This is a film festival designed to support and promote stories that promote gender equality and have been created by female, non-binary and self-identifying female film-makers. To be eligible for entry, your entry must meet two criteria, and you must be able to produce evidence of these being met if required by the festival directors:
a. Include at least one female or non-binary or self-identifying female writer, director, cinematographer, producer, or editor in the production team.
b. Include a female or non-binary or self-identifying female protagonist.
We wish to support and encourage our indigenous creative community and are pleased to waive entry fees for qualifying films from Aboriginal Indigenous and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Fees will only be waived for other entries under exceptional circumstances, as determined by the festival directors.
All non-English language films must have English subtitles or dubbed in English.
For the 2021 physical event, at least one key creative team member or lead cast member acting as a representative from the selection film project must attend the festival in person in Sydney in order to help with promotion and or participate in the post-screening Q&A sessions with audiences when films are selected for programming.
If a selected filmmaker is unable to attend a physical screening due to covid travel restrictions that are in place at the time of the screening an online festival option will be considered.
Each filmmaker will receive a minimum of 1 and maximum of 3 free tickets to their screening for themselves, their publicist, and notable cast as deemed by our discretion.
Films must not have had their Australian NSW territory cinematic release, TVOD or SVOD or completed post-production on their film over a year ago unless they are a feature film and then may be considered for out of competition screening category. Out of competition filmmakers and featured talent can be considered for the SWIFF women of the year award.
By submitting your film for consideration to Sydney Women’s International Film Festival you agree to the following Festival Rules, Terms, and Conditions:
1. I have read all of the Sydney Women's International Film Festival rules. I understand and agree with the rules.
2. I warrant the submission of my original work, and there are no disputes regarding the ownership or distribution or exhibition rights of the submission in part or in entirety. I also warrant the submitted material does not defame or invade the rights of any person living or dead and I fully indemnify the Sydney Women's International Film Festival against any claim made for such violations of law.
3. To the best of my knowledge, the statements herein are true and correct. I understand that failure to adhere to festival rules will result in disqualification of screening and forfeiture of the entry fee.
4. The festival reserves the right to use a clip, and or clips or photos from accepted entries for up to three minutes in length for promotional purposes. The festival reserves the right to screen accepted entries as part of the Sydney Women's International Film Festival.
5. I agree and hold the Sydney Women's International Film Festival, Inc. harmless from and defend them from all claims, demands, losses, damages, judgments, liabilities, and expenses (including attorneys' fees) arising out of or in connection with any and all claims of third parties, whether groundless or not, based on any film submitted to the festival.
6. SWIFF reserves the right to cancel and modify the schedule with any entry and can do so at their discretion.
7. SWIFF has a zero-tolerance policy on abuse and harassment. Any communication deemed aggressive, threatening, abusive of defaming from any team members will result in immediate disqualification.
**SWIFF is committed to caring for the health and wellbeing of our entrants and audience members, and playing a constructive role in supporting local health officials and government leaders. Read below about the latest decisions being made by the SWIFF committee on the impact of COVID-19 on our festival.
**At present our event is scheduled for late November however if isolation laws prevent the running of our event the festival will be postponed. If any of our international Official Selection entrants are limited by travel restrictions in place at the time of the event we will begin a discussion about the possibility of postponing the event until a time that is better suited to all or alternate methods of attendance.**
