Film Submissions FAQ
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 application submissions for our 2027 festival season will open soon. Stay tuned!
I want to submit in the LOLA category. Could you expand upon what the theme of “Rooted” means?
Each year, PHLAFF selects a different theme for the LOLA film category. This is a competitive category where films are nominated as “LOLA Award Nominees.” The PHLAFF LOLA Awards recognize and honor cinematic achievements in filmmaking, highlighting all the essential elements that contribute to a great film, such as direction, acting, cinematography, writing, and storytelling. Winners and honorable mentions for the LOLA Awards are announced during the festival after undergoing an additional review process.
According to the Collins Dictionary, “if you say that one thing is rooted in another, you mean that it is strongly influenced by it or has developed from it,” and can also be referred to as “having as its source, cause, or core [within].”
We encourage you to explore how your work might relate to this theme, whether directly or more abstractly. What elements of rootedness are in 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.
By submitting to PHLAFF, can I still participate in other festivals in Philadelphia?
Absolutely! PHLAFF also invites filmmakers to submit their films, regardless of premiere status—whether it's a World Premiere, East Coast Premiere, or has no premiere status. Just ensure your film meets the criteria listed on our FilmFreeway submissions page.
Can I submit a film that is in HD format?
Yes, you can absolutely submit a film in HD (1920x1080) format to our festival! According to FilmFreeway, films can be uploaded to their platform with the following specifications:
FilmFreeway accepts all major video formats in full-quality HD up to 10 GB. Videos are transcoded for compatibility and performance. We recommend settings close to our output specs:
Maximum video bitrate: 2200 Kbps, H.264, MP4
Audio: 128 Kbps, AAC, 2-channel stereo
Aspect ratio: Preserved with a maximum video height of 720 pixels
In addition, we also accept Vimeo and YouTube links for submissions via FilmFreeway. When uploading your film, be sure to follow the platform’s instructions and include the viewing password to ensure our screening committee can access your work without any issues.
Do filmmakers need to be part of the Latine US community to submit their films?
Not at all! Filmmakers don’t need to be part of the Latine US community to submit their films. We welcome submissions from filmmakers of all backgrounds, as long as they follow the rules and guidelines outlined on our FilmFreeway page.