2025 CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS NOW OPEN!
San Francisco Dance Film Festival (SFDFF) is a multi-day event showcasing the best in dance film from around the world. The 2025 Festival will take place in November and will feature screenings, panels, live performances, and other opportunities for artists to interact. Selected films will be considered for independent jury awards. We will also offer virtual programming through our streaming partner, MarqueeTV.
SFDFF has become one of the most respected and influential dance film festivals in the world. A non-profit organization operating year-round, SFDFF has the mission of supporting independent artists through screenings, panels, filmmaking workshops, and original film productions that bring together professionals from the communities of dance, filmmaking, and music in unprecedented collaborations.
The festival continues to seek groundbreaking work in the field of screendance, and welcomes submissions of dance-based films. See FilmFreeway for full details.
CLICK HERE to Submit Your Film on FilmFreeway
2025 SUBMISSIONS DATES
Opening Date: January 15
Early Bird Deadline: January 31
Regular Deadline: April 16
Extended Deadline: May 8
FILM CATEGORIES
We consider dance-based films of all lengths, genres/styles, dance forms, and budgets in the following categories: Art/Experimental, Documentary Feature, Documentary Short, Live Performance Film, Narrative, Screendance, Student, and Music Video. Click here to learn more about these categories.
ENTRY FEE
$40 per entry / $25 student rate (early bird deadline)
$50 per entry / $35 student rate (regular deadline)
$60 per entry / $45 student rate (extended deadline)
AWARDS & PRIZES
All films selected for the Spring and Fall Festival are eligible for the following awards. Winners will be selected by independent award jury.
— Best Documentary Feature
— Best Documentary Short
— Best Choreography
— Best Performance
— Best Cinematography
— Best Set/Production Design
— Best Visual Effects
— Best Editing
— Best Sound Design
— Best Score
— Best Narrative Film
Audience Favorite awards, selected by audience survey, will be announced the week following the festival. In addition to receiving the award, winning films may be presented at an encore screening during SFDFF’s spring festival.
FILMMAKER BENEFITS
• Eligibility for filmmaker awards
• Free Festival Pass providing admission to programs and events during the festival
• Industry networking and discovery opportunities. Several of the films screened at SFDFF have gone on to receive distribution offers.
• Opportunities for further exposure via our “Encore Shorts” spotlight series, “On the Road” touring reel and other educational outreach programs
• Inclusion in our permanent digital archive
• “Official SFDFF Selection” laurel to help promote your film
Unfortunately we can’t cover travel or accommodation expenses, but we would be happy to provide an official letter of invitation for you to seek travel grants.
GENERAL RULES
1) All dance-based films of any style or length will be considered.
Please note: Although we will accept films that are publicly available online, in order to attract press coverage for your film, it is preferred that links remain PRIVATE until after the closing of the festival.
2) Films must have a production date of 2023 or later.
3) Submissions accepted through FilmFreeway only.
4) Films with dialogue or music lyrics must include a closed caption .srt file if selected
5) Student filmmakers must submit a current, valid student ID or proof of enrollment at the time the film was made, with your submission
EXHIBITION FORMATS
Selected films will be requested in their native frame rate in QuickTime format using one of the following codecs: ProRes, ProRes HQ, or ProRes 4444. Blu-ray may be requested as an additional option for films over 20 minutes ONLY. A ProRes file will also be required as backup.
Questions?
Please use the contact form below or call us at 844.567.3333