Sundial Film Festival

Overview

The Sundial Film Festival is a well-established film festival, now in its 18th year, dedicated to showcasing excellent filmmaking regardless of the filmmaker's background. It aims to serve as a launchpad for undiscovered artists by focusing its programming on truly exceptional work. The festival will take place on February 27th, 2027, at the historic Cascade Theatre in downtown Redding, California. It features a full range of films during matinee and evening showings, managed by local filmmakers with a focus on supporting their peers. In addition to the main screenings, selected filmmakers are invited to a pre-party on the evening of February 26th, 2027, providing an opportunity to network and celebrate with other participating artists. The festival has a history of showcasing early work from filmmakers who have gone on to successful careers in the industry. Filmmakers, whether recent graduates or industry professionals, are invited to submit their work and participate in a weekend of cinema within the Northern California artistic community.

What to build

Submit a film, short script, or treatment for consideration across various categories including narrative, documentary, comedy, sci-fi/fantasy, outdoor/adventure, indigenous, music video, experimental, animated, web series/episodic/new media, first-time filmmaker, student film, budget film (under $500), children's short, local filmmaker, locally filmed, and commercial/advertising.

Prizes

Key dates

• Pre-PartyFebruary 26, 2027
• Festival ShowingsFebruary 27, 2027
• Public availability of film online after festivalAfter February 27, 2027

Eligibility

Submissions must be accompanied by a paid submission fee and a working screener. Films must not have been submitted to any other festivals prior to January 1, 2026. While films available online may be submitted, if selected, they must be made private and no additional public links can be available online. Foreign language films must include English subtitles. For the 'Locally Filmed' category, over 50% of the film must have been filmed in Northern California counties (Shasta, Tehama, Trinity, Del Norte, Humboldt, Modoc, Lassen, Mendocino, Glenn, Butte, Plumas, Sierra, Nevada, Yuba, Sutter, Colusa, & Lake). For the 'Local Filmmaker' category, the director or over 50% of the crew must currently reside in these same Northern California counties.

How to enter

1. Review all submission categories carefully.
2. Pay the appropriate submission fee for each category the film is entered into.
3. Provide a working screener of the film.
4. Ensure all foreign-language films have English subtitles.
5. Submit by the final deadline, ensuring all submission elements are complete (11:59pm local Pacific Standard Time).
6. If selected, provide television-ready media clips by the requested date.

Submission requirements

• Submission fee paid in full for each category entered.
• Working screener (video file or link).
• Screener password (if applicable and correct).
• English subtitles for all foreign-language films.
• Screener must have no major issues with audio, image, or features that prevent proper judging.
• If selected, films must be delivered in the format requested by the festival deadline.
• If selected, television-ready media clips of the film must be provided if requested.

Judging criteria

• Films will be judged based on excellence in filmmaking, regardless of filmmaker's education, pedigree, or industry relationships.
• The 'Best of Festival' award is determined by a carefully selected panel of judges.
• The 'People's Choice' award is determined by votes from the live audience.
• The Sundial Film Festival and its judges reserve the right to not make an official selection in any category if submissions do not meet the standard of excellence.

Resources

• Sundial Film Festival Official Page
• Contact Email