🎞️ Founded in 1977, the San Francisco International LGBTQ+ Film Festival, hosted by Frameline, is the longest-running, largest, and most widely recognized queer film exhibition in the world. This year, be part of film festival history as we celebrate five decades of queer media at Frameline50.

“To put it bluntly, Frameline is the most crucial event on the summer film calendar." —KQED

📅 In 2026, join us for Frameline50 — 11 days of film screenings, parties, networking events, and industry panels in venues in San Francisco and Oakland. Be a part of history in the making!

🎬 Why Frameline50?

• Frameline50 will be an 11-day in-person showcase of the world’s leading queer cinema in venues throughout San Francisco and Oakland.

• With an average of 60,000 attendees, Frameline is the most prominent and well-attended LGBTQ+ arts program in the US.

• We bring together an unparalleled community of festival-goers for the world’s largest celebration of queer media.

• We have a proven, five-decade track record of championing queer and trans films and filmmakers, making Frameline the place for your work to be seen by an average of 400 Festival guests, including programmers, distributors, producers, buyers, and other industry professionals.

“I can't thank the Frameline Team enough for championing our [film]! It's clear that the programmers really care about LGBTQ+ filmmaking and the Bay Area audience was incredible.” —Nana Duffuor, Director of “Rainbow Girls”

Awards & Prizes

🎞️ Frameline, the San Francisco International LGBTQ+ Film Festival, is proud to be:

• A BAFTA Qualifying Festival.
• An Iris Prize partner festival.

🏆 Juried Awards

Juries of industry professionals convene during the Festival to recognize standout films in the following categories:

• Outstanding Documentary Feature
• Outstanding Narrative Short
• Outstanding Documentary Short

(Note: To be eligible for a juried award, a film cannot have screened or been broadcast on television or on VOD in the San Francisco Bay Area prior to the Festival.)

🏆 Outstanding First Narrative Feature Award

For over 20 years, Frameline has presented the annual juried Outstanding First Narrative Feature Award to a notable narrative feature from an emerging voice in LGBTQ+ cinema, and is proud to partner with the San Francisco Bay Area Film Critics Circle to jury this award.

🏆 Audience Awards

Since 1984, our audience has been responsible for selecting the Audience Awards, determined by audience ballot, for the following categories:

• Audience Award for Narrative Feature
• Audience Award for Documentary Feature

(Note: All feature films selected are eligible for the Audience Awards.)

🏆 Out in the Silence Award

Ahead of the Festival, this annual honor is conferred to an outstanding film project that highlights brave acts of visibility, especially in places where such acts are rare and unexpected because of the dominant systems that make it difficult for LGBTQ+ people to live authentic lives. All eligible filmmakers who submit to Frameline50 will be considered.

🏆 Colin Higgins Youth Filmmaker Grants

In partnership with the Colin Higgins Foundation, Frameline awards annual Colin Higgins Youth Filmmaker Grants to emerging LGBTQ+ filmmakers under the age of 25 who currently reside in the United States. All eligible filmmakers who submit to Frameline50 will be considered.

🏅 Recognition

All award recipients and honorable mentions will receive official festival laurels and inclusion in our post-festival promotion and press.

Rules & Terms

✅ Eligibility Requirements

• Frameline, the San Francisco International LGBTQ+ Film Festival, accepts films of any length and genre about LGBTQ+ people and their communities.

• Films that will have premiered 12 months prior to the Festival are ineligible.

• Films previously shown on VOD, web, or broadcast are not eligible.

• For Features ONLY: Feature films previously exhibited publicly in the Bay Area—either theatrically or at another local festival—are not eligible.

📥 How to Submit

• All submissions must be made via FilmFreeway. We do not accept submissions by email, post or social media.

• A separate entry form is required for each film being submitted.

• Once a film is submitted for entry, it may not be withdrawn.

• Incomplete applications/entry forms will not be accepted and will need to be re-submitted.

💳 Submission Fees

• Entry fees are non-refundable.

• Submit by the Early Bird Deadline (November 21, 2025) to lock in the lowest submission fee.

• Frameline allots a small number of fee waivers for Festival alumni as well as filmmakers based in countries that cannot legally send money to the US.

• Discounted submission fees are granted on a case-by-case basis for filmmakers who demonstrate a financial need. No additional discounts are available with Student Discounts or Early Bird pricing. Please direct any discount requests to programming@frameline.org.

🛠️ Works-In-Progress

Rough cuts and works-in-progress are eligible for submission only if completed by April 15, 2026. However, filmmakers are strongly urged to submit the most finished version possible, as your project will be viewed alongside completed films.

🎞️ Other FAQs

• Eligible Exhibition Formats: For theatrical screenings, Frameline50 will exhibit all films via DCP. For streaming screenings, we will reach out with format specifications. All non-English language entries must have English subtitles.

• Shipping: Exhibition copies must be sent to the festival prepaid. The Festival will pay for return or forward shipping. The Festival cannot accept nor assume responsibility for damage or loss of materials while in transit. In case of loss or damage during the Festival, the responsibility of the Festival is limited to the costs for repair or replacement of the print.

• Rental Fees: The Festival does not pay rental fees; instead, we choose to invest our resources in producing the best possible showcase for your work and promoting your work as widely as possible.

• Program Selection: All entries will be reviewed in their entirety by at least two members of the Festival Screening Committee or by one Programmer. The Screening Committee is composed of industry professionals, filmmakers, students, longtime festival screeners, and movie lovers.

✉️ Notification

All FilmFreeway submissions will be marked "In Consideration" once payment, entry forms, and an online link of the film have all been received. Entrants will be notified of festival selections in late April 2026.

📝 Terms & Conditions

By submitting your work to Frameline50 via FilmFreeway, you agree to the following terms and conditions:

• Frameline has permission to use up to three (3) minutes of footage or photographic stills from the work for broadcast, web publication, or other promotional purposes. Frameline must be notified in writing of any press or photo restrictions.

• Frameline must be notified in writing of any press restrictions, including hold reviews.

• If accepted to the Festival, you agree to not have a full copy of your selected film available online or through VOD prior to its Frameline50 screening.
34 Reviews
Overall Rating
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Networking
  • Yoko Kohmoto

    Big fan of Frameline's programming, venues, and lovely team <3 Thank you for having us!

    December 2025
    Helpful
  • Carmela Marie Murphy

    We are so thrilled that our stop motion film, A Bird Hit My Window and Now I’m a Lesbian, was featured in Frameline 49. We also were honored with the Colin Higgins Youth Filmmaker Award, which is allowing us to create a new queer stop motion film. We made so many friends and connections and had the absolute best time. The audience at Frameline was so enthusiastic and supportive. We are so thankful for the fabulous Frameline team, especially Allegra and Kate. Joel Moffett from the Colin Higgins Foundation made us feel so welcomed and supported. We love Frameline!!

    xoxo,
    Carmela and AJ

    November 2025
    Helpful
  • Nana Duffuor

    I can't thank the Frameline Team enough for championing our short film, RAINBOW GIRLS! It's clear that the programmers really care about LGBTQ+ filmmaking, and the Bay Area audience was incredible. Thank you! We'll be back!

    August 2025
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  • Nathan King

    Great festival to be a part of. I was not able to attend in person but all the digital communication was easy breezy.

    July 2025
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  • Niñxs Documental

    It's mainly for people/projects from the United States. If you're coming from abroad, I don't recommend going, especially if you're coming from a country in the Global South. They don't support with any expenses and they're not at all attentive or considerate with their guests.

    July 2025
    Helpful
    Response from festival:

    We're sorry to hear about your experience. We do our best to show all guests and filmmakers a great time at the Festival, and we were so thrilled to be able to screen one of our Completion Fund recipients this year. With the state of the arts in the U.S., we did not have the resources we have had in the past to fund and accommodate the way we would have liked. But we truly thank you for bringing your work to San Francisco. Our audience loved Niñxs.