceeding three minutes in length to be used for promotional purposes on television, radio, and the Internet is granted upon entry unless otherwise stated.

By submitting a film via this platform you agree to allow the festival to show the submitted film during the festival with no screening fee paid. Filmmaker/Producer/Agent will be responsible for inbound or outbound shipping.

The person who has completed this entry form has READ and AGREES TO ABIDE BY all regulations and statements provided with this form.

Overall Rating

Quality

Value

Communication

Hospitality

Networking

Shane Kosugi

Overall wonderful. I wish there were more online or remote networking opportunities for people outside of the festival country’s.

February 2025

Helpful
Lily Espinoza

The showing was in the delightful Balboa Theatre. The organizers provided great communication. There were thoughtful questions for the director's and the film crew. It was an overall awesome experience. I recommend it 100% for all independent films! Great promotion, great value, great venue!

January 2025

Helpful
Jennifer Glee

We attended the screening at the Balboa Theatre. I was shocked that the filmmakers were all either students or first-time filmmakers.

This festival could best serve the filmmaking community by advertising the fact that they prefer to screen films by students and first-time filmmakers. There is a big market for this, I am sure.

And filmmakers like me can save monty on entering a film festival that is not designed for actual filmmakers. I live in San Francisco, and so I wanted to see this film (others of mine have shown there) at the Balboa. Today I received an award from this festival, but they did not screen my film at the Balboa Theatre. They screened humble (thank God) student and first-time filmmakers' films. I am not saying the films were bad, but they were all lacking in real filmmaking substance, only one maybe receiving an 'A. This was the only horror film screened.

The other films had interesting concepts, but the acting was borderline annoying. I think maybe this film festival could be known for screening bad acting, and hopefully the people who star in their own films can get the actual recognition they deserve for the poor quality of their acting.

January 2025

Helpful
Tom Gear

The winter chapter of the San Francisco International Film Festival was made glorious summer by the inclusion of our Prior Bad Acts film as the Best Social Justice Short. The physical screening of our film and the other films was well planned and came off without a single glitch. Making a film, short or long is always a roll of the dice in time, effort and resources. For my cast and crew thanks to all of the people who made this event so enjoyable.

January 2025

Helpful
Martin Guigui

Our Cast and Producing team embrace being selected and honored by this cool Festival.

December 2024

Helpful

Add to List

Dates & Deadlines

January 13, 2025
Opening Date
January 24, 2025
Early Bird
February 24, 2025
Promotional Deadline
March 25, 2025
Regular Deadline
April 30, 2025
Late Deadline
May 30, 2025
Extended Late Deadline
June 27, 2025
Final Deadline
July 15, 2025
Notification Date
July 29, 2025
Event Date

Categories & Fees

Best Narrative Feature Film
- Early Bird
- Standard: $65
- Gold Members: $55
- Promotional Deadline
- Standard: $70
- Gold Members: $60
- Regular Deadline
- Standard: $75
- Gold Members: $65
- Late Deadline
- Standard: $80
- Gold Members: $70
- Extended Late Deadline
- Standard: $85
- Gold Members: $75
- Final Deadline
- Standard: $90
- Gold Members: $80
Submit Now
Best Narrative Short Film
- Early Bird
- Standard: $50
- Gold Members: $45
- Promotional Deadline
- Standard: $55
- Gold Members: $48
- Regular Deadline
- Standard: $60
- Gold Members: $52
- Late Deadline
- Standard: $65
- Gold Members: $57
- Extended Late Deadline
- Standard: $70
- Gold Members: $62
- Final Deadline
- Standard: $75
- Gold Members: $67
Submit Now
Best Indie Feature (low budget)
- Early Bird
- Standard: $65
- Gold Members: $55
- Promotional Deadline
- Standard: $70
- Gold Members: $60
- Regular Deadline
- Standard: $75
- Gold Members: $65
- Late Deadline
- Standard: $80
- Gold Members: $70
- Extended Late Deadline
- Standard: $85
- Gold Members: $75
- Final Deadline
- Standard: $90
- Gold Members: $80
Submit Now
Best Indie Short (low budget)
- Early Bird
- Standard: $50
- Gold Members: $45
- Promotional Deadline
- Standard: $55
- Gold Members: $48
- Regular Deadline
- Standard: $60
- Gold Members: $52
- Late Deadline
- Standard: $65
- Gold Members: $57
- Extended Late Deadline
- Standard: $70
- Gold Members: $62
- Final Deadline
- Standard: $75
- Gold Members: $67
Submit Now
Best Documentary Feature
- Early Bird
- Standard: $65
- Gold Members: $55
- Promotional Deadline
- Standard: $70
- Gold Members: $60
- Regular Deadline
- Standard: $75
- Gold Members: $65
- Late Deadline
- Standard: $80
- Gold Members: $70
- Extended Late Deadline
- Standard: $85
- Gold Members: $75
- Final Deadline
- Standard: $90
- Gold Members: $80
Submit Now
Best Documentary Short
- Early Bird
- Standard: $50
- Gold Members: $45
- Promotional Deadline
- Standard: $55
- Gold Members: $48
- Regular Deadline
- Standard: $60
- Gold Members: $52
- Late Deadline
- Standard: $65
- Gold Members: $57
- Extended Late Deadline
- Standard: $70
- Gold Members: $62
- Final Deadline
- Standard: $75
- Gold Members: $67
Submit Now
Best Super Short Film
- Early Bird
- Standard: $45
- Gold Members: $40
- Promotional Deadline
- Standard: $50
- Gold Members: $45
- Regular Deadline
- Standard: $55
- Gold Members: $49
- Late Deadline
- Standard: $60
- Gold Members: $54
- Extended Late Deadline
- Standard: $60
- Gold Members: $54
- Final Deadline
- Standard: $60
- Gold Members: $54
Submit Now
Best Experimental Film
- Early Bird
- Standard: $45
- Gold Members: $40
- Promotional Deadline
- Standard: $50
- Gold Members: $45
- Regular Deadline
- Standard: $55
- Gold Members: $48
- Late Deadline
- Standard: $60
- Gold Members: $52
- Extended Late Deadline
- Standard: $65
- Gold Members: $57
- Final Deadline
- Standard: $70
- Gold Members: $62
Submit Now
Best Mobile Phone Film (Feature)
- Early Bird
- Standard: $65
- Gold Members: $55
- Promotional Deadline
- Standard: $70
- Gold Members: $60
- Regular Deadline
- Standard: $75
- Gold Members: $65
- Late Deadline
- Standard: $80
- Gold Members: $70
- Extended Late Deadline
- Standard: $80
- Gold Members: $70
- Final Deadline
- Standard: $80
- Gold Members: $70
Submit Now
Best Mobile Phone Film (Short)
- Early Bird
- Standard: $45
- Gold Members: $40
- Promotional Deadline
- Standard: $50
- Gold Members: $45
- Regular Deadline
- Standard: $55
- Gold Members: $49
- Late Deadline
- Standard: $60
- Gold Members: $54
- Extended Late Deadline
- Standard: $60
- Gold Members: $54
- Final Deadline
- Standard: $60
- Gold Members: $54
Submit Now
Best Humanitarian Film (Feature)
- Early Bird
- Standard: $65
- Gold Members: $55
- Promotional Deadline
- Standard: $70
- Gold Members: $60
- Regular Deadline
- Standard: $75
- Gold Members: $65
- Late Deadline
- Standard: $80
- Gold Members: $70
- Extended Late Deadline
- Standard: $80
- Gold Members: $70
- Final Deadline
- Standard: $80
- Gold Members: $70
Submit Now
Best Humanitarian Film (Short)
- Early Bird
- Standard: $45
- Gold Members: $40
- Promotional Deadline
- Standard: $50
- Gold Members: $45
- Regular Deadline
- Standard: $55
- Gold Members: $49
- Late Deadline
- Standard: $60
- Gold Members: $54
- Extended Late Deadline
- Standard: $60
- Gold Members: $54
- Final Deadline
- Standard: $60
- Gold Members: $54
Submit Now
Best Social Justice (Feature)
- Early Bird
- Standard: $65
- Gold Members: $55
- Promotional Deadline
- Standard: $70
- Gold Members: $60
- Regular Deadline
- Standard: $75
- Gold Members: $65
- Late Deadline
- Standard: $80
- Gold Members: $70
- Extended Late Deadline
- Standard: $80
- Gold Members: $70
- Final Deadline
- Standard: $80
- Gold Members: $70
Submit Now
Best Social Justice (Short)
- Early Bird
- Standard: $45
- Gold Members: $40
- Promotional Deadline
- Standard: $50
- Gold Members: $45
- Regular Deadline
- Standard: $55
- Gold Members: $49
- Late Deadline
- Standard: $60
- Gold Members: $54
- Extended Late Deadline
- Standard: $60
- Gold Members: $54
- Final Deadline
- Standard: $60
- Gold Members: $54
Submit Now
Best Animation Film
- Early Bird
- Standard: $45
- Gold Members: $40
- Promotional Deadline
- Standard: $50
- Gold Members: $45
- Regular Deadline
- Standard: $55
- Gold Members: $49
- Late Deadline
- Standard: $60
- Gold Members: $54
- Extended Late Deadline
- Standard: $60
- Gold Members: $54
- Final Deadline
- Standard: $60
- Gold Members: $54
Submit Now
Best Drama Film
- Early Bird
- Standard: $40
- Gold Members: $36
- Promotional Deadline
- Standard: $50
- Gold Members: $45
- Regular Deadline
- Standard: $55
- Gold Members: $49
- Late Deadline
- Standard: $60
- Gold Members: $54
- Extended Late Deadline
- Standard: $60
- Gold Members: $54
- Final Deadline
- Standard: $60
- Gold Members: $54
Submit Now
Best Sci-Fi Film
- Early Bird
- Standard: $45
- Gold Members: $40
- Promotional Deadline
- Standard: $50
- Gold Members: $45
- Regular Deadline
- Standard: $55
- Gold Members: $49
- Late Deadline
- Standard: $60
- Gold Members: $54
- Extended Late Deadline
- Standard: $60
- Gold Members: $54
- Final Deadline
- Standard: $60
- Gold Members: $54
Submit Now
Best LGBTQ Film
- Early Bird
- Standard: $45
- Gold Members: $40
- Promotional Deadline
- Standard: $50
- Gold Members: $45
- Regular Deadline
- Standard: $55
- Gold Members: $49
- Late Deadline
- Standard: $60
- Gold Members: $52
- Extended Late Deadline
- Standard: $65
- Gold Members: $57
- Final Deadline
- Standard: $70
- Gold Members: $62
Submit Now
Best Student Film
- Early Bird
- Standard: $45
- Gold Members: $40
- Promotional Deadline
- Standard: $50
- Gold Members: $45
- Regular Deadline
- Standard: $55
- Gold Members: $49
- Late Deadline
- Standard: $60
- Gold Members: $52
- Extended Late Deadline
- Standard: $65
- Gold Members: $57
- Final Deadline
- Standard: $70
- Gold Members: $62
Submit Now
Best Women Film
- Early Bird
- Standard: $50
- Gold Members: $45
- Promotional Deadline
- Standard: $55
- Gold Members: $48
- Regular Deadline
- Standard: $60
- Gold Members: $52
- Late Deadline
- Standard: $65
- Gold Members: $57
- Extended Late Deadline
- Standard: $70
- Gold Members: $62
- Final Deadline
- Standard: $75
- Gold Members: $67
Submit Now
Best Comedy Film
- Early Bird
- Standard: $45
- Gold Members: $40
- Promotional Deadline
- Standard: $50
- Gold Members: $45
- Regular Deadline
- Standard: $55
- Gold Members: $49
- Late Deadline
- Standard: $60
- Gold Members: $54
- Extended Late Deadline
- Standard: $60
- Gold Members: $54
- Final Deadline
- Standard: $60
- Gold Members: $54
Submit Now
Best Human Rights Film
- Early Bird
- Standard: $45
- Gold Members: $40
- Promotional Deadline
- Standard: $50
- Gold Members: $45
- Regular Deadline
- Standard: $55
- Gold Members: $49
- Late Deadline
- Standard: $60
- Gold Members: $54
- Extended Late Deadline
- Standard: $60
- Gold Members: $54
- Final Deadline
- Standard: $60
- Gold Members: $54
Submit Now
Best Covid-Theme Film
- Early Bird
- Standard: $45
- Gold Members: $40
- Promotional Deadline
- Standard: $50
- Gold Members: $45
- Regular Deadline
- Standard: $55
- Gold Members: $49
- Late Deadline
- Standard: $60
- Gold Members: $54
- Extended Late Deadline
- Standard: $60
- Gold Members: $54
- Final Deadline
- Standard: $60
- Gold Members: $54
Submit Now
Best Horror Film
- Early Bird
- Standard: $45
- Gold Members: $40
- Promotional Deadline
- Standard: $50
- Gold Members: $45
- Regular Deadline
- Standard: $55
- Gold Members: $49
- Late Deadline
- Standard: $60
- Gold Members: $54
- Extended Late Deadline
- Standard: $60
- Gold Members: $54
- Final Deadline
- Standard: $60
- Gold Members: $54
Submit Now
Best Web/TV Pilot
- Early Bird
- Standard: $45
- Gold Members: $40
- Promotional Deadline
- Standard: $50
- Gold Members: $40
- Regular Deadline
- Standard: $55
- Gold Members: $49
- Late Deadline
- Standard: $60
- Gold Members: $54
- Extended Late Deadline
- Standard: $60
- Gold Members: $54
- Final Deadline
- Standard: $60
- Gold Members: $54
Submit Now
Best Web/TV Series
- Early Bird
- Standard: $45
- Gold Members: $40
- Promotional Deadline
- Standard: $50
- Gold Members: $40
- Regular Deadline
- Standard: $55
- Gold Members: $49
- Late Deadline
- Standard: $60
- Gold Members: $54
- Extended Late Deadline
- Standard: $60
- Gold Members: $54
- Final Deadline
- Standard: $60
- Gold Members: $54
Submit Now
Best Director Short Film
- Early Bird
- Standard: $50
- Gold Members: $45
- Promotional Deadline
- Standard: $55
- Gold Members: $48
- Regular Deadline
- Standard: $60
- Gold Members: $52
- Late Deadline
- Standard: $65
- Gold Members: $57
- Extended Late Deadline
- Standard: $70
- Gold Members: $62
- Final Deadline
- Standard: $75
- Gold Members: $67
Submit Now
Best Director Feature Film
- Early Bird
- Standard: $65
- Gold Members: $55
- Promotional Deadline
- Standard: $70
- Gold Members: $60
- Regular Deadline
- Standard: $75
- Gold Members: $65
- Late Deadline
- Standard: $80
- Gold Members: $70
- Extended Late Deadline
- Standard: $80
- Gold Members: $70
- Final Deadline
- Standard: $80
- Gold Members: $70
Submit Now
Best First Time Filmmaker (Feature)
- Early Bird
- Standard: $65
- Gold Members: $55
- Promotional Deadline
- Standard: $70
- Gold Members: $60
- Regular Deadline
- Standard: $75
- Gold Members: $65
- Late Deadline
- Standard: $80
- Gold Members: $70
- Extended Late Deadline
- Standard: $80
- Gold Members: $70
- Final Deadline
- Standard: $80
- Gold Members: $70
Submit Now
Best First Time Filmmaker (Short)
- Early Bird
- Standard: $50
- Gold Members: $45
- Promotional Deadline
- Standard: $55
- Gold Members: $48
- Regular Deadline
- Standard: $60
- Gold Members: $52
- Late Deadline
- Standard: $65
- Gold Members: $57
- Extended Late Deadline
- Standard: $70
- Gold Members: $62
- Final Deadline
- Standard: $75
- Gold Members: $67
Submit Now
Best Producer
- Early Bird
- Standard: $45
- Gold Members: $40
- Promotional Deadline
- Standard: $50
- Gold Members: $40
- Regular Deadline
- Standard: $55
- Gold Members: $49
- Late Deadline
- Standard: $60
- Gold Members: $54
- Extended Late Deadline
- Standard: $60
- Gold Members: $54
- Final Deadline
- Standard: $60
- Gold Members: $54
Submit Now
Best Cinematography
- Early Bird
- Standard: $45
- Gold Members: $40
- Promotional Deadline
- Standard: $50
- Gold Members: $45
- Regular Deadline
- Standard: $55
- Gold Members: $49
- Late Deadline
- Standard: $60
- Gold Members: $54
- Extended Late Deadline
- Standard: $60
- Gold Members: $54
- Final Deadline
- Standard: $60
- Gold Members: $54
Submit Now
Best Editing
- Early Bird
- Standard: $45
- Gold Members: $40
- Promotional Deadline
- Standard: $50
- Gold Members: $45
- Regular Deadline
- Standard: $55
- Gold Members: $49
- Late Deadline
- Standard: $60
- Gold Members: $54
- Extended Late Deadline
- Standard: $60
- Gold Members: $54
- Final Deadline
- Standard: $60
- Gold Members: $54
Submit Now
Best Actor in a Short Film
- Early Bird
- Standard: $45
- Gold Members: $40
- Promotional Deadline
- Standard: $50
- Gold Members: $45
- Regular Deadline
- Standard: $55
- Gold Members: $49
- Late Deadline
- Standard: $60
- Gold Members: $52
- Extended Late Deadline
- Standard: $65
- Gold Members: $57
- Final Deadline
- Standard: $70
- Gold Members: $62
Submit Now
Best Actress in a Short Film
- Early Bird
- Standard: $45
- Gold Members: $40
- Promotional Deadline
- Standard: $50
- Gold Members: $45
- Regular Deadline
- Standard: $55
- Gold Members: $49
- Late Deadline
- Standard: $60
- Gold Members: $52
- Extended Late Deadline
- Standard: $65
- Gold Members: $57
- Final Deadline
- Standard: $70
- Gold Members: $62
Submit Now
Best Actor in a Feature Film
- Early Bird
- Standard: $65
- Gold Members: $55
- Promotional Deadline
- Standard: $70
- Gold Members: $60
- Regular Deadline
- Standard: $75
- Gold Members: $65
- Late Deadline
- Standard: $80
- Gold Members: $70
- Extended Late Deadline
- Standard: $85
- Gold Members: $75
- Final Deadline
- Standard: $90
- Gold Members: $80
Submit Now
Best Actress in a Feature Film
- Early Bird
- Standard: $65
- Gold Members: $55
- Promotional Deadline
- Standard: $70
- Gold Members: $60
- Regular Deadline
- Standard: $75
- Gold Members: $65
- Late Deadline
- Standard: $80
- Gold Members: $70
- Extended Late Deadline
- Standard: $85
- Gold Members: $75
- Final Deadline
- Standard: $90
- Gold Members: $80
Submit Now
Best Original Song
- Early Bird
- Standard: $45
- Gold Members: $40
- Promotional Deadline
- Standard: $50
- Gold Members: $45
- Regular Deadline
- Standard: $55
- Gold Members: $49
- Late Deadline
- Standard: $60
- Gold Members: $54
- Extended Late Deadline
- Standard: $60
- Gold Members: $54
- Final Deadline
- Standard: $60
- Gold Members: $54
Submit Now
Best Composer of the Future
- Early Bird
- Standard: $40
- Gold Members: $35
- Promotional Deadline
- Standard: $40
- Gold Members: $35
- Regular Deadline
- Standard: $40
- Gold Members: $35
- Late Deadline
- Standard: $40
- Gold Members: $35
- Extended Late Deadline
- Standard: $40
- Gold Members: $35
- Final Deadline
- Standard: $40
- Gold Members: $35
Submit Now
Best Original Story
- Early Bird
- Standard: $45
- Gold Members: $40
- Promotional Deadline
- Standard: $50
- Gold Members: $45
- Regular Deadline
- Standard: $55
- Gold Members: $49
- Late Deadline
- Standard: $60
- Gold Members: $54
- Extended Late Deadline
- Standard: $60
- Gold Members: $54
- Final Deadline
- Standard: $60
- Gold Members: $54
Submit Now
Best Trailer
- Early Bird
- Standard: $35
- Gold Members: $30
- Promotional Deadline
- Standard: $40
- Gold Members: $35
- Regular Deadline
- Standard: $45
- Gold Members: $40
- Late Deadline
- Standard: $50
- Gold Members: $45
- Extended Late Deadline
- Standard: $50
- Gold Members: $45
- Final Deadline
- Standard: $50
- Gold Members: $45
Submit Now

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Shane Kosugi

Lily Espinoza

Jennifer Glee

Tom Gear

Martin Guigui