Film Submissions FAQ

SUBMISSIONS FOR THE 2024 SEASON HAVE CLOSED. THANK YOU!

Have questions related to our submission process? Please see some Frequently Asked Questions below.

If you have questions that are not answered below, please use our FAQ Form. We will continue to update this page as new questions come in.

Do you offer waivers for film submissions on FilmFreeway?

As a festival, we understand filmmakers don't always have the funds to submit to festivals. One of our goals is to make PHLAFF accessible for all, particularly for young, emerging filmmakers.

Waiver submissions for the PHLAFF 2024 have closed as of December 1st, 2023.

I’m planning on submitting to the LOLA category. Could you clarify “themes of essence” so I can determine if my film qualifies?

According to the Oxford English Dictionary, essence can be defined as “the intrinsic nature or indispensable quality of something, especially something abstract, that determines its character.” We encourage you to seek how your work might relate to this theme whether it be directly or more abstract. What is the essence of your work? What is its core, its heart, or its nature? How do you express this within your film?

If a film is submitted to the Los Shorts Program, will it also be considered for the LOLA Shorts category? What about the other way around?

A film can only be entered into a single category for consideration. It will solely be evaluated for the category it is submitted to and won't be taken into account for any other category that it has not been submitted for.