St Albans International Film Festival
'The right mix of professionalism & fun'.
A vibrant and cutting edge film festival event in unique and prestigious venues across the beautiful city of St Albans.

There is a great deal of filmmaking history associated with St Albans including Stanley Kubrick, Arthur Melbourne-Cooper who was one of the first great pioneers of animation http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arthur_Melbourne-Cooper
and Blockbuster Movie Director Mike Newell who was brought up in the area.

In its first 3 years we received over 400 entries each year from 30+ countries around the world.
Stanley Kubrick's wife Christiane officially opened our first festival and it was closed by Jan Harlan, Kubrick's brother in law.
We have wonderful press coverage for the festival including Number One read story on the BBC news website, ITV news, The Independent Newspaper and many other newspapers and websites.

Filmmakers will showcase their talent and receive recognition in the form of ‘festival selection’ and the opportunity to win awards. Film-lovers will have a chance to see some of the most unique and fantastic films from around the globe and to celebrate the area and its filmmakers. There will be talks & workshops for budding filmmakers.. as well as a chance to enjoy the festival parties and events.

One visiting filmmaker said we had "Exactly the right mix of professionalism and fun".

At St Albans Film Festival our team of enthusiastic volunteers make you feel welcome. We hope to see you there in 2020.

The winner of each category will win a festival goodie bag plus the following cash prizes:
Best Film in each of the following categories will win £100
- Main Short Films
- Animations
- Student Films
- Short Doc
- Best Young student film - age 5 - 15
Plus prizes for Best actor, Best Director.

FESTIVAL DATES

• 8th - 12th July 2020
• Submissions are currently OPEN.

SUBMISSION FORMAT
• Films must be submitted via online platforms or via an emailed vimeo link.

FEE'S:
Entry fee’s are non-refundable.

DEADLINES:
Deadlines are the dates by which you must send your submissions via email or via online platforms, however do send your submissions as soon as possible. Please make sure you send the correct fee for your submission.

PRESS & PUBLICITY
Should your film be accepted we will request digital images and other press/publicity materials you may have available at that time.

SUBMISSION ELIGIBILITY
• All foreign language films must be subtitled in English (the costs of which are to be covered by the applicant).
• All rights, permissions and clearances must be obtained prior to submission and applicants must ensure that they have the right to submit the work with regard to third parties connected with the production of the film in question. This includes all film and music rights and clearances have been obtained in accordance with UK copyright laws. By entering your work, you agree to this and the responsibilities involved. The St Albans Film Festival assumes no responsibility for violation or infringement of copyright law.
• Films must abide by the legal constraints of film classification. Please refer to the British Board of Film Classification Guidelines.
Your film MUST meet these conditions. WE DO NOT REFUND SUBMISSION FEES.

We welcome Over 18 content, however please also note that any film containing illegal content will not be accepted and will be immediately reported to the authorities.

PRIZES & FESTIVAL SELECTION
One film in each category will win a trophy.
The final decision for selection of all prize winners as well as film selection in the festival and placement in the festival programme will be the responsibility of the Festival Director.

Any further prizes offered will be listed on our website.

SHIPPING

We do not accept postal entries. Please send screener via FilmFreeway or email us a vimeo link to your screener to submisisons@stalbansfilmfestival.com

SELECTION
Selection will be carried out by the St Albans Film Festival Director and appointed judges. No correspondence will be entered into regarding the selection process and the decision of the Festival Committee is final.
We will inform successful applicants by the 31st May 2018.

All those offered a slot to screen their film at our festival will be listed on our website (www.stalbansfilmfestival.com) and successful applicants will be notified by email or over the phone.

We will also request that successful applicants send us digital press kits. Please only send this after you have been selected, and NOT during application.

We will also inform UNSUCCESSFUL applicants by email by 8th June 2020

If your film is successful you will be issued with our screening guidelines and will need to provide a high quality screening copy. St Albans Film Festival will not pay any screening fees nor will be incur any costs for the film or postage to receive your film.

FESTIVAL SCREENING & SCHEDULING
All screenings during the Festival period will take place at the discretion of the Festival. We reserve the right to make changes to the advertised schedule at any time for any reason and will not accept liability for any costs incurred as a result of such changes.
No film may be withdrawn from the St Albans Film Festival programme after its selection/participation has been confirmed without the prior agreement of St Albans Film Festival.
If we require a screening copy of your film, these must be received by the Festival by 15th June 2020.

Submission to the St Albans Film Festival implies acceptance of the Rules outlined above.

Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Hui Tan

    It is my great honor to receive your announcement!
    I deeply appreciate St Albans Film Festival to provide this opportunity for filmmakers to represent their films and share their experiences!
    Tan, Hui

    December 2022
  • Heléna Antonio

    A very lovely Festival and experience!
    I am incredibly grateful to have had my first film behind the camera, ‘2020’ screened alongside some really great films,
    I enjoyed very much the Q&A with Leoni and other filmmakers, sharing experiences and perspectives.
    I will definitely send my next films to this Festival.

    July 2022
  • Marjan Khatibi

    Awesome festival! Thank you for screening my animation!

    July 2022
  • It was our first in person festival for our film 'Crofton' and we are thrilled to have won best animation! Leoni & Matt put on such a great event and everyone was so friendly. I think I will be coming back for sure!

    July 2022
  • Helen Grady

    Such great communication from lovely people.

    July 2022