Science Fiction + Fantasy Short Film Festival
A not-to-be missed annual juried festival showcasing animated and live-action science fiction and fantasy films from around the globe.
EMP Museum in partnership with the Seattle International Film Festival (SIFF), announce the launch of the ninth annual Science Fiction + Fantasy Short Film Festival.
Wildly popular, the Science Fiction + Fantasy Short Film Festival has sold out the renowned 800-seat Cinerama for the last five years in a row, packing the house with enthusiastic fans from the region’s sci-fi, fantasy, and film communities. Selected films are presented on Cinerama’s massive 70-foot screen, and the theater features a new state-of-the-art sound system and digital projection.
The Science Fiction + Fantasy Short Film Festival films make waves around the world. Featured films have received national distribution and sparked the interest of a vast network of film fans. Plus, all films screen for a jury of luminaries in the fields of science fiction and fantasy film, television, and literature. Click here to read about previous years’ juries. The festival marks the start of these films successes: previous Science Fiction + Fantasy Short Film Festival films have been nominated for Academy Awards, picked up for feature distribution, featured in museum exhibitions, presented at festivals around the world, and received international awards and accolades.
Submissions
From June 1–September 15, 2013 the Science Fiction + Fantasy Short Film Festival will accept short film submissions—up to 15 minutes in length and that have been produced after 2009—for entry into the competition. Multiple submissions will be accepted according to the rules and regulations. Submissions will be judged based on originality, quality, artistic merit, innovation, voice, style, and narrative.
The festival will accept animated or live-action submissions in science fiction (examples: futuristic stories, space adventure, technological speculation, social experiments, utopia and dystopia) and fantasy (examples: sword and sorcery, folklore, urban fantasy, magic, and mythic adventure).
For more detailed information, download the Rules and Regulations and the Info Sheet PDFs. To submit a film, visit SFFSFF.submittable.com.
DEADLINES
June 30 (early), August 15 (regular), September 15 (late)
ENTRY FEES
$15–$45
Date + Location
- Late January or early February, 2014 (exact date TBA)
- Cinerama, 2100 4th Avenue, Seattle, WA
Jury
A nationally recognized panel of distinguished film, television, literature, and science fiction industry professionals, peers, and film critics will review qualifying submissions. A jury, which includes science fiction notables and award-winning film professionals, will view the top selected films in competition during the festival to determine the winners.
Awards
Grand Prize, Second Place, Third Place, Douglas Trumbull Award for Best Special Effects, and Audience Favorite.
Format
10 short films will screen in the first session (4:00pm–6:00pm) followed by 10 short films in the second session (7:30pm–9:30pm). An awards ceremony will follow the second session, and all filmmakers are invited to a post-festival reception with jurors, EMP and SIFF supporters, and members of the Seattle film and sci-fi/fantasy communities.
Mission + Objective
The Science Fiction + Fantasy Short Film Festival promotes and encourages an awareness, appreciation, and understanding of the art of science fiction and fantasy cinema. Its mandate is to create a forum for creative artistry in science fiction and fantasy film and recognize the most outstanding short films produced.
Questions?
Contact EMP Museum at FilmFest@EMPmuseum.org.
