It's 2025 and Skate or Die Film Festival is returning for our fourth year, presented once again by the mega powers of The Farsighted and Rockstar Roller Derby. Returning to the historic Ringing Rocks Roller Rink in Pottstown, the one-of-a-kind genre film festival will once again feature live music, films from all over the world, roller skating, vendors, food, tattoo artists, and all of the fun that we had in years past.

Coming off the best year yet, we're back with another weekend of fun to kick , but with some new and fun things coming. Stay tuned to the website for updates.

Early submissions are open now, with our official launch for this season, complete with new artwork and an updated website coming in May.

The Farsighted website is getting a facelift that will include all types of fun info for this year's Skate or Die and the official SODFF Wall of Fame. All past award winners and runners up will be listed. This year, we are looking at expanding prizes to include some fun surprises too!

There are 6 submission categories again year:

1. Local Films

Filmmakers within an approximate 90 mile radius of Pottstown PA are eligible to participate in our popular local film block. The most well attended and popular segment of the inaugural festival, the Local Film Showcase is a way to share the great talent of the greater Philly area and beyond. Features, shorts, music videos, and any type of film project is eligible for this category, so long as you're local.

Films submitted in this block may also be considered for the general short film and features categories during the jurying process, as well. However, we ask that all local films, regardless of length, be submitted as local films, as we want to offer our local filmmakers the best submission rate and consider supporting our local artists something that is at the very heart of the festival.

2. Short Films

Short films from all over the world (or even further, if you're somehow reading this from another world or dimensions) are accepted in this category. While traditional length short films ranging from 3 minutes to 30 minutes are what we're most looking for, we can accept anything under 45 minutes in length for the short film category. Anything 45 minutes in length or up will need to be submitted under the feature submission category. Music videos are no longer part of this category.

Our short film selections will primarily be played as accompanying pieces to the features we select for the festival, however may also be selected as part of a short film block, dependent on the final schedule for the festival.

3. Feature Films

Just like the short film category above, features are welcome from anywhere and everywhere. Unique, fun, and quirky films that are crowdpleasers are what we're most looking for. We'll be programing several features, alongside our local block, a retro screening, and several other events.

Any films that are 45 minutes or longer must be submitted in the feature category, unless the film fits the local film criteria.

4. Music Videos

Music videos are a separate category this season. While we may possibly include some in other areas of the festival, there will be some time dedicated specifically to music videos. All music videos are eligible, but preference will certainly be given to music videos that fall most directly into the horror and genre theme of the festival. Music videos that include a roller rink or roller sports will most certainly be considered heavily, as well.

5. LGBTQ+ Films

This year, we are debuting an LGBTQ+ block. The criteria for these films is simply that they involved LGBTQ+ cast and/or crew, with an emphasis on films that deal with LGBTQ+ issues. While the vision for this block is primarily to be a collection of short films, we do not have a restriction on length and will most certainly consider features, as well. While the film festival is in October and have a horror/genre/Halloween vibe, the films in this category can certainly be of any genre, as highlighting great LGBTQ+ filmmakers and films is something we are really excited to focus on this year.

In addition to these 5 film categories, the 6th category is for screenwriting and short stories. Entries in this category should be genre fiction either written for screen (or stage) or written with the intent of eventually making the jump onto stage/screen in the future.

*FOR ALL FILM SUBMISSIONS*

Keep in mind that this is genre festival, so standard drama isn't necessarily what we're looking for here. Horror, sci-fi, action, and all of the other types of films that typically fall into the widely cast "genre film" net are more our speed. Films with roller skating related plots and spooky season type submissions will get some priority in the programming decisions based on the festival being a Halloween season festival at a roller rink, but anything that feels like it would play well to a genre festival crowd is encouraged.

NO X-RATED MATERIAL is able to be screened at the festival at this time, but generally anything that would receive an R or MA rating is acceptable, likely most films that would receive an NC-17 rating would be, as well.

Any questions about your submissions or the festival in general can be sent through here or to skateordiefestival@gmail.com. You can also contact the festival director, Justin Harlan, at justincharlesharlan@gmail.com.

Overall Rating
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  • Joe Amero

    Skate or Die Film Fest is amazing!
    They're incredibly inclusive, friendly & fun.
    I'm honoured to have my screenplay 'Straight Edge' given an Honourable Mention in the Writing Contest.

    November 2024
  • Carlos Camacho

    Honored to have been selected and screened at this festival! Festival directors were very communicative with the schedule of their festival. Loved that we were part of the WTF Block!

    November 2024
  • Such an awesome event. We couldn't be there in person, but the communication was great and it looked like such a unique and fun experience!

    November 2024
  • One of the most insane festival that we imagined to be. Thanks for all the atention with our Asphalt Surfer!

    October 2024
  • Stephen Escudero

    The Skate or Die Film Festival is an oasis of cinematic joy. We had so much fun at the festival. The selection of films fluctuated between hilarious, thought provoking, obscene, and absurd in all the best ways. We skated, we rocked to the live music, we ate at the food trucks, and shopped with local vendors which all contributed to make the event special. The venue is one of a kind, and everyone working the venue was so welcoming and friendly. This is my favorite film fest ever now, and I hope to return again next year and forever. This is no lie a very special film festival.

    October 2024