MISSION STATEMENT
Something Wicked Film Festival Presents FanFest In Person & Online Film Festival! This is our way of supporting genre film-makers that is separate from our regular event. We hope to help emerging artists and film-makers have a venue and outlet in which to showcase and celebrate their achievements in action, thriller, and animation filmmaking. We also want to create a place where people can network and feel safe discussing their ideas with colleagues and fellow film enthusiasts. SWFF/FanFest not only support locally produced films but those from all over the nation and internationally. Our focus on action, thriller, and animation films this year allows us to bring together an eclectic group of individuals who will appreciate films and film-makers that love non-fiction films.

ABOUT THE FESTIVAL
This will be the Second Year of FanFest but we will continuing many of the traditions established in our parent festival. We will be continuing our Filmmaker Interviews which eventual are released online as our “An Interview With…” web-series and we will have panel discussions throughout the weekend all provided LIVE and made available later for those who may have missed them. All “Official Selections” will be available to view for the two days of our In Person (on Online event if still in the pandemic) event for film-makers and patrons but it is our Live Panel Discussions, Filmmaker Interviews, and live chats that will connect filmmakers and audiences. Our goal is to provide independent film makers with a place where they can share their innovative and artistic talents to the masses. We look forward seeing you at the 2023 FanFest.

HISTORY
We've conducted 7 SWFF events but this will be the third year of FanFest. This is an extension of Co-Festival Director/Program Director Kevin Powers' work through the GCI Film Festival (2012-2014) as well as his previous work with the Fright Fest Film Festival (Gainesville, GA) and the Cinemacabre Film Festival (Gainesville, GA). This film festival is designed to spotlight the talents of genre films that sometimes go overlooked by many mainstream film festivals.

SPONSORS & PARTNERSHIPS
*As a Sponsor of the FanFest, we hope to help promote the contributions of the individuals and organizations that have helped make our event happen. Through monetary contributions and trade or Sponsors help present an event that helps not only promote film-makers and their films but to help booster the local economy as well. Our Sponsors also help make it possible to allow young film-makers and students the opportunity to learn more about the film industry in an atmosphere where they can network, view independent films and take workshops and be a part of panel discussions with professional film-makers.
*Partners of the FanFest get the opportunity to not only spread the word about their services with our patrons but also help us promote and market our event as well. It's an amazing opportunity for both businesses to help promote each other with very little monetary investment.

THE IN PERSON FESTIVAL EVENT
During our two day in-person/online festival event, filmmakers and patrons will have two days of amazing screenings at our new venue in downtown Lawrencevill, Georgia! This will allow you to be a part of Panel Discussions and Filmmaker Interviews throughout the two days and network through our Live Event & Live Chat options! Award Winners will be announced on Sunday!

PANEL DISCUSSIONS & FILMMAKER INTERVIEWS
*FanFest offers patrons a variety of panel discussions on various different film related topics with many professional film-makers in participation. This is a great opportunity to ask questions and learn from industry personnel on various topics of discussion.
*Filmmaker Interviews – Mr. Powers also offers filmmakers the opportunity to be interviewed during the event (both In Person and Online) to help promote themselves and their film! These interviews are later released online as part of our festival web series “An Interview With…” Any filmmaker whose film becomes an “Official Selection” can have an interview conducted.

SHORT FILM
Short films are 50 minutes of less.

FEATURE FILM
Feature films are greater than 50 minutes.

STUDENT
Student produced or directed films that are 50 minutes or less.

Best Musical Short or Feature Film
Best Musical Based Short or Feature Film (films that use music but characters are not necessarily singing any songs)
Best Animation Musical Short or Feature Film
Best Music Video Short Form (5 min or less)
Best Music Video Long Form (Greater than 5 min)

Best Male Actor in a Short Film
Best Female Actor in a Short Film
Best Direction of a Short or Feature Film
Best Cinematography in a Short or Feature Film
Best Dance Sequence in a Short or Feature Film
Best Use of Music/Musical Score in a Short or Feature Film
Best Dance & Musical Choreography in a Short or Feature Film

Best Lead Performer in a Music Video (Short or Long Form)
Best Original Song for a Music Video (Short or Long Form)
Best Direction of a Music Video (Short or Long Form)
Best Editing in a Music Video (Short or Long Form)

GENERAL RULES
Submission Format: Films must be submitted via online screener. All Foreign films not in English must be subtitled.
Submission Eligibility: Entries must have been produced within the past five years. Works-in-progress are accepted and an updated version can be supplied upon notification that your film has become an “Official Selection.”
Submission Fees: All FilmFreeway submissions for SWFF are to be paid by credit card or Paypal. Entry fee is non-refundable.
Student Films: Must be submitted in the Student Film category to be eligible for that award category. If submitted in a different category it will be subject to the rules of that category. To receive a Student Discount on FilmFreeway, filmmaker/film must be registered as a student project. Students must be, or have been, enrolled in an accredited school (K-12, undergrad, graduates) at the time of production. You do not need to be a student currently to submit your film.
Judging: All films are reviewed and selected by our Festival Judge and Jury (which changes every year) based on quality and production values and creativity.
Schedule: If selected, your film may screen up to three times, with an additional screening should it win an award. Our Festival will consist of Award presentations, red carpet photos, screenings, vendors, classes, seminars, filmmaker interviews and Q&A sessions.
*For more information please contact us at somethingwickedfilmfestival@gmail.com

TERMS & CONDITIONS:
By submitting to SWFF FanFest you agree to the terms outlined in the General Festival Rules for the SWFF. The Something Wicked Film Festival is hereby granted the right to utilize an excerpt from any film submitted and accepted for exhibition at the Festival for promotional purposes. The individual or corporation submitting the film hereby warrants that it is authorized to commit the film for screening, and understands and accepts these requirements and regulations. The undersigned shall indemnify and hold harmless Something Wicked Film Festival from and against any and all claims, liabilities, losses, damages, and expenses (including but not limited to attorney's fees, and costs of the court) which may be incurred by reason of any claim involving copyright, trademark, credits, publicity, screening, and loss of or damage to the screening videos entered.

Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Kevin Powers and company really have something special here. They have a lot of passion for independent filmmakers and it shows in their work ethic. Grateful to be part of the inaugural lineup and to participate in their filmmaker interview series.

    January 2022