July Newsletter

Let the Sunshine In

Image by Freepik

Summer is here and we here at WIFSFBA wish all of you a summer filled with enlightening and inspiring works of art. Personally, I really enjoyed the final season of Hacks on HBO…I've said this before about a previous season: "so well written, with such heartfelt, witty, and soul-baring performances by Jean Smart and Hannah Einbinder." But that ending really got to me. Highly recommend watching it!

Also, the new indie horror films Backrooms and Obsession are making headlines for doing well at the actual brick and mortar movie theatre! Good news for those of us working on horror projects. And for those who love going to the movies in an actual theatre. Independent theatres are the best. Usually, they provide better deals on popcorn :-) and more interesting programming anyway than your nearest multiplex. The best one up here in Bellingham, WA where I am now is called the Pickford.

Despite what might be going on in the world, we can take solace in the fact that humans can create beautiful stories that move us, make us laugh, and bring us together in our common humanity.

To celebrate summer, please join us for our upcoming events including virtual networking and a panel on self-distribution. More info below.

-Nil Unerdem, WIFSFBA Secretary

Film Events in the Bay Area

Bravemaker Film Festival

When: July 8-12th, 2026
Where: Redwood City, CA

“From SF Bay to L.A. We are curating culture, change and community.

BraveMaker is a movement. We are a creative community of filmmakers, actors, dreamers, innovators and advocates. We host weekly creative support groups and classes for professional development in the entertainment industry for makers of all kinds to achieve their creative goals. We also are a production company bringing stories to life in narrative films (both features and shorts), commercials, PSA’s, documentaries and social media content. We make space for all people to belong as our mission is to educate, entertain, and create community with film for justice, diversity and inclusion. (And no we won’t remove those words).

We produce a weekly podcast, monthly film screenings and mixers, quarterly acting and screenwriting classes and an annual film fest. We take our craft very seriously. We don’t just talk about, we do it.”

MORE INFO: Bravemaker Film Festival

GodzillaFest

When: July 17-19th, 2026
Where: Balboa Theater

“Bay Area Film Events' Godzillafest Film Festival returns in 2026 to the Balboa Theater on July 17-19!

Films are being booked and scheduled. Feel free to contact us with movies you would like to see this coming year! Some of the anniversaries we have to celebrate this year include:

Godzilla King of the Monsters 1956
Rodan 1956
War of the Gargantuas 1966
Gamera vs. Barugon 1966
King Kong 1976 and King Kong Lives 1986
Gamera vs Legion 1996
Rebirth of Mothra 1996
Godzilla, Mothra, King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack 2001
The Host 2006
Gamera the Brave 2006
Shin Godzilla 2016”

MORE INFO: FILM FEST | Godzillafest

San Francisco Jewish Film Festival

When: July 16-August 2nd, 2026
Where: various theatres throughout SF and Oakland
Cost: JFI Members $15, General Public $20, ADA/Students/Seniors $19

“Welcome to the 46th San Francisco Jewish Film Festival

Hello, dear friends, and welcome to the Jewish Film Institute’s 46th annual San Francisco Jewish Film Festival! Our team and our artists are eager to gather, watch, kibbitz, nosh, laugh, and think together in our theaters throughout the Bay Area. In a moment where your attention is precious, it means a great deal that you turn towards SFJFF46 with eyes wide open and take a seat. We are quite proud of what we have put together for you this summer and are humbled by your trust in us as good stewards of this storied, boundary-breaking festival.

Our refreshed JFI logo speaks to the depth and dimensionality that guide our mission to expand and evolve the Jewish story. The throughlines that you see throughout this year’s Festival graphic design stem from the way we have approached our curatorial work this year. These strands remind us of our connectedness in time and space that is at once elastic and unending. As we wrap this new festival around ourselves, our hope is that it feels like both divergence and reconciliation.

Let us be reminded of the properties of well-woven tapestries. No two strands operate in the same exact way; they bisect each other, go through and around each other, but always—ultimately and only—bind us together. There is no straight line through artistry, story, and identity, a complexity which this year’s Festival makes perfectly clear. Over the course of these eighteen days of discovery and dialogue, we look forward to traveling with you from world to world, screen to screen, from perspective to ever-shifting perspective. Whichever line you take, or thread you follow, we hope you enjoy the journey.” #SFJFF

MORE INFO: SF Jewish Film Festival 2026

Letter from the President

Dear WIFSFBA community,

July is one of my favorite months. Summer has arrived, and I love summer.

My lavender is blooming, the garden is growing, the bees are happy, the apples and plums are beginning to appear, and our Meyer lemon tree still has a few beautiful reminders of spring hanging on. My garden is planted and getting ready to go, and somehow this season always reminds me that everything is alive. I feel more alive too.

Summer always brings me back to gratitude and slowing down enough to notice beauty, to reconnect with nature, friends, and to appreciate the communities and creative lives we are building together.

Speaking of connection last month, one of the highlights for me was our conversation on AI and filmmaking with Philip Shane, Rox Ducharme, and Basil Shadid. I left truly impressed not only by their intelligence and experience, but by their heart, ethics, and generosity in sharing their perspectives with our community. What I appreciated most was that the conversation never became about replacing filmmakers or celebrating technology for technology’s sake. Instead, it stayed rooted in something I care deeply about: how AI is transforming the filmmaking process without losing the heart of human storytelling. There was a tremendous amount of curiosity and excitement around what is possible right now. We talked about emerging tools and workflows that are changing development, visual experimentation, editing, and opening doors for independent creators in ways we have never seen before.

At the same time, we had honest conversations about responsibility. One of the topics we discussed was the growing ability to create films using AI tools with dramatically reduced budgets and radically different production models than traditional filmmaking. While some of these developments are exciting and democratizing, they also raise important questions for all of us.

What stayed with me most was the respect everyone had for keeping the creative voice with the filmmaker and keeping humanity at the center of the process.

We also discussed ethics especially when it comes to documentary filmmaking. As filmmakers, we have a responsibility to continue researching deeply, double checking and triple checking our sources, speaking to real people, engaging with archives, and continuing to seek truth from multiple directions. AI can be an incredible tool, but it cannot replace judgment, context, lived experience, or integrity. We touched on some of the larger questions emerging in our industry: Where is the line between documentary and persuasion? Between efficiency and authenticity? Between assistance and authorship?

There are no easy answers.

There is something both exciting and unsettling about how quickly things are changing, but I left feeling hopeful because our panel reminded me that technology itself is not the storyteller. People are. And if we continue bringing our ethics, values, curiosity, and humanity to the table, then I believe filmmakers will continue to thrive in this next chapter.

Thank you again to Philip, Rox, and Basil for taking the time to be with Women in Film San Francisco Bay Area and for helping us all think more deeply about where we are headed.

Thank you also to everyone who attended and supported the conversation. For those who missed it, we plan to release the recording on our YouTube channel in the coming month or so. That actually leads me to something I’m not sure everyone realizes—we have built a really wonderful YouTube channel.

Over the years, we’ve created an archive of panels, conversations, classes, screenings, and educational programming that is incredibly informative and valuable. If you haven’t visited recently, I encourage you to explore it. There is so much knowledge and generosity there from artists who have shared their experiences with our community.

On a personal note, I had something unexpected happen this month. Our documentary Instagram account, @tamaradelempickadoc, suddenly grew from roughly 35–40,000 followers to over 78,000. After years of building that community, it felt meaningful—not because numbers define value, but because every person represents another person discovering Tamara’s story and connecting with the art. Maybe it was our AMC screenings around the country. Or our Canal+Poland partnership. Maybe it was support from incredible artists and friends who amplified the project. Maybe it was timing. Social media is mysterious that way.

But one thing I do know is this: it takes a village.

Thank you to everyone who has shared a post, attended a screening, brought a friend, commented, encouraged us, or simply helped spread the word. Independent filmmaking has always been built through community.

As we begin this beautiful season, I hope you give yourself permission to enjoy it.

Go outside and try to slow down and not go so fast. Perhaps meditate. Smell the lavender.

Sit under a tree. Go to the beach.

Plant something. Watch a comedy. Laugh a lot. Write in the morning, create something beautiful.

Or take a small trip or if travel feels out of reach this year, remember that sometimes a mini-vacation in your own backyard can be just as restorative.

I am wishing all a joyful beginning to summer and a season full of creativity, connection, love, health, and much beauty.

With gratitude,

Julie Rubio

President, Women in Film San Francisco Bay Area

Founder, East Meets West Productions

WIFSFBA EVENTS

Self-Distributing Independent Films

When: Friday, July 17th, noon-1:30pm PDT

Where: Zoom

Cost: $15 members/$25 non-members/$5 students

Join Women In Film San Francisco Bay Area for a candid conversation with filmmakers, producers, and distribution experts who have successfully navigated multiple paths to market. Our panelists will share real-world insights from international sales and acquisitions, wide independent theatrical release, festival-driven distribution, streamer licensing, grassroots audience-building, and event-based release strategies.

This conversation will help demystify the distribution landscape and give filmmakers a clearer understanding of how to evaluate their options, prepare their projects for the marketplace, and build a release strategy that aligns with their film’s audience, goals, budget, and long-term potential.

Whether you are preparing for festivals, seeking a sales agent, considering self-distribution, building an impact campaign, or simply trying to understand what happens after your film is finished, this panel will offer practical guidance from people who have been there.

Panelists:

Sean Harris Oliver, Canadian writer and producer
Katherine Dudas, award-winning director and screenwriter
Mark Padilla, President of Worldwide Sales and Acquisitions at Jackrabbit Media
Blake Wellen, film producer, East Meets West Productions
Julie Rubio, award-winning film director, producer, writer, and actor, Founder East Meets West Productions, WIFSFBA President

MORE INFO: RSVP here

WIFSFBA Virtual Networking Night

When: Monday July 13th, 6:00-7:00pm PDT

Where: Zoom

Cost: Free

Join WIFSFBA for an exciting Virtual Networking Night, where you’ll have the opportunity to meet fellow members, share your projects, exchange ideas, and build new collaborations—all from the comfort of your home!

Whether you're looking for a creative partner, industry advice, or just want to expand your network, this is the perfect chance to engage with a vibrant community of women in film and media.

Expect breakout room discussions, and engaging conversations with like-minded creatives. Don’t miss this chance to grow your network and get inspired!

MORE INFO: RSVP here

Script Incubator Monthly Table Reads

When: July 20th, 7-9:00pm PDT

Where: Zoom

The Script Incubator meets on Zoom every third Monday (sometimes second due to holidays) from 7:00-9:00 p.m. to discuss the group’s work, which includes TV pilots, features, shorts, and web series. Continuing in 2026, we are reviewing each other's work "table read" style, in which we will read aloud up to 3 script portions of 1-10 pages each. No homework!

We are also seeking actors to bring the parts alive so screenwriters can hear their words aloud. Each Zoom session will be recorded so the screenwriter can go back and see what worked and what didn't. And all participants will be encouraged to give feedback and support each other during the meetings.

If you have any questions about the table-read or would like to reserve a spot for your script at the next meeting, feel free to contact Carol Hall at bod-admin@wifsfba.org with “Script Incubator” in the subject line.

July Community Networking

The Vine: The Video Industry Networking Event

When: Thursday, July 2nd, 6:00-8:00 PM PDT
Where: Informal Spaces (formerly Port Labs), 2044 Franklin St., Oakland, CA
Cost: $5

“The July mixer promises to be another fantastic opportunity to catch up with colleagues and forge new connections. The theme is Interdependence - our take on Independence Day. We'll have optional prompts on this theme for you to use as you have conversations with fellow creatives.

And you'll have the opportunity to promote your self and what you are working on, during the last portion of the evening in a segment we call Voices of the Vine.

So whether you're a filmmaker, DP, motion designer, producer, editor, or play ANY role in the video industry, The VINE is the place to be for networking, promotion and inspiration.

SF Wednesday Winedown

Join member Kristin Tieche for the Wednesday Winedown in San Francisco every month!

Keep a lookout for the announcement on our social media channels, WIFchat and the WIFSFBA website local meetups page!

East Bay Meetup

WIFSFBA members (Beth Barany and Amy Boyd) have organized an East Bay meet-n-greet in Oakland, a WIFSFBA hub.

Ideally, we'll meet monthly on the third Wednesday of the month. Keep an eye out on WIFchat or social media! Come join us to connect, share, schmooze, and make new filmmaking friends!

Open to all -- Bring your filmmaking buddies and colleagues. Keep an eye out on WIFchat and the WIFSFBA website local meetups page!

Thank you Beth and Amy!

New South Bay meetup

To serve members and friends in the South Bay, Diane Walsh (our Vice President) has organized a new WIFSFBA monthly meetup. It will be a fun opportunity for sister South Bay Area filmmakers to chat, share career experiences, find project partners…and maybe even go to the movies together!

Watch your email closely for more info about July’s SOUTH BAY MEETUP!

WIFSFBA UPDATES

Pitch-A-Pro Wrap-Up

Thanks for joining us on June 15th for this amazing yearly event where filmmakers and writers pitched their projects to 8 professional managers, producers, and execs over Zoom! So many creative, interesting, and inspiring ideas were shared in multiple breakout rooms. Many of the pros requested marketing materials and scripts from the pitchers. Hoping it leads to meaningful and creative connections in the future!

Thank you to all of our helpers, our Board, and especially to Carol Hall for organizing and producing this popular yearly event!

Become a Dual Member of WIFSFBA & New York Women in Film and Television

New York Women In Film and Television (NYWIFT) is offering dual membership to WIFSFBA members. If you are a WIFSFBA member in good standing, you may purchase a NYWIFT Industry Level membership for $100 (plus a $50 initiation fee), a saving of 50% off the normal $200 membership. Membership in NYWIFT includes:

Online and in-person networking and learning events
Marketing Creative Talent in weekly e-blast, Twitter, and Members in the News Webpage
Advanced Screenings
Online Member Center
Benefits Program
Fiscal Sponsorship
Affinity Groups and Committees
Electronic Copies of NYWIFT Publications
One Member-Price Ticket to the NYWIFT Muse Awards

For more information, please see the description here, and download and fill out form. Applications may be emailed or snail mailed to the addresses inside the application. If you have any questions, please email membership@nywift.org or call 212 679-0870 x 31.

WIFSFBA Public Member Crew List

One perk of individual WIFSFBA membership is the Public Member Crew List that you can opt into, accessed through the WIFSFBA website under "Join Us" then "Hire Us." Take a look here to find your next crew, or list yourself and your skills!

Check it out here: Women In Film San Francisco Bay Area - Public Member Crew List

WIFSFBA Private Member Crew List

A similar perk of individual WIFSFBA membership is the private version of the public list (those who prefer to only be viewed by other WIFSFBA members). This Private Member Crew List can be seen by logging into our website. This is another great resource to find collaborators, crew, and connections!

Check it out here: Women In Film San Francisco Bay Area - Member Directory

WIFSFBA Merch Store!

Check out our exclusive new WIFSFBA Film Role Apparel (Producer, Director, Screenwriter, etc.)! Wear your film role with pride AND support Women in Film San Francisco Bay Area at the same time! Whether you're treating yourself or finding the ideal gift for a friend, we've got something special for everyone. Check out the online store here: WIFSFBA merch!

MEMBERS IN THE NEWS

Screenwriting Lab with Nicole de Meneses

When: July 8 – July 29, 2026. Wednesdays, 6PM – 7PM

Where: Online

Cost: $436.40.

WIFSFBA community, use 50% Discount code: script50

From WIFSFBA member Nicole:

“I'm teaching a short film screenwriting lab this summer. I'm offering 50% off to the first five students who sign up.

If you know anyone who has been interested in writing a film, telling their own story, or exploring screenwriting, I'd be grateful if you could share the opportunity with them. The lab is designed to help participants develop a short film from concept to completed first draft while connecting with other writers in a supportive creative community.

The program concludes with a live table read performed by actors, giving participants the chance to hear their scripts come to life and receive valuable feedback.

Any help spreading the word would be greatly appreciated.

Best,

Nicole”

MORE INFO: Screenwriting Lab

Best of luck, Nicole!

Rashmi Rustagi’s Film Designed By Preeti

From WIFSFBA member Rashmi Rustagi:

“Over the years, I witnessed stories of strong, successful women quietly living in controlling relationships. Those experiences stayed with me and eventually inspired my new film, Designed by Preeti, a romantic drama about healing, friendship, and finding the courage to begin again.

It’s a film that explores relationships, identity, and the challenges many people face but don’t always talk about. The movie is now available to watch online for a limited time.

Watch here: Ticket Link

Independent films thrive and grow through community. If you have already seen the film, please share the viewing link with friends and family.

P.S. If the film moves you, I would truly appreciate a review on IMDb.”

Congratulations Rashmi!

Courtney Fernandez’s Screenplay Cadenza Finalist at the LA International Screenplay Awards!

WIFSFBA Member Courtney Fernandez's screenplay Cadenza placed as a Finalist in the Los Angeles International Screenplay Awards!

From Courtney: "I wanted to make sure to give a shout out to the team that did my table read in February. That experience helped me to refine my script, and I credit WIFSFBA’s Table Read crew for helping me place as a Finalist. I appreciate everyone who helped bring my words to life, and for the comments they gave to help me improve my story...Carter McCann, a senior administrator at L.A. Screenplay Awards said that over a thousand submissions were received for the March 2026 competition."

Congratulations Courtney!!

Courtney’s Bio:

As has been the case for most things in Courtney’s life, writing her first script “just happened.” She took her love of international novels, and coupled it with her deep understanding of how impactful words can be, and hammered out her first dramatic script in 2024. While she came to writing “later in life,” she looks forward to contributing fresh ideas and different perspectives to the industry in meaningful ways.

Courtney leverages her International Peace and Conflict degree, and her years of diplomatic credentials to convey stories that help people connect to the world around them. She aspires to write films and K-dramas that mesh Korean/Asian storytelling elements with western style screenplay writing, in order to find a broader base of viewers to share her stories with.

Courtney has written a total of 7 screenplays, and has placed in 14 international writing competitions, showcasing her unique voice as a storyteller.

MORE INFO: Cadenza on Seed and Spark

WIFSFBA Member Kate Schultz’s short film “End Run” at the San Francisco Frozen Film Festival!

Kate Schultz’s short “End Run” will be screened in July 2026 at the Frozen Film Festival, date to be announced. “It’s about a dying patient seeking physician-assisted Death with Dignity, but it's illegal in his state of Texas.”

Congratulations Kate!

Where: The Crossing Outdoor Cinema, 250 Main St, San Francisco, CA

When: July 16th, 6:00 PM

"In 2026, the San Francisco Frozen Film Festival will proudly celebrate its 20th anniversary. After two decades of bold, independent cinema, this milestone year promises an incredible range of storytelling and artistic expression brought to the heart of San Francisco."

MORE INFO: SF Frozen Film Festival & Kate Schultz website

Do you have career or event news you’d like to share with fellow members?

We’d really like to hear about any recent career accomplishments, awards, new ventures, or a positive experience having to do with our industry. This is one of the advantages to being part of an organization like WIFSFBA -- by letting others know what you’re doing, you can expand your creative family and even find new collaborators for future projects.

So…take a moment to sit down and write something you’d like to share with your WIFSFBA sisters. Then email that blurb and any related images to bod-admin@wifsfba.org with ‘Members in the News’ in the subject line. Do it now rather than next week -- you deserve to shine! Submit one week before the end of the month to be included in the next newsletter.

Community Partners:
Events & Invitations

A BIG Thank You to our “Pitch-A-Pro Night” Community Partners

WIFSFBA is a July Community Partner for the 46th SFJFF

Discover your next favorite film at the 46th SF Jewish Film Festival, presented by @sfjewishfilm, returning July 16 – Aug 2 to the Bay Area! This year we are very excited to co-present the films What Was She Thinking? and Hollywood Does Abortion as a community partner of the festival:

What Was She Thinking?

Thursday July 23, 2026 @ 3:00 p.m. - JCCSF: Kanbar Hall -- World Premiere

“Documentarian Iris Zaki is an award-winning filmmaker, a vibrant woman in her forties, and confidently unmarried and child-free. In What Was She Thinking, she dives into the endlessly layered decision not to have children, filming intimate conversations with close friends and peers, family members, and women from different generations. The result is a candid and thought-provoking work that will resonate with anyone who has contemplated their own capacity for parenthood.” —Laura Henneman

Hollywood Does Abortion

Saturday July 18, 2026 @ 6:00 p.m. -- Castro Theatre -- West Coast Premiere

(This program includes the Freedom of Expression Award presentation to Rachel Bloom. Directors Janet Goldwater and Mike Attie are also expected to attend in San Francisco)

Friday July 31, 2026 @ 6:00 p.m. -- Piedmont Theatre

“Hollywood Does Abortion is a meticulously researched documentary about images of abortion in American film and TV. The film launches with Norman Lear’s groundbreaking series Maude, featuring Bea Arthur (née Bernice Frankel) as Maude, who finds herself with an unwanted pregnancy. In 1972, 65 million Americans tuned in as Maude opted for an abortion. The film’s montage of clips from the early 1970s to the present is woven seamlessly with interviews of writers and directors, from Eleanor Bergstein (Dirty Dancing) to Zoanne Clack (Grey’s Anatomy). Starting with the first media images of abortion, which were mostly of white women, the film’s lens widens to scrutinize the lack of representation of women of color, which only changed when their participation as writers and showrunners grew in the industry. The film’s directors deftly intertwine news clips of clinic bombings and protests, creating a complex visual history of abortion that runs parallel to the fictional TV images. This essential documentary shows how abortion narratives on screen and public policy continue to influence each other in the post-Roe world.” —Nancy Fishman

Use the code WIFSFJFF46 to save on tickets to these films and the Festival at sfjff.org.

Call for Submissions

Future of Film is Female Shorts Program

Submission Deadline: July 17, 2026
Screenings at Nitehawk Cinema: September 16th, 2026
Notification date: August 10th, 2026

“THE FUTURE OF FILM IS FEMALE advances gender parity in the film industry by amplifying the work of all women and nonbinary filmmakers through its FOFIF Short Film Fund, curated screenings, and distribution. Our initiative, The FOFIF Shorts Program, is a combination of our two loves: short films and exhibition. Now, filmmakers can submit their completed short films in consideration for one of our screenings! Our 2026 edition will take place at Nitehawk Cinema (Williamsburg) on September 16 and will include 2 screenings featuring 7-9 short films selected from FilmFreeway.”

Submit here: Future of Film is Female

Film Pipeline Short Script Contest

Regular Deadline: September 10, 2026 -- $50 Fee

“The 9th Annual Film Pipeline Short Script Contest is geared toward writers and directors looking to get a project financed and produced, or seeking development on a proof of concept for a feature.

Our execs collaborate 1-on-1 with the finalists and winner, supporting efforts on their selected script as well as future features or pilots. Think of this less as a contest and more as an opportunity for long-term mentorship and development no matter what path you're on in film and TV.

Accepting all genres—from traditional stories, to "experimental," to animation. Go big (just short).”

Submit here: Film Pipeline Short Script Contest

ShortsTV

Submissions: Rolling

“We have the world’s largest catalogue of high-quality shot movies and series available on TV, on mobile, online, and in theaters, and also produce original short film content for broadcasters and brands. Are you the world’s next biggest filmmaker? We are always looking for short movies from exciting talents to broadcast on our TV networks and beyond. If you have a short movie that you would like us to con sidere, please complete the form below. Our acquisitions team will watch your film and contact you if they are interested in discussing a license agreement.”

MORE INFO: Shorts TV

LA Film Festivals

Submission Dates: various

Submission Fees: various

“LA Film Festivals is a creative hub for Los Angeles’s top independent film festivals, and a home for independent filmmakers.” Each of the following LA festivals has its own requirements, submission deadlines, and fees:

LA Comedy Film Festival
LA Indie Film Festival
LA Queer Film Festival
LA Women in Film Festival
LA Black Film Festival
LA Asian Film Festival
LA Latinx Film Festival
LA Sci-Fi Film Festival
LA Action Film Festival
LA Horror Film Festival
LA Animated Film Festival
LA Student Film Festival”

For submission info on individual festivals: LA Film Festivals

Television Feedback - Screenplay & Web Series Festival

4th Festival Submission Deadline: July 31, 2026

Submission: FREE -- guaranteed acceptance

“TV SCREENPLAY FESTIVAL takes place every single month.

This festival was created as a way to get new teleplay writers out there to the industry. And to help expose the many amazing Web Series that are out there today that need recognition and exposure. This festival has a guaranteed 4-tier set-up for all submitted scripts.

1st Tier: FULL FEEDBACK on your screenplay

2nd Tier: Garner a best scene of screenplay performed by professional actors and made into a promotional video.

3rd Tier: We will send you a list of questions to answer for our blog interview that will promote you and your script.

4th Tier: We will set up a podcast interview on our popular iTunes show where we will chat with you about the process of how the film was made.

TV WEB SERIES FESTIVAL occurs every 3 months.

Each submitted Web series is guaranteed acceptance.

1) Screening #1, where you will also obtain your audience feedback video.
2) Screening #2 virtually on the streaming service WILDsound TV (optional)

3) Podcast interview at WILDsound Radio on ITunes
4) Blog interview promoting you and your film.

Submit here: TV Feedback

SLAMDANCE Screenplay Competition

Late Deadline: July 20th, 2026
Final Deadline: August 3rd, 2026
Submission Fees: $60 - $95 (script only); coverage included for additional fee.

“The Slamdance Screenplay Competition is dedicated to discovering and supporting emerging writing talent. We welcome screenplays in every genre, on any topic, from anywhere in the world.

We provide a small paragraph of constructive feedback for every entrant, free of charge. More

In-depth coverage is available for an additional fee. Our Screenplay Competition Readers are veteran readers with oodles of experience. They are comprised of previous screenplay award winners, professors, script consultants and of course they are all writers. This award winning team is extremely diverse and located all over the world. We pay all of our readers competitive rates and truly value the work that they do.

Since 1995, the competition has established a strong track record for introducing writers to members of the entertainment industry who have gone on to produce, option and represent submitted work. Like the Film festival, the Screenplay Competition is a place for new, bold, and raw voices. We are looking for scripts that take risks, refuse compromises, and go places where most fear to tread.

Our competition consists of four categories:

Feature
Horror/Thriller
TV Pilot
Short

Awards are given to the top three scripts in each category. The Grand Prize Winner is selected from these top 12 scripts.”

MORE INFO: Slamdance

Grants, Fellowships, and Funding Corner

Frameline Completion Fund

Submissions: While their primary submission windows usually open in August, checking Frameline Artist Development can help you prepare for their upcoming late-summer intake.

“Grants up to $5,000 are available for the completion of films that represent and reflect LGBTQ+ life in all its complexity and richness.

The program seeks to support works by and for under-served communities. With this in mind, we encourage submissions from women, people of color, transgender people, intersex people, asexual people, nonbinary people, disabled people, and other underrepresented people and communities.

The Completion Fund accepts projects in all categories, from documentary and narrative works to experimental, animated, or episodic projects, so long as the films are about LGBTQ+ people and their communities.

Eligibility Requirements

Only applications that provide a full working cut of the film will be considered. Temporary sound, color, or visual effects are allowed — just let us know what’s missing or still being worked on in your application.
Grants are given for completion only, so 90% of production must be finished. If you aren’t in the post-production phase, you must be ready to begin post-production as soon as this funding is in place.
Grants are only given to individuals with creative and financial control of the project. In the case of collaboration, a sole project director must be designated as the applicant.
Grants will be given to projects in any film/video format, of any length, genre, or nationality.”

MORE INFO: Frameline Completion Fund

Roy W. Dean Short Film Grant - Spring 2026

Fall Grant Application (Deadline: October 31st, 2026)

Carole Dorothy Joyce Grant (Deadline: November 30th, 2026)

“Now in its 35th year, this respected grant supports independent filmmakers creating meaningful, socially impactful work.

Eligible Projects: Documentary, narrative feature, short film, and web series

Budgets under $500,000 (students encouraged to apply)

Spring 2026 Award Includes: 💵 $3,500 Cash, 🎥 Thousands in donated film products & services, including:

IndiPro Kratos Battery Kit ($600 value)
40% off ProMedia NYC post-production services
$500 Filmtools equipment credit
$1,600 Silver Sound mix session

✨ New This Year: Stories That Matter Awards

Three additional $500 awards honoring films reflecting real lives and pressing social issues.

🏆 Britt Penrod Award

$500 cash award recognizing a film making an exceptional contribution to society.

📞 Every applicant receives a complimentary 15-minute consultation."

Apply here: Roy W. Dean Grant Application - From the Heart Productions
Questions: info@fromtheheartproductions.com | 805-984-0098”

MORE INFO: Documentary & Film Fiscal Sponsorship Program For Filmmakers

Women Make Movies Production Grant

--Production Assistance Program

Rolling Applications

“This program focuses on supporting BIPOC/ALAANA, LGBTQIA women, older women, and women in film with disabilities. It provides fiscal sponsorship and offers personalized consultations, workshops and networking opportunities. Recipients get access to one-on-one consultations and pay reduced rates for industry workshops. Projects need to raise at least $50,000 in funding.”

You must be a woman filmmaker serving as project director or co-director, and should show a clear direction and realistic plan for distribution in your application.

MORE INFO: WMM Production Grant

FEAR FILMS: Film Incubation Fund - In Association with the Independent Horror Society

Rolling Deadline

“Turn your nightmare into a reality with FEAR and FILM3! Apply for funding for your short horror film.”

FOR MORE INFO AND APPLICATION: Horror Short Film Fund | Apply for Funding

Impact Partners Development Fund

Application Deadline: rolling deadline

“For early-stage documentary features, series, or projects that could be either. Impact Partners will invest in the development of 4-8 projects a year, with a range of $10K -$100K per project. We are now accepting applications. Filmmakers can apply to the fund for a variety of reasons as they get their projects off the ground, including development shoots, cutting a trailer or reel, conducting archival research, casting characters, etc.”

MORE INFO: Impact Partners

Sloan Distribution Grant

Rolling Applications

"Administered through Film Independent, the Sloan Distribution Grant awards $50,000 to a maximum of three narrative features that are entering their distribution phase. Eligible films must depict themes, stories, and characters grounded in real science, technology, or economics.

Films with innovative marketing and distribution plans are encouraged to apply."

MORE INFO: Sloan Distribution Grant