April 22–27, 2027
Submit your film
Deadlines
- Sep 30 End of Summer Deadline (Closed)
- Oct 31 Regular Deadline (Next deadline)
- Nov 30 Extended Deadline
Entry fees vary by category and deadline, with student and FilmFreeway Gold member rates.
Categories and awards
George Sidney Independent Film Competition
Our primary competition welcomes films from around the world in all categories, genres, lengths and mediums. Films must be completed after July 1, 2025, and not available on a streaming platform at festival time.
Competes for the festival’s juried awards. We are an Academy Award® qualifying festival for Documentary Shorts.
Fees: $45–80 for features, $30–65 for shorts under 40 minutes, $35–65 for student films, depending on deadline.
Central Coast Filmmaker Showcase
For films produced, directed or written by residents of San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara or Monterey counties. All genres, mediums and lengths. A film can’t also be entered in the George Sidney competition, and a separate set of jurors chooses the showcase films.
Eligible for the same awards as the George Sidney competition.
Fees: $30–55 for features, $20–50 for shorts under 40 minutes, $20–50 for student films, depending on deadline.
Music Video Showcase
Music videos under 7 minutes, from anywhere, in every musical style. The official selections screen in an evening paired with live musical performances.
Judged by professional musicians and music video producers, with special awards for videos featuring Central Coast musicians.
Fees: $15–35, depending on deadline.
Filmmakers of Tomorrow Youth Competition
For filmmakers under 18 still attending elementary, middle or high school, anywhere in the world (college student films aren’t accepted). Films must be under 7 minutes and entered with a copy of school ID.
Cash prizes for Best Documentary, Best Narrative, Best International and Best Animated.
Fee: $5.
Episodic
Documentary or narrative series of any genre: several episodes up to 40 minutes in total, or a single episode up to 30 minutes. English subtitles required.
Fees: $20–50, depending on deadline.
Awards
Juried awards: Best Full-length Narrative and Best Full-length Documentary (45 minutes or longer): $1,000 each. Best Narrative Short, Best Documentary Short and Best Student Film: $500 each. Best Music Video: $200. Best Animation, Best Genre/Horror Film and Best Episodic also win cash prizes.
Audience Awards in five categories: Best Narrative Feature, Best Documentary Feature, Best Short Narrative, Best Short Documentary and Best in Fest.
Submission FAQ
Who can submit?
Filmmakers of any age, from anywhere. Films must be completed after July 1, 2025 (March 1, 2025 for Filmmakers of Tomorrow). Each category above lists its own limits.
Do you require premiere status?
Your film must not be available on a streaming platform at the time of the festival. The preferred format for screening copies is an online link, preferably Vimeo. Selected films screen from a DCP, with a ProRes file as backup.
Fee waivers?
SLO Film Fest alumni can submit a new film with a fee waiver: email info@slofilmfest.org to request one. Selected films can get 20% off having a DCP made.
When will I hear back?
Notifications go out by February 1, 2027.
Competition rules
Submission fees are non-refundable and won’t be refunded if a film is not selected. We currently do not accept films that are fully AI-generated.
SLO Film Fest reserves the right to determine the eligibility of any work submitted. A film entered in the wrong category is disqualified.
Every George Sidney competition filmmaker selected gets one night’s hotel accommodation in the San Luis Obispo area and two all-access passes to the 2027 festival.
Questions?
Email info@slofilmfest.org or call 1-805-546-3456. Mail: P.O. Box 1449, San Luis Obispo, CA 93406.
Key dates
April 22–27, 2027