The Speculative Film Fest is a celebration of Science Fiction, Fantasy, Horror and other Speculative Fiction Films. The Festival will take place March 28th-31st, 2024.

The Speculative Film Fest is hosted by Norwescon. Norwescon is one of the largest regional science fiction and fantasy conventions in the United States. Located near Seattle, Washington, Norwescon has been running continuously since 1978. https://www.norwescon.org/

The Speculative Film Fest will take place as part of Norwescon 46, and you must be a member of Norwescon to attend the festival. Norwescon will to be held at The DoubleTree by Hilton Seattle Airport Hotel 18740 International Blvd. Seattle, WA 98188

Norwescon's Speculative Film Fest wants to embrace and foster new voices in Speculative Fiction, including those of BIPOC, Women, and LGBTQ+ creators. We will have judges which represent these voices.

We also have a way for BIPOC Directors to submit their films to the festival at no charge.

Filmmakers of the films selected to play at Norwescon's Speculative Fiction Film Fest will be invited to attend Norwescon 46, and will receive complimentary entrance for the day their film is shown. Travel and lodging is not included.

Attending filmmakers will be able to speak to the audience directly through Q&As following their film screenings.

Selected works can win in several categories of Speculative Film Fest.
• Jury award for Best Short-length Short Film (under 10 minutes)
• Jury award for Best Longer-length Short Film (10 to 30 minutes)
• Audience Choice Award
• Best Science Fiction Film
• Best Fantasy Film
• Best Horror Film

Each award winning film will receive an award laurel graphic. Winners will be announced during the last day of the convention. The award winning entries will be selected by the festival jury and audience votes. Judging decisions are final.

TERMS & RULES YOU ARE AGREEING TO BY SUBMITTING

Only one title per entry.

You agree your film is available for selection and exhibition during our festival dates.

All submissions must be a Speculative Fiction film, which includes Science Fiction, Fantasy, Horror, and Fan Films.

All films must be completed upon submission. No works in progress please.

Film submissions must be made available as streaming screeners through FilmFreeway.

Films not in English MUST be subtitled.

Short Films are 30 minutes or under, including credits, in duration.

Entries will be assessed by multiple judges, and successful submissions will be programmed for screening and entered into the festival competition.

Norwescon's Speculative Film Fest does not pay screening fees under any circumstance. By submitting your film, you are agreeing to screen your film without a screening fee or any other compensation if selected.

Should your film be accepted to the film festival, you retain all rights to ownership of the film, but grant Norwescon's Speculative Film Fest permission to exhibit your film at the festival, and other screenings (like press previews, promotional events, etc.). You also grant the Norwescon's Speculative Film Fest the right to use any materials pertaining to the submission, publicity photos, still frames from the film, and to advertise and display the work in whole or in part for promotional purposes without limitations.

By submitting, you represent and warrant that you have full legal right and authority to submit the film for consideration by Norwescon's Speculative Film Fest, and that all necessary permissions, consents, licensing and approvals have been obtained with respect thereto.

By submitting, you agree to hold Norwescon, Speculative Film Fest, and its sponsors harmless in any and all matters pertaining to the consents, licenses, and approvals of heretofore film/video/screenplay project.

By Submitting, you understand that your submission is in no way a guarantee of acceptance into the film festival. No one from Norwescon, Speculative Film Fest, or its sponsors has guaranteed you admission into the festival.

Press kits are not required, but are useful, so please feel free to send these with your submissions.

Screening schedule will be announced after the official selection deadline.

Depending on number of entries, the selected films may be screened more than once during the festival.

Speculative Film Fest reserves the right to screen your film at a date and time of their choosing.

Norwescon's Speculative Film Fest does not provide transportation or lodging for filmmakers, but if selected filmmakers will receive a free pass to the in-person show.

There are no refunds on submission fees.

For the selection process acceptable formats include:
• FilmFreeway screener link (preferred)
• Online Screener (password protected Vimeo/YouTube)
• Downloadable .MP4 or .MOV media files (via Dropbox, Vimeo, or similar).

Successful submissions that are granted a screening must submit one of the following:
• Downloadable .MP4 or .MOV media files (via FilmFreeway, Dropbox, Vimeo, or similar)
• .MP4 or .MOV media file mailed to our address on Data DVD or USB thumb drive
• Playable, region-free DVD or Blu Ray

If you would prefer to send a screener on physical format (submission should still be made through FilmFreeway) please submit to the address below.

Norwescon's Speculative Film Fest does not return physical submissions.

If you are not sure about something, please email us before you submit. We'll answer your queries as quickly as possible.

Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • We were pleased to have our short film accepted. We will submit again!

    April 2023
  • Daniele De Muro

    Honoured to have my short film"Horizon" at this beautiful Festival. I hope to submit a new project next year.

    April 2023
  • Atsushi Ikeda

    Thanks for showing the short file.
    I hope you are enjoying them. Thank you.

    April 2023
  • Ron Ford

    The festival was a very pleasant experience, very intimate and low key with a very engaged and enthusiastic audience. Everyone was very kind and inviting.

    April 2022
  • Jamon Holmes

    Thanks for selecting my film. I will submit again.

    July 2021