The Museum of Pop Culture’s mission is to make creative expression a life-changing force by offering experiences that inspire and connect our communities.
Submissions Now Open For The 17th Annual Science Fiction + Fantasy Short Film Festival
Submissions are now open for the 17th annual Science Fiction and Fantasy Short Film Festival (SFFSFF)!
Hosted by MoPOP and SIFF to celebrate new and innovative additions to the science fiction and fantasy cinematic arts, SFFSFF screens animated and live-action science fiction and fantasy films from around the world, which are then judged by nationally recognized film critics.
The wildly popular festival has sold out for the last 10 years in a row, packing the house with enthusiastic fans from the region’s sci-fi, fantasy, and film communities. In 2020, SFFSFF hosted its first-ever digital showcase, inviting fans from all over the world to view the latest and greatest in genre film. Films from SFFSFF have also received international distribution and sparked the interest of a vast network of film fans — even receiving Academy Awards nominations, museum exhibition features, and more.
SFFSFF is now collecting submissions for the 2022 film festival. All films entering the festival must have been completed no earlier than January 2017 and should be no longer than 15 minutes in length.* Films will be accepted from July 21–December 23.
*Films that exceed 15 minutes may still be considered for the festival, but will not be eligible for awards.
Important Dates:
- August 23: $20 Early Bird Deadline
- October 25: $25 Regular Deadline
- November 26: $35 Late Deadline
- December 23: $40 Extended Deadline
- February 28, 2022: Notification of Acceptance
- March 2022: Film Print Due
- April 2022: Prize Winners Notified
- May 21-22, 2022: Event Date
We'll be offering a ‘pay-what-you-can' submission fee model for all BIPOC identifying filmmakers through waiver codes. If you would like a waiver code (FilmFreeway does not have a sliding scale option) please email us (KasiG@MoPOP.org) and we'll be happy to provide you with a waiver for a percentage off the entry fee. Waivers are currently only available to BIPOC submitters (Black and/or Indigenous People of Color as well as all filmmakers who identify as People of Color). This submission policy is to challenge the lack of access to filmmaking and institutional film culture for people from the most marginalized and exploited backgrounds.
Options for BIPOC discount:
- 5% off entry fee
- 10% off entry fee
- 25% off entry fee
- 50% off entry fee
- 100% off entry fee
Youth Track
Are you a young filmmaker itching to get your work watched? Submit to SFFSFF Youth Track! Filmmakers 24 and under are encouraged to submit their science fiction and fantasy short films. The top films will be screened in a SFFSFF Youth Track virtual showcase, and the winner, chosen by our esteemed Youth Advisory Board, will have their film screened in the non-Youth Track festival where they’ll participate in a Q+A session, rub elbows with industry professionals, and receive a free masterclass of their choosing.
Learn more about Science Fiction + Fantasy Short Film Festival and for contests, the latest news, and behind-the-scenes content, be sure to follow us on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
If you like what you see, support our work by making a donation or planning a visit to MoPOP today!