Santa Fe Movie Awards stands as an online seasonal international awards event, with aspirations of becoming a leading :lm institution in North America, attracting talented :lmmakers from across the globe. This extraordinary festival not only celebrates cinematic creativity and innovation but also provides both Santa Fe locals and visitors with a unique glimpse into the future of cinema. With a special emphasis on low- budget independent :lms and fostering inter-cultural understanding, this event seeks to offer a cultural alternative to mainstream cinema, while simultaneously supporting independent :lmmakers and championing the art of :lmmaking. Throughout each season, :lms submitted to the festival undergo a rigorous assessment by our International Jury, who meticulously evaluate their overall artistic and technical quality on a performance scale. Only a select winners of each season will have the honor of being chosen for online screening and receiving prestigious awards, solidifying this festival’s reputation as a sought-after platform for emerging talent and groundbreaking cinematic experiences.

Awards & Prizes

Best Short Film
Best Documentary Short
Best Feature Film
Best Documentary Feature
Best Sci-Fi Short
Best Horror Short
Best LGBT Short
Best Experimental Short
Best Student Short
Best Animated Short
Best Short Short
Best Music Video
Best Comedy
Best Director
Best First-Time Filmmaker
Best Actor
Best Actress
Best Script
Best Unproduced Script

Rules & Terms

All films in all genres will be considered. We consider a short to be under 50 minutes. Filmmakers certify they have the rights to the music used in their films. Please upload a digital screener to FilmFreeway. Requirements

Premiere Status:
No premiere status is required. So, don’t wait to submit your film.

Rights:
We require film s to have all necessary rights and releases secured for us to feature them. Yes, this includes music.

Free to View:
We only select film s that are free for audiences.

What We Look For
We look for great stories that brave new territory. We value great characters, fascinating new worlds, and stories that surprise us over fancy visual effects, famous actors, or silly one-liners that often feed much of online videos.

What We Avoid
We have no hard and fast rules. Every film is different, and there are always exceptions.

Refund Policy
Unfortunately, we cannot refund a submission fee once you’ve submitted your film. Please make absolutely sure you want to submit your film before doing so. As with other festivals, your fee is paid for your film to be considered. By no means does submitting your :lm guarantee that your film will be accepted. If your film is not accepted, your submission fee is not refundable.
22 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Laura Bondarevsky

    It was an honor to be part of the festival.
    Love and much cinema

    February 2026
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  • L. Scooter Morris

    Thank you for selecting Tipping Point.

    February 2026
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  • Kevin Davis

    Thank You Santa Fe Movie Awards for choosing our film "Of Robots and Rednecks"
    We are so honored and grateful! Your festival is fantastic!
    Santa Fe Movie Awards is a great fest that supports indie artists
    It was a great pleasure to participate in your festival with our .Dark Comedy Sci-Fi Film...Thank you for this selection among so many awesome films!

    March 2025
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  • Listening Raven

    Great experience with Santa Fe Movie Awards. Appreciate the expertise and enthusiasm of the good people in Santa Fe. Would love to visit this festival someday. Keep up the strong work and thanks again. A pleasure to work with you all.

    March 2025
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  • Nathan Post

    I am more than honored to have had my screenplay, "The Monster's Son", selected as a Semi-Finalist in the Santa Fe Movie Awards Film Festival. The festival places a special emphasis on low-budget independent films and is dedicated to fostering intercultural understanding. It is a strong supporter of independent filmmakers and the art of filmmaking.

    March 2025
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