Submit Your Film to the Macon Film Festival
STEP One - SUBMIt your independent film
Traditional Film
Online Submission Requirements
- Completed online FilmFreeway submission including the items listed below.
Online Screener (all screeners should be uploaded directly to FilmFreeway)
Submission Contact (Name, E-Mail, Phone)
(2) Digital Stills from the Submitted Film (No Behind the Scenes Stills Please!)
Film Synopsis
Director
Total Run Time
Country of Origin
Valid Student ID (Student Shorts submissions only)
- Submission Fee
Digital stills and online student ids can be e-mailed directly to the festival’s programming team at maconfilmfestival.submissions@gmail.com. Please make sure to include your assigned submission codes when e-mailing stills or student ids.
Submission Dates
- Call for Submissions Opens: October 18, 2024
- Super Early Deadline: January 10, 2025
- Regular Deadline: March 12, 2025
- Late Deadline: April 2, 2025
- Last Call Deadline: April 21, 2025
- Notification Date: June 23, 2025
Important Items to Know
- Each entry must be a separate submission. If you select more than one category for your film you must pay the full entry fee for each category.
- To qualify for the 2025 Macon Film Festival submissions must have been completed after May 31, 2023. Submissions completed prior to May 31, 2023 will not be accepted.
- All official selection films selected to be in competition for the 2025 festival will compete for cash prizes and will not be eligible to receive screening fees.
- Official selection filmmakers are required to provide one digital file of their official selection film for festival screenings. Digital screener files must be either Pro-Res or H.264 file formats. Hard copies of the film will also be accepted in Blu-ray or DVD NTSC format. PAL formatted DVDs are not accepted.
- If your film is selected as an official selection film the cost of shipping hard copies of screeners to the Festival must be paid by the entrant. Collect or COD shipments will not be accepted.
- All international entries must be sent with all transportation charges, duties, and taxes prepaid by the shipper. Fees charged to the Macon Film Festival will be refused. Be sure to include the proper customs documentation required by your shipping service.
Fulldome
Online Submission Requirements
- Completed online submission form including the items listed below. Submission form can be found HERE. Submission fees are not required for fulldome category films.
Online Screener (All screeners should be uploaded directly to provided submission form)
Submission Contact (Name, E-Mail, Phone)
(2) Digital Stills from the Submitted Film
Film Synopsis
Project Creator
Total Run Time
Country of Origin
- Submission fees are not required for fulldome category films.
Submission Dates
- Call for Submissions Opens: December 17, 2024
- Submissions Close: May 1, 2025
- Notification Date: June 29, 2025
Planetarium Venue Specifications
To learn more about fulldome festival screening venue specifications CLICK HERE!
Important Items to Know
- Each entry must be a separate submission. If you wish to submit more than one project each project must have a completed entry form.
- All official selection films selected to be in competition for the 2025 festival will not be eligible to receive screening fees and compete for festival prize money.
- Official selection fulldome films choosing to be screened in 2K or 4K formats must provide the final screening file on an external drive or via download link. The cost of shipping the external drive must be paid by the entrant. Collect or COD shipments will not be accepted. External drives containing official selection films will NOT be returned unless the entrant provides a self addressed stamped envelope or other pre-paid shipment paperwork.
- All international entries must be sent with all transportation charges, duties, and taxes prepaid by the shipper. Fees charged to the Macon Film Festival will be refused. Be sure to include the proper customs documentation required by your shipping service.
To view the 2025 Fulldome Submission Terms and Conditions CLICK HERE
STEP TWO - SUBMISSION SCREENING PROCESS
Once a film completes the submission process it is assigned to a committee of festival screeners who will view the film and score it based on various criteria. Festival screeners are comprised of filmmakers, industry professionals and festival supporters from around the country.
Each year the festival utilizes between 35 - 40 screeners who volunteer their time and love of film to screen specific categories of submissions. Each submitted film will be viewed by a minimum of three screeners.
Scoring Criteria
- Plot/Storyline
- Creativity/Originality
- Writing
- Acting
- Cinematography/Visuals
- Sound Design
- Pacing
Once a film is screened the programming team reviews screener scores and notes. That information along with our programming team notes, submission trends and available screening time is what is used to determine what films make the cut as an official selection film.
To view a sample screener score sheets for click here.
STEP THREE - SELECTING OFFICIAL SELECTION FILMS
Once the submission screening process is complete the programming team reviews screener scores and notes. That information along with our programming team notes, submission trends and available screening time is what is used to determine what films make the cut as an official selection film.
After a film is selected to be an official selection film filmmakers will begin to receive regular e-mail blasts from the festival programmer with festival updates, screener requirements, travel information, marketing opportunities and other festival information.
STEP FOUR - JUROR PROCESS/AWARD BREAKDOWN
All official selection films from the Narrative, Documentary, LGBTQ, Georgia Made and Student Short categories are sent to a select group of professional jurors who score the winning films. Festival jurors are comprised of filmmakers, industry professionals, film professors and representatives from other film festivals.Filmmakers do not need to be present to win.
Audience Choice awards are determined during the festival and are awarded for Macon Made Short, Documentary and Narrative categories.
Traditional Film Official Selection Awards Breakdown
The Melvyn Douglass 'Best in Show' Award: $1,200
Best of 'Narrative Feature' Category : $1,000
Best of 'Documentary' Category: $1,000
Best of 'Documentary Shorts' Category: $800
Best of 'Georgia Made' Category: $800
Best of 'Narrative Shorts' Category: $800
Best of 'LGBTQ' Category: $800
Best of 'Student Shorts' Category: $500
The Karen Black Audience Choice - Narrative: $500
Audience Choice - Documentary: $500
Festival Special Mention Award: $500
Fulldome Official Selection Awards Breakdown
Best Immersive Experience - $1,000
Best Long Form Film - $500
Best Short Form Film - $500
STEP FIVE - POST FESTIVAL
The 2025 official selection films are placed in festival archives once the festival is complete. Filmmakers requesting return shipment of screeners will have them mailed the week after the festivals. Filmmakers must provide self-addressed stamped envelopes for return shipment.
ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS
If you still have questions about the 2025 Macon Film Festival submission process feel free to e-mail the festival's programming team at maconfilmfestival.submissions@gmail.com.
