SpIFF is pleased to announce the 24th Edition of the Spokane International Film Festival, to run in February 2023! Most of all, SpIFF wishes to screen and promote the work of up-and-coming filmmakers, particularly those working in the Pacific Northwest.

The Spokane International Film Festival is an intimate festival where filmmakers and audiences engage the art of cinema. We offer a small, selective offering of world-class films. These are the very best features, documentaries and shorts that have been made around the world during the past year but have not yet been commercially released for wide distribution.

"SpIFF has a refreshing selection of films that is different from other film festivals that tend to lack originality in their programming. The staff goes above and beyond to make you feel welcome and celebrated as a filmmaker." - Adam Gaulke, Winner of SpIFF 2017's Most Promising Filmmaker Award.

"I give SpIFF - specifically, the reception that my short, "The Vehicle", enjoyed and the awards that I was honored to receive - a lot of credit for motivating me to take the long-form, cinematic leap. Honestly, I don't know that I would have ever attempted this endeavor if I hadn't experienced the kind of encouragement that everyone at SpIFF so generously bestowed upon me." - Filmmaker Corbin Saleken talking about how his experience at SpIFF set the bar for him to make his first feature-length film, "Patterson's Wager."

"Spokane International Film Festival has been a highlight of my film's festival run. The venues, events and staff were well organized, impressive and memorable, and I've yet to encounter a more engaged, enthusiastic and conversational audience. I'll make my next film with SpIFF in mind as I hope to share another story with this great festival and city." - Ian Ebright, Writer/Director, "From the Sky," 2015 Gold SpIFFy winner for Best Mid-Length film and Most Promising Filmmaker Award

"My short film was selected to screen at festivals across the country, and I'm very pleased that it was able to screen at SpIFF. The festival brought together a thoughtful group of filmmakers and provided a platform for participation, something too often lost at larger events. The festival staff made us feel like welcome guests. In addition, the programmers curated some of the years best international films - bringing films to Spokane that would be difficult to see theatrically in many larger US cities. Overall, I found it to be a great town with a lot of heart, and an outstanding film festival with a strong sense of community. The experience reminded me of why I make films. I very much enjoyed my time there." - Adam Michael Becker, Director / Cinematographer, "REAL CHANGE," official selection at SpIFF 2014.

SpIFFy Juried Awards:
Best Animated Short
Best Northwest Short
Best Documentary Feature
Best Narrative Feature
Best Northwest Feature
Best Short
Most Promising Filmmaker

Audience Awards:
Best Animated Short
Best Northwest Short
Best Documentary Feature
Best Narrative Feature
Best Northwest Feature
Best Short

SpIFF reserves the right to modify awards or to add awards that recognize significant achievement in filmmaking.

SpIFF accepts features, documentaries, and shorts from around the world. Genre is open.

SpIFF plans to hold in-person and virtual events for the 2023 edition. We will transition to virtual environments as health and safety or serving our audience require. Unfortunately, we cannot guarantee that films will screen in-person.

Required Notifications: When submitting on Film Freeway, you must notify us if you plan to require a screening fee or any restriction on the geographic territory if your film is selected to screen at SpIFF. Knowing these conditions will enable us to best plan our program with a minimum of disruption.

Open submissions that receive significant exhibition in Spokane prior to SpIFF, either via theatrical or broadcast venues, may be declined at the discretion of the programmers. In addition, SpIFF will NOT consider open submissions that are readily available on the internet (i.e. without password protection or on a streaming service), except in extraordinary circumstances. Please contact director@spokanefilmfestival.org before submitting your work or before screening it in Spokane if you have any questions regarding this policy.

Submission Format: Submit preview copies as a secure online screener, via FilmFreeway.

Presentation Format: We will exhibit accepted works as mutually acceptable current digital formats or as Blu-Ray.

Notification: The Festival will notify, by email via Film Freeway, all open submissions on or before January 10, 2023 whether or not their film has been selected by SpIFF.

Loss and Damage: Every precaution will be taken to safeguard all materials submitted to the festival. However, we cannot accept or assume responsibility in the event of loss or damage.

Please note: If your work is accepted for SpIFF, we prefer electronic press kits with the exception of paper press kit materials such as posters, fliers, and postcards. Paper press kits submitted for use by SpIFF will not be returned.

Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • It was a real honor to have the opportunity to attend the 2023 Spokane International Film Festival with our film, "A Dreamer's Search." I was grateful for the warm welcome from the staff and was greatly inspired by all the incredible films. Meeting such wonderful people and soaking in the marvelous atmosphere was a privilege. I am looking forward to returning for what promises to be an even more remarkable experience next year!

    February 2023
  • What an honor it was to have my first feature film, MOUNTAINSIDE, chosen to be the closing night in-person film at SpIFF. It was an absolutely wonderful experience, from communication with the festival coordinators, to hospitality provided by the festival, and just the overall festival experience. I can't say enough about the audience either! Full of enthusiastic and supportive questions during the Q&A, and the very fact that so many people even came out to see a feature film by some random filmmaker they basically knew nothing about-- it still blows my mind. I definitely recommend this festival to future submitters!

    February 2023
  • 'The Recess' was selected at the 2022 Spokane International Film Festival, it was great and wonderful experience. Thank you for that.

    March 2022
  • Jennifer Wolfe

    Wonderful film festival. Great selection of short films! I was proud to have my film screened among them.

    March 2022
  • April Kelley

    Brilliant festival - thrilled to have been a part of it and hope to again in the future!

    February 2022