SFFILM champions the world's finest films and filmmakers through programs anchored in and inspired by the spirit and values of the San Francisco Bay Area.
Founded in 1957, the San Francisco International Film Festival (SFFILM Festival) is the longest-running film festival in the Americas. Held each spring and highly anticipated by its loyal and passionate audiences, the Festival is refreshingly intimate for a festival of its size and scope, and traditionally combines a range of marquee premieres, international competitions, compelling documentaries, new digital media work, live music performances, and star-studded red carpet events.
SFFILM is currently moving forward with planning its Festival for April 2021 as a hybrid in-person and online event, in accordance with all active health and safety recommendations from local, state, and federal officials. Exact dates, venue footprint, and in-person event structure are all subject to some change based on the realities of producing a safe and accessible film festival at that time.
Opportunities for Filmmakers
Since 1991, SFFILM Education’s Schools at the Festival program has provided the Bay Area educational community with the opportunity to experience stories from around the world. Schools at the Festival annually introduces thousands of students ages 6–18 and their teachers to international film and the art of filmmaking while promoting media literacy, deepening insights into other cultures, enhancing foreign language aptitude, developing critical thinking skills, and inspiring a lifelong appreciation of cinema. Festival filmmakers can participate via student screenings, school visits, hands-on workshops, and more.
SFFILM's year-round Artist Development programs provide significant financial and creative resources to independent narrative and documentary filmmakers from around the world through grants, fellowships, residencies and more. Since 2009, over $7.5 million has been awarded to more than 200 film projects in various stages of production. Festival filmmakers are invited to a series of industry talks and pitch sessions, and can meet with the SFFILM Makers team to discuss future projects and funding opportunities.
"Few festivals are more suited to their city than the SFFILM Festival. It’s clearly a festival programmed by those who love film for people who love film.” — Variety
Golden Gate Awards Competition
The Golden Gate Awards recognize the best of international and independent cinema by honoring excellence and superior innovation in narrative, documentary, shorts, experimental, animated, and youth produced work. In 2021, a total of $42,000 in cash awards will be awarded in a dozen categories.
The juried Golden Gate Awards include the New Directors Prize for a first narrative feature with a $10,000 cash prize, Best Documentary Feature with a $10,000 cash prize, and Best Bay Area Documentary Feature with a $5,000 cash prize. This year we are excited to announce the creation of a new Golden Gate Award for a Best Mid-Length Film (31–50 minutes) with a cash prize of $3,000.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences recognizes SFFILM Festival as a qualifying festival for their short film (live action, documentary and animated) competitions.
SFFILM Festival is a qualifying festival for the 12th annual Cinema Eye Honors for non-fiction filmmaking.
Audience Awards for Best Narrative and Documentary Features will also be presented, decided by audience ballot.