ScorpiusFest is an annual, international, independent film festival based out of Boulder, Colorado. Our festival is a celebration of independent cinema and creative storytelling from filmmakers around the world.

2027 will be our 8th year in operation, and our 2nd with our current team running the show!

We invite international short films, feature films, and documentaries of all genres to be submitted.

You can head over to our official website (scorpiusfest.com) for more information and details on venue and previous festival years.


Please read the Rules & Terms before submitting!

Awards & Prizes

Winners at ScorpiusFest 2027 will receive the coveted Scorpius Award.


Awards will be given in the following categories:
• Best Feature Film

• Best Short Film

• Best Documentary Feature Film

• Best Documentary Short Film

• Best Animated Film

• Best Actor* in a Feature Film

• Best Actor* in a Short Film

• Best Cinematography

• Best Original Score

• The Silver Scorpion

• The Golden Scorpion (AKA- Audience Choice Award)

• “The Blender”


*Note: "Actor" is a gender-neutral term. We do not split acting awards by gender. Acting is acting.



➡️ You do NOT need to submit to a specific award category. Just select either "Short Film" or "Feature Film." If selected, your film will automatically be considered for all relevant awards.


➡️ IMDb RECOGNITION: ScorpiusFest is an IMDb-qualifying festival.
All official nominees and award winners will be submitted to IMDb by the festival.

Rules & Terms

GENERAL RULES
• ScorpiusFest is open to filmmakers from all over the world.

• We accept narrative and documentary films, both short and feature-length.

• We DO NOT accept AI films of any kind. Art is a human expression.

• Films must have been completed on or after January 1, 2025.

• Films not in English must include English subtitles.

• All submissions must be made digitally via FilmFreeway.

• No physical screeners accepted. (Note: Scorpius Magazine and its address are no longer affiliated with the festival.)
• Works-in-progress are allowed if clearly labeled, but final versions must be received by the Late Deadline. (December 1, 2026)

• Multiple submissions are allowed, but each must be submitted separately with its own fee.

• All entry fees are non-refundable.

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
IMDb RECOGNITION
ScorpiusFest is an IMDb-qualifying festival.
All official nominees and award winners will be submitted to IMDb by the festival.
(Yeah, we don’t understand why more festivals don’t do this either.)
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

TERMS & CONDITIONS
• All films are reviewed and scored by our programming team based on originality, storytelling, execution, and overall impact.
• AI generated films will NOT be considered for inclusion.
• By submitting, you confirm that you have obtained all necessary rights and permissions for the content in your film.
• By submitting, you grant ScorpiusFest the right to use your film’s title, synopsis, poster, stills, and trailer for promotional purposes across all platforms.
• We do not provide individual feedback on submissions.
• Submission does not guarantee selection or award nomination.
• You agree to indemnify and hold harmless ScorpiusFest from any claims related to your submission.

• Notification of selection will be sent via FilmFreeway by January 1, 2027.
– Selected nominees and winners will be added to IMDb following the event.

• If selected, filmmakers must provide a high-quality digital screening file (H.264, ProRes, or DCP) by January 10, 2027.

• The festival reserves the right to modify the event schedule, location, or format. Entry fees will not be refunded in such cases.

42 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Melle Windig

    Thank you so much for screening Cell Buddies at your festival and even awarding it with Best Animation! We are honored to be part of your program. It’s been an incredible year for this student film, traveling to over 40 countries. We’ve seen that audiences worldwide really connect with the story, and we hope your audience enjoyed the screening as much as we enjoyed being part of your event. Thanks for supporting independent stop motion animation.

    April 2026
    Helpful
  • Sophia Peaslee

    This new iteration of Scorpius Fest was so much fun. Really appreciated all the hard work everyone put into making the festival happen!

    March 2026
    Helpful
  • Jakob Rippe

    This has been my favorite festival so far! Everything, from the amazing staff to a diverse selection of films and informative panels, made this a trip worth taking. Congratulations on your first year under new management, excited to see what next year brings!

    March 2026
    Helpful
  • Jorge Morais

    I’m very happy and grateful that my animation was selected and screened at ScorpiusFest. It was a very positive experience in every sense. The festival is well organized, communication with the team was excellent, and the event offers great visibility for filmmakers, along with engaging interaction on social media.
    I also really appreciated the passion and dedication behind the festival. It creates a welcoming space for independent filmmakers and encourages meaningful exchange between creators and audiences.
    It’s clearly a festival with a lot of potential that will continue to grow in the coming editions and will surely become a sought-after stop on the festival circuit.
    Highly recommended.✨

    March 2026
    Helpful
  • Mark Krol

    ScorpiusFest is incredibly well-organized and deeply supportive of its filmmakers. We were thrilled to have BROKEN REALITY in the program and loved the active engagement on social media. A truly professional experience that we highly recommend!

    March 2026
    Helpful