The Summit in 2024 will take place at the Regal Cinemas at the Landing in Renton, WA.

We're offering filmmakers worldwide the chance to showcase their films and scripts at The Summit. For 2024, we're focusing solely on our festival and development endeavors. And for our local creatives, check out our special categories for you!

Visit www.seattlefilmsummit.com for more information, and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. To join our Summit+ online community for networking, educational opportunities, and discounts, copy and paste this invite link - https://community.seattlefilmsummit.com/join?invitation_token=a0ef3d46ab4edcf145c34a920f2425db284f2866-a6566b6d-7e01-46d6-8394-205c17198be7

ABOUT THE SUMMIT
The Summit empowers creatives of all ages, genders, and cultures. Our work is based solely on the belief that every individual voice adds to the greater story of humanity. It is our privilege and obligation to foster, highlight, and develop these voices.

Serving digital creatives in the Pacific Northwest (PNW) U.S. and beyond, The Summit is the only workforce development opportunity like it in the PNW. Writers, directors, producers, and actors can meet distributors, acquisition executives, talent agents, attorneys, festival directors, and others who provide services to the motion picture industry. In 2024, we hone our focus and go more boutique as a festival. What does that mean? It means only 50 shorts and three features will be accepted into the 2024 festival. However, whether winning an award or not, each filmmaker will get a 30-minute consultation with an industry expert. Starting in March, these experts will be publicly announced.

"There’s no one path, and there is no final ‘there.’ I try to remember that because it’s very easy to get swept up into the kind of Hollywood story of what it means to be a success or what it means to be successful". — Netflix Atypical Executive Producer Mary Rohlich, The Summit 2018 Panelist.

The Summit is here for the new age of filmmaking. Now more than ever, creatives need to focus on the authenticity of their voice, not just a direct path to success. Ultimately, the first will more efficiently lead to the other.

SCRIPT COMPETITION - now accepting Features, Pilots, and Shorts!

FILM AWARDS
Selected films will be screened in front of an in-person audience only.

Best Feature
- A cash prize of $500 is awarded to the winner.
- This award is presented to a filmmaker showing considerable vision, a unique voice, and a promising future.
- The film must be without US distribution at the time of selection.

Best Short
- $200 cash and your short will be shown at HOLLYSHORTS 2024 in LA!
- This award will be given to a filmmaker whose short shows considerable vision, a unique voice, and a promising future.
- The film must be without US distribution at the time of selection.

Additional awards for audience favorites, genre and production.

SCRIPT AWARDS
Short Scripts
- Three finalist short scripts receive table reads presented by local actors at our evening mixer.
- The top writer receives $200 and a free script entry to HOLLYSHORTS 2024.

Feature and Pilot Scripts
- Best Feature will receive an in-person table read at The Summit and a cash prize of $200.
- Best Pilot will receive an in-person table read at The Summit and a cash prize of $200.

Thank you for submitting your work to The Summit. These rules and guidelines will help ensure your submission is handled properly.

GENERAL RULES
- Entrants must be 18 year of age or older.
- Our typical business hours are Mon-Sun, 8am to 9pm Pacific Time. Majority of communications such as, phone calls, emails, or computer chats must happen within this time period. Please be vigilant in responding to communication because we may request time sensitive material from you. Exceptions can be made with prior arrangements.
- Entry fees are non-refundable.

FILM SUBMISSION RULES
- Short films must be 45 minutes or less.
- Feature films must be between 75 and 120 minutes.

Please note that by submitting your film you agree to the following terms:
- The film must be without US distribution at the time of screening.
- Non-English films are accepted but must have English subtitles attached properly to the film to be screened.
- You must own the rights to your film, including the music. You must also have permission from everyone appearing in your film.
- All film submissions must be able to be downloaded from FilmFreeway or it may be disqualified.
- The Summit may use parts of your film for promotional purposes, including trailers, scenes, still photographs, etc.
- WE DO NOT ACCEPT X-Rated material, acts of genuine self-harm or violence, or extremist propaganda material.

SCREENPLAY COMPETITION RULES
- Short scripts must be between 1-10 pages.
- Pilot scripts must be between 20-35 pages for half-hour shows and 40-65 pages for hour-long shows.
- Feature scripts must be under 120 pages.
- Feedback is not provided.
- Screenplay submissions must be in standard screenplay format and written in English.
- Scripts must be the original work of the submitting writer.
- Scripts that have been sold, produced, or are currently under option are not eligible.
- Entrance into the competition implies writer's consent and availability to participate in a table read for the winning scripts.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF ENTRY
1. I, the representative of the project being submitted (the "Project"), acknowledge and agree as follows in connection with the Project's submittal to The Summit for consideration:

2. I hereby represent and warrant to The Summit that (a) I am duly authorized, on my own behalf and on behalf of all other persons or entities who have any ownership rights in the Project, to exhibit this Project at The Summit, (b) this exhibition will not violate any law or any right or consent of any person or entity and (c) the Project is not subject to litigation nor is it threatened by any litigation.

3. I further represent and warrant that, to the best of my knowledge, the exhibition of the Project at The Summit will not violate or infringe any copyright, patent, privacy right, publicity right, trademark, service mark or any other personal or property right of any person or entity and that my Project does not constitute a defamation of any person or entity. I have paid and will pay in full all license fees, clearance fees, and other obligations, of any kind, arising from the exhibition of the Project in connection with the Festival.

4. If accepted, I acknowledge that The Summit's presentation of the Project does not create any confidential or fiduciary relationship between The Summit and I. I understand that I will not receive any compensation for such exploitation, although some prizes at The Summit may include cash awards. I acknowledge that no obligation of any kind is assumed by or may be implied against The Summit because of The Summit's selection of the Project. I understand and acknowledge that the selection of my Project by The Summit does not in any way constitute an express or implied endorsement or approval by The Summit of the content of the Project or any opinion expressed therein.

5. I agree to indemnify and hold harmless The Summit and any affiliates, subsidiaries and parent entities of The Summit, and the officers, directors, employees, attorneys, advisors and agents of each of the foregoing from and against any and all claims, losses, or liabilities (including reasonable attorneys' fees) that may be asserted against any of the foregoing or incurred by any of the foregoing at any time in connection with the Project or The Summit's use thereof, and/or arising from any breach or alleged breach of any representation made by me to the Company or The Summit.

6. In the event that the Project is accepted into the official program, myself and all other parties involved with the Project agree that the Project will not associate with nor receive support from corporations during or related to the Project's participation in The Summit that are not official sponsors or supporters of The Summit without prior written consent. Methods of support include: hosting a dinner, party or junket for or in conjunction with the Project, providing media space for roundtable or one-on-one interviews, etc. The Summit is an organization that relies on the funding of our official sponsors and supporters to produce The Summit. For an official list of sponsors and supporters, please refer to the contributors list at www.seattlefilmsummit.com. If you have been approached by a company or corporation that does not appear on this list, they are NOT officially aligned with The Summit.

7. If accepted, I hereby grant without reservations, to The Summit and its related entities (a) the right to use footage, stills and/or titles, and information from the Project for promotional purposes and (b) the right to issue and authorize publicity concerning the filmmakers and the Project and to use all associated names, likenesses and biographical information. I also agree to provide contact information for the director, creator, and producer(s) of the Project and grant The Summit the right to provide this information to film industry organizations sponsoring The Summit events at its discretion.

8. I represent that I am 18 years of age or older, or that if I am younger than the legal age to enter into contracts in my state, I have provided a written consent from my parent or legal guardian. I agree that any controversy arising out of or in connection with my Project and The Summit will be governed by the internal laws of the State of Washington and conclusively determined by arbitration in the City of Renton in accordance with the rules of the American Arbitration Association before a single arbitrator mutually agreed by the parties. I hereby waive any and all rights and benefits which I might otherwise have or be entitled to litigate any such dispute in court, including without limitation a trial by jury.

9. I acknowledge that I have read and understood the rules and regulations for submitting a project to The Summit.

10. By clicking "I Agree" below, or by submitting a film, screenplay, or creative concept to The Summit, I constitute my full and complete acceptance of the terms hereof. I acknowledge that no oral representations of any kind have been made by The Summit.

Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • S. Joe Downing

    We absolutely loved attending this festival. We were honored to have our film screened. The networking event after was great, we would attend again in a heart beat.

    November 2023
  • My short film, Blind Colour, was selected and shown at the movie theatre.

    October 2023
  • Thanks for selecting "Enter the Room" into your festival. The communication was clear and frequent and overall, I feel that this festival has a lot more to offer than many other festivals I have been apart of. The online screening was a nice addition. Overall, I had a very good experience and will definitely consider submitting future projects to Seattle Film Summit.

    September 2023
  • Behrad Ezzati

    It is one of the most important online festivals, which always supports independent filmmakers.

    September 2023
  • Taunya Gren

    What a fun festival! Definitely one I'm going to keep in my pocket for future projects!

    September 2023