Submissions

Thank you for considering submitting to our festival. With great excitement, we are launching onto the UK short film festival circuit, aiming to become a beacon of creativity in our debut year. This marks the start of an annual event celebrating the world of short films.

We deeply understand the importance of sharing your cinematic creations with audiences old and new. We eagerly anticipate the opportunity to bring your work to life and engage in meaningful discussions about your artistic journey.

Our selections team is a diverse group of individuals, including both professionals with industry experience such as; filmmakers, producers, and passionate film enthusiasts who represent the wider audience. While not all submissions team work directly in the film industry, each brings valuable perspectives and a deep appreciation for cinema.

Once your film has been submitted, the selections team will watch it and provide feedback to assist in the selection process for the festival.

We do not have pre-selectors; each member of the selections team evaluates films across multiple categories and assigns a final score. Films with high scores will be selected for inclusion in to the festival. We prioritise transparency and fairness throughout our selection process. Each submitted film is given careful and thorough consideration by our team.

We are excited to use FilmFreeway for our submission process, which allows for a streamlined and user-friendly experience. Submission fees are structured in tiers, with costs increasing as we approach the festival date. Early submissions benefit from lower fees, so we encourage filmmakers to submit their work as soon as possible.

Please check our Frequently Asked Question's for any information requests you may have about submitting your film to our festival. If you can't find what you're looking for, please contact us, and we will reach out as soon as we can.

Earlybird Deadline
6th September 2024
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Standard:
£7.50
Student:
£5.00
Gold:
£5.00
Normal Deadline
11th October 2024
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Standard:
£10.00
Student:
£7.50
Gold:
£7.50
Late Deadline
15th November 2024
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Standard:
£12.50
Student:
£10.00
Gold:
£10.00
Extended Deadline
20th December 2024
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-- Hours
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Standard:
£15.00
Student:
£12.50
Gold:
£12.50
Categories
Short - Animation
Discover the limitless potential of storytelling through animation. This category celebrates innovative animated short films that captivate audiences with unique styles, techniques, and narratives. Whether it's hand-drawn, computer-generated, stop-motion, or any other form of animation, we welcome all creative visions. We're looking for films that push the boundaries of animation, bringing to life imaginative worlds and characters, and showcasing exceptional artistry and technical prowess. Share your animated masterpiece, whether it’s a whimsical tale, a profound story, or an experimental visual journey.
Short - Documentary
Shine a light on reality with compelling short documentaries. This category is dedicated to non-fiction films that explore real-life events, people, and issues. We seek insightful, powerful, and thought-provoking documentaries that challenge perspectives and bring important stories to the forefront. Whether your film covers social issues, environmental challenges, personal narratives, or historical events, we are interested in documentaries that inform, educate, and inspire. Your film should offer a unique perspective, compelling storytelling, and a strong connection to real-world issues.
Short - Experimental
Push the boundaries of filmmaking with your experimental short film. This category embraces bold, unconventional, and avant-garde works that defy traditional narrative structures and visual norms. We are looking for innovative and daring films that provoke, inspire, and challenge the status quo. This is the space for filmmakers to explore new techniques, abstract concepts, and unconventional forms of expression. If your film is a visual poem, a sensory experience, or a radical departure from mainstream cinema, we want to see it.
Short - General
Open to all short films, this category is a celebration of diverse storytelling. Whether your film is a drama, comedy, horror, sci-fi, or any other genre, we welcome submissions that showcase originality, creativity, and exceptional filmmaking. Share your unique vision with our audience. This category is designed for films that don’t neatly fit into specific genres but still tell engaging and memorable stories. We are looking for films that exhibit strong direction, compelling performances, and innovative approaches to storytelling.
Short - Music Video
Merge the worlds of music and cinema in our Music Video category. We are looking for visually stunning and creatively produced music videos that tell a story or evoke emotions through the combination of music and film. Show us how your video enhances the song and captivates viewers. This category celebrates the synergy between music and visual storytelling, seeking videos that push creative boundaries, employ innovative cinematography, and create a strong emotional connection with the audience. Whether your music video is narrative-driven, abstract, or purely artistic, we want to experience the power of your visual and musical fusion.
Short - Narrative
Tell a compelling story with your narrative short film. This category is for films that engage audiences with strong characters, plotlines, and cinematic techniques. Whether your film is a heartfelt drama, an intense thriller, a light-hearted comedy, a fantastical adventure, a science fiction epic, or a spine-chilling horror, we want to see your storytelling prowess in action. We are looking for films that demonstrate high production values, excellent scriptwriting, and outstanding performances. Your narrative should be engaging, emotionally resonant, and leave a lasting impact on the audience.

Submission Terms

The undersigned, the authorised representative of the project named below and throughout this application (hereafter called the “submission(s)”) for consideration for the Glowflare Short Film Festival (hereafter called the “festival”), hereby represents that they have read, understood, and agreed to the following;

Submission

1. Due to the volume of entries received, the “festival” unable to provide individual feedback on your “submission(s)”.
2. The “festival” is not responsible for any internal comments obtained by the applicant regarding their “submission(s)”.
3. All “submission(s)” that qualify based on the regulations and eligibility requirements stated here will be considered by a team of programmers at the “festival”. The date of entry bears no relation to the selection decision, the film will be considered equally with all other “submission(s)”.
4. Any “submission(s)” by mail will not be returned and/or considered.
5. Any “submission(s)” by electronic mail will not be returned and/or considered.
6. All applicants must complete the official festival submission form located on FilmFreeway.
7. There is no exclusion for “submission(s)” that have been featured at other film festivals or have private, unpublicised screenings are eligible for entry.
8. Any “submission(s)” currently available on streaming services may also be included for entry.
9. Multiple versions of the same “submission(s)” will not be considered.
10. Any “submission(s)” which is not presented in English require embedded captions or otherwise subtitles or dubbing in English language. The exception to this rule is the film contains minimal dialogue and not necessary for the comprehension of the “submission(s)”.
11. If the “submission(s)” does not play on the embedded video player or the password does not work, or the “submission(s)” is otherwise not viewable, the “festival” will attempt to rectify this with you directly. It is the responsibility of the person submitting to update any changed passwords or links. In the event we receive no reply regarding the “submission(s)” the “festival” reserves the right to disqualify the “submission(s)” without refund. The “festival” assumes no responsibility for any legal actions related to copyright infringement.
12. Any “submission(s)” that has previously been submitted to the “festival” are ineligible.
13. Any “submission(s)” which is incomplete or work in progress can be submitted for consideration. We can accept a submission for example, where the final sound mix is not yet complete, or colour grading is yet to be finished, but we would need to see a fully completed version of the “submission(s)” by the “festival” final deadline.
14. Any “submission(s)” holds sole responsibility of any copyright clearance. The “festival” takes copyright seriously, unauthorised copyrighted material is ineligible. Please ensure you have the full clearance before making the “submission(s)”. The “festival” reserves the right to disqualify the “submission(s)” without refund. The “festival” assumes no responsibility for any legal actions related to copyright infringement.
15. The "festival" retains the right to utilize, adapt, and recycle trailers, stills, images, and posters from your “submission(s)” for promotional purposes across a range of media, including but not limited to; film magazines, social media, and websites.
16. The "festival" reserves the authority to alter the format of screenings and events as necessitated by circumstances affecting public health and well-being. In such instances, submission refunds will only be granted if the festival cannot be rescheduled.
17. The “festival” is only able to select music videos “submission(s)” made with the permission of the music artist whose music is featured. Please include a release form with your “submission(s)”.

Selected

18. The "festival" does not provide screening fees, revenue, or shares for any "submission(s)," whether they are in or out of competition.
19. Selected "submission(s)" will need to provide a DCP (Digital Cinema Package). We can offer assistance in creating the DCP, which will be available for a fee.
20. All selected "submission(s)" will be expected to supply a subtitle track or captions for the hard of hearing to align with our accessibility commitment. The festival team will offer assistance and provide facilities to support this requirement.
21. For all chosen "submission(s)" lacking a BBFC certificate, they will receive an automatic certification for ages 18 and over, regardless of whether the content necessitates it. This approach is adopted due to the impracticality of obtaining individual certificates for each "submission(s)" from the local licensing authority. Exceptions may be sought for specific "submission(s)," such as premieres.
22. All filmmakers traveling from overseas will not receive compensation for their attendance and are expected to handle their own travel and accommodation arrangements. The "festival" can provide suggestions for accommodations in the vicinity of the festival venue.
23. Filmmakers participating in the "festival" have the opportunity to join a live Q&A session, which will be recorded, shared on social media platforms, and provided to the associated press. If in-person attendance is not feasible, we can help coordinate a pre-recorded Q&A session.
24. All footage captured by the "festival" will be utilized for promotional purposes concerning both the "festival" itself and your "submission(s)".
25. Once selected and the screening has been accepted, no "submission(s)" can be withdrawn for any reason.

Ready to Submit your Film?

You are invited to initiate your submission by visiting FilmFreeway via the link provided below.