Add to shopping cart
Submit to the Festival
More>

Introduction to the film festival

The San Luis Obispo International Film Festival (SLO Film Fest) will once again attract stars, great films and film enthusiasts to the Central Coast of California, when it celebrates it's 32nd Annual festival, happening April 23-28, 2026.

Located half-way between Los Angeles and San Francisco, San Luis Obispo's laid-back vibe and serene natural beauty is the perfect setting for this highly regarded annual film celebration. Filmmakers rave about the warmth and attentiveness that is so much a part of the SLO Film Fest experience, as does the swelling tide of industry pros and film critics who are fast discovering the Festival's thoughtful audiences and unique programming sensibility.

There are three categories of competition at the SLO Film Fest. The George Sidney Independent Film competition is open to filmmakers worldwide, all ages and all genres (including, Music Videos, Episodics and Horror). The Central Coast Filmmaker Showcase is open to producers, writers and/or directors living in San Luis Obispo, Monterey and Santa Barbara counties. And the Filmmakers of Tomorrow Showcase is open to youth filmmakers, grades K-12, with films 7 minutes or less.


Awards

George Sidney Independent Film Competition Prize categories:
Best Narrative Feature
Best Documentary Feature
Best Narrative Short Film
Best Documentary Short Film –– Oscar Qualifying
Best Student Film
Best Music Video
Best Animated Film
Best Red Eye Short Film (Midnight, Genre, Horror) *New*
Best Episodic *New*

All winners will receive cash prizes: $1000 for feature-length films and $500 for short and student categories. Music Videos receive a $200 cash prize.

The Central Coast Filmmaker Showcase films are eligible for awards in the same categories, and other prizes may also be awarded.

George Sidney competition films will also be eligible for Audience Awards in five categories: Best Narrative Feature, Best Documentary Feature, Best Short Narrative Film, Best Short Documentary Film and Best in Fest (any length.)

We are an Oscar Qualifying Film Festival for Documentary Short Films. Winner of our Documentary Short competition will be eligible to submit for Oscar consideration.

Rules

Genre ：
Subject ：
Video Format ：HDV MPEG4 DCP

The SLO Film Fest reserves the right to determine eligibility of any work submitted. All films submitted must have a completion date after July 1, 2024. Preferred format for screening copies is an online link – preferably Vimeo.

Films selected for screening at the Festival will be notified no later than February 16, 2026. All George Sidney Independent Film Competition filmmakers will be provided with one night’s accommodation at a hotel in the San Luis Obispo area (this does not include filmmakers in the Central Coast Filmmakers Showcase, Music Video Showcase, or Filmmakers of Tomorrow Showcase unless excess availability). They will also be given two all-access passes to the 2026 SLO Film Fest.

We currently do not accept films that are fully AI-generated.

Evaluation

Jury Profile
Jury Name Judge photos Jury Profile

Authorization type

    Proxy Submission

Duration (several sessions)

    31

Film Festival Features

  • Red Carpet
  • Celebrity Guest
  • Filmscreen
  • Cash prize
  • Trophy

Dates & Deadlines

  • 2025-07-01
    Submission start time

  • 2025-08-15
    Earlybird Deadline

  • 2025-09-30
    End of Summer Deadline

  • 2025-10-31
    Regular Deadline

  • 2025-11-28
    Extended Deadline

  • 2025-11-28
    Submission end time

  • 2026-02-16
    Finalist notification start time

  • 2026-02-16
    Finalist notification end time

  • 2026-04-23
    Award ceremony start time

  • 2026-04-28
    Award ceremony end time

Categories and fees

  • George Sidney (Worldwide) Category - Feature-Length Films
    Video length ：41 - 300
    Named for renowned director George Sidney, longtime supporter of the SLO Film Fest and indie filmmakers during his lifetime, this film competition has become popular thanks to filmmakers from all over the world submitting exciting new films of all genres, lengths and subject matter. We program more than 80% of our Festival by choosing the very best films from these submissions. SLO Film Fest is able to offer to its audiences a wide variety of contemporary, thought-provoking cinema and over 85% filmmaker attendance at their screenings. Great scenery, friendly, intelligent audiences, industry reps and wonderful hotels await you in beautiful San Luis Obispo.

    2025/08/15
    Earlybird Deadline

    Standard: 50 Dollar

    Student： 40 Dollar

    2025/09/30
    End of Summer Deadline

    Standard: 60 Dollar

    Student： 50 Dollar

    2025/10/31
    Regular Deadline

    Standard: 70 Dollar

    Student： 60 Dollar

    2025/11/28
    Extended Deadline

    Standard: 85 Dollar

    Student： 70 Dollar

    Submit to the Festival
  • George Sidney (Worldwide) Category - Short Films (under 40min)
    Video length ：0 - 40
    The SLO Film Fest audiences LOVE shorts and thanks to filmmakers from all over the world submitting exciting new films of all genres and subject matter, the SLO Film Fest is able to offer to its audiences a wide variety of diverse, thought-provoking cinema with over 85% filmmaker attendance at their screenings. Great scenery, friendly, intelligent audiences, industry reps and wonderful hotels await you in beautiful San Luis Obispo. (Under 40min)

    2025/08/15
    Earlybird Deadline

    Standard: 35 Dollar

    Student： 25 Dollar

    2025/09/30
    End of Summer Deadline

    Standard: 45 Dollar

    Student： 35 Dollar

    2025/10/31
    Regular Deadline

    Standard: 55 Dollar

    Student： 45 Dollar

    2025/11/28
    Extended Deadline

    Standard: 70 Dollar

    Student： 55 Dollar

    Submit to the Festival
  • Filmmakers of Tomorrow Youth Competition
    Video length ：0 - 7
    This Film Competition is made up of three categories: High School (9-12), Middle School (7-8), and Primary School, (K-6). Films selected for screening at the April 2026 SLO International Film Festival will compete for cash prizes in the following categories: Best Documentary Best Narrative Best International Best Animated Competition Rules: This competition is open to students still attending elementary, middle, or high school from all over the world. Students currently attending college and college student films are not accepted into this competition. All entries must include a copy of school identification. Submissions in all categories must be received by November 30th, 2025. All films submitted must have a completion date after March 1st, 2024. All films must be a maximum of 7 minutes. Longer ones will not be considered for screening. All music used should be fully credited at the end of the film.

    2025/08/15
    Earlybird Deadline

    Standard: 10 Dollar

    Student： 10 Dollar

    2025/09/30
    End of Summer Deadline

    Standard: 10 Dollar

    Student： 10 Dollar

    2025/10/31
    Regular Deadline

    Standard: 10 Dollar

    Student： 10 Dollar

    2025/11/28
    Extended Deadline

    Standard: 10 Dollar

    Student： 10 Dollar

    Submit to the Festival
  • Music Video Showcase
    Video length ：0 - 7
    Now in our fifth year, we are excited to continue to showcase creative new music videos in a variety of musical styles. We will host at least one evening of official selections and professional musicians and music video producers will judge. All entries should be under 7 minutes and videos will be accepted from filmmakers worldwide, with special awards for videos that highlight Central Coast musicians.

    2025/08/15
    Earlybird Deadline

    Standard: 20 Dollar

    Student： 15 Dollar

    2025/09/30
    End of Summer Deadline

    Standard: 25 Dollar

    Student： 20 Dollar

    2025/10/31
    Regular Deadline

    Standard: 30 Dollar

    Student： 25 Dollar

    2025/11/28
    Extended Deadline

    Standard: 40 Dollar

    Student： 30 Dollar

    Submit to the Festival

Related film festivalMore

View in the applet

Follow us

  • Follow the following platforms

    Facebook
    Twitter
    WeChat
    Official Weibo
  • Contact number：+86-10-80877820
  • Service hours：10am--8pm
  • E-mail：service@sfilmmaker.com
  • Company name：Shao Studios Media (Beijing) Co., Ltd
  • Company address：96-1-501, yuanyangdongfanggongguan， Tongzhou District, Beijing, China

©Beijing ICP15055141-3 Beijing Public Network Security No. 11011202000526 ICP Business permitted licence: No. B2-20210871 [License for production and operation of radio and television programs: No. 03997]

Online Service