Founded in 2021, the Tartan Film Festival is an annual celebration of Scotland and film presented by the St. Andrew's Society of Los Angeles, the oldest organization in Southern California devoted to the promotion of Scotland’s history and modern-day culture.

Every film selected for the festival must have some connection to Scotland, whether that be Scottish filmmakers and/or actors, Scottish stories and/or content, or films shot in Scotland. These three distinctions provide the narrative feature categories, alongside a documentary category (any length) and a shorts category.

The Tartan Film Festival is an annual event that has periodic screenings throughout the year, starting with an annual kickoff the first weekend of April. For 2026 we are adding a week of online screenings in the fall. Submitted films will be considered for both the online screenings and any additional in-person screenings.

Previous titles exhibited at the festival include TUMMY MONSTER, MEET THE BUCHANANS, SLEEPING DOGS, and THE WATER OF LIFE - A WHISKY FILM.

Awards & Prizes

"Best of Fest" Awards will be voted on by the organizers. At minimum, we will present an award for Best Narrative Feature, Best Short, and Best Documentary, though we reserve the right to provide additional awards as we see fit.

Rules & Terms

GENERAL RULES

1. Narrative feature films ("Scottish Subject Matter", "Filmed in Scotland", and "Scottish Filmmakers and/or Actors" categories) should be over 40 minutes length. Short narrative films should be under 40 minutes with a minimum of 1 minute. Films for the Documentary category can be any length.

2. All films must have been completed after January 1st, 2025.

3. All films will be considered for award categories unless the Tartan Film Festival separately arranges a film for a special non-competition screening.

4. Submissions not in English must have English subtitles.

5. Once selected, the filmmaker must make available a high resolution digital file for the online screening (exact specs to be provided upon acceptance). Filmmakers should be prepared to provide one of any numbers of formats for in-person screenings, including but not limited to digital files and/or DCPs. Since our in-person screenings rotate through different theaters, exact requirements may vary.

6. At least one representative (producer or director) of each competitive project are required to provide an intro video for online screenings and/or to take part in a Q&A session immediately following their film for all in-person screenings.

7. Participants promise to provide the Tartan Film Festival with a full electronic press kit that must include a trailer, images for web and print, cast & crew information, and film synopsis.

8. Participants agree that clips from their film and all other material related to their project may be used and/or published in the event program, the Tartan Film Festival website and for any promotional purposes which the Tartan Film Festival deems appropriate.

9. No screeners and/or promotional materials will be returned to the filmmaker, unless arranged in advance with the festival office.

10. If selected, all commercial/private property including all trademark/copyrighted materials shown or recorded on the project is the responsibility of the filmmaker. The Tartan Film Festival will NOT take responsibility for any infringement of copyright materials.

11. The cost of delivery and pick-up of all materials is the responsibility of the filmmakers.

12. The Tartan Film Festival holds no responsibility for lost or damaged prints. While the utmost care will be taken with regard to prints, it is solely up to the filmmaker to take full responsibility (i.e. insurance).

13. Rules are subject to change at any time with or without prior notice.