A prestigious event for independent and forward-thinking cinema; an Oscar, BAFTA, and Canadian Screen Awards qualifying festival with the motto “By Filmmakers, For Filmmakers.”
Festival Name: Slamdance Film Festival
Organizing Organization: Slamdance Association
Edition: 32nd Edition
Location: Los Angeles, California, United States
Dates: February 18–24, 2027
About the Festival: The festival is a pioneering event for independent, innovative, and bold cinema with over 32 years of history. It is known for introducing prominent contemporary filmmakers such as Christopher Nolan, Bong Joon-ho, Steven Soderbergh, the Russo Brothers, Ari Aster, Sean Baker, Rian Johnson, and Lena Dunham. This festival is Oscar-qualifying, BAFTA-qualifying, and Canadian Screen Award-qualifying. Selections are made completely democratically through equal votes from over 200 filmmakers, including alumni and former members of Slamdance, keeping the spirit of DIY independent filmmaking alive.
Awards:
- Grand Jury Awards for: Narrative Feature / Documentary Feature / Breakouts / Unstoppable Feature (Disability) / Episodes
- Grand Jury Awards for: Narrative Short / Documentary Short / Animation Short / Experimental Short / Unstoppable Short / 99 Special
- Audience Awards for: Narrative Feature / Documentary Feature / Unstoppable Feature
- Additional Awards: Outstanding Acting Award / George Starks Spirit of Slamdance Award / Summer Chastant Episodic Award / Filmmaking Fellowship and Grant
Accepted Genres: All genres and themes are accepted without limitation (Experimental, Narrative, Documentary, Animation, Series/Episodic, Digital/Interactive and Games, AI-generated films, Unstoppable special section).
Run Time: No specific time limit has been announced for short films.
Production Year: No restrictions on production year; films are reviewed regardless of when they were made. Unfinished works and works-in-progress are also accepted, provided a descriptive title card is included at the beginning of the screener.
Language & Subtitles: Films in any language are accepted. English subtitles are mandatory.
Submission Deadline: October 6, 2026
Other Details:
- Films are eligible regardless of previous screening status or exhibition at other festivals (in-person or online).
- Restrictions: Feature films that have previously been commercially released/distributed in the U.S. or self-released online by the filmmaker are not eligible.
- The competitive section for debut Narrative and Documentary features is reserved strictly for first-time directors with budgets under $1 million.
- Works made by or about people with disabilities must feature characters with disabilities exclusively played by actors with disabilities; closed captioning is mandatory for this section.
- In the Digital and Interactive section, the artist’s presence is required for setting up the station at the venue; the festival does not cover travel expenses or provide stipends.
- Submission includes a one-year free subscription to the festival’s exclusive channel.
- The festival does not pay screening fees and does not cover travel expenses for filmmakers.
