The Shawna Shea Film Festival (SSFF) is a fringe independent international film festival. We love quirky and experimental films as much as we love straight narratives.
Our philosophy is best explained in the 2005 version of Amos Vogel's book "Film as a Subversive Art."
In it he writes explaining the importance of independent cinema and festivals, "Not those fake 'independent' films whose makers only aspire to become the next Hollywood stars, but those true iconoclasts and independent features, avant-garde or documentary filmmakers-who even under today's bleak circumstances audaciously continue to 'transgress' (i.e. subvert) narrative modes, themes, structures, and the visual/aural conventions of mainstream cinema."
Our goal is to give as much exposure to these kind of films that push those artistic boundaries.
Established in 2012 the SSFF is a fundraiser for the Shawna E Shea Memorial Foundation Inc, a 501(c)(3), to honor Shawna's unique independent spirit by highlighting truly independent films that share the same quality.
The funds raised from the festival go towards scholarships and fellowships, including a Women in Film Fellowship.
Every year we have an opening night networking party and on the closing night we have an awards ceremony and party with pizza and fun networking. It is a party!
Every year we give out Best of Awards in many categories.
We give out a Shawna Spirit Award to those artists who push the boundaries and norms of the artwork. Truly independent artists.
We also offer a Female Fellowship Award every year to aspiring female filmmakers from around the world. Go to the ShawnaFoundation.org website for more details.
