MISSION STATEMENT
The SWFF hopes to help emerging artists and film-makers have a venue and outlet in which to showcase and celebrate the achievements of independent film-makers. We also want to create a place where people can network and feel safe discussing their ideas with colleagues and fellow film enthusiasts. The SWFF not only supports locally produced films but those from all over the nation and internationally. Our focus on the genres of animation, experimental, fan-film, fantasy, horror, and science fiction allows us to bring together an eclectic group of individuals who will appreciate films and film-makers that have a more defined interest.

ABOUT THE FESTIVAL
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic we have made no formal finalizations for the 2021 venue but we still hope to have 2 screening rooms and a third room dedicated to our panel discussions. We will also be continuing of Filmmaker Interviews like in previous years which eventual are released online as our “An Interview With…” web-series! Our goal is to provide independent film makers with a place where they can share their innovative and artistic talents to the masses. We look forward seeing you at the 2021 Something Wicked International Film Festival.

HISTORY
This is our sixth year of the SWFF and it is an extension of Co-Festival Director/Program Director Kevin Powers' work through the GCI Film Festival (2012-2014) as well as his previous work with the Fright Fest Film Festival (Gainesville, GA) and the Cinemacabre Film Festival (Gainesville, GA). This film festival is designed to spotlight the talents of those in the niche genres that are sometimes overlooked by many mainstream film festivals, so you will find more films in the animation, horror,experimental. Fan-film, fantasy, and science fiction genres here than in any of the other film festivals that Mr. Powers has been a part of.

SPONSORS & PARTNERSHIPS
*As a Sponsor of the SWFF, we hope to help promote the contributions of the individuals and organizations that have helped make our event happen. Through monetary contributions and trade or Sponsors help present an event that helps not only promote film-makers and their films but to help booster the local economy as well. Our Sponsors also help make it possible to allow young film-makers and students the opportunity to learn more about the film industry in an atmosphere where they can network, view independent films and take workshops and be a part of panel discussions with professional film-makers.
*Partners of the SWFF get the opportunity to not only spread the word about their services with our patrons but also help us promote and market our event as well. It's an amazing opportunity for both businesses to help promote each other with very little monetary investment.

OPENING NIGHT CEREMONY & FILM
*The Opening Night Ceremony is designed to allow our Sponsors, Partners and film-makers to meet and network the night prior to our event. The Opening Night. Ceremony is not open to the public and therefore is the only unique opportunity for these groups of individuals to network and enjoy an evening before the main event.
*The Opening Night feature is a way for our event to showcase one of most ambitious films that epitomizes the themes and purpose of the SWFF. It can be of any genre but it is a film chosen to represent our event as well as show film-makers what we think exemplifies great indie film-making.

AWARDS CEREMONY
*The SWFF Awards Ceremony is on the final night of our event in our Main Screening Room. During this event, film-makers will be notified of which films and film-makers our Festival Jury decided should be honored for their achievements. It is a great honor to just be nominated for an award but awards will be given to the films which exemplifies the great spirit of film-making. Award recipients will receive awards and certificates. Winners of the Audience Choice Awards will be revealed a week after the event and there are a special selection of Festival Director Awards which will also be revealed during the event.

PANEL DISCUSSIONS & FILMMAKER INTERVIEWS
*The SWFF offers patrons a variety of panel discussions on various different film related topics with many professional film-makers in participation. This is a great opportunity to ask questions and learn from industry personnel on various topics of discussion.
*Filmmaker Interviews – Mr. Powers also offers filmmakers the opportunity to be interviewed during the event to help promote themselves and their film! These interviews are later released online as part of our festival web series “An Interview With…” Any filmmaker whose film becomes an “Official Selection” can have an interview conducted.

VENDORS AND VENDOR BOOTHS
*The SWFF has vender booths available for individuals and businesses to sell, promote, and showcase their goods and services as well as films. Vendor booths are cheap and affordable for the whole weekend of the event.
*Vendors will be allowed to load in on Saturday morning at 11:00am prior to the event. Load out will be Sunday night at 6:00pm.

We accept films in the following categories:
SHORT FILM (Animation/Experimental/Fan-Films/Fantasy/Horror/Science Fiction/Foreign Films)
Short films are 45 minutes of less. Any and all genres are accepted including animation and experimental.

FEATURE FILM (Animation/Experimental/Fan-Films/Fantasy/Horror/Science Fiction/Foreign Films)
Feature films are between 45 minutes and 150 minutes. Any and all genres are accepted including animation and experimental.

STUDENT (Animation/Experimental/Fan-Films/Fantasy/Horror/Science Fiction)
Student produced or directed films that are 45 minutes or less. Any and all genres are accepted. Note: There is no “feature student films” as these will be included in feature category automatically.

MAIN AWARDS CATEGORY
(Winners to be given an actual award)
*BEST EXPERIMENTAL SHORT FILM
*BEST HORROR SHORT FILM
*BEST SCI-FI SHORT FILM
*BEST FANTASY SHORT FILM
*BEST ANIMATION/PUPPETRY SHORT FILM
*BEST DIRECTION OF A SHORT FILM
*BEST FEMALE ACTOR IN A SHORT FILM
*BEST MALE ACTOR IN A SHORT FILM
*BEST FAN-FILM SHORT FILM
*BEST FEATURE
*BEST DIRECTION OF A FEATURE
*BEST FEMALE ACTOR IN A FEATURE FILM
*BEST MALE ACTOR IN A FEATURE FILM

FESTIVAL DIRECTOR’S AWARD CATEGORY
(Winners chosen by the Festival Directors)
*GORIEST FILM
*SCARIEST FILM
*MOST BELIEVABLE SCI-FI/FANTASY FILM
*MOST INNOVATIVE ANIMATION/PUPPETRY FILM
*BEST MAKE-UP FX IN A SHORT OR FEATURE
*BEST VISUAL FX IN A SHORT OR FEATURE
*MOST MEMORABLE VILLAIN
*SCREAM QUEEN OF THE YEAR
*BAS-ASS OF THE YEAR

PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARDS CATEGORY
(Chosen by Festival Attendees)
*BEST SHORT FILM
*BEST FEATURE FILM
*BEST ANIMATED/PUPPETRY FILM

GENERAL RULES
Submission Format: Films must be submitted via online screener. All Foreign films not in English must be subtitled.

Submission Eligibility: Entries must have been produced within the past five years. Works-in-progress are accepted and an updated version can be supplied upon notification that your film has become an “Official Selection.”

Submission Fees: All FilmFreeway submissions for SWFF are to be paid by credit card or Paypal. Entry fee is non-refundable.

Student Films: Must be submitted in the Student Film category to be eligible for that award category. If submitted in a different category it will be subject to the rules of that category. To receive a Student Discount on FilmFreeway, filmmaker/film must be registered as a student project. Students must be, or have been, enrolled in an accredited school (K-12, undergrad, graduates) at the time of production. You do not need to be a student currently to submit your film.

Judging: All films are reviewed and selected by our Festival Judge and Jury (which changes every year) based on quality and production values and creativity.
Schedule: If selected, your film may screen up to three times, with an additional screening should it win an award. Our Festival will consist of Award presentations, red carpet photos, screenings, vendors, classes, seminars, filmmaker interviews and Q&A sessions.

*For more information please contact us at somethingwickedfilmfestival@gmail.com

TERMS & CONDITIONS:
By submitting to Something Wicked Film Festival you agree to the terms outlined in the General Festival Rules for the SWFF. The Something Wicked Film Festival is hereby granted the right to utilize an excerpt from any film submitted and accepted for exhibition at the Festival for promotional purposes. The individual or corporation submitting the film hereby warrants that it is authorized to commit the film for screening, and understands and accepts these requirements and regulations. The undersigned shall indemnify and hold harmless Something Wicked Film Festival from and against any and all claims, liabilities, losses, damages, and expenses (including but not limited to attorney's fees, and costs of the court) which may be incurred by reason of any claim involving copyright, trademark, credits, publicity, screening, and loss of or damage to the screening videos entered.

Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • I love festivals with great communication and festivals that do panel discussions and filmmaker interviews. It's especially important when you can't fly to the festival if you are in a different country - it still makes you feel like you are there. Kevin and his team do an awesome job with this festival. I highly recommend it.

    September 2022
  • Tim Landry

    Well, I had a good time. And, though you call your festival "Wicked" you had the taste to give a high award to my film that blatantly proclaims the power of God. How wicked can you be? Thanks for everything.

    August 2022
  • Andrew Pritzker

    First, it’s hard to review a festival during Covid when you're unable to attend, however, the communication between this filmmaker and the festival was stellar. I also appreciated being interviewed over Zoom with insightful questions relevant to both my films. It was clear that my films had been watched and appreciated. Something Wicked Film Festival is a smart, proud genre festival that honors filmmakers. They don’t phone it in. They care. That’s what makes them cool.

    August 2021
  • Amazing time. Can't recommend enough.

    August 2021
  • Daniele De Muro

    Honoured to have my short film"Horizon" at this beautiful Festival. I hope to submit a new project next year.

    August 2021