Submitting and Guidelines

Call For Entries is Now Open!

The Charleston International Film Festival accepts paperless entries submitted via The International Film Festival Submission System (BrigitFest) on the Web at Withoutabox.com.

Withoutabox provides cost-saving, online entry to major film festivals throughout the U.S. and in Europe with one master entry form, allowing you and us to enter your film more quickly and with greater accuracy. This method is free and easy.

Members who have Upgraded Projects at Withoutabox also get $5.00 off their Entry Fees, and ALL members get the advantages of Extended Deadlines and Online Press Kit submissions.

Click over to Withoutabox, then follow instructions to apply online.

If you do not wish to submit through the above site, please CLICK HERE and fill out the application and enclose it with your submission.

** All submissions must be received by January 3, 2014.**

Submission Guidelines

All films submitted to Charleston International Film Festival are selected by our festival selection committee, which evaluates each film, looking for excellence in quality and originality in new independent cinema. The festival will showcase 80+ of the most auspicious non-studio films, which include features, shorts and documentaries. The 2014 Charleston International Film Festival will be held on April 9-13, 2014. All winners will be announced at the Closing Awards Ceremony to be held on Sunday, April 13th, including the winners of the Screenplay Competition. Please see all guidelines and requirements below.

Requirements for Film Consideration

The film cannot play in any film festival screenings in the Charleston area 90 days prior to the Charleston International Film Festival.

The following materials must be received by January 3, 2014:

  • Screener (DVD – NTSC format only)
  • Completed submission forms
  • Submission fees

Film Status:

  • Feature films must be 50 minutes and over in length.
  • Short films must not exceed 50 minutes in length.
  • The festival will accept films of all genres.
  • The festival will consider all films regardless of any commercial, theatrical or television play in the US.
  • World and US premieres are not required. Please see note above about Charleston screenings.
  • All films in a language other than English must be subtitled in English for festival presentation.
  • Works-in-progress will be considered.

Upon acceptance, filmmakers must deliver final format for festival screening.

Requirements for Selected Films

The following is a list of items needed for films, which will be screened at the 2014 CIFF.

  • For maximum exposure of your film, the festival recommends 4 DVD screeners, film trailers, posters and postcards
  • Synopsis of film (3 sentences or less)
  • Final format of your film – H264.MOV

**All Submission Fees Due by January 3, 2014**

Do not send cash. Payment in US dollars may be made by check, money order, Visa or MasterCard. Checks or money orders should be made payable to Charleston International Film Festival in US Dollars only. International entrants who do not pay by credit card must use an international money order paid in US dollars through a US bank.

Film Entry Fees:

  • *Feature films & Documentaries:

    Received by June 14th – $30
    Received by September 13th – $40
    Received by November 15th – $45
    Received by January 3rd – $60

  • *Shorts & Animations:

    Received by June 14th – $30
    Received by September 13th – $40
    Received by November 15th – $45
    Received by January 3rd- $60

The Festival is not responsible for the damage to DVDs incurred in shipping. All preview DVDs and submitted press materials will not be returned. Absolutely no exceptions will be permitted.

Screenwriting Competition

The festival is also accepting screenplays for its screenwriting competition. Awards will be given at our awards night ceremony held on April 13, 2014 and winners will be announced on our official website.

We will be accepting screenplays of all lengths and genres. Fees to enter the screenplay competition are below. All screenplays must be submitted by hard copy and received no later than December 6, 2013.  

Note: Please be sure when submitting the paper copy that you do not include the writer name on the script copy itself – only the title on the title page.

  • *Screenplays:

    Received by June 14th – $25
    Received by August 16th – $30
    Received by October 11th – $35
    Received by December 6th – $50

** All screenplay submissions must be received by December 6, 2013.**