"The festival was a revelation. The scope and quality of films, workshops and networking opportunities were truly splendid. It's busy, it's exciting, it's thrilling. Organised to a fine detail, the SEIFF is a filmmaker's dream. One of the best in the UK." Dave Gilbank, Polterheist

MISSION

SEIFF is a true celebration of independent film which brings together filmmakers, film shakers and the movie-going public in a warm, convivial environment.

With a focus on increasing opportunity for independent filmmakers, SEIFF looks to promote and exhibit exceptional work by creatives from around the globe and help them make valuable connections - while increasing the audience for their work. SEIFF is more than just a film festival, it's an unforgettable experience for all involved, making SEIFF an essential industry event.

A multi-award-winning jury panel including BAFTA/Oscar/Emmy winners, agents and producers, all official selections meet at our invite only networking event and will receive a full festival pass.

SEIFF is an IMDB listed event and all award-winners will be listed on IMDB with an accompanying review.

THE INDUSTRY

SEIFF presents a diverse programme of only the highest quality independent feature films, animation, documentaries and short films from all around the world.

SEIFF looks to make important discoveries of upcoming directors, actors, writers and all those involved in the filmmaking process, ensuring it’s a renowned and valued platform for both undiscovered talent and respected industry peers alike.

Our key objective is for SEIFF to be seen as a mark of quality and a SEIFF award to be a stamp of recognition and true validation.

With a large number of exceptional films being made that struggle to gain attention but deserve to be seen by critics, agents, peers and film lovers, SEIFF aims to bring to the festival the most superlative and creative films. SEIFF prioritises making the festival an attractive destination for agents, critics, investors and other career-makers.

The festival includes networking, Q&As, screenings, social events and special guests.

Our closing annual awards ceremony, gives recognition to the best talent in front of and behind the camera with a gala ceremony open to filmmakers and the public.

WOMEN DIRECTORS

SEIFF is particularly keen to promote the work of women filmmakers and includes a special award for women directors. Women directors in all film categories are eligible.

THE ROYAL LONDON BOROUGH OF KINGSTON UPON THAMES

A vibrant and picturesque London town running alongside the Thames, Kingston is - some would argue - where film began! Birthplace (and death place) of the renowned Eadweard Muybridge, who created the first moving images, SEIFF aims to bring film back to Kingston. With proximity to London a key factor (in terms of accessibility to the industry), as well as the importance of available venues, hospitality and great food, Kingston is a vital gateway.

Awards & Prizes

AWARDS CEREMONY

The annual red carpet awards event rewards excellence in the following categories with all submissions judged by a panel divided equally between industry professionals and local filmgoers to ensure a wholly fair and balanced critical process:

Best Canadian film
Best documentary
Best animated film
Best children's animated film
Best foreign film
Best student film (any film category)
Best director
Best female director
Actor in a leading role
Actress in a leading role
Actor in a supporting role
Actress in a leading role
Cinematography
Sound
Editing
Original score
Screenplay
Short screenplay
Web series
Best comedy short
Best short
People's Choice
Muybridge Award
Rising Star
Visionary Award
Jury Prize

The festival reserves the right to add awards where it deems a film or individual warrants special merit or remove awards where no deserving winner has been found. All films are screened on merit only and all awards presented to deserving recipients only.

All films, scripts and screenplays officially selected will receive the festival's Official Selection laurels to display on any artwork. Award winners will receive awards laurels and a trophy.

OFFICIAL SELECTIONS

All official selections will receive one free festival pass and a ticket to the red carpet awards ceremony, as well as an invitation to the networking party with the judging panel and other industry alumni. Any additional team members wishing to attend will be required to purchase a festival pass and closing ceremony tickets.

TROPHIES

Trophies will be presented at the closing awards ceremony. Trophies will be sent at the festival's expense to any winners not able to attend.

PRINTED BROCHURE

All films officially selected will be screened at the festival and will be featured in the printed festival brochure. A complimentary copy of the festival brochure will be given to all team members at the festival or sent to the representative of each film, script, or screenplay featured in the brochure as officially selected for those unable to attend.

A key feature of the programme is the Q&A with an elected representative of each film. The ethos of our festival is bringing the audiences together with the filmmakers and the 'get to know the filmmakers' in our programme is a key element and a popular talking point. Audiences enjoy getting to know the people behind the films so that they are able to connect with their work in a more meaningful way. The kind of filmmaker who embraces this ethos and enjoys questions such as 'What song do you want played at your funeral?' is the kind of filmmaker who should submit to SEIFF!

Rules & Terms

ELIGIBILITY

Satisfied Eye International Film Festival (SEIFF) accepts:

Feature films, short films, animated films, documentaries, and foreign language films.

To be considered a feature, a live action fiction film must be at least 65 minutes and an animated feature at least 40 minutes - including titles.

To be considered a short, a live action or animated fiction film must be no longer than 35 minutes - including titles.

To be considered for the documentary awards, the completed feature-length documentary must be at least 45 minutes long and a short no longer than 44 minutes.

Only films completed after 1 January 2017 will be considered for competitive sections.

Films which have screened at other festivals ARE eligible for consideration.

Films in a language other than English MUST include subtitles in English, embedded. Separate subtitle files such as .srt are not eligible.

SEIFF does not pay screening fees. As a competitive festival, the entire event is a level playing field and therefore films with a distributor attached who require a screening fee ARE NOT eligible.

EVENT DATES and VENUE 2019

18-20 October
Rose Theatre Kingston
Odeon IMAX
Hilton Doubletree Kingston

REQUIRED for SUBMISSION

Submissions must include:

Submission fees paid through FilmFreeway

All required fields on online platform plus the following documents submitted via FilmFreeway:

Synopsis (in English)

4 high resolution stills from the film

Full cast and credits list

Official film poster

Online screener (with English subtitles if in another language)

SUBMISSION SCREENING FORMAT

SEIFF only accepts online screeners via FilmFreeway for the selection panel to view.

FESTIVAL SCREENING FORMAT

If selected, successful applicants must make a high quality screening version available to the festival. Depending on the format, this can be either a downloadable online file (via Vimeo, WeTransfer or Dropbox) or some form of physically posted media such as a blu-ray disc or USB flash drive. All physical media will be returned if required.

Eligible formats are:

Blu-ray disc
MP4 or AVI.

Other formats including DCP may be allowed by direct negotiation with the artistic director. Please check with us first before submitting if this might an issue.

PAYMENT

All payments and fees for submissions must be paid through the online submission process. SEIFF does not accept any mailed payments.

Absolutely no refunds.

SCREENPLAY ENTRIES

SEIFF also accepts feature and short screenplays for competition, as well as scripts for unproduced TV pilot episodes. Non-scripted treatments are not accepted. Screenplays are accepted in all genres. Writers may enter multiple screenplays but each must be submitted separately. Upon acceptance, a maximum of one screenplay per writer will be selected for festival. Feature film screenplays must be 70 pages or more.
Short film screenplays must be 20 pages or less.

OFFICIAL SELECTIONS (all films)

Upon acceptance as an Official Selection entry at the SEIFF, each participant is required to comply with the following:

All Official Selections must submit a suitable screening version
All screening and supporting material must be available for download or physically at the festival office by 30 September 2019.
All physical media sent must include title, director’s name and contact information.
Applicants are wholly responsible for ensuring safe delivery of physical media and SEIFF can take no responsibility for non delivery or items damaged in transit.

USAGE AGREEMENTS

By entering the SEIFF, applicants agree that the organisers of the festival are granted the right to utilize any excerpt from any film submitted for exhibition at the festival for promotional purposes and to use any stills in promotional material including posters and programmes.

SUBMISSION RELEASE AGREEMENT

By submitting to SEIFF through FilmFreeway, applicants are deemed to have accepted and in effect 'signed' and subscribed to the following:

- I have read, understood, and complied with all eligibility and submission requirements.
- All the statements and documents provided are authentic and accurate to the best of my knowledge.
- In consideration for the selection opportunity into the SEIFF, I release and discharge the SEIFF from any and all claims, demands, or causes of actions related to misappropriation or infringement of copyright or violation of any other right arising from or relating to my submission hereunder.
- I agree to indemnify and hold harmless the SEIFF from any claims that arise as a result of my film submission or screening of my film (upon selection) or my screenplay as well as from damage to or loss of any submitted documents or materials en route to the festival.
- I have all rights necessary and am duly authorized to submit this film and/or screenplay to the SEIFF.
- I understand, as the authorized and responsible representative of my selected film and/or screenplay, any prize awarded to the selected film and/or screenplayis to be received by me or any other singular, official representative of the selected film and/or screenplay.
- I understand that the SEIFF may disqualify and reject any submission that it determines, in its sole and absolute discretion, is not in compliance, in whole or in part, with the mentioned Terms.
- I understand that SEIFF reserves the right, in the exceptional circumstances that the judging panel considers no film to have met the required standard in any awards category, not to present an award.
- I understand that the SEIFF does not issue any form of refund to any selected screenplay and film regardless of circumstances.

28 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Markus Kaatsch

    We were very honoured to be a part of the Satisfied Eye Film Festival. Well run by a friendly and professional team. Thanks for having us and for your support!

    November 2019
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  • Mia'kate Russell

    Love this festival so much !!!! It was an honour to play there x

    November 2019
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  • Gavin Michael Booth

    Satisfied Eye is a festival by filmmakers and for filmmakers. It is so rare to be surrounded by so many people who are passionate about not just film, but YOUR film. Many of the volunteers worked screening the films prior to being there tirelessly from 9am to 9pm for the screenings and excitedly talking with filmmakers and folks from the community who had clearly been brought in by the 'Eye' catching banners and clever advertisements. And I did not see a single film that would not be a standout at most festivals, the programing was just so thoughtful and impactful. To top off the experience, the opening night AND closing night events were absolutely top notch. Quality, class, sophistication; all of these things are doled out in spades by this festival. It is safe to say I was very 'Satisfied' with my experience and can't wait to bring more films back year after year.

    November 2019
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    Response from festival:

    Thank you so much! I think our poster for next year will just be.a blank sheet of paper with this text emblazoned across it! Really look forward to seeing you again!

  • Lucy Hayes

    We had such an amazing time showcasing our film at Satisfied Eye International Film Festival. We were treated with the utmost respect by the festival organisers and the films were of the highest standard. I can highly recommend this festival for its warm hospitality, communication and quality of films. Thanks for having us, SEIFF!

    November 2019
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    Response from festival:

    Thank you so much Lucy. We had so much pleasure sharing your film. There wasn't a dry eye in the house!

  • Max Gleschinski

    Tank you, SEIFF! We loved to screen our film at your festival and our Actress Maike was so incredibly happy to attend and take an award home! She told us how amazing everything was! We'd love to come over there again!

    November 2019
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    Response from festival:

    Thank you so much Max and you're welcome any time! And Maike was an incredible ambassador for A Clear Felling