The Elgin Short Film Festival (ESFF) will celebrate its 16th year on October 5, 2024. This one-of-a-kind festival has become a world-wide competition, with entries from around the globe and prizes going to filmmakers from the US, Canada, Spain, and South Korea. Film entries will be accepted beginning April 1, 2024.

The ESFF encourages participation and invites filmmakers to submit their short films (20 minutes in length including credits) for competition in this year’s festival.
The festival will be a hybrid event with in-person viewing and a virtual screening option. Welcoming an in-house audience as well as those screening the festival from afar, the 2024 ESFF is sure to be impressive, showcasing the best in short cinema.

This competition will allow any filmmaker to submit work, even if it has been entered into other festival competitions. Films may be submitted in every genre and subject matter as long as they are within the scope of the official rules.

Exciting components to the ESFF 2024 festival:
• The ESFF will feature a Live Action category and an Animation category.
• Next In Finalist - Each category will have five potential finalists. The top two, as voted on by the selection committee, will make the finals. The next three films in each category will compete for
a spot in the finals in September as part of the Elgin Fringe Festival. (TBD) ElginFringeFestival.com
• The ESFF will accept films that are up to the equivalent of an MPAA ‘R’ rating.
• The Top Finalists selected will be treated to a red-carpet arrival the night of the festival and their films will be shown in the 1,200-seat theater of The Hemmens Cultural Center.
• Trophies and cash prizes for the top three films – up to $1,000!

Awards & Prizes

First Place for Best Film: Trophy & $1,000
Second Place for Best Film: Trophy and $500
Third Place for Best Film: Trophy & $300
The People’s Choice Award (based on audience votes cast during intermission): Trophy

The top 3 films in each category will be recognized on the night of the festival, October 5, 2024.

Rules & Terms

Please see website for full rules. Since submission of a film constitutes acceptance of these Entry Rules & Regulations (by filmmakers and their agents), please review this document carefully.

www.hemmens.org/annualfilmfestival

General Rules:
Since submission of a film constitutes acceptance of
these Entry Rules; Regulations (by filmmakers and their
agents), please review this document carefully.
To be eligible for consideration, entrants must fully comply
with the following Rules & Regulations, including deadline
and entry material requirements and selected film
requirements.
Films must be no more than twenty (20) minutes in
length (including credits). Films over twenty (20)
minutes will not be considered and entry fee will be
forfeit.
1. Films must be received no later than August 30, 2024. Early Entry rates are available for entries received by August 2, 2024. See page 2 for details. The ESFF Committee may temporarily prohibit the acceptance of film entries or may advance the aforementioned submission deadline to any date prior to August 30, 2024, in the ESFF Committees sole discretion without prior notice.
2. All entries must be either in English, contain English subtitles, or be dubbed in English.
3. ESFF will accept films that are the equivalent of an MPAA ‘R’ rating. However, the ESFF
reserves the right to reject submissions which it considers inappropriate in the sole
discretion of the ESFF Committee (e.g., submissions which contain excessive nudity, violence or vulgarity).
4. Films that have been previously submitted to the Elgin Short Film Festival are NOT
eligible for competition.
5. Films must be submitted electronically through the Film Freeway website at:
https://filmfreeway.com/festival/ElginShortFilmFestival.
6. All entries must be a complete film. Submitted works that are deemed by the ESFF
Committee to be a “work in progress,” “rough cut,” or a portion of
a larger work will not be accepted.
7. Entrant confirms and warrants that he/she has the required legal authority to submit the entry into the Festival and to use all music, images, and content in the entry.
8. Submitted works must not have been commercially exhibited in the U.S. or publicly broadcast.
9. Entrants must be 18 years of age or older. Underage filmmakers must have their film
submitted by a parent or guardian over the age of 18.
8 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Grecia Aguilar

    A great film festival that really appreciates their filmmakers! They really made us feel special! Also I enjoyed touring Elgin. :)

    October 2023
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  • Jesse Willmon

    While I wasn't able to attend, the Elgin Short Film Festival was a lovely experience all around. I sent my in-laws, who are local, to the awards ceremony where my short "It Was Up There" won the Peoples Choice Award and Second Place overall. I'm happy to report that the Festival was lovely, the donuts were delicious and the films were wonderful.

    October 2023
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  • Drew Dull

    This is the second time posting this review. I took the first one down because I spoke to and believed the empty excuses/promises from the festival director, Joe Vassallo.

    This festival does not care about filmmakers. That is something that came across loud and clear from my interactions with Joe. They want your money and don't care what happens after that.

    Keep in mind that my film was actually a "semifinalist" whatever that means. Because I wasn't even able to get the information I needed to find out where to buy tickets or where to watch my film when it was screened.

    So after voicing these frustrations in my previous review of the festival, I had the opportunity to speak with Joe directly. The only apology that he ever made to me was that I felt the way I did. Not owning up to the fact that he failed to communicate clear and easy information to me, like where to buy tickets.

    Regardless, I removed the review because I don't like leaving negative reviews for anyone or anything but after my second round of a complete and utter lack of communication from Joe, I had to submit the review again.

    I reached back out to Joe asking for a list of journalists/press that covered the event, which is not a significant ask for most festivals. I simply wanted to reach out to them directly with the story of my film since it had local ties and I didn't get the chance to do so at the festival itself. However, three months later, I still did not have this list from Joe.

    So I urge any filmmakers considering the not so insignificant entry fee to stay far, FAR away from the Elgin Short Film Festival Joe will gladly take your money and maybe even call you a semi-finalist, but he does not care about your film or you as a filmmaker.

    February 2022
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  • Kailyne R. Waters

    We had the honor of showing our short film, The Go Cart at this year's festival. The experience was amazing! So thoughtful and kind to filmmakers. Well done, Elgin Team!

    September 2018
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  • Ben Gustafson

    We had the immense honor of being selected and winning this year's festival. The staff put a lot of effort into making a very memorable evening for the filmmakers with their limited budget. There's a limo ride, red carpet, and interviews for local newspapers. While I wouldn't necessary travel across the world for this festival, it's definitely worth the entry if you're somewhat local & able to attend! Great cash prizes, and an enthusiastic audience fills the auditorium.

    November 2017
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