…because all it takes is ONE festival screening to change everything.
AFI Fest (November 7 – 14)
Los Angeles, CA
Deadline:
Short Films: August 2
Feature Films: August 16
“The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences recognizes AFI FEST as a qualifying festival for the Short Film category of the annual Academy Awards and AFI FEST is still the only film festival in the United States to hold the prestigious FIAPF accreditation, assuring a high standard of quality and reliability for the international film community.”
Accepts shorts (under 30 mins) and features (over 30 mins).
Website: http://www.afi.com/afifest/submissions.aspx
Toronto International Short Film Festival (November 7 – 13)
Toronto, Canada
Regular Deadline: August 13
“The inaugural Toronto International Short Film Festival, will be held at the Carlton Cinema Theatres in downtown Toronto, November 6 – 7, 2013. Toronto Shorts Fest provides a showcase for the best short-form cinema and its creators in the world. Created by the Los Angeles International Short Film Festival, which ranks among the most prestigious international short film festivals in the world. The festival is accredited by the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts & Sciences and the British Academy of Film and Television Arts.”
Accepts shorts under 30 mins and shorts over 30 to 45 min completed after Jan. 1, 2012.
Website: http://www.tisff.net/toronto/content.asp?PageID=3
FirstGlance Film Fest Hollywood (March 2014)
Hollywood, CA
Early Deadline: August 14
“FirstGlance Film Fests have been named 4 of the last 6 years as “1 of the 25 Best Film Festival Investments” in Moviemaker Magazine and “One of the top 25 indie film friendly businesses in the world”. FirstGlance continues to champion indie filmmakers from around the world, making FirstGlance Film Fests, the longest running and most notable independent international film fests in North America.”
Accepts shorts (under 60 mins), features (over 60 mins), short shorts, student films, animation, music videos and web pilots.
Website: http://firstglancefilms.com/callforentries/
Miami Short Film Festival (November 8 – 15)
Miami, Florida
Final Deadline: August 15
“Our mission is to present quality films from around the world as well as support, recognize and honor filmmakers creating a films under 20 minutes.”
Accepts all genres of short films.
Website: http://www.miamishortfilmfestival.com/submission-guidelines/
Indies Unchained! 