It's winter, it's bloody cold and we're looking for ways to forget about both of these facts. Luckily, there's no better time to make movies and celebrate our own creativity so that's why we founded the Winter's Dusk Film Festival, to remember that beautiful time of the year spring is finally turning up around the corner.

Winter's Dusk, together with our sister festival Autumn's Dawn, presents the beautiful gap between the overly palatable and the overly pretentious. Did you make a movie that you’re having some trouble submitting to film festivals? A dark comedy that’s too intense for your average comedy festival? A brutal horror whose gore factor isn’t high enough? Some genre blend that makes it difficult to market? Well, we want to see it! Got a horror romance? A grindhouse film noir? A hard-R-rated parody of Teletubbies? All that and more is welcome at Winter's Dusk Short Film Festival.

While we will give special consideration and preference to films that are what you would consider “tough sells,” we also just enjoy any movie that’s good. So, don’t worry; if you’re nervous that your movie isn’t “weird” enough for this festival, we can assure you that it is.

In the words of the late Billy Mays: BUT WAIT, THERE’S MORE!

Winter's Dusk will also feature two sweepstakes for all filmmakers who submit:

1. We know how quickly all of the entrance fees can add up over time. So if you can get at least four guests to purchase a ticket, we will refund your submission fee! (Please note that this refund is retroactive: you can't get it waived just because you super-duper pinky swear that you'll get people to show up.)

2. Starting with this season, we are also offering a two-tiered submission system. The standard submission will just submit it to the festival, no questions asked. If you pay for the deluxe submission, you'll get a free t-shirt and a free ticket to the festival (standard submitters will need to pay for a ticket as well).

We don’t care where the movie’s from, what language it’s in (as long as it’s subtitled) or who made it. If you’re a fan of the unusual, the funny, the scary or just the plain ol’ good time at the theater, we’d love to see you here.

Awards & Prizes

Best Film: The big kahuna.

Audience Choice: Whoever pleases the crowd the most.

Best Cinematography: For those that point the camera real good.

Best Editing: For those that can best channel their inner Edgar Wright.

Best Use of Sound: For those that make the sounds sound more soundy.

Best Cast: Actors still like winning awards, right?

Most Creative Concept: Those who decided to go the extra mile for doing something interesting.

Rules & Terms

By submitting to Winter's Dusk, you agree to the following rules and terms:

This festival is currently for short films only. 30 minutes in the maximum running time allowed.

NO FILMS MADE BY OPENAI/CHATPGT ALLOWED! We understand that it's an exciting and/or frightening new technology but Winter's Dusk is all about celebrating creativity and effort and typing in a prompt is neither one of those things.

Filmmakers are allowed to submit more than one film but only one film per filmmaker will be selected.

If filmmakers refer at least 4 guests to purchase tickets, the entrance fee will be refunded.

Filmmakers are responsible for obtaining all rights, licenses, royalties etc. to present their work. Winter's Dusk holds no legal ramifications if filmmakers don’t own the rights to anything in their film. If you get in trouble for copyright infringement, that’s on you.

Films that are racist, sexist, ageist or any other kind of ist will not be considered.

If submitting film files, they should ideally be exported in 1080p HD video at 23.97, 24 or 30 frames per second and openable in QuickTime.

We have no rules for premiering. If you are premiering, though, let us know and we’ll mention it at the event!

The fee you pay for submitting your film is exactly that and does not guarantee acceptance into the festival. Outside of the aforementioned sweepstake, there will be no other refunds offered.

All guests and filmmakers will be treated with the utmost respect and we ask that you extend that same courtesy to all of our staff and your fellow filmmakers. Seriously, don’t be a jerk. It’s not cool.

All films must either be in English or have English subtitles.

In order to qualify for an award, you must come to the event and be present for at least 5 other films.
8 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Javier Santiago

    Thank you for your management with this beautiful industry. Festivals like yours are what make the dreams of filmmakers like us come true.

    October 2024
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  • Rhett Sever

    This festival was my first screening of one of my own films in public and it couldn’t have been more fun!!! Tom the organizer is personable and funny and a great hang after the festival at a bar where he gets everyone a discount!! Great fest!!! Thank you Tom!!!

    October 2024
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  • Harry Waldman

    Thanks for selecting "Enter the Room" into your festival as a Nominee for Best Cast and Best Cinematography. I wasn't able to attend the festival in person, but was impressed by the clear and frequent communication, in addition to receiving a free t-shirt and photos from the event. Overall, I had a very good experience and will definitely consider submitting future projects to Autumn's Dawn Film Festival.

    October 2023
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  • Jim Zounis

    It was such a great honor to have our short selected as a Nominee for "Best Use of Sound" in this years "Autumn's Dawn Film Festival". Thank you all so much.

    October 2023
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  • Jason Cross

    This was a great festival to be part of. Tom was very responsive to my concerns and was very accommodating. It is a great festival and has a great atmosphere. I am excited to submit future projects to this festival.

    October 2023
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