International Filmmaker Awards
Celebrating independent voices, bold stories, and remarkable filmmakers from around the world.
Awards
Have a question?
Talk to us.
We are happy to hear from filmmakers worldwide.
Stories deserve
their moment.
Santa Monica International Filmmaker Awards is an international online seasonal movie award created to celebrate independent cinema and emerging voices from around the world.
Founded and run by a group of young filmmakers who studied filmmaking, the festival aims to promote and encourage short, feature, and documentary films while giving filmmakers another meaningful step forward in their careers.
Each season, a selection of outstanding films receives awards, laurels, and customized certificates. A selection of winning films will also be screened online every season.
We invite filmmakers from everywhere to share their beautiful projects, reach new audiences, and let their stories travel beyond borders.
Your story belongs
on the list.
Don't wait to submit your beautiful projects. Our audience is waiting for outstanding stories from filmmakers around the world.
Submit on FilmFreewayIMDb Verified Festival
View our official festival event page on IMDb.
Words from the
filmmakers.
Every film has a journey behind it. Here are a few words from filmmakers whose work has been recognized by our festival.
This film portrays the Korea of my childhood, filled with poverty, warmth, family, and unforgettable memories. I am deeply honored that this personal story has reached audiences across borders.
Wonderful festival. Communication was great!!
It is an honor for us to have received an award at your wonderful festival in Santa Monica. We hope to be able to submit our next project. We are very grateful.
A great festival for independent, international filmmakers. Good communication which is key. My film, “Reparations”, did well.
It is an honor and blessing to have my faith-based short film recognized and, more importantly, to win the Best Directing Award for short film.
Find your film's
place on the stage.
From filmmaking craft to genre, performance and social impact, our seasonal awards recognize a wide range of cinematic voices.
Before you
submit.
Please read the following regulations carefully before submitting your film to Santa Monica International Filmmaker Awards.
Films completed on or after Jan 1, 2025, are eligible for consideration.
Films previously submitted to the Festival are eligible for consideration, but for a new category.
Feature-length films available for public online viewing are not eligible.
Films shown at private screenings not open to the public, including screenings for crew or investors, are eligible.
All entries must be either in English or subtitled in English. Dialogue lists are not accepted.
Entrant confirms and warrants the required legal authority to submit the entry and to use all music, images, and content included in the entry.
Films are selected for Festival presentation by the Festival programming committee. If a movie is selected, the Festival office will contact the entrant by email. The Festival does not provide feedback or screening notes to entries that are not selected.
The appropriate entry fee must accompany each entry. Entry fees are not refundable. Fees cover registration, notification, programming consideration, and notification of results. Fees may be paid by credit card including VISA, MasterCard, or American Express.
The Festival reserves the right to change the date of the event or notification without requiring approval from the submitters.
Have a question?
Talk to us.
We are happy to hear from filmmakers worldwide.