Sherwood Players is a community driven entertainment collective based in Los Angeles, CA. We're looking for short films with strong visions from the directors, writers, and performers. We are accepting all genres of films that are 3 - 20 minutes.

Awards & Prizes

All entries are promoted through our social media and website. For this purpose, we require that projects are fully entered on FilmFreeway, including synopsis, and downloadable poster, and trailer.

All projects officially selected will receive the Sherwood Players International Film Festival official laurel and the custom certificate of achievement according to their final status in the competition.

All FINALISTS will be invited to have their film screened at our LIVE in-person festival and awards ceremony happening in Hollywood, CA mid December.

2022 WINNERS
BEST DOCUMENTARY SHORT -- “The Fast Family Cruz to the Coastline Car Collective”
BEST ANIMATED SHORT -- “Paper Cuts TV. ‘The Balloon’”
BEST MUSIC VIDEO -- “Broken Mirror – Kayla Burch”
BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY -- Patrick Colman Duncan, “Life’s a Pitch”
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY -- Ryan McGrady, “The Pinnacle”
BEST SPECIAL EFFECTS -- Kris Slagter & Sven Trotter, “Fear Incarnate”
BEST EDITING -- Patrick Colman Duncan, “Jes and Lara”
BEST ORIGINAL SCORE -- Jehad Choate, “Looking for Frank”
BEST LEAD ACTOR -- Skyler Bible, “Vesper”
BEST LEAD ACTRESS -- Grace Noble, “The Pinnacle”
BEST ENSEMBLE -- Jillian Allen, Melissa Balocca & Lizette Santiago, “Café Spanglish”
BEST COMEDY SHORT -- “Millicent & Me and The Apple Tree”
BEST DRAMA SHORT -- “The Blue Bed”
BEST DIRECTOR -- Golnaz Jamsheed, “Pregnant”
BEST US SHORT FILM -- “Spy v Spia”
BEST INTERNATIONAL SHORT -- “The British Broadcasting Corporal” [New Zealand]
AUDIENCE AWARD RUNNER UP -- "The Pinnacle"
AUDIENCE AWARD -- "Vesper"

Rules & Terms

Please read all rules and requirements before submitting your project:

The Sherwood Players International Film Festival accepts all forms and genres for shorts and music videos 3 - 20 minutes. All films must be in English or have English subtitles. Multiple entries are allowed for each filmmaker, and each entry may be entered in multiple categories. Films can only be judged in categories for which they are submitted.

Submissions must be an original work of the applicant’s team and not based, in whole or part, on another author’s work (unless underlying material is in public domain). You agree that you will not submit any content that is libelous, defamatory, obscene, pornographic, sexually, racially, culturally or ethnically offensive, harassing, intimidating, threatening, hateful, discriminatory, or abusive.

By submitting your film, you allow Sherwood Players International Film Festival to use parts of your film (including trailer/teaser/film poster/stills) for promotional purpose. A short synopsis and digital still photo is required for all entries (except music videos) for the jury, and for our website announcements should you win.

Entry does not guarantee acceptance into the festival. No premiere status is required. Rough cuts and incomplete projects are not accepted.

We reserve the right, at any time, without notice and without limiting any and all other rights we may have under these Rules & Regulations, at law or in equity, to remove and delete your entry to the festival.

You agree to indemnify and hold harmless the Sherwood Players International Film Festival, its management, juries, subsidiaries, agents, sponsors, affiliates, and etc. 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.

Entry fees are non-refundable.
8 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Adam Clark

    I did not attend the festival, though I would have liked to. From what I saw and read, they had a beautiful event with ample networking opportunities.

    I have two complaints about this festival. 1) Selection notification was very last-minute. They only give two weeks' notice, which isn't much -- especially for an international festival! With more notice, I could've been there. 2) They have a strange selection process which includes many films being "selected" but not actually being shown at the festival (which was my experience). The whole point of a festival is for people to see your film. In other festivals, you can be selected for exhibition without being chosen as a winner. Sherwood only shows the ultimate winners to an audience. All I got was an email saying I was a quarter-finalist, which is essentially the same as "not selected" in this case. Bummer.

    January 2023
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  • Heidi Schooler

    I just wanted to thank the Sherwood Players International Film Festival for awarding our short film "Millicent & Me and The Apple Tree", with "Best Comedy Short"! Thank you so much for a wonderful festival, with such a diversity of films from so many countries!
    I'd like to also thank the directors of this festival for being being extra helpful with great correspondence, & continued support with regards to making sure we got all of their details about the screening & awards ceremony! It was also wonderful that they had the awards ceremony at a hosted home of Industry professionals, and it was a fabulous day & evening. They also invited a social media venue that interviewed the filmmakers! We are so thankful for the hard work & extra efforts that were made to make the full day a special event for everyone!

    We are very happy that they acknowledged our poignant yet comedic musical short, and were honored to be included in such a FAB lineup!
    I definitely look forward to submitting other projects in the future!
    Thanks again! Best, Heidi S. :-)!!

    December 2022
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  • Boudra Ali

    Very happy to participate in this wonderful festival, thank you very much to everyone, and the jury, this edition was wonderful, more brilliance, to serve world cinema and success.

    December 2022
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  • Ashley Karp

    SPIFF was an absolute blast and the La Wija team and I are so enthralled to have received the Audience Runner-Up Award for 2021! Highly recommend this festival!

    December 2021
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  • Tony Mouleart

    I had a great time at the festival! The screening was full with a great enthusiastic audience. There’s nothing quite like sitting in a theater and hearing the reaction to your film (especially for a comedy). The festival was organized and had on-camera filmmaker interviews. There were also festive networking opportunities in the lobby and at the awards ceremony. I highly recommend this festival.

    December 2021
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