Welcome to the Topaz Film Festival presented by Women in Film Dallas. We are proud to be the longest running women focused film festival in Texas.
For 23 years, Women in Film Dallas has provided a platform for independent women filmmakers to promote their work through its annual film festival.
Topaz Film Festival is a 100% volunteer-led festival. The women that facilitate this great event truly love showcasing the works of women filmmakers from around the world. All involved believe that women’s voices and stories are vital to our industry and the world. Please help us continue our mission of empowering, promoting and mentoring women in the film industry by submitting your film and encouraging the amazing women filmmakers around you to do the same.
This year’s program is tentatively set for October 18-19, 2024, and will consist of a minimum of 4 short film blocks and at least one centerpiece feature film (dependent upon submission volume). The 2024 Topaz Film Festival will present in-person and on an on-demand virtual platform.
Films are eligible if women are credited in two or more of the following positions, in the making of the film: director, producer, writer, cinematographer, editor, animator, composer/score, camera department (operator or assistant), sound/audio/foley (mixing or sound editing), special/visual effects, gaffer/grip/electric, set design, art direction, choreographer or UPM/Production Coordinator/Line Producer.
Upon submitting you will be asked to provide the names of the women in two or more positions on the film’s crew. We love to see as many women in as many roles as possible in the making of a film, but we also encourage the “solo-woman” wearing multiple hats and small film crew to submit as well. If you have any questions on whether your film meets this qualification, please email us at TopazFilmFest@gmail.com
We accept both narratives and documentaries in both feature and shorts categories. Shorts must be under the 20-minute mark, the shorter the better! Features are over 60 minutes.
50% DISCOUNT – active Women In Film Dallas (WIFD) members are eligible for 50% off submission fees. Visit www.wifdallas.org to become a member or renew your membership and receive your code!
ADDITIONAL DISCOUNTS – We love having our previous Topaz Film Festival filmmakers continue to participate each year. If you are a previously selected filmmaker, please check your email for this year’s discount code. If you have not received your discount code, please email us at TopazFilmFest@gmail.com with your name and the name of the previously screened film.
The Topaz Film Festival is an extension of the Women in Film Dallas Scholastic Grant Fund, a 501c3 that provides financial support through grants and scholarships to women in the pursuit of media arts degrees and those in the productions of film, television, and screen-based media. Proceeds from the festival will serve to fund the scholastic grant program for 2025.
Topaz Film Festival history:
In 2001, the Women In Film Dallas (WIFD) board of directors established a film festival named Chick Flicks. In 2017, the festival chair changed the festival’s name to Flicks by Chicks. In 2019, the executive festival directors rebranded the film festival to better align with the WIFD mission and changed the festival name to the Topaz Film Festival. The festival would also incorporating the distinguished Topaz Award established by WIFD in 1987. Topaz, the official gemstone of Texas, was thought in ancient times to enhance vision. WIFD and the Topaz Film Festival support and honor the vision of women filmmakers worldwide.
It is our great honor to recognize our amazing filmmakers with awards and prizes. The presented awards each year are selected based on selected films and organization of film blocks. Past awards have included Best Texas Short, Best Comedy Short, Best Student Short, Audience Choice Awards, Best of Festival Short Film, Best Female Director, Best Cinematography, Best Animated Short, Best Narrative Short, Best Documentary Short and Best Experimental Short.
Depending on feature film submission volume and selection, the festival may include Feature Film Awards as well.