Embedded Files
Fall is in the Air
Fall is in the Air
Image by FreePik
Welcome back, it’s September already! We are back from summer break in August and it’s almost time to get those fall sweaters out and walk through those leaves. Almost. It’s still 90 degrees around here. We in the Bay Area know that September actually has some of the best weather so enjoy it out there this month and get creative!
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. Looking forward to award season this fall and all the news of film premieres from Venice & Telluride. I’m particularly looking forward to Hamnet, Chloe Zhao’s new film starring Paul Mescal and Jessie Buckley, and Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein. Also, of course, Jeremy Allen White as Bruce Springsteen in the biopic Deliver Me from Nowhere. Yes, Chef!
For our September WIFSFBA events, we have a Script Incubator table read on 9/15, another virtual networking night for members on 9/22 Monday night, and an event on the American Film Market on 9/29. Hope to see you all there!
Nil Unerdem, WIFSFBA Secretary
Hispanic Heritage Month
Hispanic Heritage Month
September 15th also marks the beginning of Hispanic Heritage Month, a time for us to celebrate and honor the Hispanic & Latino/a/x community and their invaluable contributions to the entertainment industry.
Here are a few highlights of what’s going on around town in honor:
Latino Film Festival
When: 1:00-3:00pm, throughout September and October
Where: Eastmont Branch, Oakland Public Library, 7200 Bancroft Ave, Suite 211, Oakland CA 94605
“Join us for a selection of films showcasing Latinos in film and history. Latin-themed botanas (snacks) will be served.
9/15: In the Heights
9/22: Catinflas
9/29: Salt of the Earth
10/6: Havana Hip Hop Underground
10/13: La Antena”
MORE INFO: Oakland Library Latino Film Festival
Nae Pasaran – Film Screening & Benefit for Emergency Workplace Organizing Committee
When: September 7th, 6:30pm
Where: La Peña Cultural Center, 3105 Shattuck Avenue Berkeley, CA 94705
Suggested donation: $10
“Join us for a special screening of Nae Pasaran (2018), a powerful documentary that tells the true story of four factory workers in East Kilbride, Scotland, who defied the Pinochet dictatorship in Chile by refusing to repair Chilean air force engines in 1974. This act of international solidarity became one of the longest sustained worker-led protests against fascism and military dictatorship in history.
Directed by Felipe Bustos Sierra, Nae Pasaran dives into the political impact of this boycott, highlighting testimonies from victims of the 1973 Chilean coup and even from Chile’s former Air Force chief. The film exposes the ripple effects of global worker solidarity and resistance against authoritarianism.
This event is a benefit for the East Bay Workplace Organizing Committee (EBWOC), a grassroots group supporting non-union workers in any industry to organize with their coworkers and win lasting change on the job. EBWOC is a local affiliate of the Emergency Workplace Organizing Committee (EWOC), which was founded by Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) and the United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers of America (UE).
Food and drinks available for purchase at Los Cilantros.”
MORE INFO: Film Screening: Nae Pasaran
Film Screening of The Rest I Make Up & Panel Discussion
When: September 13th, 2:30pm - 5:00pm
Where: San Francisco Main Library, Koret Auditorium, 100 Larkin St., San Francisco, CA 94102
“In honor of both Hispanic Heritage and World Alzheimer’s Months, join us for a special screening of The Rest I Make Up—named one of The New Yorker’s “Best Movies of 2018”—followed by a panel discussion focusing on creative care, cognitive resilience, identity, and brain health.
This acclaimed documentary chronicles filmmaker Michelle Memran’s decade-long creative collaboration with legendary Cuban-American playwright María Irene Fornés. When Fornés stopped writing due to Alzheimer’s disease, their friendship—and the camera—sparked a new artistic practice, capturing the brilliance, humor, and intimate bond that deepened between them.”
MORE INFO: The Rest I Make Up
National Hispanic Heritage Month at SFO Museum Video Arts
When: September 15th-October 15th, 2025
Where: SFO Museum
“Join us in celebrating National Hispanic Heritage Month! In collaboration with FilmSF, SFO Museum’s Video Arts program is honored to share four distinctive stories—from a documentary capturing a woman waiting for her visa alongside her dog, to a film about the powerful and vibrant work of Bay Area muralists at the La Peña Cultural Center. A short film exploring the hidden stories and communities of the San Joaquin Valley, and a documentary featuring a blind street musician and his dreams of overcoming struggles through music in San Francisco are also on view.”
MORE INFO: SFO Museum
MACLA presents: San + Cha Inebria Me
When: Thursday, September 25, 2025 – Doors: 7:30 PM | Show: 8:00 PM
Friday, September 26, 2024– Doors: 7:30 PM | Show: 8:00 PM
Saturday, September 27, 2024 (Matinée) – Doors: 1:30 PM | Show: 2:00 PM
Where: MACLA Castellano Playhouse, 510 S 1st St San Jose, CA 95113
Tickets:
$50-75 Reserved Seating
$30 General Admission
$10 Students
Run Time: approximately 90 minutes
“Inebria me is a bold reimagining of Los Angeles-based composer, musician, and performance artist San Cha’s acclaimed 2019 album, La Luz de la Esperanza.
At its heart is Dolores, a woman of humble means trapped in a toxic marriage with wealthy Salvador. In her darkest moment, she is visited by Esperanza, a luminous, genderless being who awakens her courage to escape and reclaim her worth. Through this narrative, Inebria me queers and dismantles the cis-heteronormative archetypes that shaped San Cha’s youth, rewriting the stories of love, power, and resilience.
Blending ranchera, cumbia, mariachi, punk, classical, and electro into a live music score, enriched by innovative visual design, Inebria me is as musically daring as it is emotionally stirring. Drawing from San Cha’s lived experiences, rural Mexican immigrant life, Catholic choir traditions, Bay Area drag performance, and cross-border identity—the work is a celebration of chosen family, self-discovery, and the liberating power of hope.
Co-commissioned by MACLA / Movimiento de Arte y Cultura Latino Americana, National Performance Network (NPN), Performance Space New York, Portland Institute for Contemporary Art (PICA), and REDCAT / Roy & Edna Disney CalArts Theatre; this genre-defying work transforms telenovela melodrama into a transcendent tale of liberation.”
MORE INFO and tickets: San + Cha Inebria me & MACLA website
16th Annual Fist Up Film Festival - presented by La Pena Cultural Center
When: October 1-5th, 2025
Where: La Peña Cultural Center
3105 Shattuck Avenue Berkeley, CA 94705
Cost: $10-15 tickets
“Get ready to be moved, inspired and engaged! Join us for the 16th Annual Fist Up Film Festival for a world of thought-provoking cinema, carefully curated.
Join us for five days of thought-provoking, community-driven cinema at the 16th Annual Fist Up Film Festival! Each evening will feature a powerful selection of curated short films or feature films connected by theme—highlighting stories that bridge global and local experiences, celebrate ancestral knowledge, and inspire social justice action.
Admission is free with suggested donations. No one will be turned away for lack of funds.
Full program details coming soon—mark your calendar now!”
MORE INFO: Fist Up Film Festival
Cine+Mas 17th San Francisco Latino Film Festival
When: October 23rd, 2025 & more TBD
Where: Roxie Theatre, San Francisco
Welcome to the Cine+Mas 17th annual San Francisco Latino Film Festival. The opening night film will be on October 23rd, followed by an after party near the Roxie Theatre TBD. There will be 20+ screenings, a free outdoor screening, Q&A’s, and filmmaker meetups.
MORE INFO: SF Latino film festival
Letter from the President
Letter from the President
Dear Members and Friends,
As summer fades and we welcome the fall season, I’m reminded of how much change can energize and inspire us. The Bay Area film community has been alive with creativity, and I’m so proud of the ways our members continue to innovate, collaborate, and uplift women’s voices in storytelling.
As a Latina filmmaker, and President of Women in Film San Francisco Bay Area, I stand proud and united with you all as we celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month. This is a time to honor and recognize the remarkable contributions of Hispanic/Latino filmmakers, actors, and artists who have profoundly influenced the world of cinema.
As many of you know, I am an independent filmmaker myself. My most recent film, The True Story of Tamara de Lempicka & The Art of Survival, has been doing exceptionally well in theaters -- something I don’t take for granted, especially at a time when so many theaters and independent films are struggling to find their audiences on the big screen. We are incredibly grateful to be screening our film all over the world to sold out audiences and even received a wonderful write-up in The Hollywood Reporter: Tamara de Lempicka Is Finally Having Her Moment
But let me be clear I do not bring this up as for self-promotion. I am quite aware that my film is in the small percentage of films doing well and this has been an uphill battle of direct to consumer distribution, like no other I have experienced in my career. It has been around the clock work and an uphill battle, and to be frank, rewarding and exhausting. This has been a time for my cast and crew to celebrate, and hopefully inspire. It shows us that it can be done, even in this challenging moment for independent film. The key is thinking outside the box and being willing to pursue unconventional approaches. For this particular film, direct-to-consumer was the only viable path, and while it required a different mindset, it proved that audiences are still hungry for meaningful, independent stories.
At the same time, we cannot ignore that independent artists everywhere are facing real challenges. Funding streams and distribution models are shifting faster than ever, leaving many filmmakers uncertain about how to get their work funded and into the world. Documentaries and socially conscious films that reflect our humanity and ask us to think deeply are often the first to feel the strain at this time for funding. Yet all of our films are essential. They expand our collective understanding, foster empathy, and spark meaningful dialogue.
While the old systems may be fading, history shows us that art always finds a way forward. New models are emerging from grassroots approaches to direct audience engagement and with them come opportunities to reinvent how stories are shared. It is in times like these that creativity, community, and resilience matter most.
This fall, we are excited to bring you programming that speaks directly to the heart of our industry. I’m thrilled to announce our upcoming event:
WIFSFBA PRESENTS:
ARE YOU READY FOR THE AMERICAN FILM MARKET?
📅 Monday, September 29, 2025
🕔 5:00–6:30 PM PDT
💻 Online
Whether you’re a first-timer or a seasoned attendee, the American Film Market (AFM) can feel overwhelming. This session will give you the confidence and tools to navigate it with purpose. Our guest speaker will share insights on:
What AFM is and why it matters
How to walk into meetings with confidence
What it takes to be fully prepared for success
🎟️ Non-Members: $15 | Members: $10
Register here (Women in Film San Francisco Bay Area)
This is the perfect opportunity to prepare for one of the most important markets in the film industry, while building confidence and community along the way.
As we move into fall, I will be participating and moderating a self direct to consumer panel and we are committed to offering more programming that empowers our members, fosters connections, and sparks collaboration. WIFSFBA continues to lift each other up and create the change we want to see in the industry.
Here’s to a season of bold creativity, growth, and possibility.
With gratitude and inspiration,
Julie Rubio
President, Women in Film San Francisco Bay Area
WIFSFBA EVENTS
Are you Ready for the American Film Market?
Are you Ready for the American Film Market?
When: Monday, September 29, 2025, 5:00-6:30pm PDT
Where: Zoom
Cost: Non-Members: $15 | Members: $10
Whether you’re a first-timer or a seasoned attendee, the American Film Market (AFM) can feel overwhelming. This session will give you the confidence and tools to navigate it with purpose. Our guest speaker Sara Elizabeth Timmins will share insights on:
What AFM is and why it matters
How to walk into meetings with confidence
What it takes to be fully prepared for success
Sara Elizabeth will share her experiences, tips and tricks to be prepared, set up meetings, navigate the market and get past the gatekeepers. Find out what companies are best to meet with, what you should have prepared, how to follow-up and more.
BIO: Sara Elizabeth Timmins established Life Out Loud Films in 2008 to create quality, inspiring impact films that champion women. Her films have been seen in theatres, HBO, Amazon, Netflix, The Hallmark Channel, Starz, Showtime and internationally. She has worked with Oscar & Emmy winning talent like Jane Seymour, Ellen Burstyn, Chris Cooper, Josh Lucas and Mackenzie Foy and writers like NY Times Best Selling Author David Baldacci. Every film has featured award winning talent and secured international distribution. She field-produced the Emmy nominated HBO docuseries McMillions for Mark Wahlberg’s company which premiered at Sundance 2020, a true story she has had the rights to and has been developing for years is now being developed into a docuseries for Netflix and she currently has several films in various stages of development. She is also a film consultant/coach, founding NO FILM SCHOOL. NO TRUST FUND. NO PROBLEM. to elevate emerging voices and to create community and education while fostering inspiration and authenticity for indie filmmakers. Sara Elizabeth believes she has a responsibility through film to spark conversations, that inspire action, that ignites change.
MORE INFO here: American Film Market
Script Incubator Monthly Table Reads
Script Incubator Monthly Table Reads
When: Monday, September 15th, 7:00-9:30pm PDT (30 mins longer this month due to reading a feature script)
Where: Zoom
Our next Script Incubator meeting will be Monday, September 15th. We will be continuing to feature a full feature screenplay, read by talented actors from the Bay Area and beyond. No homework! Just show up! And all participants are encouraged to give feedback.
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.
September Community Networking
When: Monday, September 22, 6:00-7:00pm PDT
Where: Zoom
Cost: Free
The WIFSFBA Virtual Networking Night is now monthly!
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
The Vine: The Video Industry Networking Event
When: September 4th, 6-8 PM PDT
Where: Port Labs, 2044 Franklin St., Oakland, CA
“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. And as usual, your $5 admission gets you pizza, wine and other refreshments.
Also, you'll have the opportunity to promote yourself and what you are working on, during the last portion of the evening in a segment we call ‘Voices of the Vine.’”
Register here: Vine Mixer Event
SF Wednesday Winedown
When: September 10th, 2025 at 6:00 pm
Where: Arlequin, 372 Hayes St, San Francisco, CA
Join member Kristin Tieche for the Wednesday Winedown in San Francisco!
Keep a lookout for the announcement on our social media channels, WIFchat and the WIFSFBA website local meetups page!
East Bay Meetup
Where: Baja Taqueria, 4070 Piedmont Ave, Oakland, CA 94611
When: 6:30pm - 8:00pm, September 15th, 2025
WIFSFBA members (Beth Barany and Amy Boyd) have organized a monthly East Bay meet-n-greet -- an Oakland WIFSFBA hub. Ideally, we'll meet monthly on the third Tuesday of the month. Keep an eye out on WIFchat and the WIFSFBA website local meetups page!
We'll connect, get to know each other, and drink iced tea!
** Yes, bring your non-WIF members friends.
WIFSFBA Peninsula Meetup
Where: TBD in Mountain View
When: TBD
Organized by members Rashmi Rustagi and Joy Ma, come and connect with fellow filmmakers, creators, and great minds from the Women in Film SF Bay Area community. Keep an eye out on when and where on WIFchat and the WIFSFBA website local meetups page!
WIFSFBA UPDATES
BraveMaker Festival and Beyond
This July at the BraveMaker Film Festival in Redwood City, our Board member Kelli A. White hosted actor Zack Gottsagen and producer David Thies for a special anniversary screening of their acclaimed indie film The Peanut Butter Falcon.
We were proud to partner with Branch Services, a local organization supporting individuals with Down syndrome, for a festive evening at Willow Commons in Portola Valley. Residents warmly welcomed Zack and his mom for dinner, s’mores, and an intimate screening of his film — a night filled with laughter, connection, and community.
Looking ahead, Kelli is teaming up once again with Zack and David on their next indie project, Furever Home, a heartfelt romantic comedy also starring Katie Cassidy (Arrow) and Stephen Huszar (Everything Puppies).
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
IMDB Pro Member Discount
The new 2025 IMDbPro discount code for 30% off an annual or monthly membership is available if you are a WIFSFBA member. Please email bod-admin@wifsfba.org with “IMDBPro discount” in the subject line for the code.
To redeem the code, users must go to IMDbpro.com/redeem, enter the promo code and log in. Please note offers may not be combined and entering a new promo code will override any lesser discount that has been applied to your account. Promotional discounts will be applied at the start of your next billing cycle. This offer is limited to members only and is non-transferable.
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
MEMBERS IN THE NEWS
Tamara de Lempicka: The Art of Survival Screenings
and Hollywood Reporter article
Congrats to our President Julie Rubio on her documentary The True Story of Tamara de Lempicka and the Art of Survival being featured in the Hollywood Reporter! Check it out here!
And also check out the following screenings:
🎬✨ SCREENING ANNOUNCEMENT – MILL VALLEY, CA ✨🎬
When: September 6, 1:00pm
Where: Sequoia Cinema, Mill Valley, CA
“We’re excited to invite you to a special screening of Tamara de Lempicka: The Art of Survival!
Following the film, there will be a Q&A with director/writer/producer Julie Rubio & co-producer Blake Wellen, moderated by San Francisco Chronicle writer G. Allen Johnson. Join us for an unforgettable afternoon celebrating resilience, identity, and artistic brilliance through the life of a queer, Jewish, Art Deco icon.
Tickets are limited, grab yours before they sell out!
MORE INFO: Sequoia Film - Tamara de Lempicka
The True Story of Tamara de Lempicka & The Art of Survival returns to Rialto Cinemas Elmwood for two showings with a Q&A:
When: September 9, 1:00pm & 7:00pm
Where: Rialto Cinemas, Elmwood, Berkeley CA
“Discover the life and art of Tamara de Lempicka, the iconic Art Deco painter who rose to fame in 1920s Paris, fled fascism to the U.S., and continues to inspire today.
🎟 Tickets are going fast — grab yours now! An afternoon of film, art, and history you won’t want to miss!”
MORE INFO: True Story of Tamara de Lempicka Elm – Rialto Cinemas
New Parkway Theater – Oakland, CA
When: September 23, 2025
Where: Oakland, CA
“Join us at the New Parkway Theater for a special screening of The True Story of Tamara de Lempicka & The Art of Survival, with a Q&A to follow.”
🎟 Get Tickets and MORE INFO here: The New Parkway Theater
Laemmle Theaters Culture Vulture Series – Los Angeles, CA
When: September 27–29, 2025
Where: Los Angeles, CA
“Catch the documentary at Laemmle’s Culture Vulture Series across five theaters (Claremont, Glendale, Monica, Newhall, Town Center). Showings include September 27 & 28 at 10 AM and September 29 at 7 PM.”
🎟 Get Tickets and MORE INFO: True Story of Tamara de Lempicka & The Art of Survival - Laemmle.com
Kristin Tièche's The Invisible Mammal back at the Smith Rafael film center
Congrats to Kristin, whose film The Invisible Mammal came back to play at the Smith Rafael film center on September 4th! Q&A with director Kristin Tièche, and film participant Corky Quirk and her ambassador bats followed the screening.
MORE INFO: INVISIBLE MAMMAL – SMITH RAFAEL FILM CENTER
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
Community Partners - Events & Invitations
A BIG THANKS to our COMMUNITY PARTNERS for their support of
A BIG THANKS to our COMMUNITY PARTNERS for their support of
Pitch-A-Pro Night
As you know, WIFSFBA officially ‘went fishing’ during the month of August, but we wanted you to know that we continued our Community Partner work by supporting the following film festivals:
Blood and Popcorn Film Festival - Discounted Submission Fee | Film Festival on August 26th @ The New Parkway Theater
Off-Page Film Festival Submissions - Discounted Submission Fee thru Film Freeway
BACK TO SET: Working Directors Intensive
When: September 26–27 | South Park Center, Downtown LA
We’re proud to be a Community Partner for the 2025 BACK TO SET: Working Directors Intensive, hosted by Alliance of Women Directors—and we want to invite you to attend!
BACK TO SET isn’t your average industry event—it’s a craft-forward, career-focused two-day symposium designed specifically for working directors who are ready to level up. Held in the heart of Downtown LA, this in-person experience is all about sharpening your skills, building community, and reigniting your creative fire before heading back to set.
Here’s what you can expect:
🎬 Insightful panels featuring top directors, reps, and department heads
🎭 Hands-on workshops to strengthen your leadership and visual storytelling
💬 Candid conversations about navigating your directing career
🤝 Networking opportunities with fellow creatives and industry insiders
☕ Morning coffee hours and evening mixers to foster real connections
Whether you work in film, television, or new media, this is a space to reset, refocus, and recharge.
MORE INFO and TICKETS: backtosetla.com
TICKET DISCOUNT for the WIFSFBA community: please email bod-admin@wifsfba.org for a discount of $50 off a 2-Day pass and use Subject line: Back to Set Discount
We hope to see you there!
Cascadia International Women’s Film Festival - Short Film Submission Discount for WIFSFBA members!
“CASCADIA turns 10 in 2026 — and they’re celebrating big! From special pre-festival screenings to an expanded film lineup, late-night movies, and the return of the student filmmakers showcase, this milestone season will be unforgettable. The 10-year celebration will be April 30- May 3, 2026 in person in Bellingham, WA. with an online version of the festival to follow May 7-17, 2026. More details can be found here on CASCADIA's website.”
As a Community Partner of CASCADIA International Women's Film Festival, Women in Film San Francisco Bay Area members receive 50% off short film submission fees. Films must be directed by a woman, be 20 minutes or less, completed or released no earlier than October, 2024 and must be submitted to CASCADIA on Film Freeway using a discount code.
FOR MORE INFO: https://filmfreeway.com/CASCADIAInternationalWomensFilmFestival -- if you’d like the WIFSFBA DISCOUNT CODE, please contact us at bod-admin@wifsfba.org, and use Subject Line: Cascadia Discount
San Francisco Premiere of “The Invisible Mammal”
WHEN: Sunday, October 26th @ 1:00pm
WHERE: Roxie Theater - 3117 16th Street, SF 94103
WIFSFBA is a proud Community Partner of our member Kristin Tieche’s film, The Invisible Mammal, that “follows a team of women bat biologists into underground habitats as they work to save a rapidly disappearing species: the little brown bat.
Initially, director Kristin Tieche and the filmmaking team behind The Invisible Mammal set out to document efforts to prevent the extinction of bat species in North America, but when the COVID-19 pandemic spread across the world in 2020, a shift in strategy was required. The scope of the film’s story was expanded to include the connection between bats and COVID, and how research on bats’ super-immunity could help prevent another global pandemic.
The film team also teamed up with Bat Conservation International to develop an impact campaign encouraging viewers to take several actions to help bats: from supporting the work of bat conservation scientists, organizing local bat viewings and planting bat friendly gardens.”
We hope you’ll join us at the October 26th screening during International BAT WEEK (October 24-31) to support their efforts.
Click here to watch the trailer.
TICKET INFO: Sunday, October 26th screening at the Roxie
CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS
San Francisco International Festival
San Francisco International Festival
Festival Dates: April 23 - May 3, 2026
Deadlines: September 26th, November 12th, December 10th, 2025
Submission Fee: Varies by category
The SF International Film Festival, presented by SFFILM, is the longest running film festival in the Americas, bringing films from around the world to Bay Area audiences since 1957. SFFILM is rooted in the culture of film appreciation by exploring film as an evolutionary art form, and as a transformative force for social change.
Narrative Feature (60+ min)
Documentary Feature (60+ min)
Animated Feature (60+ min)
Animated Short (Under 30 min)
Documentary Short (Under 30 min)
Narrative Short (Under 30 min)
Mid-length Animation (btw 30-59)
Mid-length Narrative (btw 30-59)
Mid-length Documentary (btw 30-59)
All Films must have premiered after June 1, 2025.
Submit Here: San Francisco International Film Festival - FilmFreeway
2026 BlueCat Screenplay Competition
2026 BlueCat Screenplay Competition
Final Deadline: September 25, 2025
Cost: $85
All submitted feature film and short scripts will receive a one-page written analysis as part of the entry fee -- no cost. Winning writers will be introduced to over 400 literary managers and agents, and $8,000 in cash prizes will be awarded.
Submit Here: BlueCat Screenplay Competition
8th LA Queer Film Festival
8th LA Queer Film Festival
Festival Dates: October 9-12th, 2025
Submission Fee: $65
Discount Deadline: July 25, 2025 for $10 off
Final Deadline: September 5, 2025
“We are currently accepting submissions from LGBTQ+ identifying directors, writers, majority LGBTQ+ crew (at least 50%) and/or LGBTQ+ stories of any genre in the following categories:
Feature
Short (10-30 min)
Short Short (under 10 min)
Animated Short (under 30 min)
TV Pilot (Industry Standard 22 mins)
Web Series (up to 3 episodes with combined TRT of no more than 30 mins)
Sketch Comedy (under 10 mins)
Music Video (under 10 min)
All films must have been completed no earlier than July 1, 2024.”
MORE INFO: LA Queer Film Fest
19th Annual Script Pipeline TV Writing Contest
19th Annual Script Pipeline TV Writing Contest
Special Entry Deadline: September 25, 2026
Submission Fee: $40
“Script Pipeline is searching for extraordinary writers with original television pilots or unproduced indie series scripts.
Together with the Screenwriting Contest, we focus foremost on finding writer representation, supporting diverse voices, championing ambitious storytelling, and pushing original projects into production.
We're currently the only competition offering an intensive, personalized process to our Quarterfinalists and higher: 1-on-1 development, long-term mentorship, career guidance, and circulation to only the leading industry execs. This has resulted in over $8 million in spec sales to studios, multiple films produced, and hundreds of emerging writers introduced to reps.”
Submit Here: Script Pipeline TV Writing Contest
11th LA Black Film Festival
11th LA Black Film Festival
Festival Dates: December 4 - 7, 2025
Application Fee: $65
Discount Deadline: July 25, 2025 for $20 off / September 5, 2025 for $10 off
Final Deadline: October 17, 2025
“We are currently accepting submissions from Black directors, writers, majority Black crew (at least 50%) and/or Black centred stories of any genre in the following categories:
Feature
Short (10-30 min)
Short Short (under 10 min)
Animated Short (under 30 min)
TV Pilot (Industry Standard 22 mins)
Web Series (up to 3 episodes with combined TRT of no more than 30 mins)
Sketch Comedy (under 10 mins)
Music Video (under 10 min)
All films must have been completed no earlier than July 1, 2024.”
MORE INFO: LA Black Film Fest
GRANTS, FELLOWSHIPS & FUNDING CORNER
Breaking Through the Lens Action Grant
Regular Deadline: October 1st
Application Fee: $60
“This grant is open to feature film directors - narrative or documentary - who experience marginalization due to their gender or sexuality. The winner will also receive market guidance and production support for their project. Filmmakers applying with documentary projects must have begun production and must be seeking finishing funds.”
MORE INFO: Breaking Through The Lens Action 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
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
Reel Sisters Micro Budget Film Fellowship
Reel Sisters Micro Budget Film Fellowship
Extended Deadline: September 30, 2025
Fellows Receive: $5,000 to produce a short film or first episode of a web series
Application Fee: $25 (Reading fee for processing your application)
“Reel Sisters of the Diaspora Film Festival & lecture Series, the first Academy qualifying festival devoted to women filmmakers, offers you an opportunity to produce a short film or pilot for your web series! Apply and learn the art of creating a high-quality micro-budget short film.
Eligibility: Script must be written or co-written by a woman of color and non-binary filmmakers of color. Reel Sisters will accept submissions by women of African, Caribbean, Latina, Asian, Indian and Native American descent. Please include your ethnicity in the application to confirm eligibility. We encourage writing teams to apply.”
MORE INFO: Reel Sisters Fellowship
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.”
Apply here:: Impact Partners
Roy W. Dean Short Film Grant (From the Heart Productions)
Applications Open: October 31st, November 30th, 2025
Winner receives $3,000 in Cash and Donated Services
“Many filmmakers use short films to hone their craft and as a proof of concept for later full length features. From the Heart Productions wants to support their work and encourage them to make films with stories told with passion that enlighten us about our lives and the world we live in. This grant is specifically for narrative fiction shorts, live action or animated, that are 40 minutes or less in length. Among the donations the winner could receive are:
$3,000.00 in music and audio services from well-known composer David Raiklen
$6,000.00 in animation from Emmy award winner Charlie Canfield. This is 1/3 off normal price for 6 weeks of animation
$500 in grip, lighting or expendables from Filmtools
Tom Malloy of Glass House Distribution donates an hour of consultation on distribution of your film
$1,400 value (4 hours of sound mix session) from Silver Sound
$600.00 for your Free Closed Captioning by NetCaptioning”
Apply Here: Roy Dean Short Film Grant
Thanks to newsletter contributors: Diane Walsh, Julie Rubio, Nil Unerdem
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