Boston Film Festival
18 September - 22 September 2025
Contact: Ava Boo
E-mail: avaboo918@gmail.com
Phone: 6177977298
Address:
USA
- About
- Submission Info
The Boston Film Festival is one of America’s longest-running and industry recognized events for films. The 40th program takes place in September and will showcase cutting edge indie films, top documentaries, shorts, animated, fall release studio films.
Year established: 1984
Is this festival exclusively animation?: No - this is a film festival but with a specific animation category
Is there a marketplace at this festival?: No
Submission deadline:
16 June 2025
Entry fee:
(US Dollar) $40-65
Categories:
- Audience Award(s)
- Best Animated Feature
- Best Animated Short
- Best Animated Short (Student / Graduation Film)
- Best feature
- Best documentary
- Best short
- Film Excellence Award
- A Lifetime Achievement Award
- Best Film
- Best Screenplay
- Best Director
- Best Ensemble Cast
- Best Student Short
- Outstanding Performance in a Short
- Best Short Story
- EcoFilm
- Mass Impact Award
- Emerging Filmmaker
- Best Actor
- Best Actress
- Best Cinematography
- Best Director
Submission methods:
- FilmFreeway
Requirements:
Films already in Any VOD platform or For Sale on a streaming platform or any other company, location, etc. will not be accepted.
*Films must have been completed in the current or previous couple of years.
* The applicant holds the sole responsibility of copyright clearance of any copyrighted material in the film.
*Accepted films must be in Blu-Ray or DCP.
*Films not in English must be subtitled in English unleash dialogue is minimal and not necessary for the comprehension of the film.
*Acceptance of a film does not guarantee airline or hotel accommodations for talent or producing crew. The BFF does travel directors/actors for long form but reserves the right to designate attendees.
*The BFF requires the director and at least one actor of feature films to attend the festival to participate in the Q & A and red carpet. Documentary directors must also attend.
*The festival is not responsible for the shipment of the print, within the USA when leaving Boston.
*Some films accepted are press screened. You will be asked to send a link or DVDs for press viewing. The filmmaker and festival will jointly select possible critics and the filmmaker may elect not to provide their film to the press.
*All films are subject to possible reviews though we request it is run through the festival.
*The number of screenings, days and venues is at the sole discretion of the Festival.
*Due to high administrative and shipping costs, submission DVDs, videos and marketing materials will not be returned.
*We will not transfer PAL for viewing -- only forward NTSC format.
*It is cost prohibitive for the festival to insure individual prints. Make sure you have your own insurance.
*All submitted feature films MUST make their New England premiere at the Boston Film Festival to be included in competition. Films ARE allowed to have screened in other regions within the United States and internationally (but not in New England prior to the Boston Film Festival). In addition, films cannot have been previously released in theaters or broadcast on television and streaming platforms before the preceding the Boston Film Festival. Short films are the exception and can screen previously at other New England based festivals.
*Filmmakers will accept the decisions of the film festival including theater venue and position, red carpet, etc. when exhibiting as part of the Boston Film Festival. An overview of the elements set for the premiere will be provided by the festival and a mutual agreement will be signed off on by the BFF and producer.
Link to Submit
