The inaugural Sheboygan Film Festival celebrates Midwest, United States, and International filmmakers through a weekend of screenings, filmmaker Q&As, panels, workshops, nightly parties, and community events for all ages! Filmmakers are invited to exhibit their work and network at our variety of events, and have a great time visiting the Malibu of the Midwest!

SFF welcomes diverse voices by showing movies from all over the world, including features, shorts, and documentaries of every genre. Whether you're an industry professional or up-and-coming filmmaker, nightly networking events will be held to foster lifelong connections among filmmakers, audiences, and the City of Sheboygan.

2025's Sheboygan Film Festival takes place October 2-5 in several venues around Sheboygan, WI and kicks off with an Opening Night Screening and Party at the historic Stefanie H. Weill Center.

Awards & Prizes

We offer juried prizes for the top selection in the following categories:

- Best Wisconsin Short Film
- Best Wisconsin Feature Film
- Best Narrative Short Film
- Best Narrative Feature Film
- Best Documentary Short Film
- Best Documentary Feature Film

Rules & Terms

Look carefully at the submission categories before submitting.

Wisconsin Shorts and Features MUST have a Wisconsin connection to be eligible in these categories. This includes being shot on location in Wisconsin, or principal creative personnel (Director, Producer, Writer, Lead Actor, Cinematographer, Editor, etc.) being Wisconsin natives or residents.

The Young Filmmakers category is for features or shorts created by filmmakers 18 and under, although shorts are encouraged in order to show a wider variety of films. Young filmmakers can submit to this category for no fee.

The Children's Film category is for short and feature films appropriate for ages 11 and below. These films will be programmed and screened in partnership with Above & Beyond Children's Museum and Mead Public Library.

- Works in progress may be submitted, but must be completed in time for the festival. Sheboygan Film Festival does not include works-in-progress in its final program.
- Submissions must have been produced since January 2024.
- Submissions received without the proper entry fee will not be considered.
- Entries must be in English or subtitled in English.

Screening copies of selected films must be received at least 4 weeks prior to the festival.

Sheboygan Film Festival does not require premiere status, but programming preference is given to films without significant exposure in Southeastern Wisconsin theatrical and broadcast markets prior to the festival.

By submitting, you agree that you have read all of the Sheboygan Film Festival (SFF) rules, and understand and comply with those rules.

Your submission must be your original work with no disputes regarding the ownership of the submission. The submitted material does not defame or invade the rights of any person living or dead, and you fully indemnify SFF against any claim made for such violations of law.

Any failure to adhere to SFF's rules will result in disqualification and no refunds of any kind will be made.