Silicon Valley Queer Film Festival

Produced by Sweet Nothing Productions

OVERVIEW:

We are an LGBTQ+ focused film festival screening high-quality [short & feature] films, which accurately and/or positively represent the LGBTQ+ Community. We are looking for independent projects from all genres, particularly low or no-budget ones, from all countries. We are looking for Queer-Positive Films with main characters and/or supporting characters who identify as LGBTQ+. First-time filmmakers are encouraged to submit their projects.

ANNUAL IN-PERSON FESTIVAL* DETAILS:

*UPDATED: 6/8/22: Due to a recent, local 'mask up' policy and increasing cases of COVID-19 in the Bay Area, we have paused further planning of our in-person annual festival. Our in-person festival has been tentatively scheduled to occur in Silicon Valley (San Jose, CA) for 3 days ~ October 13, October 14, and October 15, 2022. At this time, we plan to stream all Official Selections for this year, across all Selections sessions, via our website (online) for one month duration beginning October 15, 2022. This will give our participating filmmakers (& films) extra time for viewership.

Our in-person Mixer / Awards Ceremony for Selected Filmmakers and Select Guests is still scheduled for Tuesday October 11, 2022 (date subject to change, Venue TBD).

Sales and monies earned from our online film festivals will fund production costs, which include advertisement, staffing hours, and website design/maintenance.

ONLINE FESTIVAL DETAILS:

Films selected for our respective Online Festivals will be made available on our password-protected website. Participating filmmakers can access the website for FREE, whereas Film Patrons can access the films for a small, nominal fee.

WHAT MAKES OUR ONLINE FESTIVALS DIFFERENT:

We have created a personal, user-friendly, and engaging online experience for our viewers & our participating filmmakers.

As members of the film community, we understand many filmmakers learn from viewers (how their films were interpreted, how a story impacted others, a favorite character or scene,, etc.). Many filmmakers seek validation of their artwork and appreciate responses from audience members. At this time, we post additional information about our filmmakers, with the consent of our filmmakers, so our viewers can connect (& communicate) with their favorite filmmakers.

In the future, we may introduce an online viewer feedback system to give our Selected filmmakers [anonymous] positive & constructive feedback about their films. Prior to any implemented system, we collaborate with our most responsive Selected filmmakers about what information and feedback is sought out. We will ensure our viewer feedback system is user-friendly and positive in nature.

SUBMISSION/SELECTION DETAILS:

Up to 20 Total Films will be Selected for the Online Festival (March 2022).
Up to 20 Total Films will be Selected for the Online Festival (May 2022).
Up to 20 Total Films will be Selected for the Online Festival (August 2022).
Up to 20 Total Films will be Selected for our annual event, which will be in-person or online (October 2022).

In total, up to 80 Official Selections across all Selections sessions (March, May, August, October ~ 2022) will participate in our annual event, which will be in-person or online (October 2022).

All Official Selections will be announced on/before our respective Notification date(s). Winners for each Interim Event and our annual Film Festival will be announced and posted on our main website and our other social media platforms (IG, FB).

All Submissions will be judged by credited filmmakers and film lovers.