FILM SUBMISSIONS

2018 Submission Opens: April 1, 2017
Deadine is October 31, 2017
Notification Date: January 31, 2018

The Sierra Nevada Film Festival opens in March 2018, and will continue with additional screenings in April, September, and November 2018. Submissions received after the November 31, 2017 deadline may be reviewed on a rolling basis for inclusion in the later screenings if the entire 2018 program is not finalized by November 31, 2017.

Awards: The Sierra Nevada Film Festival is a non-competitive festival. We do not give formal awards. Our goal is to bring awareness to the Sierra Nevada communities about enviornmental stewardship, faciliate discussion, and inspire action. We do give filmmakers recognition and a chance to get a way to spend some time in the Sierra Nevada, with gorgeous lakes, magnificent giant sequoias, award-winning wineries, and interesting people.

Why Submit to the Sierra Nevada Film Festival? Your film will be screened by a diverse group of people who understand the importance and value of environmental and outdoor adventure film making.

  • Official selection laurels.
  • Free admission to all festival screenings and events.
  • A facilitated discussion of the film at the screening.
  • Sale of DVDs at the screening.
  • VIP treatment: we'll pick you up in the Bay Area, assist with finding lodging (or host you), provide canoes, kayaks, hiking, biking, skiing or other outdoor advice, and generally ensure you have a great visit.

Films accepted:

  • Feature-length, mid-length, and short films are accepted.
  • Documentary, drama, comedy, animation, and experimental films will be considered.
  • The length of full feature films is not limited, but we prefer films that run no more than 90 minutes. If you have multiple versions of your film with different durations, please let us know.
  • We typically pair short or mid-length films with full-length features.
  • The topics should be related to environmental issues, envioronmetal activism, outdoor adventure, beauty of the natural world, the search for a sustainable world, and related topics. The topics can be political, economic, scientific, or personal; as long as the films are though-provoking and/or inspiring. Our goal is to share with our audiences new ideas, new places, new ways of seeking familiar places, new ways of being, new ways of thinking... We don't shy away from controversy, we love crazy, hair-raising adventures, and we appreciate a quiet contemplation of the beauty around us. We welcome submissions that will push buttons, teach us something, or just leave breathless.
  • We pay close attention to the quality of the film production.
  • All films are given equal weighting in the review process.
  • We gladly accept foreign submissions with English subtitles.

Submission Process:

  • We prefer online submissions such as FilmFreeway, Vimeo, or Dropbox links (with a password) or another site where your film is posted. Email links to info@sierrafilmfest.org. Submit $10 fee via paypal to info@sierrafilmfest.org. Please do not send checks.
  • If you must send DVDs for review, please provide in NTSC region 0 or 1 format. Please send 2 copies of your film for review to Sierra Nevada Film Festival, PO Box 4519, Dorrington, California 95223 with a check for $10 made to Sierra Nevada Film Festival. If you would like your film returned to you, please include a postage-paid self-addressed envelope with your submission.
  • If accepted, we will ask for a high resolution .mp4 or .mov file that we can download, a short description of the film, a link to a trailer if available, and any stills you may have.

Please contact the director, Agata Sulczynski at agata@sierrafilmfest.org or 415.516.4972 with any questions.


Program changes may occur. Changes will be announced on this web site and at the venue. Rain cancels outdoor events at Newsome Harlow and Chatom.

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