FILM SUBMISSIONS ARE OPEN!

DEADLINE: FEBRUARY 21, 2025

IMPORTANT DATES

JANUARY 20, 2025

EARLY BIRD PRICING

JUNE 30, 2025

NOTIFICATION DATE

 FILMMAKER FAQ

WHAT IS SUPERFEST?
Superfest Disability Film Festival is a curated festival in the San Francisco Bay Area. It celebrates cutting-edge cinema that portrays disability culture in all its diverse, complex, and empowering facets. We will celebrate 40 years of Superfest in 2026 and are proud to be the longest-running disability film festival in the world.

IS SUPERFEST ONLY FOR FILMMAKERS, WRITERS, OR PRODUCERS WITH DISABILITIES?
Not at all! If your film features disability, you are eligible to enter. The Disabled Filmmaker Award, however, is only open to filmmakers, writers, or producers who have a disability.

WHAT ARE MY CHANCES OF WINNING A SUPERFEST AWARD?
Your chances vary each year depending on the number of entries we receive, their quality, and the number of awards available.

The Superfest credo is "art takes risks"; therefore, curation criteria are calibrated to reward creativity more than production budgets. We seek memorable work that embodies artistry, technical competence, and content that advances disability culture.

WHO ARE THE CURATORS?
Our curation process has two phases. The Superfest Submissions Committee, who are all people with disabilities, screen the submissions and determine which films are eligible for the festival. The Festival Curators, who are composed of film aficionados, disability studies scholars, and disability community organizers, select the final line-up and awards. Every curator is a person with a disability.

WHAT DO I RECEIVE FOR ENTERING SUPERFEST?
Selected films will be screened at the festival in the fall and at Superfest Showcases. Award winners receive a plaque and all filmmakers are eligible for discretionary funding to enable them to attend the festival. You can participate in a filmmaker panel after your work is screened. You will receive recognition in communications to our 10,000-person mailing list, social media channels, and the Superfest website.

HOW DID YOU DETERMINE YOUR FEE STRUCTURE?
We have tried to devise a fee structure that accommodates independent, low-budget producers and helps us meet our costs.

HOW DO I QUALIFY FOR A SHOESTRING BUDGET DISCOUNT ON FILM SUBMISSION?
We use the honor system. No formal application or budget needs to be submitted.

WHAT RIGHTS AM I SIGNING AWAY WHEN SIGNING THE CONTRACT RELEASE?
Superfest requires the selected filmmakers to sign a release form granting permission to show their film at the festival and to exhibit all or portions of it at Superfest Showcases. Filmmakers must also provide captioning and audio descriptions to make their films accessible to the widest possible audience.

IF I ENTERED WORK BEFORE, CAN I ENTER THE SAME WORK AGAIN?
If you previously submitted a work to Superfest, you can enter the same work again, provided it meets the current entry guidelines for the year. However, if your film has already been screened at a prior Superfest, you cannot resubmit.

I AM A LOW-INCOME FILMMAKER. DO YOU HAVE A SUBMISSION FEE?
Yes. Because we are a low-budget film festival, we cannot completely waive the submission fee. However, we offer a $20 discount to shoestring productions with a budget of less than $10,000.

HOW CAN I SUBMIT MY FILM?
Through FilmFreeway, a safe and secure site that manages film festival submissions.

MY FILM ISN'T CAPTIONED OR AUDIO DESCRIBED, CAN I STILL SUBMIT?
Yes, you may submit. However, if your film is chosen, you must grant us the rights to develop an updated version with an audio description (for blind attendees) and captions (for Deaf and hard-of-hearing). Subtitles are required for all films that are not in English. Read here for more information on the audio description.

WHEN WILL I FIND OUT IF MY FILM HAS BEEN ACCEPTED?
Acceptances will be announced on June 30th of the year you apply to.

CAN I FIND OUT WHY MY FILM WAS REJECTED?
Curation decisions are final. However, all entrants are welcome to request evaluations of their work. Email access@disabilityculturalcenter.org by August 30, 2025, to request your evaluations for 2025 submissions.

AWARDS

Superfest's awards honor not just brilliant filmmaking but advocacy, humor, and the role disability plays in creating cinema. Awards are changed every year based on what the jury decides. Below are the awards that have been offered in the past.

BEST OF FESTIVAL, FEATURE

The most thought-provoking and impactful full-length feature film entered the festival.

BEST OF FESTIVAL, SHORT

The most outstanding short film entered in the festival.

P.K. WALKER INNOVATION IN CRAFT AWARD

The film with the most innovative use of filmmaking techniques to encourage exploration of the experiences of people with disabilities. This award honors Pamela K. Walkers's contributions to Superfest from 1998 to 2000.

ADVOCACY AWARD

This film best explores issues of concern to the disability community that may have social, legal, technological, or political solutions.

DISABILITY JUSTICE AWARD

A film that explores intersectional topics and best conveys the relationship between disability and the unequal distribution of wealth, opportunities, and privileges within a society.

LIANE YASUMOTO CURATOR’S CHOICE AWARD

Named for the former festival director Liane Yasumoto, this award is presented to the finalist deemed by the curators to be the singularly outstanding film that is not recognized in other award categories.