Submit your film
The SCAD Savannah Film Festival's competition series feature the very best in independent filmmaking. Showcasing cinematic creativity that ranges from compelling feature-length narrative and documentary films to innovative international shorts, the festival's continuous pursuit of spotlighting excellence in filmmaking results in a diverse and enriching experience for its more than 60,000 attendees each year.
Submissions for the 2023 festival are now open. The 2023 festival will take place Oct. 21-28, 2023.
To submit your film for consideration for the 2023 SCAD Savannah Film Festival, visit
Now open for submissions
Deadline
Thursday, June 1, 2023
Extended deadline
Thursday, June 15, 2023
Late deadline
Friday, June 30, 2023
Learn more about submitting your film for consideration for the 2023 SCAD Savannah Film Festival at filmfreeway.com.
Competition series
Narrative Features
From side-splitting comedies to heart-wrenching dramas, the narrative feature films selected represent diversity in storytelling, excellence in acting and directing, and exemplary cinematography and editing.
Pro Shorts
Short films selected for this category are individually paired with a competition feature or documentary and run the gamut of subject matter and style. Shorts are selected on their individual merits in storytelling and execution.
Animation
Animated films selected represent the diversity of the craft, from simple, hand-drawn figures to stop-motion and digital rendering, showcasing unique storytelling at its finest.
Documentary Features
Documentaries selected present compelling stories that illuminate and educate audiences in a unique and timely manner.
Documentary Shorts
In this collection of shorts, filmmakers explore art, history, politics, and personal profiles to offer a captivating panorama of our world.
Student Shorts
Student shorts represent solid storytelling and emerging visions from a broad range of categories including live action, narrative, documentary, and animation.
Global Shorts Forum
More than 30 powerful short films from a variety of international perspectives tackle pressing issues within our global community, including LGBTQ+ rights, mental illness, homelessness, and women's issues.
Full category descriptions are available at filmfreeway.com.
"There are festivals that are a business and there are festivals that genuinely care about the films, the filmmakers and nurturing new and up-and-coming talent. SCAD is certainly the latter."
— Chris Overton, Academy Award-winning filmmaker The Silent Child
Judging
Films chosen for competition are judged by a select panel of jurors who are active industry professionals from various filmmaking fields. Awards are announced at the SCAD Savannah Film Festival awards brunch, and all competition films are strongly encouraged to have a film representative in attendance. The 2022 festival jury included award-winning filmmakers and leading journalists.
Awards and prizes
The SCAD Savannah Film Festival awards "best of" category awards in every category as well as additional honors at the discretion of the jury.
Rules
To see the rules and terms for submission, visit filmfreeway.com.