Are you fed up with the politicization of art in contemporary society?
Do you believe that your strength as a filmmaker lies in the intrinsic artistic quality of your work—not in the political layers imposed upon it?
Do you find it frustrating that festivals increasingly ask about your identity, your political views, and require you to complete forms that seem to evaluate whether you are a “morally acceptable” artist? If any of this resonates with you, welcome to the Hollywood International Golden Age Festival.

We believe that an artist must be free. No institution—under any justification—should dictate how art ought to look, what it should say, or which values it must represent.
For us, a truly democratic cinema is one that treats all artists equally, without imposing ideological expectations or predefined artistic frameworks. This is our fundamental principle.

We place the dignity and creative freedom of each artist above the assumptions of those who claim to define justice on behalf of others. No artist should be judged through imposed moral or political standards—only through the artistic merit of their work.
This is why we have created this festival: a space grounded in a clear and uncompromising vision.

Here, the only criterion is artistic quality—not political alignment, not identity, not conformity to contemporary expectations. We are not interested in being politically correct. We are interested in restoring the primacy of art in filmmaking.

The organizing and administrative team behind the Hollywood Golden Age Festival began their activities in New York six years ago. The festival operates on a seasonal basis, with each edition featuring private jury screenings. Each season, outstanding films are recognized with awards, and selected winners advance to compete in the online annual awards.

Awards & Prizes

For long feature films:

Best Us feature film
Best International feature film
Best Us documentary film
Best International documentary film
Best director in long feature film
Best actor in long feature film
Best actress in long feature film
Best music in feature film
Best editing in feature film

For short films:
Best Narrative Short
Best Documentary Short
Best Experimental Short
Best Micro Short
Best Erotic Short
Best Music Video
Best High-school Level Short
Best Advertising
Best Director
Best Producer
Best Actor
Best Actress
Best Script
Best Cinematographer
Best Editor
Best Music
Best Poster
Best Trailer
Best Animation
Best Music Video
Best Horror Short
Best Comedy Short
Best Family Short
Best Erotic Short
Best War Short
Best Thriller Short
Best Web Series/ Tv Pilot

Rules & Terms

A) Eligibility Requirements
1. We accept films of all genres.
2. Films completed on or after Jan 1, 2023 are eligible for consideration
3. Short feature films that are available for public online viewing are eligible
6. Multiple entries from the same submitter are accepted. A separate submission and a separate entry fee must accompany each entry.
7. All entries must be either in English or subtitled in English. Dialogue lists are not accepted.
8. Entrant confirms and warrants required legal authority to submit the entry to the Festival and to use all music, images, and content in the entry.

B) Judging & Selection
Films are selected for Annual Event by HIGA Festival programming committee. If a film is selected, the Festival office will contact the entrant by phone or email. The Festival does not provide feedback or screening notes to entries that are not selected.

C) Entry Fees
Each entry must be accompanied by the appropriate entry fee. Entry fees are not refundable.

476 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Rupert Poeschl

    I am deeply honoured to receive this award for our documentary film. As a first-time filmmaker, this recognition comes as a humbling surprise and a profound encouragement.
    However, this award does not belong to me alone. Above all, it is a tribute to the refugees at Dzaleka Refugee Camp and the host community in Malawi, whose lives and voices shaped this film. We are grateful for their trust and courage in allowing us to share the Tumaini festival, the only cultural festival in a refugee camp worldwide.
    I would also like to express my sincere gratitude to the exceptional team behind this project. Their unwavering commitment, creative insight made this film possible. This award is a shared achievement, and I am proud to stand alongside them.
    Thank you to the jury and the organisers for recognising the value of the refugees' stories. May this honour serve as a celebration of our work and a continued call to listen to, reflect on and engage with the voices of refugees worldwide.

    May 2026
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  • Chiara Basile Fasolo

    Thank you to the festival for choosing “Double Code” as a Semi-Finalist.
    This recognition fills me with enthusiasm.
    I’m happy to share this achievement with you.

    April 2026
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  • Mark Keil

    Aloha, much mahalo for entering my tennis Docu ‘The Journeymen’ into your festival. It is quite an honor, & hopefully a new channel internationally & domestically will purchase it for viewership. We had a great experience.

    March 2026
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  • Ken Sagoes

    We are truly honored and deeply grateful that our film “Socrates” was selected as an Award Winner at your festival. The festival was thoughtfully organized with excellent communication. May the festival continue to thrive as a meaningful platform that celebrates creativity and empowers filmmakers to share their unique voices.

    January 2026
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  • Sydney Rincón

    On behalf of the cast and crew of Sensus Mori (2025), we thank Hollywood International Golden Age Festival for the opportunity to showcase our film to bright new audiences and share our story in new collaborative spaces.

    January 2026
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