The 13th San Francisco International New Concept Film Festival
To encourage New Filmmakers
 www.sfnewfilms.com

Mission
San Francisco International New Concept Film Festival is a US government-approved 501(C) (3) tax-exempt non-profit organization.  
Provide an international platform for all film lovers, professional filmmakers, and film/media students who love filmmaking to stand out.
Discover and select potential talents with new techniques & skills, who demonstrate the original concept and accelerate their development within the film industry.
Encourage new filmmakers, especially young and first-time filmmakers, for their new productions. Encourage and celebrate original and insightful screenwriting and new ideas in the film. Accept films in all categories and subject matter.
Make friends and enhance communication through films.

• 2026 Festival Schedule: The San Francisco International New Concept Film Festival will be the Virtual Film Festival. The schedule remains:
October 25, 2026------November 1, 2026

• Conditions of entry & fees: 
* Please catch the Early Bird Deadline:
 
1. Conditions
    a.       Originality
    b.       Theme: Optimistic   Creative    Proactive
    c.       Genre
              Feature Film                              (TRT between 60 min to 120 min)
            Documentary                             (TRT between 60 min to 120 min)
            Animation                                  (TRT 60 min to 120 min)
            Screenwriting (60 to 120 minutes, PDF format, in English or Chinese)          
Short narrative movie                 (TRT under 59 min.)
              Short documentary                    (TRT under 59 min.)    
            Screenwriting For Shorts            (2 to 59 Min, PDF format, in English or Chinese)
            Short Animation (2D, 3D)           (TRT under 60 min)
             Music Video                     (Maximum 5 min.)                
            Commercial                               (Maximum 2 min.)
     d.      Format of Submission
Application Deadline: August 31st, 2024
We accept digital submissions only. Entry on the website: sfnewfilm.org or through FilmFreeway.com. Vimeo, YouTube, or Youku for film entry is accepted.

3. The final stage (October25, 2026----November 1, 2026)
Selected film screening, workshop, celebration party, and award ceremony.

Awards & Prizes

Awards category
Best Feature Film Award
Best Documentary Award
Best Short Native Film Award
Best Short Documentary Award
Best Commercial Award
Best Music Video Award
Best Animation Award
Best Director Award
Best Screenwriting Award
Best Short Screenwriting Award
Best Cinematography Award
Best Editing Award
Best Sound Effect Award
Best Music Score Award
Best Action Design Award
Best Leading Actor Award
Best Leading Actress Award
Best Supporting Actor Award
Best Supporting Actress Award
Best Student Film Award
Best Student Talent Award
Most Popular Film Award (Audience Vote)
Excellent Awards in different categories.
Note： Each Winner receives a certificate & a trophy. The final decision is made by the Festival Committee.

Rules & Terms

•     ·      Channels of submission
1. Register at the festival’s official website: www.sfnewfilm.org.
2. Submit films online or through FilmFreeway.com.
3. Recommendations by experts and the film committee. Filmmakers still need to register online.
4.      Register through related film schools and submit films online.

•     Contest system
       1.   The contest is organized and supervised by the film festival committee.
       2.   Committee divisions:
Website group, promotion group, works collecting group, accounting group, contest group, judge group
           
• Film Evaluate
1. Preliminary evaluation
a. Submitted films are divided into categories and are viewed and graded by the primary Judge Group.
b. The optional online vote for the public audience for the “Audience Award”.
c. Expert Judge Committee final review and grading.
d. Judges vote per quality of:
1) Story
2) Performance
3) Director’s Vision
4) Cinematography
5) Production Design
6) Sound Design
7) Editing

2. The system of evaluation
Online viewers’ grading (20%) and, Judge Committee’s (80%) to the final stage. The film committee will issue award certificates to the best and most popular films.
*Please note that trophies and certificates WILL NOT BE MAILED TO ABSENT WINNERS. They will only receive a digital version of the certificate.
29 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Nar Pradhan

    It was great a honored to receive the prestigious award "The Excellent Feature Film". Thanks So very much SFINCFF!!

    December 2025
    Helpful
    Response from festival:

    Congratulations again! Your achievement is excellent!
    Hope to see your new production soon!

  • Christine "Cricket" Kearns-Brown

    We were honored to have been officially selected for the festival!

    November 2025
    Helpful
    Response from festival:

    Congratulations! Wish you to create new films!

  • Anne Trenning

    Truly grateful for your efforts on behalf of artists and creators. Thank you for finding merit with our film "Faith and The Christmas Star." We are thrilled to have your endorsement of our message of kindness woven into the story of Christmas. A wonderful experience.

    November 2025
    Helpful
    Response from festival:

    Congratulations on your achievement!

  • Mina JafriMalik

    Such a great experience, awesome festival and such an honor and pleasure to be part of, great people to submit towery warm & friendly.

    May 2025
    Helpful
    Response from festival:

    It is our pleasure to receive the nice response from the filmmakers. We are always encouraging the filmmakers to create new products and promote them!

  • samuel guerrier

    Hope to keep the contact with this great festival !

    November 2024
    Helpful
    Response from festival:

    Sure! Please keep in contact!
    You can always find our New Concept Film Festival information on our Website: www.sfnewfilms.com.