The Women's Film Festival is an annual festival that is normally during Women's History Month in March that showcases work made by and/or about women and self-identifying women. This year, it will be held in September 2025. The Women's Film Festival is the only event of its kind in Philadelphia that celebrates and elevates women in film and television.

Since October 2014, The Women's Film Festival has presented hundreds of culturally relevant films and exciting programming to broad and diverse audiences in the Greater Philadelphia region. Past main venues included the Perelman Theater at the Kimmel Center of Performing Arts, Caplan Theater at the University of the Arts, Drexel URBN Annex Screening Room, National Liberty Museum, Philadelphia Museum of Art Ruth and Raymond G Perelman Building, The Lightbox Center, The Suzanne Roberts Theater, Masonic Temple, Neighborhood House at Christ Church, Moore College of Art & Design, and Fleisher Art Memorial.

To learn more information about The Women's Film Festival, please visit our website at www.thewomensfilmfestival.org.

Awards & Prizes

- Best Full Length Narrative ($100 prize)
- Best Full Length Documentary ($100 prize)
- Best Short Narrative ($100 prize)
- Best Short Documentary ($100 prize)

Rules & Terms

Please submit your work (documentary, short, feature, animation, or music video) featuring a strong female role in the category of director, writer, producer, editor, director of photography, or lead actress. Work cannot be screened in Philadelphia area prior to this film festival and must not be open to the public to view. No submission waivers.

Good luck to all, and thank you for sharing your work with us.

CERTIFICATION OF ENTRANT: I, the contact person for the film submitted with this application, agree to the following:

I have read, understood, and completed all eligibility requirements for which I would like this film to be considered.

* To the best of my knowledge, all of the statements in this application are true.
* The Women's Film Festival DOES NOT PAY SCREENING FEES. By submitting my film to this festival, I am giving consent to allow The Women's Film Festival to screen it if selected.
* If selected for the festival, I agree to pay for print shipping costs. The Women's Film Festival will pay for return shipping. (DVD/Blu-ray screeners will not be returned.)
* All final works must be completed and shipped 4 weeks before the screening date. This contract is binding and will be held responsible for the information in my submission.
* I agree to allow The Women's Film Festival to screen my film at post-festival events.
* The Women's Film Festival will only accept films written, directed, produced, videographed, edited, or principally acted by an artist that identifies as a woman or whose subject matter relates to women issues.
37 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Danny and Aimee Donnelly

    Great communication with this festival. We felt very taken care of and informed. It was such a wonderful experience. We met a lot of very talented filmmakers and participated in several panels. The networking opportunities were good and we were thrilled to be able to open the festival. Also, the programmers take great care in marketing the event.

    November 2024
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  • Joy Waldinger

    The Women’s Film Festival was a truly exceptional film festival! So thankful to have been a part of it! So excited that OVULE was screened and that I was a part of the roundtable discussion of women directors! OVULE was about my husband and I’s journey to parenthood via IVF and surrogacy. Since being featured at the festival, our daughter Fern is now earth-side and I’ve completed my last two experimental short films documenting the journey: EMBRYO & NEONATE! The location of the festival was so charming and intimate, the festival staff were so welcoming and supportive and the films were inspiring and well done! I highly recommend submitting your film to this festival! It won’t disappoint!

    September 2024
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  • Melissa Davey

    I was a little disappointed with the screening venue for my film. There were definitely sound issues and the screen itself was wavy causing some odd visual effects. There was no signage outside of the building and four people tried to come but couldn’t find it. A couple people came and said when they got inside the door they saw a small poster but it didn’t indicate they should take the elevator to the screening. Luckily I received their text.
    The host and Q&A was great.
    I love the Womens Festival and the staff. They put on a long and wonderful program. I think screening on the last day when most everyone had gone home wasn’t the best as I had minimal networking opportunities and there was no audience scoring which made me think the awards were already set. So it felt a little underwhelming.
    There was a great brunch and small closing party which was nice. I just wish I was able to be there at the beginning to get the full effect and networking experience that surely happened.
    This is a great festival for women. I hope my remarks are taken as constructive for future reference!

    September 2024
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  • Connie Jo Sechrist

    We had a wonderful time at the Women's Film Festival. Philadelphia is so much fun, and the Women's Film Festival team is dedicated to advancing women's voices in film. they provide a wonderful, intimate experience for filmmakers. Can't wait to return!

    September 2024
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  • Kacie Newport

    What an awesome film festival! I am so grateful that Holy Moly Meteorite! was selected. Suzi and the team do a wonderful job at making filmmakers feel welcome. I felt uplifted and surrounded by amazing, creative and fantastic women. The filmmakers brunch was literally the highlight of my entire festival experience thus far this year! 10/10 recommend! Thank you!! x

    August 2024
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