Call For Entries

Social and Economic Justice Film Festival, Saturday, July 26, 2025, showing online and in person

The call for entries is open to films made about social and economic justice issues. Short, mid-length, and feature films; documentaries and fiction, including all genres from comedy to drama to science fiction to experimental.

The mission of the San Francisco Social and Economic Justice Film Festival is to provide a platform for films made by independent filmmakers who are exploring and advocating for social and economic justice. The Social and Economic Justice Film Festival highlights films and videos to encourage change around the world and to promote a global culture of equality. The festival will showcase works that challenge exploitative and oppressive social and economic systems and structures on a global and local level. Only films related to social and economic justice will be reviewed.

Film Topics

All films should explore some social and economic justice-related topics. Potential topics include:

hunger, poverty, homelessness
worker justice
racism and oppression
women’s rights and gender equality
LGBTQ rights
prisoner justice and mass incarceration
disability rights
environmental justice and sustainability
water and food insecurity
privatization and corporate control
alternative economies
the arts and rights of expression and speech
immigrant rights and migrant justice
access to public education, including higher education
living wage jobs
Awards & Prizes

The Social and Economic Justice Film Festival awards honors by jury decision in each of our categories:

Feature Film
Short Film
Youth Film (director is under 25)

Mail your entry or submit it online. Deadline to submit is March 1, 2025.

Online – FilmFreeway, Vimeo, YouTube, or another closed viewing area. (Password protected)

Put a link in the “Link to film” field below.

Mail/Courier- Registered mail or courier (UPS)

Alliance for Social and Economic Justice
2973 16th Street, Suite 300
San Francisco, CA 94103
T: (415) 863-1927

You will receive an email confirmation upon receipt of your complete submission• If selected you will be notified by April 1, 2025.

Rules & Terms

+ Entrants must fully comply with these Entry Rules & Regulations, including all dead-line, film length, entry material and other requirements.
+ Non-English language works must have English subtitles at the time submitted. Dialogue lists will not be accepted.
+ Please be aware that in all categories, premieres are preferred.

Fields marked with an * are required

Name of Submitter *

First

Last

Email *

Mailing Address

Address Line 1

City

State

Zip Code

Phone

Genre (if relevent)

Title of Film *

Link to Film *

Password for Film Link *

Release Year *

Country *

Running Time *

Title are Complete

Format *

Color
Black and White

Topic (film description and synopsis) *

Director *

Bio of Director *

Director's date of birth (if entering youth film category)

Complete principal cast and production credits listing: *

HELP US INCREASE ACCESSIBILITY.

If your film has other additional accessibility features, please list them

TERMS OF AGREEMENT

I accept responsibility for obtaining any and all clearances necessary to exhibit my film; warrant that I have the rights necessary to exhibit my film; and indemnify and hold harmless the Alliance for Social and Economic Justice and any of their respective directors and representatives against any claim arising out of exhibition of my film.

I hold the Festival harmless from damage to or loss of the copy en route or otherwise during the course of the Festival’s possession of the film; and agree to provide the Festival a copy of the film at my own risk and/or provide my own insurance to cover loss and/or damage of the copy. Copies are insured by UPS for up to $100 per entry.

I agree that all materials will be sent prepaid, and understand and agree that if they are to be returned to me, I must provide full return postage and packaging. Entries will be destroyed or archived otherwise.

I understand that acceptance of my film does not guarantee airline or hotel accommodations for any party of the film’s production. I understand the Festival does not pay rental fees.I agree that if accepted, the Festival may use stills &/or up to 3 mins. of footage from this submission for Festival promotion, publicity & marketing via internet, print, screen, radio &/or TV.

I understand that the number of screenings, days and venue is at the sole discretion of the Festival.

I understand that once a film is submitted for entry, it may not be withdrawn.

By SUBMITTING this form, you agree to terms of agreement *

I agree to the Terms and Service

SUBMISSION Deadline: March 1, 2025

Can be submitted digitally or sent on a USB drive

Physical submissions will not be returned unless accompanied by an addressed and prepaid return envelope.

Self-addressed, stamped postcard to verify receipt (optional)All film submissions must be shipped prepaid and packed in proper containers to arrive on time.

International shipments must be accompanied by a commercial invoice (containing the film’s title, running time, format [color or b&w], value of shipment, and sender’s name and address).

The Festival cannot help with customs clearances.

We advise all preview media shipping from outside the U.S. be sent with the following declaration: “Free entry claimed under #724.12 (960.60). U.S. Tariff Act. No commercial value, for Film Festival use only.”

Note: Submissions may be in work-in-progress form; however, works that are not final cuts must be clearly marked “Work in Progress (WIP)” or “Rough Cut” with an indication of what will change or what is missing (e.g., temp sound, Avid output, missing animation, etc.) Also, due to the volume of submissions, only ONE replacement copy (i.e. final cut) will be accepted and replacement copies will not be accepted after June 20, 2024 (unless solicited by the Festival).

IF YOUR WORK IS SELECTED

Notification: Films selected for screening will be notified by April 1, 2025.

If your work is selected, you must fulfill the following requirements by the date(s) designated by the Festival:

(1) Provide access to downloading a version of the film that is acceptable to the Festival

(2) You must deliver to the address designated by the Festival one copy of the invited work on a USB drive, if requested by the Festival by April 30, 2025. We recommend you ship via courier in order to permit the tracking of your entry once it leaves your hands. It will be the filmmaker’s responsibility to cover the shipping costs to the Festival. If you want the exhibition copy returned provide a return envelope with paid postage or the UPS account number. The Festival cannot be held liable for your film in transit. Do not ship a project's master copy.

Additionally, you must also include:

1. A key film still captioned with names of actors - 300dpi JPEG image
2. Picture of the director - 300dpi JPEG image
3. Film poster
4. Film trailer (not required but if sent, we will use on website)

IMPORTANT DATES

Final submission deadline: March 1, 2025

Notification of acceptance: April 1, 2025
Provide promotional collateral: April 30, 2025
Festival date: July 26, 2025