Use Discount Code 2024EIFFDISC for a 25% discount on all Entry Fees already among the lowest in the world.

2024 EIFF Call For Entries

The Erie International Film Festival Call For Entries is now open to the US and International Filmmakers, and we shall accept all lengths and genres of film including Narrative Features, Narrative Shorts, Animation Features and Shorts, Experimental Features and Shorts, and all forms of Horror, Suspense and Thriller films of Short and Feature length, all lengths of Comedies and Documentaries, along with Feature and Short lengths of GLBT and Religious/Spiritual films, along with Music Videos for our 2024 Festival.

Our festival is seeking the best films that the world has to offer while working to give new and veteran Independent Filmmakers the attention they deserve.

Now celebrating our 10th year, and as a 501c(3) non-profit, the Erie International Film Festival will accept submissions of films regardless if those films are of world premiere status at the time of submission, or if the film has been screened publicly or otherwise distributed anywhere at the time of submission.

Film enlightens the world, opens our eyes, and shows us things we do not see every day, and makes us feel things we do not always feel. Across countries, languages and classes, a film can provide us with a release, and an escape, forgetting the real world and the cares of everyday life while expanding the imagination and opening the door to new possibilities.

The Erie International Film Festival celebrates new trends in digital media and recognizes Trans-media Filmmakers who employ an innovative, interactive, web-based or multi-platform approach to story creation. Through open submissions, selections will be presented to the public via state-of-the-art technology.

Our Festival’s mission is to help Filmmakers reach the broadest possible audience while allowing the general public to experience the power of cinema in the digital age while showcasing the City of Erie as not only an excellent tourist destination but as a filmmaking alternative to the East Coast.

Our Festival introduces independent Filmmakers the world over to Erie Pennsylvania, as our City embraces the arts and culture that the worldwide Filmmaking community delivers with new stories and new points of view.

In addition to our live Film Festival event that will take place in December 2024, our Festival will expand its reach beyond the great City of Erie Pennsylvania, offering to both filmmakers who may not be able to attend our festival, and to independent film lovers around the world, the opportunity to take part in our festival through a unique virtual theater platform with our online festival. Our Festival will take place between the dates of December 6 – December 14, 2024.

Much like with the digital technology that has swept independent film festivals throughout the world since the early 2000’s, for many reasons the virtual theater is quickly becoming the first, best choice for festivals, and the new home of Independent film screenings worldwide.

Located in the heart of the beautiful and picturesque Erie Pennsylvania, our Festival offers much more than the best, most innovative films the world has to offer, but is just the thing for a Filmmaker looking for not only incredible exposure for their film but and an amazing weekend getaway as well.

With a charming environment and a captivating landscape that is permeated with historic landmarks along with an artistically infused culture, Erie Pennsylvania is the perfect backdrop for Filmmakers looking to showcase their projects to audiences that love Independent film in surroundings that are breathtaking.

We at the Erie International Film Festival take great pride in offering the highest level of respect and admiration, always putting the needs of the Filmmaker first, whether that means answering any questions that a Filmmaker may have as quickly as possible, providing the most complete updates and information about our Festival schedules and activities, or simply that one-on-one personal attention that we feel every Filmmaker deserves, while always taking special care to treat every single Filmmaker as though they were a celebrity, and as though they were the only Filmmaker participating in our Festival.

The Erie International Film Festival presents not only the highest caliber of films the world has to offer but does so in the most stunning and scenic location that when combined with our remarkable Filmmaker relations, cumulatively adds up to one of the most phenomenal festivals in which to participate.

Best Genre Awards
Audience Choice Award

PLEASE READ AND FOLLOW ALL BELOW INSTRUCTIONS

Not following the guidelines, rules, regulations, or eligibility may be cause for disqualification.

By submitting to this competition, the entrant agrees to the entire following rule, terms, and conditions of entry/submission.

Only one title per entry form. Productions from 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024 may be submitted. Do not submit works in progress.

All films must be submitted in Digital .MP4 Film File Format 2GB or less for consideration. All films submitted must be available on DVD for presentation. All films submitted MUST BE AVAILABLE FOR DOWNLOAD at the time of submission.
To ensure that your entry is properly processed, you must fill out the form completely and include proper payment.

Along with the film (Digital .MP4 Film File 2GB or less), press kits must include a black and white or color still of the film that is 1920x1080pxls or 1280x720pxls, a complete cast and crew list, and a 250-word synopsis of the project must be included.
We will notify you by email when your entry has been received.

Films submitted must be no more violent and have no more adult content as that which would be considered as an NC-17 rated motion picture. NC-17 does not mean “obscene” or “pornographic” in the common or legal meaning of those words, and should not be construed as a negative judgment in any sense. The rating simply signals that the content is appropriate only for an adult audience. An NC-17 rating can be based on violence, sex, aberrational behavior, drug abuse, or any other element that most parents would consider too strong and therefore off-limits for viewing by their children. If your film meets this requirement then we welcome it.

Exhibition entries should be submitted in a .MP4 File format unless a DVD is requested. No DVDs will be returned.

Participation in the Erie International Film Festival implies understanding and acceptance of all terms included in this application.

All entries must be received no later than the appropriate entry deadline they were submitted under. Additional entry fees will be required if not received by the appropriate deadline. Entries received with incomplete information and/or missing Fee Payments will not be considered.

Films submitted in the incorrect Category and/or submitted as a Short Length Film, but having a total runtime that is equal to that of a Feature Length Film, will be disqualified from consideration.

Category Summary:
Narrative Feature = 50+ minutes
Narrative Short = 49 or less minutes
Comedy Feature = 50+ Minutes
Comedy Short = 49 or less minutes
Animation Feature = 50+ Minutes
Animation Short = 49 or less minutes
Documentary Feature = 50+ minutes
Documentary Short = 49 or less minutes
Experimental Feature = 50+ minutes
Experimental Short = 49 or less minutes
Horror Feature = 50+ minutes
Horror Short = 49 or less minutes
Gay/Lesbian Feature = 50+ minutes
Gay/Lesbian Short = 49 or less minutes
Religious/Spiritual Feature = 50+ minutes
Religious/Spiritual Short = 49 or less minutes
Music Video = 15 minutes or less

All films accepted into the 2022 Erie International Film Festival will be screened online through our Virtual Theatre system. All submissions must be accompanied by a .MP4 film file for consideration at the time of submission.

Our festival is presented in a virtual theater system that will allow users to watch the films while remaining completely safe from download or reproduction.

Films in this festival cannot be downloaded, the films HAVE NO EMBEDDING CODE, and our HTML code if copied and pasted, the films will not play, and therefore they CANNOT be placed on other websites. The only time and place they can be viewed is in our festival. In short, we have gone to great lengths to set this system up to protect the safety and security of each filmmaker’s film always keeping the filmmaker in mind. Basically, it is just as secure as a brick-and-mortar theater screening, only much better.
You hear so much about the environment and global warming it got us thinking. When you realize how much power is used during the film fest – electricity for the building, natural gas for heat, and the gasoline the people use to get to the fest it left one hell of a carbon footprint. By doing the whole festival online it actually helps cut down on greenhouse gasses.

General. By entering this Contest, entrants agree to abide by the terms of these Official Rules, which are final and binding on all matters pertaining to this Contest. All federal, state, and local laws and regulations apply. All taxes (including, without limitation, federal, state, and local taxes) on or connected with any prize (including, without limitation, prizes that are opportunities to make donations to a charitable organization), and the reporting consequences thereof, are the sole and exclusive responsibility of respective winners. Each Winner must, if so requested by Promoter, complete Promoter’s winner verification process and/or execute and return an Affidavit of Eligibility and a Liability/Publicity Release within a period of time required by Promoter. All prizes awarded in connection with the Contest are nontransferable and non-endorsable. No substitution of prizes is permitted. The Promoter or Host’s employees or agents or representatives may view all Concepts in the interest of providing technical assistance to Contestants. Technical questions may be referred to the Host for assistance at the Promoter’s discretion. The dates of official announcements are subject to change. Release, Waiver, and Indemnification. BY ENTERING THE CONTEST, ENTRANTS RELEASE AND HOLD THE PROMOTER AND HOST AND ALL OTHER CONTEST ENTITIES HARMLESS FROM AND AGAINST ANY AND ALL LOSSES, DAMAGES, RIGHTS, CLAIMS, AND ACTIONS OF ANY KIND ARISING IN WHOLE OR IN PART, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, FROM THE CONTEST OR PARTICIPATION IN ANY CONTEST-RELATED ACTIVITY (INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, THE REMOVAL FROM THE SITE OF, OR DISCONTINUATION OF ACCESS TO, ANY SUBMISSION OR OTHER MATERIAL), OR RESULTING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY FROM ACCEPTANCE, POSSESSION, USE, OR MISUSE OF ANY PRIZE AWARDED IN CONNECTION WITH THE CONTEST, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION PERSONAL INJURY, DEATH, AND/OR PROPERTY DAMAGE, AS WELL AS CLAIMS BASED ON PUBLICITY RIGHTS, DEFAMATION, AND/OR INVASION OF PRIVACY.
Entrant agrees to convey, transfer, and give promoter, host, contest, its parent corporation, and subsidiaries, all rights to submitted materials for the purposes of but not limited to screening and fundraising activities, and such screening and fundraising activities shall be at the complete and total discretion, consideration, and full and complete authority of the promoter, host, contest, its parent corporation and subsidiaries in perpetuity. You grant us a nonexclusive, royalty-free, worldwide, perpetual, and irrevocable right to copy, transmit, modify, adapt, publish, translate, create derivative works from, distribute, and display any information, data, Work, or any other information associated with your Work (collectively the “Submitted Materials”) you submit to us via the Services in any media or format. Your use of the Services does not grant us ownership of your Work. As between you and us, you retain ownership of your Work

If selected, entrants agree and understand, that their film shall screen in either or both, our live festival event and/or our online festival event that utilizes our virtual theater platform. Entrants also understand that through the virtual theater platform films cannot be copied, downloaded, or reproduced by any virtual theater attendee, nor can the html code of any film be used in or on any other site, and that each and every film is completely secure and safe from theft due to the technology of the virtual theater that is unique to our system and is unlike any other utilized by any online festival throughout the world.

THE PROMOTER, THE HOST AND CONTEST ENTITIES DO NOT NOW AND SHALL NOT HAVE IN THE FUTURE ANY DUTY OR LIABILITY, DIRECT OR INDIRECT, VICARIOUS, CONTRIBUTORY, OR OTHERWISE, WITH RESPECT TO THE INFRINGEMENT OR PROTECTION OF AN ENTRANT’S INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS, IF ANY, RESPECT TO ANY SUBMISSION OR CONCEPT, REVIEWS, MATERIAL, VIDEO AND/OR OTHER MATERIALS PROVIDED IN CONNECTION WITH THE CONTEST. BY ENTERING THE CONTEST, ENTRANTS RELEASE, WAIVE ANY CLAIMS WITH REGARD TO, AND HOLD HARMLESS THE PROMOTER, THE HOST AND THE CONTEST ENTITIES FROM AND AGAINST ANY AND ALL CLAIMS OF ANY KIND THAT ARE OR COULD BE ASSERTED WITH RESPECT TO ANY MATTER RELATING TO THE CONTEST. ENTRANTS FURTHER AGREE TO INDEMNIFY. DEFEND AND HOLD THE PROMOTER, HOST AND ALL OTHER CONTEST ENTITIES HARMLESS FROM ANY AND ALL DAMAGES, LIABILITIES, FEES AND COST INCURRED IN DEFENDING AGAINST ANY THIRD-PARTY CLAIMS OR THREATS OF CLAIMS ASSERTED AGAINST PROMOTER, HOST AND/OR OTHER CONTEST ENTITIES ARISING FROM ANY ENTRANT’S PARTICIPATION IN OR CONDUCT ASSOCIATED WITH THE CONTEST. Entrant agrees to convey, transfer, and give promoter, host, and contest all rights to submitted materials for the purposes of but not limited to fundraising activities and such fundraising activities shall be at the complete and total discretion, consideration, and full and complete authority of the promoter, host, and contest in perpetuity.
Force Majeure. Nonperformance of any party shall be excused to the extent that performance is rendered impossible by strike, fire, flood, earthquakes, war, governmental acts or orders or restrictions, or any other reason where failure to perform is beyond the reasonable control, and not caused by the negligence of, the nonperforming party. Governing Law and Waiver of Damages. The Contest and these Official Rules are governed by and shall be construed in accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, United States of America, without regards to its principles of conflicts of law. For any dispute not subject to arbitration according to Section 4(g) above, entrant agrees to personal jurisdiction by the federal and state courts located in Erie, Pennsylvania, United States of America, and waives any jurisdictional, venue, or inconvenient forum objections to such courts. Further, in any such dispute, under no circumstances will entrant be permitted to obtain awards for, and hereby irrevocably waives all rights to claim, punitive, incidental, or consequential damages, or any other damages, including attorneys’ fees, other than participant’s actual out-of-pocket expenses (i.e., costs associated with participating in the Contest), and entrant further irrevocably waives all rights to have damages multiplied or increased. Privacy. Information submitted in connection with the Contest will be treated in accordance with these Official Rules and the Site’s Privacy Policy, provided that in the event of any conflict between these Official Rules and such Privacy Policy, the terms and conditions of these Official Rules shall prevail. All Contestants and Team Members hereby acknowledge and agree that Promoter will have access to some or all of their personally identifiable information, including but not limited to registration information collected by the Host.

Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Chris Harboldt

    Thank you Erie International Film Festival for making BOSS OF THE TOSS a official selection!

    January 2024
  • Marcelo Lagreze

    Congratulations to all the team!
    It's so nice to participated in the Festival.
    I'm honored to win with my documentary short film "Utopia Of The Outraged"

    Thanks
    Best wishies for all

    January 2024
  • Tanner Bushell

    Thank you so much, EIFF for accepting 'Loquillo' into your festival. I apologize for not being able to attend in- person, but the team and I are deeply grateful and honored that it was well- received and look forward to submitting future works to you.

    January 2024
  • Honoured to have been awarded Best in Genre for my Music Video ‘Quaranta’ for Greek Hip Hop band DLY. Look forward to submitting more projects to this well run film festival. Bravo!

    December 2023
  • Stuart Warren Dansby

    Overall this Festival gets high marks, communication, responsiveness, credibility and a strong sense of support and community. Super blessed and privileged to be a part of this experience.

    December 2023