FirstGlance Film Festival Philadelphia

02 - 04 Oct, 2020

FirstGlance Film Festival Philadelphia logo
FirstGlance Film Festival Philadelphia

Is this your festival?

Is this your festival?

About the festival

Philadelphia's ONLY Physical Indie Film Festival of 2020!!
Coming November 13- 15 2020 and our Virtual Companion running Nov 10-15 2020

Philadelphia's Independent Film Festival since 1996
Horror, SciFi, Fantasy, Drama, Comedy...Everything INDIE!

If you are an OFFICIAL SELECTION of SXSW, Tribeca, Cannes, Palm Springs Shorts Fest, Garden State, Overlook, or Fantasia, please direct message us for a discount code.
(Must provide Official Notification of your film's selection to be eligible)

$1000 CASH PRIZE in every category that reaches 200 entries!
One of the 100 TOP RATED Film Festivals on FilmFreeway

Tweet when you enter your film so we can share your news with our almost 50K Followers ALL Official Selections receive social media marketing unlike any film festival on EARTH!

Accepting Drama, Comedy, Science Fiction, Horror, Fantasy, Action and all genres.

FirstGlance is an all inclusive diverse event open to all genres, from filmmakers of every gender, color, race, ethnicity, country, religion and skill level.

First time filmmakers to Professionals, from down the street to across the globe!
INDIE FILMMAKERS WANTED!!
Features, Shorts, Documentary, Animation, Live Action, Web Series, Music Videos, Original Concept Trailers, Student Films

The 23rd Annual FirstGlance Philadelphia Film Festival screens local and international professional, first time, and student filmmakers, celebrating the best in indie film making from across the globe and locally produced Philadelphia Filmmakers

Screenings, Red Carpet, Live Awards Presentation and Nominations in over 25 categories and Audience Choice in ALL Categories! Over 25 nominating categories for Official Selections, plus Best of Audience awards for each category, and BEST OF FEST award winners.

FirstGlance Film Festivals are the longest running international bi-coastal indie film festivals in the United States. FirstGlance has theatrically screened over 2000 films to over 190,000 attendees and has the most active Short Online Contest, having screened over 700 short films to over 200,000 online viewers and voters over the past 10 years.

FirstGlance Film Fests have a 98% track record with feature films (Narrative and Documentary) acquiring Theatrical, Cable, VOD and Streaming Distribution.

FirstGlance has a deal to license science fiction and horror shorts and webseries for an amazing online streaming network, offering filmmakers a non exclusive, cash up front short term licensing deal.

Named 5 times as a Best Film Festival Investment by Moviemaker Magazine and named by Time Magazine as, "One of the Festivals for the Rest of Us" And Named One of FilmFreeway's Top 100 Film Festivals!

Semi-Finalists in our Shorts Categories are invited to take part in our very successful Short Online Contest, that has been running twice yearly for over 12 years alongside our physical festival for the opportunity to win over $2000 in prizes and a place in our next FirstGlance Film Festival.

Best of Fest Award Winner prizes furnished by Red Giant, Boris FX, Glidecam, Final Draft, Jungle Software, Beachtek, Shot Lister, Ink Tip, Storyblocks, Zacuto and more.

Short Online Contest- Over $2000 in prizes and premiere at our next film festival, FirstGlance Film Fest Los Angeles (Spring 2020)

BONUS PRIZES: EVERY category that receives over 200 submissions, category winner will be awarded a CASH PRIZE

About

Philadelphia's ONLY Physical Indie Film Festival of 2020!!
Coming November 13- 15 2020 and our Virtual Companion running Nov 10-15 2020

Philadelphia's Independent Film Festival since 1996
Horror, SciFi, Fantasy, Drama, Comedy...Everything INDIE!

If you are an OFFICIAL SELECTION of SXSW, Tribeca, Cannes, Palm Springs Shorts Fest, Garden State, Overlook, or Fantasia, please direct message us for a discount code.
(Must provide Official Notification of your film's selection to be eligible)

$1000 CASH PRIZE in every category that reaches 200 entries!
One of the 100 TOP RATED Film Festivals on FilmFreeway

Tweet when you enter your film so we can share your news with our almost 50K Followers ALL Official Selections receive social media marketing unlike any film festival on EARTH!

Accepting Drama, Comedy, Science Fiction, Horror, Fantasy, Action and all genres.

FirstGlance is an all inclusive diverse event open to all genres, from filmmakers of every gender, color, race, ethnicity, country, religion and skill level.

First time filmmakers to Professionals, from down the street to across the globe!
INDIE FILMMAKERS WANTED!!
Features, Shorts, Documentary, Animation, Live Action, Web Series, Music Videos, Original Concept Trailers, Student Films

The 23rd Annual FirstGlance Philadelphia Film Festival screens local and international professional, first time, and student filmmakers, celebrating the best in indie film making from across the globe and locally produced Philadelphia Filmmakers

Screenings, Red Carpet, Live Awards Presentation and Nominations in over 25 categories and Audience Choice in ALL Categories! Over 25 nominating categories for Official Selections, plus Best of Audience awards for each category, and BEST OF FEST award winners.

FirstGlance Film Festivals are the longest running international bi-coastal indie film festivals in the United States. FirstGlance has theatrically screened over 2000 films to over 190,000 attendees and has the most active Short Online Contest, having screened over 700 short films to over 200,000 online viewers and voters over the past 10 years.

FirstGlance Film Fests have a 98% track record with feature films (Narrative and Documentary) acquiring Theatrical, Cable, VOD and Streaming Distribution.

FirstGlance has a deal to license science fiction and horror shorts and webseries for an amazing online streaming network, offering filmmakers a non exclusive, cash up front short term licensing deal.

Named 5 times as a Best Film Festival Investment by Moviemaker Magazine and named by Time Magazine as, "One of the Festivals for the Rest of Us" And Named One of FilmFreeway's Top 100 Film Festivals!

Semi-Finalists in our Shorts Categories are invited to take part in our very successful Short Online Contest, that has been running twice yearly for over 12 years alongside our physical festival for the opportunity to win over $2000 in prizes and a place in our next FirstGlance Film Festival.

Best of Fest Award Winner prizes furnished by Red Giant, Boris FX, Glidecam, Final Draft, Jungle Software, Beachtek, Shot Lister, Ink Tip, Storyblocks, Zacuto and more.

Short Online Contest- Over $2000 in prizes and premiere at our next film festival, FirstGlance Film Fest Los Angeles (Spring 2020)

BONUS PRIZES: EVERY category that receives over 200 submissions, category winner will be awarded a CASH PRIZE

Awards & Winners

There are no winners yet for this festival

Terms and rules

Student entries must include copy of current semester bill and copy of student ID by email. All official selections will be notified of acceptance by E-mail. (Make sure your address is current) Accepted projects cannot be publicly exhibited in the Philadelphia area at any time within a one-month period of the festival start date. If this occurs, FirstGlance has the right to refuse exhibition. After acceptance of projects, the entrant is free to publicize his/her work to any and all media she/he deems necessary. Please notify FirstGlance of any media support you receive. The undersigned entrant shall release, discharge, indemnify and hold harmless FirstGlance Films, and its agents, respective officers, directors, employees, representatives, contractors, partners, sponsors, and volunteers from and against any and all claims, liabilities, losses, damages, costs and expenses (including, without limitations, attorneys' fees). The undersigned entrant authorizes FirstGlance Film Festival, to promote the entry for any publicity purpose prior to, during, and after the competition. You agree to be bound by these guidelines and the decisions of the judges, which are final and binding in all respects and to waive any right to claim ambiguity in the contest or the rules. The signature of applicant constitutes that the entrants information is true and correct and agrees to all competition rules and guidelines. Disclaimer: If any categories submissions does not receive high enough scores from our screening committee, FirstGlance has the right to discontinue the category for a particular festival.

Ratings & Reviews

Categories and fees

Feature Film
Early Bird (23rd March, 2020) $55
Regular (23rd May, 2020) $65
Late (23rd June, 2020) $75

Narrative Films over 60 minutes in length Live Action and Animation Accepted International Entries accepted (English or English Subtitles) All Genres/Themes Acceptable Drama, Comedy, Science Fiction, Horror, Fantasy, Action/Thriller, Superhero Genre

Documentary
Early Bird (23rd March, 2020) $55
Regular (23rd May, 2020) $65
Late (23rd June, 2020) $75

Documentary Features over 45 mins International Entries accepted (English or English Subtitles)

Short Documentary
Early Bird (23rd March, 2020) $40
Regular (23rd May, 2020) $55
Late (23rd June, 2020) $65

Short Documentaries under 45 mins International Entries accepted (English or English Subtitles)

Shorts
Early Bird (23rd March, 2020) $40
Regular (23rd May, 2020) $55
Late (23rd June, 2020) $65

Short Films under 59 mins and over 10 mins Live Action and Animation. International Entries accepted (English or English Subtitles) All Genres/Themes Acceptable

Shorts Too
Early Bird (23rd March, 2020) $35
Regular (23rd May, 2020) $50
Late (23rd June, 2020) $60

Shorts 10 minutes or less Live Action and Animated Films International Entries accepted (English or English Subtitles) All Genres/Themes Acceptable

Music Videos
Early Bird (23rd March, 2020) $30
Regular (23rd May, 2020) $45
Late (23rd June, 2020) $55

Music Videos under 7 mins Live Action and Animation International Entries accepted (English or English Subtitles) All Genres/Themes Acceptable

Student Directed
Early Bird (23rd March, 2020) $30
Regular (23rd May, 2020) $45
Late (23rd June, 2020) $55

Student Directed Shorts under 30 mins. Must be accompanied by current student ID and proof of current matriculation as an undergraduate or below Live Action and Animation International Entries accepted (English or English Subtitles) All Genres/Themes Acceptable

Web Series
Early Bird (23rd March, 2020) $30
Regular (23rd May, 2020) $45
Late (23rd June, 2020) $55

Web Series Pilots under 15 minutes. Pilot Episode only Live Action and Animation International Entries accepted (English or English Subtitles) All Genres/Themes Acceptable

Trailers
Early Bird (23rd March, 2020) $25
Regular (23rd May, 2020) $40
Late (23rd June, 2020) $50

We are now accepting ORIGINAL trailers All genres/themes accepted Live Action and Animation International Entries accepted (English or English Subtitles) NOTE: These cannot be mash-ups of already existing trailers or copyrighted materials. Must be original concepts or parodies/fan made trailers that do not use theatrical footage from already released films.

Matchmaking

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