Submissions for NFF®30 open September 19th.
For more details on how to submit your film or screenplay, please see below.
Submit your film.
Over the past 29 years, NFF has helped give life to thousands of stories … and story matters more than ever right now. As our world and community work to make sense of, rebuild, and transform how we create and express ourselves, NFF is committed to giving filmmakers, writers, and storytellers an avenue to showcase their work and help them transform this incredibly difficult experience into beauty and meaning.
2025 Deadlines and Fees
DEADLINE
Early Deadline: November 7
Regular Deadline: January 9
Final Deadline: February 13
Extended Deadline: March 6
Features: Narrative, Documentary, and Animated
$30
$50
$75
$90
Shorts: Narrative, Documentary, and Animated
$20
$40
$65
$80
Film Submission Rules and FAQs
We no longer accept DVD submissions. All film submissions must provide either a Vimeo link (preferred) or upload a FFW Secure Online Screener as part of their submission via Film Freeway. If you have any questions, please e-mail submissions@nantucketfilmfestival.org.
Film submissions should be uploaded or link sent via e-mail by the stated deadlines and be accompanied by the corresponding fee.
We accept both domestic and international features and shorts (narratives, documentaries, animated works) from every genre and budget, always selected with an eye towards storytelling.
We strongly encourage film submissions to provide a Vimeo link to their work. Films may also be submitted as a FFW Online Secure Screener.
Films’ exhibition format should be DCP. We do NOT screen films on DVD or Blu-ray.
Works must be available for exhibition on DCP;
Films must have a composite optical sound;
Entries must be post-marked by the deadline date;
Films must be in English or include English subtitles;
Films must be completed after March 1, 2024;
NFF will only consider previously submitted films if the new version has changed significantly. Do not send the same cut—the film should be a distinct reworking of the previously submitted version. If you are in doubt, it probably hasn’t changed enough;
Feature films may not have been released theatrically, appeared online, or aired on television in the U.S. prior to the festival;
Short films may not have been released theatrically or on television in the U.S. prior to the festival. If the film has screened online, the filmmaker is required to include this information in the film’s submission materials.
For issues related to Film Freeway’s website, please contact their webmaster directly.
Yes, you may submit a work-in-progress for programming consideration as long as the film will be completed by June 1, 2025. If you are submitting a work-in-progress, your screener must be clearly marked as a work-in-progress or rough cut. It’s also a good idea to include an initial card on your screener with concise bullet points indicating what is not complete (ie, no color correction, temp sound mix, etc).
No, only one cut of a film may be considered—replacement cuts are not accepted—so please keep this in mind when deciding when to submit. The only way we can accept a new revised version of your film is if you re-submit it using a new entry form and pay the corresponding entry fee.
You can submit as many films as you want as long as each of them is accompanied by its respective entry form and fee.
Yes, as long as the film is in English or includes English subtitles.
You can pay the submission fee with a money order in U.S. dollars payable to the Nantucket Film Festival.
Films must be 40 minutes or shorter to be considered a short film. Films of 41 minutes or more are considered feature-length.
The Festival does not send email confirmations for submissions made through www.filmfreeway.com. Film Freeway handles all email confirmations processed through their site. You can verify the status of your submission by checking the Film Freeway website. If you submitted your film by email rather than via FFW and have not received a confirmation, please send us a note inquiring about it at submissions@nantucketfilmfestival.org.
We receive between 600-800 submissions per year.
Notifications will be sent by early May by e-mail only.
We will need almost immediately your film’s press kit materials which include at least some production stills, a short synopsis, and filmmaker bios.
For additional questions regarding submission and other general inquiries, please e-mail submissions@nantucketfilmfestival.org.
Want to submit a screenplay?
Over the past 29 years, NFF has helped give life to thousands of stories … and story matters more than ever right now. As our world and community work to make sense of, rebuild, and transform how we create and express ourselves, NFF is committed to giving filmmakers, writers, and storytellers an avenue to showcase their work and help them transform this incredibly difficult experience into beauty and meaning.
2025 Deadlines and Fees
DEADLINE
Early Deadline: November 7
Regular Deadline: January 9
Final Deadline: February 13
Extended Deadline: March 6
Feature Screenplay
$45
$60
$80
$95
Episodic Screenplay (60 min)
$35
$50
$70
$85
Episodic Screenplay (30 min)
$25
$40
$60
$75
Short Screenplay
$25
$40
$60
$75
Script Analysis Option
We also offer the opportunity to learn what does and doesn’t work on your project before your screenplay reaches the executive’s desk. Our analysis is meant to be constructive and help you improve your script. Contrary to internal “coverage” designed to save time for film executives, our script analysis is envisioned with the writer in mind.
Nantucket Film Festival Script Analysis includes:
A well crafted log-line you will be able to use to describe your story;
Genre suggestion;
Scores on the critical elements of the script: story structure, plot development, character development, dialogue, marketability, and originality;
Critical evaluation on the elements of the script: story structure, plot development, character development, dialogue, marketability, and originality (2 pages).
We offer the Script Analysis option with our Feature Screenplay Competition, through March 11. The submission fee includes entry into Competition plus analysis.
Tony Cox Screenplay Competitions Rules and Submission FAQs
Yes, scripts should be uploaded via filmfreeway.com, coverfly.com, or e-mailed in PDF form by the stated deadlines and be accompanied by the corresponding fee.
We accept feature film, short film, and original episodic scripts of any genre and budget. We do NOT accept scripts for documentary films or “reality TV”. We ONLY accept original pilot (first episode) submissions for television scripts in either 30 Min format or 60 Min format.
Yes! All 60 Min and 30 Min Episodic submissions MUST INCLUDE a series and/or season synopsis. One paragraph total summary is preferred; one-page total summary is the maximum. Please attach this synopsis to the script PDF; do not upload/send separate documents.
We only accept electronic scripts in PDF or Word document form. We do NOT accept hard copies of scripts.
Feature screenplays must be standard feature-length (80-125 pages). Short screenplays must be no more than 40 pages in length (1-40 pages). Episodic pilot screenplays must be original and standard television length, 25-42 pages for a half-hour-long show and 45-62 pages for an hour-long show. We do not accept spec scripts or spinoffs of existing shows. We do not accept scripts for “reality TV” shows.
Screenplays must be standard U.S. format only;
Screenplays may not have been produced;
Screenplays must be in English;
Screenplays must be completed by the entry deadline;
Screenplays must include a title page without the applicant’s name.
No, we do not accept replacement copies of a script. The only way we can accept a new revised version of your script is if you re-submit it using a new entry form and paying the corresponding entry fee.
While copyright is not mandatory for submitted scripts, we very strongly encourage our writers to copyright their work. We also strongly suggest you register your work with the Writers Guild of America. Visit www.wgawregistry.org for information on how to do so.
No, you will not be disqualified, but a $1 per page fee applies for feature scripts over 125 pages, short screenplays over 40 pages, 30 Min screenplays over 42 pages, and 60 Min screenplays over 62 pages. Please be proactive and mail the check for the additional amount when you submit your screenplay. Otherwise, our programming team will follow up with all screenwriters who submit works longer than the standard length for payment.
You can submit as many scripts as you want as long as each of them is accompanied by its respective entry form and fee.
You may only re-submit your script if significant changes have been made. We do not consider the same script twice.
Yes, we do accept adaptations. Make sure you have the rights to adapt the original material and all legal issues are settled before submitting. Our programming team will ask for official documentation to rights for all top ten semi-finalists.
Yes, we do accept collaborations, but please note that NFF will only provide a single check made out to one writer to divide as appropriate. Also, note that there is only a single space provided in the Almanack Screenwriters October retreat for the winner of the Feature Screenplay Competition; collaborators will have to determine amongst themselves which single person will attend the Colony.
Yes, as long as the script is submitted in English. You can pay the submission fee with a money order in U.S. dollars payable to The Nantucket Film Festival.
For technical issues with either Coverfly or FilmFreeway, please contact their support directly. Please note that NFF only accepts submissions via these two platforms. If you are worried about meeting a submission deadline and are having issues with the submission platform, email us at submissions@nantucketfilmfestival.org so that we are aware of your problem.
The Festival does not send email confirmations for scripts submitted through www.filmfreeway.com or www.coverfly.com. Filmfreeway.com or coverfly.com handles all email confirmations processed through their site. You can verify the status of your submission by checking the Coverfly or Film Freeway website. If you submitted your script by email and have not received a confirmation, please send us a note inquiring about it at submissions@nantucketfilmfestival.org.
In order to receive notes on your script, you must select the Script Analysis Option when filling in your application. Script Analysis Option is only available for Feature Screenplay Competition submissions. See our Script Analysis page for more details.
We receive around 500 screenplay submissions per year for our feature film competition, and between 100-200 submissions for the other competitions.
Notifications will be sent before or by mid-May by e-mail only. Winners will be announced publicly during the Award Ceremony at the Nantucket Film Festival.
For our Feature Screenplay competition, we will announce ten semi-finalists. From the semi-finalists, we will announce three finalists to be read by the Feature Screenplay jury. The jury will award one winner from the three finalists. For our Episodic Screenplay (60 Min), Episodic Screenplay (30 Min), and Short Screenplay competitions, we will announce three finalists each, with the corresponding jury awarding one winner per competition from the three finalists.
You will retain the rights to the script whatever the outcome of the competition.
Yes, it is expected that the winner of the Feature Screenplay Competition will attend the Almanack Screenwriters Retreat on Nantucket for the month of October. More information about Almanack Screenwriters can be found here.
For additional questions regarding submission and other general inquiries, please e-mail submissions@nantucketfilmfestival.org.
