October 2025 Partnerships

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 Directing Members can check their AWD Member Center or inboxes for the discount and waiver codes, as well as information on how to contact partners.

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ONGOING COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS

AWD Directing Members can check their Member Center for details and codes!

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NEW COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS

MODERATED BY MATT  Interviewing & Production Class 

Moderated by Matt: Interviewing & Production Class is an eight-week hands-on class that teaches journalism (researching, writing and how to conduct filmmaker QAs), multi-camera television production (producing, camera operation, and postproduction editing), and field production & on-camera interviewing (press junkets, red carpet & press line interviews). The class will include; lectures, practical exercises, filmmaking artist visits where students will record a multi-camera Moderated by Matt podcast episode and students conducting their own press line or press junket type interviews. Students will receive IMDB credit.

Requirements: No experience necessary! Open to working professionals as well as current students! The only requirement is a passion to broaden your knowledge, perspective, and skill set that will serve you professionally in the Hollywood industry.

Dates: Saturdays starting October 18th and ending December 13th (No Class Thanksgiving Weekend)
Time: 930am-1230pm
Class Location: West Hollywood/Hollywood Location TBA
Tuition: $400 – AWD Receive 20 percent discount ($320)
Application: Submit a resume and cover letter (matt@moderatedbymatt.com) stating why you want to enroll in the class
Interviews: There will be Zoom interviews conducted for potential students starting Monday 9/29 to go over the class and expectations.

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CURRENT FESTIVAL PARTNERSHIPS

We’re happy to partner with Femme Fatal Film Festival to offer 50% their late dateline submission fees. Femme FATAL is a fierce, genre-bending film festival in its third year, celebrating female-led horror and sci-fi. What started as a private screening exploded into a sold-out showcase of raw, underrepresented talent shaking up the film world. With our growing fanbase, this is more than a festival. It’s a movement. And it’s only just getting started. Submit via their Film Freeway page.

IMPORTANT DATES:
Late: 10 OCTOBER 2025
Notification: 15 OCTOBER 2025
Event: 26 OCTOBER 2025

We are pleased to continue our partnership with the Wyoming International Film Festival to offer you 50% off submission fees for their 2026 festival!

From the festival:
Celebrate indie film in the old west! The Wyoming International Film Festival – a registered 501c3 non-profit – isn’t just another film fest; it’s a 4-day celebration of filmmakers and art from around the world!

Screenings in a state-of-the-art theater, filmmaker Q&As, live dance, live music, unique western experiences, art and photography exhibitions, and nightly parties give filmmakers ample opportunity to network and exhibit their work. Most important of all, you’ll have a blast while visiting Wyoming! WyoIFF is capped off with an award ceremony where we present 21 awards. Join us for food, fun, and film!

WyoIFF welcomes movies from all over the world! We accept features, shorts, narratives, documentaries, and web series of every genre. The Wyoming International Film Festival is committed to screening a diverse slate of stories with a broad spectrum of genres, topics and styles. Because we are a film festival run by filmmakers; the WyoIFF team guarantees every submission is watched by a selection committee of experienced industry professionals.

Our alumni include Jamie Lee Curtis, Spike Lee, Lily Gladstone, Seal, Willie Nelson, Eric Roberts, Lee Child, Ralph Inerson, Virginia Madsen, Tom Skerritt, Jefferson White, Jason Faunt, Constance Shulman, Lavell Crawford, as well as more than 3 dozen Emmy Award Winning filmmakers! At WyoIFF you won’t just find celebrity helmed films; we insure a robust mix of industry professionals, up-and-coming directors, as well as first time filmmakers. With nightly networking events you will be sure to build lasting connections and lifelong relationships!

BEFORE YOU SUBMIT
WyoIFF prides itself on our transparency and filmmaker-forward thinking. Here is some beneficial information for filmmakers to consider before submitting:
• In 2025 WyoIFF received 622 submissions, selecting 166 films. This is a 27% acceptance rate.
• We screen in three theaters; Surbrugg Prentice Auditorium, a brand-new performance art theater with seating for 400. Pathfinder, a converted conference room with dual laser projectors seating 200. The Studio, an improvised theater for more personal screenings, seating 60. While quality and filmmaker experience is our top priority it’s important to know none of our screening rooms are traditional movie theaters.
• Our programming team is mostly made up of alumni filmmakers. Your film will be reviewed by a minimum of two programmers.
• Not sure if your film is right for WyoIFF? Visit our archive on wyoiff.com to see if we’ve programmed films like yours in the past. Always research a festival before you submit!

Minimum Review Times
– All films will be reviewed by a minimum of two (2) programmers.
– Shorts under 15 minutes will be watched in full.
– Shorts over 15 minutes will be watched for 50% of their runtime, or up to 10 minutes, whichever is longer.
– Feature films will be reviewed for a minimum of 30 minutes.

IMPORTANT DATES:
Earlybird Deadline – October 10, 2025
Fall Deadline – November 21, 2025
Winter Deadline – January 2, 2026
Regular Deadline – February 13, 2026
Final Deadline – March 27, 2026
Notification Date – May 4, 2026

SUBMIT via their FILM FREEWAY PAGE 

AWD is pleased to partner with the Atlanta Film Festival and offer 50% submission fees for projects directed by AWD Directing Members. There is also a discount to submit to their screenplay competition.

Submit films at 50% discount on their Film Freeway page.
Submit to their screenwriting competition via their Film Freeway page.

IMPORTANT DATES:
October 17, 2025 – Late Deadline
November 7, 2025 – Extended Deadline

We are thrilled to have a Block of Films directed by AWD Directing Members at the Denton Black Film Festival! 20% off submission fees are included in the partnership.

From the festival:

Denton Black Film Festival (DBFF) is a hybrid festival with In Person and Virtual screenings dedicated to preserving and celebrating Black culture, with film at its center and storytelling in all its forms—spoken word, music, art, comedy, dance, etc.—shining alongside. We also spotlight social justice issues through powerful films and thought-provoking panel discussions.We welcome creatives from around the world whose work reflects the richness, complexity, and diversity of the Black experience. Whether you’re an emerging filmmaker or a seasoned professional, our wide range of submission categories offers an opportunity for your voice to be seen and heard.Each year, DBFF presents a thoughtfully curated festival experience that goes beyond the screen. Official selections gain access to a vibrant lineup of films, insightful panels, skill-building workshops, live music, comedy, spoken word, art exhibitions, and virtual events—all designed to inspire, connect, and empower.Come hone your craft, grow your network, and #ExperienceCulture. It’s your time to shine at the 2026 Denton Black Film Festival.IMPORTANT DATES:
Regular deadline: October 4, 2025
Extended deadline: October 24, 2025
Notification Date: December 3, 2025
In-Person Festival Date: January 28 – February 1, 2026
Virtually:
Sunday, February 1st @ 8pm Central until
Sunday, February 8th 11:59am Central

SUBMIT on the DBFF Film Freeway page
Email Monique Younger and let her know that you submitted. Please include your name and title of your film.

We are thrilled to continue our partnership with the CASCADIA International Women’s Film Festival and offer a 50% reduction on submission fees for SHORT FILMS directed by AWD members.

CASCADIA marks its 10th season this year, proudly showcasing exclusively women-directed films at the in-person festival April 30–May 3 in beautiful Bellingham, WA. Since its founding, CASCADIA has featured the work of over 280 women directors from around the world, and this year will present 30–40 exceptional films across four inspiring days. Each screening is followed by lively Q&As with filmmakers or industry panels, while networking events—from the spirited Saturday night party to the exclusive Honored Guest reception—bring the community together. Attending directors enjoy complimentary accommodations, and all selected filmmakers receive screening fees and laurels in recognition of their achievements.

Important dates:
August 18, 2025 Opening Date
September 18, 2025 Short Film Early Bird Deadline
November 10, 2025 Short Film Regular Deadline
November 30, 2025 Short Film Late Deadline
December 29, 2025 Script Early Deadline
January 23, 2026 Script Regular Deadline
February 27, 2026 Notification Date