Lighthouse International Film Festival in Long Beach Island, NJ, is much more than just a film festival. It's a vibrant cultural event that combines it all: seeing quality films in dark screening rooms, enjoying sunny beaches outside, as well as panels, networking events, food, drinks, and parties. All of it throughout one long fun weekend between June 3-6, 2021.
After being somewhat of a hidden gem for a decade, Lighthouse International Film Festival made a splash in 2020 pivoting the way as the first drive-in real film festival in the world as reported in Deadline, Variety, NJ Star-Ledger and the Rolling Stone magazine. It was also chosen as one of "The 25 Coolest Film Festival in The World" by MovieMaker Magazine in both 2018 and 2020. We invite you to join us in the 13th edition of LIFF and submit your narrative features, docs, shorts and TV/web episodic. The selected films will participate in the festival's competition. The winners will be decided by the festival jury.
Lighthouse International Film Festival accepts submissions in the following categories:
- NARRATIVE features - US and international
- Feature-length DOCUMENTARIES - US and international
- Narrative and docs SHORTS (up to 30 minutes) - US and international
- Narrative and docs lONG-SHORTS (30-45 minutes) - US and international
- TV and Web series (between 3-20 minutes an episode)
- Surf films
- High School shorts
COVideo 2021
This year the festival will dedicate a special program "COVideo" for features, short films, TV projects and web-series that were produced during COVID19 time (2020-2021) and deal with the pandemic. The most significant global catastrophe of our generation impacted the film industry in a devastating way. We encourage filmmakers to create something positive out of the negative situation and LIFF 2021 will put a spotlight on relevant projects in all kinds of size, shapes, and genres. We do hope it's only a one-time thing.
Write By The Beach Program for Female Screenwriters
Submissions are also open for LIFF's "Write By The Beach" writers' retreat program. Three selected female filmmakers will spend a week in a beach house in the week leading up the 2021 Festival. Submissions are open to any female writer with at least one credit as a primary screenwriter on a produced short or feature film, with priority in selection given to those writers currently working on feature-length screenplays. LIFF may require additional information in making its selections.
The Lighthouse International Film Festival is a nonprofit organization that is dedicated to showcasing diverse, dynamic storytelling, with a focus on unique voices and it blends the prestige of a carefully curated lineup of films with the intimacy of local arthouse screenings – screenings feature extended Q&As, while industry breakfasts and filmmaker access to all film screenings and events encourage networking and relationships-building. Whether at a screening, a panel discussion, a meeting over ice cream at the beach or just catching some waves at one of LBI’s terrific surfing spots, LIFF wants filmmakers and attendees to celebrate the myriad ways in which storytelling is exploding.
Every year, the festival offers jury awards to films in different categories. Jurors for these awards represent some of the most talented leaders in the industry, recently including the likes of Oscar-winning director Guy Nattiv ("Skin"), Oscar nominees Jean de Meuron and Raphaela Neihausen, acclaimed documentary filmmaker Ondi Timoner, programmers Thom Powers (TIFF) and Meira Blaustein (Woodstock FF) as well as film scholars and industry executives. All official selections of LIFF, excluding Headlining Films, are eligible for Audience Awards.
The Jennifer Snyder Bryceland Filmmaker Award
In 2019, LIFF and Chicago Media Project joined together in offering The Jennifer Snyder Bryceland Filmmaker Award. The special prize recognizes documentary filmmakers whose projects embody the generous, thoughtful and positive energy demonstrated by beloved Long Beach Island resident Jennifer Snyder Bryceland in all aspects of her life.
The $3,500 award is given to a filmmaker whose feature-length documentary displays artistic excellence, incorporates environmental themes (local, regional or global) and inspires optimism in audiences.