Film Submissions FAQ

Do you offer waivers for film submissions on FilmFreeway?

As a festival, we understand filmmakers don't always have the funds to submit to festivals. One of our goals is to make PHLAFF accessible for all, particularly for young, emerging filmmakers.

Waiver submissions will open after our early deadline. Stay tuned.

I’m planning on submitting to the LOLA category. Could you clarify “themes of joy” so I can determine if my film qualifies?

In essence, joy is a powerful, internal wellspring of contentment and purpose, a more profound and stable counterpart to the fleeting nature of happiness, capable of sustaining one through life's varied experiences. It is a more internal and enduring state, a deeper sense of fulfillment and well-being that can be present even in the absence of immediate happiness.

We encourage you to explore how your work might relate to this theme, whether directly or more abstractly. What elements of joy are in your work? What is its core, its heart, or its nature? How do you express this within your film?

If a film is submitted to the Los Shorts Program, will it also be considered for the LOLA Shorts category? What about the other way around?

A film can only be entered into a single category for consideration. It will solely be evaluated for the category it is submitted to and won't be taken into account for any other category that it has not been submitted for.

By submitting to PHLAFF, can I still participate in other festivals in Philadelphia?

Absolutely! PHLAFF also invites filmmakers to submit their films, regardless of premiere status—whether it's a World Premiere, East Coast Premiere, or has no premiere status. Just ensure your film meets the criteria listed on our FilmFreeway submissions page.

Can I submit a film that is in HD format?

Yes, you can absolutely submit a film in HD (1920x1080) format to our festival! According to FilmFreeway, films can be uploaded to their platform with the following specifications:

FilmFreeway accepts all major video formats in full-quality HD up to 10 GB. Videos are transcoded for compatibility and performance. We recommend settings close to our output specs:

• Maximum video bitrate: 2200 Kbps, H.264, MP4

• Audio: 128 Kbps, AAC, 2-channel stereo

• Aspect ratio: Preserved with a maximum video height of 720 pixels

In addition, we also accept Vimeo and YouTube links for submissions via FilmFreeway. When uploading your film, be sure to follow the platform’s instructions and include the viewing password to ensure our screening committee can access your work without any issues.

Do filmmakers need to be part of the Latine US community to submit their films?

Not at all! Filmmakers don’t need to be part of the Latine US community to submit their films. We welcome submissions from filmmakers of all backgrounds, as long as they follow the rules and guidelines outlined on our FilmFreeway page.