The Social Justice Film Festival returns for 2019 in partnership with popUPjustice, LLC to explore all aspects of social justice.
Based in Seattle, Washington, a city known for progressive politics, technical innovation and stunning natural surroundings, the festival brings together filmmakers from around the world to encourage interaction and engagement through film and events.

The festival will include programming and speakers that bring attention to social justice concerns in the world, and celebrate the stories of groups and people who are working for a better future. We will exhibit shorts and feature-length documentaries and narrative films from the U.S. and around the world.

Featured speakers for past programs have included author of "Dead Man Walking" Sister Helen Prejean, activist and actor Mr. Danny Glover, investigative journalist Will Potter, founder of Define American Jose Antonio Vargas, recording artist and educator DJ Cavem, activist and former captain of the Seattle Black Panthers Aaron Dixon, Yupik elder Bobby Andrew, activist and filmmaker Sanjay Rawal, BLM organizer Darnell Moore, Rev. Harriet Walden and more.

MISSION & OBJECTIVE
The Social Justice Film Festival highlights film and video work being done to institute change around the world. As a movement, social justice promotes a global culture where equality is achieved on all levels. This includes issues pertaining to incarceration, the environment and sustainability, oppression, race and racism, gender equality, the arts and rights of expression and speech, animal rights, alternative currency and lifestyles, disenfranchisement, water and food insecurity, economic disparity, homelessness, exploitation, corruption within the system and more. The festival will showcase works that challenge society structures all over the globe on a macro and micro level.

Awards & Prizes

The Social Justice Film Festival awards honors by jury decision in each of our categories.

Feature films - Narrative and Documentary
Short films - Narrative and Documentary
Youth Visions Showcase - Narrative and Documentary

Rules & Terms

IMPORTANT DATES

Final submission deadline:
May 31, 2019

Notification of acceptance:
September 1, 2019

Festival dates:
October 4- 12, 2019

HELP US INCREASE ACCESSIBILITY
If you have a subtitle track, closed captions or open captions for your film, please let us know. If you have an audio-description track also please let us know.
If you have these, send a follow-up email about your submission to jody@socialjusticefilmfestival.org with the subject line: "Accessibility" and your film's Title. Describe the additional features i.e. subtitles, closed captions, audio description that are options with your film.

ELIGIBILITY REGULATIONS
The 2019 Social Justice Film Festival in partnership with popUPjustice, LLC is hosting our 8th year of Social Justice films. Only films related to social justice are able to be reviewed, and the selected films will screen in conjunction with a panel discussion and speakers over the course of the festival in November in Seattle.

Selected films must be made available for Festival presentation in digital video file or 35mm. Flash drive with quicktime.mov is the preferred format. Filmmakers whose films are selected should deliver their film in an acceptable final presentation format. Failure to provide the film in acceptable format may result in the film being unable to play at the Festival.

Language:
Foreign language films must be made available with the original
language soundtrack and English subtitles.

REQUIRED SUBMISSION MATERIALS

Entry Fee
International entrants who do not pay by credit card must use an international money order paid in US dollars through a US bank.
Entry fees are not refundable.

Preview DVD
DVDs will not be returned unless accompanied by an addressed and prepaid return envelope.
• Key film still - 300dpi JPEG image, captioned with name of actors
• Film description and synopsis
• Complete principal cast and production credits listing
• Self-addressed, stamped postcard to verify receipt (optional)
Entry materials will not be returned. Incomplete entries will not be
considered. Required materials can be submitted digitally.
SUBMISSION REGULATIONS
Deadline:
All film submissions must be shipped prepaid and packed in proper
containers to arrive on time.

Please be aware that in all categories, World, North American and US
Premieres are preferred.

DVD Labeling & Shipping:
Preview DVDs should be clearly labeled with the film title, running
time, and contact information (including name, address, and phone
number).

International shipments must be accompanied by a
commercial invoice (containing the film’s title, running time, format
[color or b&w], value of shipment, and sender’s name and address).
SJFF can not help with customs clearances.

We advise all preview media shipping from outside the U.S. be sent with the following declaration:
“Free entry claimed under #724.12 (960.60). U.S. Tariff Act.
No commercial value, for Film Festival use only.”

Notification:
Films selected for screening will be notified by September 1, 2019.

Shipping (accepted films):
It will be the filmmaker’s responsibility to cover the incoming shipping
costs to SJFF. SJFF will cover the return costs to the domestic address designated by the filmmaker.
SJFF can not cover international shipping.

AWARDS
The Seattle Social Justice Film Festival awards honors according to audience and jury voting in each of our categories.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS
Physical submissions are not returned unless the submitting filmmaker includes a SASE. The Social Justice Film Festival will make every effort to return your submission in cases where a SASE is provided, but cannot be held liable for your film in transit. Please, never ship a project's master copy.
8 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Ashley Brim

    We were not able to attend but Hannah and her team were great communicators and we were grateful to be included in a strong program of films. Thanks for inviting us!

    November 2018
    Helpful
  • Julie Morey

    There is extra special meaning in being selected, then honored, by a film festival that specifically declares itself as being part of the fight for social justice—bringing attention to films that drive social justice objectives around the world. The films we saw, the people we met, the conversations we were able to have were uniquely compelling. To the SJFF team, thank you so very much.

    October 2018
    Helpful
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    Response from festival:

    Thank you so much for the kind words, Julie! We're really glad you had a great experience and were so grateful to have the opportunity to screen your powerful film. Please stay in touch!

  • Mehmet Tığlı

    Amazing festival. Perfect films. Perfect organization.

    October 2018
    Helpful
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    Response from festival:

    Thanks so much, Mehmet. We hope we'll see you again next year!

  • Kasha Sequoia Slavner

    I am so proud to have participated in this festival! The team were amazing at responding to any questions I had. I wasn't there in person but I wish I was as this is an important film festival on an important mission! So grateful to have been awarded the Youth Visions Gold Jury Prize. Look forward to submitting my next film there again one day!

    May 2018
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    Response from festival:

    Thanks, Kasha! We were honored to screen your film.

  • Giovanni Coda

    Uno dei migliori Festival a cui ho avuto l'onore, ed il piacere, di prendere parte. Uno dei pochi, al mondo, che coniuga il lato "informativo" a quello "formativo" senza trascurare, mai, la qualità cinematografica dei prodotti proposti. Approfondimento e ricerca, elementi essenziali per un Festival che tratta di temi sociali, conferiscono al SJFF autorevolezza e prestigio.

    December 2017
    Helpful