Sandy Film Festival celebrates the power of film and artistic expression. This platform observes film as a gateway to mental health and understanding within the community, while at the same time promoting the collaboration and development of future filmmakers.

By collaborating with Parkway Picture Show, Sandy aims to curate a selection of screenings that encourage critical thinking & conversation, while also introducing people to historic neighborhoods.

Submissions will be accepted online through www.sandyfest.com. After judging each film, Sandy will select the 5-8 films to showcase during the festival.

Friday, Opening Night - 7:30 PM - 9:30 PM
Saturday, Day of Screenings, Live Music and Workshop- 2:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Sunday, Awards Ceremony - 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM

Screening: Best Short (3) Best Reel (3) Best Feature (2)

Awards & Prizes

Each category is subject to an honorary award and trophy. Judges will be exposed to filmmakers who have made submissions within the corresponding category, and can choose to connect with filmmakers on projects moving forward.

Feature Competition Judge:

Larissa Cortes - Creative Producer & Project Manager, Chromista TV
Larissa has a demonstrated history of working in the fine art industry as well as production. Her personal work often has ties into her Mexican heritage and the never ending narrative of self discovery.

Jeff Broadway - Director and Producer specializing in documentary film and commercial content. His feature documentary credits include Cure For Pain: The Mark Sandman Story, Our Vinyl Weighs A Ton, and Living On Soul. He is the Chief Content Officer for the creative studio PHNTM.

Short Film Competition Judges:

Aissa Rose - Writers' Assistant / Script Coordinator on MAX's RAP SH!T (S1 & S2), HBO's RANDOM ACTS OF FLYNESS (S2) and Tenderfoot's WE STAY LOOKING.

Cody Wilkins - Writer, NBC’s The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon & Season 3 of Fox’s Call Me Kat.

Erica Duffy - Founder, Camera Ambassador, a highly respected boutique equipment rental house in Chicago. She also founded the Community Builders Grant, a $20,000 film fund, and The Call Sheet Magazine, a print and digital publication that celebrates today's filmmakers.

Music Video Competition Judges:

Kevin Kloecker - Vice President Creative & Content Development, Capitol Records.
Kevin works closely with Offset, Ice Spice, Lil Baby, Lil Yachty, Troye Sivan, Beck, Maggie Rogers, Sam Smith, and many more.

Sofia Kerpan - VMA Nominated Music Video Editor 2021, Artist & Filmmaker

Rules & Terms

BEST FEATURE:
Films must be no longer than 150 minutes, and no shorter than 50 minutes. The submitted project must be either scripted or improvisational fiction, or a fictionalization of actual events to be considered narrative, and include re-enactments or other fictionalized depictions of actual events to be considered a documentary. Feature films have no premiere requirements or prior screening restrictions that impact Festival eligibility. Films that have been screened at any number of festivals or other public theatrical exhibitions, broadcast or streamed on television or the Internet, and/or released via any home video or other public distribution platform anywhere in the world are eligible for this category.

BEST SHORT:
Films must be no longer than 20 minutes and no shorter than 2 minutes. This includes scripted or improvisational fiction, nonfiction or documentary, experimental film or video, animation, or any other short-form film or video project. Short films have no premiere requirements or prior screening restrictions that impact Festival eligibility. Films that have been screened at any number of festivals or other public theatrical exhibitions, broadcast or streamed on television or the Internet, and/or released via any home video or other public distribution platform anywhere in the world are eligible for this category.

BEST MUSIC VIDEO:
Can be any length as long as music is the main mode of communication throughout the film (not dialogue). Silent films with or without musical scores can be entered into this category as well. Musicals may be entered into this category too. Music Videos have no premiere requirements or prior screening restrictions that impact Festival eligibility. Films that have been screened at any number of festivals or other public theatrical exhibitions, broadcast or streamed on television or the Internet, and/or released via any home video or other public distribution platform anywhere in the world are eligible for this category.

BEST REEL:
Must be no longer than 1 minute. Must be no shorter than 15 seconds. This category is best suited for branded content, commercials and viral reel content. Reels have no premiere requirements or prior screening restrictions that impact Festival eligibility. Reels that have been screened at any number of festivals or other public theatrical exhibitions, broadcast or streamed on television or the Internet, and/or released via any home video or other public distribution platform anywhere in the world are eligible for this category.

JUDGING
Selection criteria includes factors such as storytelling, cinematography, acting, and overall production quality. Depending on the category chosen, judges will look for elements of originality, boundary-pushing, or experimentation, as well as authenticity, honesty, and emotional resonance. Overall we assess a film's ability to heal and move people emotionally, looking for works that provide meaningful experiences for audiences.

SUBMISSION
The submitted film is final and cannot be altered. Unfortunately, our festival's submission deadlines are very strict and we cannot accommodate changes to submissions after they have been received. This policy is in place to ensure fairness and equal treatment to all filmmakers who have submitted their work to us.

If selected, films will be promoted through the Sandy website, social media channels, press releases and and other media coverage. Sandy Fest brings together a range of industry professionals, from other filmmakers to producers, distributors, and investors. The Sandy website is a platform that provides opportunities for networking and building connections that can lead to future collaborations and opportunities. Winning a Sandy Award, can be a significant boost to a filmmaker's profile, helping to generate buzz around their work and open doors to new opportunities. Even being selected to screen at Sandy Fest can help to garner positive reviews and attention from critics and audiences alike. We encourage filmmakers to use Sandy Fest to create a narrative around their work that appeals to fans and industry professionals alike.