SIFF opens submissions for the 51st annual Seattle International Film Festival, taking place May 15-25, 2025

SEATTLE – SIFF announces its call for submissions for the 51st annual Seattle International Film Festival running May 15-25, 2025 at SIFF Cinemas and venues throughout the city. Continuing the Festival’s 50 year history, the 2025 Seattle International FIlm Festival will spotlight new voices alongside established directors, films from more than 80 countries, sensational hit independents, and films that have yet to break through to the US audiences.

The Seattle International Film Festival is consistently ranked as one of the top festivals in North America, and is an Academy Award-qualifying festival for short films, presenting more than 260 features, documentaries, and short films to an audience of roughly 90,000 each year. The Festival’s emphasis on keeping the event aimed first and foremost at filmgoers provides the films themselves with the kind of genuine audience response that has attracted the participation of filmmakers and film distributors for over 50 years.

“Opening submissions for our upcoming Festival is always a very exciting time of year. Our Programming team is eager to begin reviewing submissions and welcoming new works from first-time and established filmmakers alike,” says SIFF Artistic Director Beth Barrett. “While it feels like we’ve just concluded our 50th Anniversary Celebrations, plans for 2025 are already in full swing and we can’t wait to see what new works we will discover and to bring 11 days of incredible film to our city.”

Submissions will be reviewed by a team of over 20 programmers for Festival programs spotlighting world cinema, new directors, documentaries and more, including the return of audience favorites such as Secret Fest, ShortsFest, WTF (Wild, Terrifying, Fantastic), and Opening and Closing Night Celebrations.

Filmmakers can submit feature or short length narrative and documentary films now through December 19, 2024.

Seattle International Film Festival 2025 Awards and Prizes:

Golden Space Needle Award: Audience-choice awards for Best Film, Documentary Feature, Director, Performance, and Short Film.

Official Competition: An internationally juried award for some of the Festival’s best films.

New Directors Competition: An internationally juried award for best emerging directors.

New American Cinema Competition: An internationally juried award for best American films.

Ibero-American Cinema Competition: An internationally juried award for best films from Ibero-America who are firmly expressing issues, styles, and talent from the area.

Documentary Film Competition: An internationally juried award for best documentary.

Short Film Competition: Internationally juried awards for best live action, animated, and documentary short films.

FutureWave Shorts Competition: A juried award for best short film created by filmmakers younger than 18 years old.

FutureWave Features Competition
A selection of films curated for young adults will be judged by youth aged 13-18.

Films4Families Features Competition
A selection of films curated for family audiences will be judged by youth aged 8-12.

Dates & Deadlines

Entry Deadline
Earlybird Deadline - October 3, 2024
Regular Deadline - December 19, 2024
Late Deadline - January 9, 2025
Futurewave Deadline - January 23, 2025

Notification Date
April 25, 2025

Press inquiries, materials, and interview requests can be made at press@siff.net.

About SIFF:
SIFF is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit arts organization. Our mission is to create experiences that bring people together to discover extraordinary films from around the world. It is through the art of cinema that we foster a community that is more informed, aware, and alive.

Press inquiries and materials requests can be made at press@siff.net. For showtimes and event updates, visit siff.net.