Student Film Awards

Previously called the Maine Student Film Festival, the Student Film Awards is a celebration of international student film & cinema. Submit your film as we curate our Class of 2023!

In short – we’re a Festival and Awards Show that’s dedicated to curating the best student films and filmmakers on planet earth. We field through many submissions per year in search for extraordinary stories told by students in the form of film and video, and nominate/shortlist them for a Student Film Award to curate our SFA Festival.

In long – we were established in 2018 by a group of high school students in Maine, originally under the name the “Maine Student Film Festival”, originally keeping it local. We quickly expanded outward, and with our 2019 show, began accepting submissions from students around the world (on the condition that we could screen their Maine premiere). As we moved into 2020, we, like many of our colleagues and other events, were forced online, where we stayed for two years. Our 2021 Festival attracted tens of thousands of unique viewers across our livestream platforms.

We’re taking a break in 2023 to fully rebrand from the Maine Student Film Festival to the Student Film Awards. But when we come back in 2024, we’ll be returning as an hybrid event – both in-person and virtual. We realize that there are plenty of students who can’t physically travel to a destination, so keeping our Festival online is a huge priority for us.

The Student Film Awards Class of 2024 will have fifteen award categories, including eight new awards this year:

"- Achievement in Animation
- Achievement in Storytelling
- Achievement in Sound Design
- Achievement in Voice Acting (New for 2024!)
- Achievement in Cinematography
- Achievement in Editing (New for 2024!)
- Achievement in Worldbuilding (New for 2024!)
- Achievement in Color (New for 2024!)
- Achievement in Costume Design (New for 2024!)
- Achievement in Documentary Filmmaking (New for 2024!)
- Achievement in Lighting Design (New for 2024!)
- Achievement in Original Score (New for 2024!)
- Best Actor
- Best Actress
- Best Picture"

Each year, our Festival programming committee nominates five films per category, and shortlists an additional five. The nominated and shortlisted films make up the slate at the SFA Festival, happening in-person and virtually. The nominated films then compete to win the award for their category, decided by a separate committee.

By entering your film ("FILM") into the Student Film Awards ("SFA") operated by Student Film Awards LLC, you agree to the following, regardless of whether your submission is accepted, denied, or chosen as an award winner.

SFA can film, tape, record, and/or transcribe both FILM & associated breakout sessions, panels, talks, and other related content as part of the event recordings. This content is referred to as the “Released Subject Matter.”

FILM warrants that FILM will not infringe on the rights of any third party in presenting at the event, including any rights or copyrights of any performer, competitor, or third party.
FILM gives permission to SFA and its authorized agents the right to forever utilize and alter the Released Subject Matter (FILM & associated breakout sessions, panels, and talks), in any way that SFA may see fit and for any purpose whatsoever, without limitation of any kind. However, the underlying intellectual property contained in the presentation of FILM shall remain the sole property of the FILM.

FILM shall not receive any future compensation for the Released Subject Matter.

The only exception to clause 3 are assets, including, but not limited to, music, video clips, voice over audio, etc., that have been licensed from a third party and are not the original, creative work of FILM.

FILM grants SFA the right to use the Released Subject Matter in all forms of media, including but not limited to advertising and related promotion, publicity, and public displays forever throughout the world.

FILM releases SFA and SFA’s owners, agents, licensees, and successors from any claims that may arise regarding the use of the Released Subject Matter including any claims of defamation, libel, slander, invasion of privacy, rights of publicity, trademark violation, copyright, or otherwise arising out of or in connection with the utilization of Released Subject Matter.

The parties confirm that they have read and understand this agreement. This agreement shall be governed by the laws of the state of Florida, and any disputes be settled through binding Arbitration.

Overall Rating

Quality

Value

Communication

Hospitality

Networking

Lauren Keller

Thank you for selecting our film, "A Little Glass of Rum!"

January 2024

Helpful
Natalia Jiménez

Amazing festival! the communication was great

January 2022

Helpful

Response from festival:

Thank you for submitting! It was a pleasure having you in our Class of 2021.
Sunny Wai Yan Chan

It was a great experience! Nathan, the festival director, was very helpful and kept me updated throughout the festival progress. The festival was held smoothly virtually.

October 2020

Helpful

Response from festival:

Sunny - it was great having you in our Class of 2020! Thanks for bringing Godspeed to our show. We look forward to keeping up with your work as you further your career!
Adrian Xavier Guerrero Ortega

Just amazing! great team behind, I totally love your communication, always checking out how we are doing. Great work, even during the pandemic.

October 2020

Helpful

Response from festival:

Thank you, Adrian, for being a part of our Class of 2020! Keep us updated on your success as a student filmmaker.
Or Levy

awesome festival with amazing communication

October 2020

Helpful

Response from festival:

Thank you, Or, and thank you for submitting Bube maises to our Class of 2020. It was a pleasure screening your film!