ABOUT SLAMDANCE

The Slamdance Film Festival is a showcase for raw and innovative filmmaking that lives and bleeds by its mantra: By Filmmakers, For Filmmakers. No other film festival in the world is entirely run and organized by the creative force that can only be found in filmmakers. Slamdance has created a track record for showcasing breakthrough artists that is beyond dispute. Filmmakers who first showed their work at the festival are now amongst the biggest names in the entertainment industry.

"Of all the Sundance myths that developed over the last 35 years, the biggest fallacy is that of being magically discovered and launching one’s career on a snow-covered January evening in Park City. If anything, when that does happen, it’s across the street at Slamdance” - IndieWire

ABOUT PROGRAMMING

The Slamdance Film Festival accepts films in every genre, on any topic, from every country around the world. We spotlight low-budget Narrative and Documentary Features by first-time directors, Breakout Features from non-first time directors, short films across genres, and episodes. We do not disqualify any films based on premiere status or date of completion.

The festival program is selected entirely from our blind submissions pool and no films are given special treatment based on who made them or who they know. Over 200 Slamdance alumni filmmakers are responsible for the programming and organization of the festival. With a variety of backgrounds, interests, and talents, but with no individual filmmaker’s vote valued more than any other, Slamdance’s committees have been able to stay close to the heart of the DIY spirit and the bleeding-edge of contemporary filmmaking.

POC Director Discount
This year, we’d like to encourage additional film submissions from directors of color to work towards greater racial and overall diversity in our submissions pool and the film industry at-large. We are extending the early deadline rates of $60 for features, and $40 for short films to POC directors until the regular deadline of August 26th.

Awards & Prizes

Jury Award for Narrative Feature
Jury Award for Documentary Feature
Jury Award for Narrative Short
Jury Award for Documentary Short
Jury Award for Animation Short
Jury Award for Experimental Short
Audience Award for Narrative Feature
Audience Award for Documentary Feature
Audience Award for Best of Breakouts
Outstanding Acting Award
Spirit of Slamdance Award (all participating filmmakers vote to determine which film/filmmaker best represents the Spirit of Slamdance)

Russo Brothers Fellowship
Established in 2018 by Slamdance alums and critically acclaimed directors Anthony and Joe Russo (Avengers: Endgame), the Fellowship is designed to foster and support young filmmakers while creating a platform for new and emerging talent.
Anthony and Joe will select one filmmaker to receive a $25,000 prize, consisting of an office at their new Los Angeles based studio, mentorship from Anthony and Joe, and a cash stipend for one year.

Additional prizes
Each year significant cash and service prizes are awarded to Sparky Award recipients.
The Slamdance Cinema Club offers theatrical showings of select features and shorts throughout the year following each festival.

Rules & Terms

By entering Slamdance Film Festival, you agree to follow its rules and guidelines.

• Eligibility requirements for each category are final. There are no exceptions.
• We consider films in any language, from anywhere in the world. If your film is not in English, make sure it has English subtitles where necessary.
• We consider work in progress.
• We consider films regardless of their premiere status. Even if your film already premiered at another festival, it’s still eligible.
• Only features that don’t have US distribution are eligible for Slamdance. Entrants must notify the festival at once if their distribution status changes.
• There’s no distribution rule for shorts and episodes. All short films and episodes, including those released online, are eligible.
• Entrants can update their edit any time by uploading a new video file into the same link on Vimeo, so the submission link stays the same. Do not send us new links.
• Accepted filmmakers must own rights to their film and all its components by the time of the festival.
• If accepted, entrants are responsible for delivering their exhibition copy and other materials, such as: trailer, screener link, press stills, and press-kit, by deadline.
• If accepted, filmmakers are required to do their best to attend the festival. Unfortunately, Slamdance does not provide room, board or travel for filmmakers.
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  • Ryan + Rachel Betschart-Nakawatase

    Alina and Adele are the greatest people to walk this earth, and Slamdance is the greatest festival. Park City during the winter, snow on tiny saloon town streets; the hustle and bustle (chaos, even) of both Slamdance and Sundance happening at the same time literally across the street from each other - everything about it is exciting and lovely. The programming can't be beat - this fest is full of taste makers and often help dictate what films you'll be seeing pop up throughout the rest of the festival circuit for the next year or two.. After playing here our films have been picked up by dozens of other festivals, and the prestige of playing such a rad festival stays with you - we won a Jury Award here and that thing has set in motion a series of the most blessed occurrences to ever happen in our lives to date. Thank you Slamdance!!

    May 2016
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