The Southern City® Film Festival (SCFF) will celebrate its 6th annual film festival in 2021. SCFF is committed to providing an outstanding experience for both our filmmakers and our audiences. Located in Aiken, SC 'Southern Living Magazine' recently named Aiken as the South's "Best Small Town" in America!

Featuring industry roundtables, filmmaker Q&A's, VIP Lounge, prizes, parties with TITOS® open bar and amazing food, celebrity guests, after parties, networking events, and so much more. This year's festival is sure to have something for everyone! In previous years we have screened over 70 films across 5 different venues with multiple world premiers.

Southern City® is Aiken's premier film event of the year. The festival attracts hundreds of attendees each year including industry professionals and emerging undiscovered independent filmmakers.

All filmmakers chosen will receive two (2) Filmmaker Badges allowing ALL ACCESS to all events throughout the festival. Join us this year to see southern hospitality epitomized.

WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING:
"Hollywood glam meets southern charm at the southeast's best film festival, Southern City." - Ashley Bratcher (Actress/Writer)

"This festival is a HOME RUN!" "The Southern hospitality never stops in Aiken." "Not pretentious and not boring." - Douglas Monroe (Filmmaker)

"Good food, great films, and new friends await you in in Aiken, SC." - Jared Callahan (Filmmaker)

"SCFF takes southern hospitality to a new level. They create a great experience for the filmmakers. It was a pleasure to attend a festival that wasn't over-programmed. There was plenty of time between screenings for Q & A, a bite to eat, and real human connections. Feature selections showed a real sense of artistic taste. It's nice to know that SCFF's standards make your selection meaningful; not just another set of laurels. I felt valued and validated having a short film at SCFF; rather than insignificant and ignored." - Nick Lavanos (Filmmaker)

"The hospitality shown to me and my team was world class. Aiken, South Carolina is a magical place. A perfect setting for an amazing film festival." - Chris White (Filmmaker)

We have prizes for each category!

Best Feature Film
Best Documentary Film
Best Short Film
Best Animation Film
Best Homegrown Film
Best Screenplay
-Short & Feature

Best Actor
Best Actress
Best Cinematography

Along with our Jury Awards

WAIVERS:
We provide fee waiver codes for festival alumni & CSRA productions. Please contact us if needed.

MISSION:
The Southern City Institute is dedicated to the education and promotion of the arts by celebrating film through the Southern City Film Festival. SCFF seeks to create venues in the community to encourage education, artistic expression, and acknowledge emerging filmmakers from around the world and within our community.

COMPLETION DATE: Only films made within the last two (2) years are eligible for submission. Southern City does not have any premiere requirements. However, the festival does take previous screenings and broadcasts into consideration when making its official selections, particularly when films have already screened in South Carolina.

LANGUAGE: Screeners and exhibition prints must either be in English or have English subtitles.

ROUGH CUTS: Rough cuts are accepted for entry. If you submit a rough cut, we cannot guarantee that the programmers will be able to review an updated cut at a later date. If you are submitting a rough cut, make sure it is indicated as such on your submission copy. Include intended final running time and work remaining to be completed with your entry. Southern City does not exhibit works-in-progress at the festival. Films must be completed by November 15, 2019 in order to be screened.

EXHIBITION FORMATS: You must have one of the following formats available by July 15, 2018, if accepted, for screening at the festival.

**UPDATE** We're doing away with requiring DVD's, we're going to digital files only this year!

FESTIVAL NOTIFICATION: Notification will be sent by email or phone to the contact listed on the entry form by mid-August 2018. You are responsible for updating Southern City directly regarding any change to your contact information and ensuring that emails from hello@SouthernCity.org are not blocked by spam filters.

SUBMISSION FORMAT: Southern City requires a digital file of the film. It must be under 10gb and at at least 1920x1080.

FOR INTERNATIONAL SUBMISSIONS: (Outside U.S.) - filmmakers MUST write on the package, "NO commercial value - for cultural purposes only."

APPLICATION DETAILS: Preview materials will NOT be returned. Include the film title, running time, and format (NTSC or PAL) on your disc. All entry deadlines are postmark deadlines. Entries postmarked after the final deadline will not be considered. Submission fees are non-refundable.

ADDITIONAL TERMS OF ENTRY:

By submitting this film and/or screenplay, I understand that I am agreeing to the following:

I own or control the copyright in and to, and am duly authorized to submit this film and/or screenplay to the Southern City Film Festival ("Southern City") and to the best of my knowledge, all statements on this document are true; I take responsibility for securing and obtaining any and all third party material, trademarked material and copyrighted material (collectively, the "Content"). Southern City will not be held responsible for any Content in my film which may result in a claim arising out of use of the Content. If Southern City requests, I will provide all appropriate clearance paperwork for Content. This film contains no material which could result in tort claims, royalty claims, claims for breach of contract, or claims of any sort whatsoever; If this film is selected for screening at Southern City, I grant Southern City the right to screen this film in Aiken, South Carolina, November 2-4, 2018; I understand and agree that this film entry, if selected for the Festival, may be used for promotional and advertising purposes for Southern City and/or its partners and affiliates and I grant Southern City and its partners the rights to use up to two minutes of footage, photographic stills and/or titles and information from the film for promotional purposes; I fully indemnify and hold Southern City and its partners and affiliates harmless from: a) damage to or loss of the film print or videotapes en route to or from Southern City or during the course of festival possession of the entry; and b) from any claims which may arise in connection with this film. If a claim arises in connection with this film, I will bear all the costs of defense incurred by Southern City and pay any award of damages which may ensue. I also agree to reimburse Southern City for any attorney fees incurred in connection with the defense of such a claim. I understand their will be no refunds. I also understand that Southern City reserves the right to place my film in the appropriate competition category. By submitting my film, I am indicating that I understand, comply with and agree to the Terms of Entry and the eligibility requirements.

Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Southern City Film Festival is a great multi-day film festival in Aiken, SC. Very supportive of independent filmmakers. Thanks for the chance to take part!

    March 2019
  • John Leary

    Great communication from Justin and his crew. Timely. Considerate. It was an honor to have my short script 100 Proof Warlock in the Fest.

    March 2019
  • April Kelley

    I hope to share many future festival experiences with Southern City® :)

    March 2019
  • This was my second year in a row being part of the screenplay competition at Southern City. The festival director is SUPER communicative and they have gorgeous venues (which I 100% learned by stalking their awesome social media). Fingers crossed to be part of the festival and actually get to attend in 2020. Great work, y'all!

    March 2019
  • Kristy Walsh

    Attending the Southern City Film Festival was like coming home and seeing old friends. The staff were warm and supportive; the community was engaged and thoughtful. We had a truly fantastic time and would be delighted to return in the future!

    February 2019