Superfest Disability Film Festival is the longest running disability film festival in the world. Since it first debuted in a small Los Angeles showcase in 1970 it has become an eagerly anticipated international event—hosted by San Francisco's Paul K. Longmore Institute on Disability at San Francisco State University. For more than 30 years, Superfest has celebrated cutting-edge cinema that portrays disability through a diverse, complex, unabashed and engaging lens. Superfest is one of the few festivals worldwide that is accessible to disabled filmgoers of all kinds.
All accepted films receive $100 short films / $200 features screening fee if they successfully deliver accessible formats (AD & CC) of their films for screening.
Best of Festival: Full Length Feature
A work of exceptional quality. The film judged to be the most outstanding full length feature film.
Best of Festival: Short Film (under 45 minutes)
A work of exceptional quality. The film judged to be the most outstanding short film.
P.K. Walker Award in Innovation in Craft
Film judged to make the most innovative use of narrative, cinematography, or other filmmaking techniques to encourage exploration of the experiences of people with disabilities. Added in 2006, this award recognizes Pamela K. Walker’s many contributions to Superfest as its leader from 1998-2002.
Disabled Filmmaker Award
Film judged to be an outstanding work in which a person with a disability has a significant role in producing the film, e.g. producer, director or writer.
Advocacy Award
Film judged to have the most powerful message for disability justice.
Artistry Award
Film that best links disability and the arts.
Access Award
Film with the best accessibility through captioning and audio description.
Liane Yasumoto Jury's Choice Award
Named for the former festival director Liane Yasumoto, this award is presented to the finalist deemed by the judges to be singularly outstanding film that is not recognized in other award categories.
Travel awards may be available.