Alliance of Women Directors collaborates with Sponsors and Partners that believe in and work toward gender parity in the entertainment industry. These partnerships elevate our collective ability to advocate for and support women directors.
AWD members can check their AWD Member Center or inboxes for the discount and waiver codes.
We are thrilled to announce that AWD will be participating in Cine Gear Expo LA 2025! Drop by our booth throughout the event and join AWD for our panel with Scriptation on Saturday, June 7th at 12:15p. AWD Icon Members Morenike Joela Evans, Mary Lou Belli, and Rosemary Rodriguez will talk with DPs about the importance of collaboration.
Now in its fifth year, the Hollywood Climate Summit organizes high-energy events and coordinates creative partnerships for cross-sector media professionals to level up their climate knowledge, align strategies, deepen intersectional values, showcase innovation, and lead a cultural movement of sustained climate action. In short, we’re bringing climate solutions to the mainstream and creating a bit of healthy FOMO along the way.
AWD Members can check their inboxes and Member Center for a discount code.
We are happy to partner with the MY HERO International Film Festival to offer submission fee waivers on films directed by AWD Directing Members!
From the festival: The MY HERO International Film Festival brings together professional and youth filmmakers who honor local and global heroes working for positive change in the world. Work submitted to this film festival must celebrate a hero, explore concepts of heroism, or explore hero-related topics.
Short films (10 minutes and under) of any genre will be considered. Filmmakers may also submit excerpts or trailers of longer works. We strive to be an all-ages friendly festival, so please keep that in mind when submitting a film for consideration.
IMPORTANT DATES:
Late Deadline – August 1, 2025
Extended Deadline – September 1, 2025
We are excited to partner with Tallgrass Film Festival and offer AWD Directing Members 50% off submission fees for projects they’ve directed! Check inboxes and Member Center for code.
From the festival:
Tallgrass was founded in 2002 and is Kansas’s largest independent film festival. Named a top 25 Coolest Film Fest and Top 50 Film Festival Worth the Entry Fee for multiple years by MovieMaker Magazine, the festival is a hallmark of the region’s cinematic landscape and an internationally recognized, multi-day platform for world-class cinematic programming.
The festival brings sophisticated movie-goers of all ages and backgrounds – hungry for quality independent film – audiences are receptive, opinionated, and genuine. Screening a film at Tallgrass catalyzes awareness and buzz in the country’s epicenter that radiates throughout the region. The visiting filmmakers are also accessible at Tallgrass. Due to the city’s authentic nature, it’s common to find an Oscar-winning filmmaker deep in conversation with a high school documentarian or an avid movie-goer.
IMPORTANT DATES:
Late Deadline: June 15, 2025
Extended Deadline: July 15, 2025
Notification Date: August 15, 2025
Event Dates: October 16-19, 2025
We are excited to partner with the Calabasas Film Festival for a Block of Films directed by AWD members, with 50% off submission fees.
From the festival:
The Calabasas Film Festival, is a non-profit founded by women and run by women! CFF welcomes avid film goers, studio executives, Academy Members and key players in the entertainment industry to the ultimate festival experience.
CFF showcases major film premieres, student films, documentaries, shorts and top quality film selections from all genres that are guaranteed to entertain. CFF provides the community an opportunity to connect over mutual passions for film and television while enjoying local culinary arts and entertainment.
The Calabasas Film Festival will always be where the heart of film lives.
IMPORTANT DATES:
Regular Deadline- July 4, 2025
Late Deadline- August 8, 2025
Festival- September 17-22, 2025
We are excited to again partner with the Mystic Film Festival and offer AWD members 50% off submission fees for their film festival and script competitions.
FROM THE FESTIVAL:
Mystic Film Festival is an annual event showcasing independent feature-length and short-form narrative films and documentaries from around the world. The festival brings together a diverse group of filmmakers and audiences to explore ideas, discuss the filmmaking process, and celebrate creativity. Through engaging community events, industry panels, and film screenings by acclaimed and up-and-coming talent, we aim to make the festival a special experience for filmmakers and audiences alike.Now celebrating its eighth year, the festival will take place from October 2nd – 5th, 2025 at venues in Mystic, Connecticut and Westerly, Rhode Island. Our cornerstone venue is Mystic Luxury Cinemas in Olde Mistick Village. We open with a local premiere and close the festival with an awards event where the best film in each category is recognized. We are expanding our submission categories this year.Our un-produced script competition is now entering its fifth year and continues to be a big success as we continue to grow our relationships with key partners in the screenwriting industry. We are excited to expand the categories this year. The top winners of the screenplay competition will be announced at the festival in October 2025.
IMPORTANT DATES:
Extended Deadline – June 30, 2025
Notification Date – July 21, 2025
Event Date – October 2 – 5, 2025
We are excited to again partner with the Oscar-qualifying HollyShorts Film Festival for an AWD BLOCK at their 2025 festival. Additionally, they are offering 50% off submission fees for films directed by AWD members.FROM THE FESTIVAL: HollyShorts is an organization devoted to showcasing the best and brightest short films from around the globe, advancing the careers of filmmakers through screenings, networking events, and various panel and forums. The Academy Qualifying HollyShorts Film festival showcases the top short films produced 40- minutes or less.
Films directed by AWD members that are not selected for the AWD block will still be considered to screen elsewhere in the festival.
Important Dates:
June 2, 2025 – Extended Deadline
July 11, 2025 – Notification Date
August 7 – 17, 2025 – Event Date
We are thrilled to again partner with Indigo Moon Film Fest to offer you full waivers on submissions to their 10th Anniversary festival for projects you’ve directed!
FROM THE FESTIVAL:
Celebrating our 10th anniversary, the Indigo Moon Film Fest in Fayetteville, North Carolina is proud to celebrate the unique art and voices of the Alliance of Women Directors members. Our festival celebrates diversity, and lives by our motto that Film Inspires Change.
Experience all the Festival has to offer:
~Opening Night Film and Reception.
~Filmmaker meet-ups, filmmaker lounge
~Food and snacks!
~All Venues in walkable downtown Fayetteville.
~Filmmakers accepted into the festival enjoy FREE Lodging!
(and a ton of other freebies!)
IMPORTANT DATES:
July 1, 2025; Extended Deadline
July 31, 2025; Absolutely Last Minute Deadline
We are pleased to partner with the Austin Film Festival to offer 50% off their submission fees for the 2025 festival.
Bringing independent filmmakers into the spotlight- submit to any of our 9 categories, including the Oscar Qualifying Animated Short, Documentary Short and Narrative Short competitions, genre categories Comedy Vanguard (for comedic work) and Dark Matters (for thrillers and horror films), and more! Have questions? Email film@austinfilmfestival.com and someone from the AFF staff will reach back out.
Submit via their FILM FREEWAY PAGE.
Important dates:
June 24, 2025 – Late Deadline
July 8, 2025 – Extended Deadline
September 23, 2025 – Notification Date
October 23 – 30, 2025 – Event Dates