POST ALLEY FILM FESTIVAL, presented by Women in Film Seattle, takes place MARCH 21, 2026 at SIFF Film Center, Seattle, Washington, USA.
PAFF is a day of woman centric & eccentric short films from around the block and around the world - diverse voices that remind us of our shared humanity.
PAFF is a venue for stories by women of any identity. Past festivals included early work of Megan Griffiths, SJ Chiro, Lynn Shelton, Robin Wright Penn, and Ana Lily Amipour.
Awards, Q&As, prizes and surprises, and a silent auction; filmmakers attend an invitational "end of evening" reception. PAFF is sponsored by Laughing Dog Pictures and Women in Film Seattle a 501(c) 3 organization since 1990 … promoting respect for all, on and off set and screen.
www.womeninfilmseattle.org
Ticket sales will be available on SIFF.net.
PAFF has been in existence since 2003 originating in Post Alley, Seattle, WA, and didn't happen every year in-between then and now. 2025 was our 15th Edition, but a quirky detail has us looking like we are a year behind, but never behind the times. And we persevere.
Post Alley Film Festival screens at SIFF Film Center which rests on the traditional homelands of the Coast Salish People.
Native American and indigenous filmmakers of the Pacific Northwest who identify as women receive a submission waiver. Please contact virginia@laughingdogpictures.com
Every film is carefully judged. ALL films are screened by the curator.
Virginia Bogert is a filmmaker and winner of Seattle Award for Outstanding Achievement in Film. She is President Emerita WIF Seattle; and a programmer and judge for multiple national and international festivals.
PS Our official PAFF website is under construction but most information resides here on FilmFreeway and you can always contact us via postalleyfilmfestival@gmail.com, https://www.facebook.com/PostAlleyFilmFestival, Instagram, and at virginia@laughingdogpictures.com

Awards & Prizes


Best US Film, Best Foreign Film, Best Documentary, Best Comedy, Best Director, Best Editor
Honorable Mentions
Other Jury Awards in variable categories. More prizes and cash awards TBD
Congratulations to all our talented Post Alley Film Festival filmmakers!
Award Winners:
Best US Film: The Vote - laurels and $300 prize
Drama, US, 2024 | 14:20 Director/Writer Silvia Ray; Producers Axel Caballero, Annie Huang, Andrea Porras Madero, Erika Sabel Flores, John Schorg
Language: English - Content Warning: DNR subject
matter. Seattle Premiere
Amid opposite views, siblings navigate a difficult life or death decision. https://www.instagram.com/the_vote_film/?hl=en
Best Foreign Film: Le Genie - laurels and $300 prize
Drama, France, 2024| 15:18 Director/Writer Enricka M.H; Producer Caïmans Productions
Language: French with English Subtitles
Festivals: Rencontres cinéma de Gindou Dakar Court, Les Capucines du cinéma français, CinéMartinique, Prix coup de cœur-BLKREATION Film Festival, MIFF Best International Short, Mumbai International Film Festival.
A brother and sister, who fight like cats and dogs, encounter a strange man who grants them each a dubious wish. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qmBchJkZBuI
Honorable Mentions:
Nélida
Drama, Argentina, 2023 | 18:00 Directors Marina Artigas, Celeste Lois, Writer: Marina Artigas. Producer Federico Cetta
Language: Portuguese with English Subtitles
Nélida receives a call that cracks her perception of reality and the wall she’s built around herself.
The Claimant
Drama, Iran, 2024 | 20:00 Director/writer Nadereh Sadat Serki
A first-time filmmaker.
Language: Farsi with English subtitles
A father seeks retribution for his teenage daughter. In a patriarchal system, the rights of women and children are violated as are the voices of their male defenders.
A Broad Abroad (pilot)
Romcom, US, 2023 | 27:00 Director Debra Praille, Writer/Prod. Heather Pilder Olson, Prod. Kira Sipler, Starring Angela DiMarco
Language: English
Festivals: Palermo Film Fest Winner, Studio City Film Festival, LA Independent Woman’s Festival, Hong Kong Indie Festival, Istanbul Movie Awards, Florence Indie Festival
To resurrect her career, a former A-list actress takes a D-list job as a travel show host; but her director gets arrested, and she must save the show, her job, and her budding romance with her cameraman.

Rules & Terms

GUIDELINES FOR POST ALLEY FILM FESTIVAL -PLEASE READ CAREFULLY
Welcome to the Post Alley (international shorts) Film Festival, a day of woman centric and eccentric short films celebrating filmmakers with creative voices.
PAFF is presented and co-sponsored by Women in Film Seattle and Laughing Dog Pictures
Festival venue: The SIFF Film Center, 167 Republican Street in Seattle Center, Seattle, Washington, USA.
Eligibility: PAFF accepts only short films (narrative, documentary, animated, experimental, student) completed by January of two previous festival years. PAFF may accept an earlier produced film of outstanding quality or importance that typically has won festival awards and deserves a new audience/or has achieved archival status. Screening is at the curator’s discretion. (Note: by "film" we mean: film, video, digital, photographic media.)
PAFF seeks films in which women have played important creative roles as director and/or writer. PAFF has screened films by male co-director/writers.
Native American filmmakers of the Pacific Northwest are offered a waiver. Please contact curator for waiver code. virginia@laughingdogpictures.com
This is a women's festival in that we believe this 50% of the population holds a unique and creative perspective and needs a venue.
Film Length: 1-20 minutes
• Not accepted: Industrial/corporate films, music videos, commercials, PSAs, and pornographic material. We know it when we see it.
• All music and other copyrighted material used in films must be properly licensed.
• All films must be in English or subtitled in English.

Submission fees/deadlines: SUBMIT ON FilmFreeway
Indigenous women presenting filmmakers of the Pacific Northwest submit free. Contact virginia@laughingdogpictures.com for CODE
Early Deadline: General entry fee: $15.00 - Women in Film members fee: $10.00
Official Deadline: General entry fee: $25.00 – Women in Film members fee: $12.50
Late Deadline: General entry fee: $30.00 – Women in Film members fee: $15.00
Absolute deadline: General entry fee: $35.00 and a note from your mother. WIF members: $20.00
We request downloadable links of high resolution.
• One submission per entry fee please. .
• Women in Film members and Indigenous filmmakers contact festival director for submission code. virginia@laughingdogpictures.com - postalleyfilmfestival@gmail.com
IF SELECTED, WE WILL NEED A DCP OF YOUR FILM.

Payment: If not using FilmFreeway or paying via PayPal, make checks payable to: Women in Film Seattle (note on your check: PAFF) and send to: Post Alley Film Festival
Att. Virginia Bogert 1506 35th Avenue, Seattle, WA , 98122, USA. Questions? Email the curator. virginia@laughingdogpictures.com; postalleyfilmfestival@gmail.com

Submission screeners: Movies can be submitted for viewing via FilmFreeway or uploaded on VIMEO and the link (Quicktime, mov.) sent to the PAFF Curator virginia@laughingdogpictures.com - postalleyfilmfestival@gmail.com
We prefer you use FilmFreeway.
Final festival screening specs: If selected we prefer your film your final film in DCP format.
Note: The time and date of screenings of films are at the discretion of PAFF.
• Foreign language films must have English subtitles.
• To be considered, PAFF must receive:
A request submitted via email IF YOU ARE NOT submitting via our preferred submission site: FilmFreeway.
• The required entry fee. Delivery: If hard copy, Final Masters/DCPs, send to: Curator Virginia Bogert – contact addresses below, otherwise
Notification: Check Post Alley Film Festival FilmFreeway for dates of notifications.

CONTACT INFORMATION
Please contact
postalleyfilmfestival@gmail.com
virginia@laughingdogpictures.com and visit postalleyfilmfestival.com
Mailing address:
Virginia Bogert, Curator Post Alley Film Festival (PAFF)
1506 35th Avenue
Seattle, WA 98122

If you have questions about eligibility, deadlines, possible fee waivers, shipping, or anything else that you can’t Google or Bing, or on PAFF’s FAQ, contact Curator/Festival Director: virginia@laughingdogpictures.com
"My goal as Post Alley Film Festival curator is to program with care and intelligence exceptional work by women filmmakers, provide a venue for female-centric movies, and at the same time, present a balanced lens that includes films by women, for everyone." –Virginia Bogert, PAFF Curator, WIF Seattle President Emerita | Community Liaison
14 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Angela DiMarco & David S. Hogan

    Post Alley Film Festival is STILL one of my top PNW festival to submit to! It's intimate in all of the best ways. You get to actually talk to filmmakers and audience right at the location, it's walking distance to many food joints, and the film selection is always TOP NOTCH. I am so grateful for all the work Virginia Bogert and Women In Film Seattle put into making this festival possible. We loved that we got to have our final PNW screening of A Trapdoor at Post Alley Film Festival. SUBMIT TO THIS FEST!

    April 2026
    Helpful
  • Jaymica Rapisura

    Had so much fun for my first time at a festival and having a QnA!

    April 2025
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  • Heather Pilder Olson

    Fantastic festival in the heart of Seattle! We screened our TV comedy pilot here in 2025, for the 15th year of the festival. Really excellent array of films, all created by women. Would love to see this festival expand to a larger venue. Great reception after the films. We felt very loved and appreciated!

    April 2025
    Helpful
  • Sarah Rodenbaugh

    Post Alley was awesome! Thank you for great communication and for having Hangman screen this year!

    April 2024
    Helpful
  • Benoit Lamarche

    It was an incredible experience with an exceptionally hospitable team. Truly a fantastic festival!

    April 2024
    Helpful
    Response from festival:

    It was a pleasure having you and Emma here for the premiere of your film Blood Ties. We love showcasing new and young talent!