film entry guidelines

Neon Sky Film Festival welcomes independent short and feature films of all genres from filmmakers around the world.

Submissions should be completed works submitted through our official platform by the listed deadlines, with all rights properly cleared. Selected films will be asked to provide screening files and basic promotional materials so we can showcase your work at its best during the festival.

Submit Your Film

FILM QUALIFICATIONS

The festival welcomes both short and feature films, with any content and in any style, whether it’s live-action, documentary, or animation.

    1. Short films - entries must have a total run-time between 1 and 40 minutes.

    2. Feature films - entries must have a total run-time of 41 minutes or more.

    3. We are unable to accept films that have previously been broadcast or otherwise made publicly available (including online).

    4. Films that are available to purchase are not eligible. This includes DVD/Blu-ray/online digital formats.

Submission Categories

    1. The festival offers the following submission categories: Drama, Comedy, Documentary, Animation, Sci-Fi, Horror, International, Nevada Filmmaker, and Student.

    2. If you are not sure which category to submit to, please contact info@neonskyfilmfest.com if you have any questions.

    3. Do not submit your film in multiple categories, else risk disqualification.

    4. The festival may on occasion, change a submitted film’s category in order to approve the category accuracy.

  • Student Films

    1. The Student category is open to students only. The submitted film must have been created while the film’s director/directors were enrolled at a school, college or university. Note that we have included student genres for organizational purposes (for example, Student-Drama). Regardless of category, all student films will be eligible to win the Best Student Award.

  • Nevada Films

    1. The Nevada Filmmaker category is open to any feature or short film that was created while the director/directors were residents of Nevada. The production must have been shot primarily in Nevada with Nevada locations.

  • International Films

    1. The International category is open to any feature or short film that was created by anyone who is not a U.S. citizen and the production must have been shot primarily outside of the United States.

Submissions

    1. All films must be submitted through FilmFreeway - there are no exceptions. Links to films or other external submissions will not be accepted.

    2. Criteria for premier status if applicable:

      1. World Premier - projects that have not screen publicly before the festival.

      2. International Premier - projects that have screened publicly only in the country of origin before the festival.

      3. North American Premier - projects that have not screened publicly in the US/Canada/Mexico before the festival (Canadian & Mexican films that have screened in their country of origin are considered International Premier).

      4. US Premier - projects that have not screened publicly in the US before the festival.

Subtitles

    1. All films that are not in the English language must be subtitled with subtitles in English or contain minimal dialogue.

Awards

    1. The festival has a limited number of awards, based on the festival’s current jury. In addition, there is one Audience Favorite award, based on audience votes. Audience votes are tallied by the festival board of directors and all decisions are final. On occasion, the festival may add additional awards.

Exhibition Copies

    1. Selected films must provide one of the following formats for exhibition:

      1. DCP (Digital Cinema Package)

      2. .mov (Quicktime ProRes)

      3. mp4 (H.264)

      4. Audio for all films must be stereo format.

      5. Selected films must provide an exhibition copy by March 26, 2027. Electronic or online delivery of exhibition copies are the only accepted delivery options. We do not accept any mailed exhibition copies. Failure to submit an exhibition copy by March 26, 2027 will disqualify selected films from all award considerations.

Withdrawals

    1. After a film is selected for screening and its selection is announced publicly, it CANNOT be withdrawn from the festival.

Notification

    1. Selected films will be notified by email on or around February 26, 2027. (Please add filmfreeway.com and neonskyfilmfest.com to your email filter to avoid the notifications going into your spam folder).

    2. A official Screening Consent Form and Participation Guideline will be sent to you for completion and return. All information with regards to press and industry viewing permissions will be included in the Screening Consent Form and Participation Guideline.

    3. If your submission is unsuccessful, we will inform you by email as soon as possible. Please note that due to the number of submissions that we receive, the festival is unable to provide comments or feedback for any films not selected for the program.

Stills and Poster

    1. A press kit is not required for submission but is highly recommended. Upon selection, filmmakers are required to provide a high-quality digital still and poster for the film if they are not already available at FilmFreeway.

Ratings

    1. Under no circumstances will the festival staff share film review committee and programmer comments or ratings with the public or submitting filmmakers.

Fee Waivers & Discounts

    1. In fairness to all filmmakers, all unsolicited fee waiver or discount requests will be declined. The festival board, on occasion, may offer waivers or discounts to films viewed at other film festivals, although this is completely at the discretion of the festival.

Programming

    1. The festival programmers may add selected films to any category or programming block deemed appropriate. A film can only be assigned to one category. After the program is announced to the public, the festival CANNOT and WILL NOT be changed.

Payments

    1. All submission fees must be in $USD. Films submitted without the correct payment will be disqualified.

    2. Entry fees are non-refundable.

Warranties

    1. By submitting your film to Neon Sky Film Festival, you warrant that we hold all the necessary rights to screen your film at our event.

Permissions

    1. By submitting your film to Neon Sky Film Festival we reserve the rights to use still images and short video clips (up to 30 seconds) of your film, as well as your likeness for promotional use leading up to and during the week of our event.

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