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Official International Beverly Hills Film Festival®

CALIFORNIA, United States

Festival overview

About Official International Beverly Hills Film Festival®

Physical film festival in CALIFORNIA, United States with submission categories including Student Screenplay and Screenplay Competition.

BHFF is dedicated to championing bold storytelling, elevating visionary filmmakers and screenwriters, and creating unforgettable moments at the intersection of art, culture, and industry. Set in the heart of one of the world’s most iconic cities, our mission is to spotlight powerful voices from around the globe—connecting them with influential leaders, creative collaborators, and new audiences.

We’re more than a festival; we’re a movement of creativit,opportunity, and impact. Through eight days of world-class screenings, industry panels, red carpet premieres, and glamorous celebrations, BHFF offers a launchpad for careers and a stage for stories that matter.

Join us and be part of the future of film—in Beverly Hills, where legends are honored and new voices rise. ABOUT THE FESTIVAL The Beverly Hills International Film Festival®️ is proud of its rich tradition of honoring the art of cinema.

From showcasing the first-ever film shot in Hollywood, In Old California by D.W. Griffith, to unveiling Federico Fellini’s final masterpiece, La Voce Della Luna (Towards the Moon with Fellini), starring Fellini himself and Roberto Benigni, the festival continues to celebrate both the greats of the past and the rising stars of the future.

Widely regarded as one of the most prestigious and exclusive film festivals in the world, the BHFF takes place in one of the most iconic cities globally—Beverly Hills. The BHFF serves as a dynamic bridge between world-class cinema and the distinguished Beverly Hills community, featuring exclusive screenings at renowned venues such as AMPAS, the Writers Guild Theater, and the TCL Chinese Theater.

In addition to screenings, the festival hosts expert panel discussions, workshops, and VIP theme parties. As we mark our 27th Anniversary, we invite filmmakers, screenwriters, and the broader Beverly Hills community to join us in celebrating the timeless beauty of film, art, and culture in this globally celebrated city.

Schedule

Important Dates

Call for Entries Opens
Jun 7, 2026
Final Submission Deadline
Jan 5, 2027
Notification Date
Jan 27, 2027
Festival Starts
Apr 11, 2027
Festival Ends
Apr 18, 2027
Eligibility

Rules & Eligibility

General Rules+
  1. All payments and fees for submissions must be paid through the Online submission process. The BHFF does not accept any mailed payments.

  2. There are absolutely NO refunds.

  3. There are NO refunds in case of a global pandemic or government-required event cancellation. The FETSHOME submission fee is a requirement for the selection of your film or screenplay either as an Official Selection OR as a declined project.

  4. The BHFF does not waive submission fees to preserve the integrity of the competition and its participants’ artistic works.

  5. FILM REQUIREMENTS: - The BHFF accepts films of all genres. - Feature films must have a running time of more than 40 minutes: narrative live-action, animated feature, or feature documentary. - Short films must have a running time of 40 minutes or less: live-action short, animated short, or documentary short. - The BHFF considers all films regardless of commercial, theatrical, or television plays in the US. - Prior festival screenings are considered.

  6. However, prior screenings are not preferred and may be one of the determining factors for including a film into the festi

Current Categories, Deadlines & Fees

Category

Student Screenplay

Listed fees include USD 25 early-bird, USD 30 regular, USD 35 late, and USD 40 extended.

Current FeeUSD 25.00Early
Category

Screenplay Competition

Great films start with exceptional screenplays. The BHFF selects feature-length or short-length screenplays for competition that will grab the reader and audience passionately and captivate them, whether the characters are likeable or not. Expert storytelling can include a number of aspects, such as: confidence, a distinctive voice, concise, yet descriptive language, well-developed characters, inspiration, conflict, romance, a mission, obstacles, drama, comedy, and the risk of loss. The BHFF looks for the heart of the story—the driving force, and it wants to see a screenplay that is concise, has cohesive and fluid dialogue, along with fundamental substance.

Current FeeUSD 30.00Early
Category

Student Film

Listed fees include USD 40 early-bird, USD 45 regular, USD 55 late, and USD 60 extended.

Current FeeUSD 40.00Early
Category

Animated Short

The BHFF recognizes unique story lines, imagination, and use of technique in short (39 minutes or less) and feature (40 minutes or more) entries. Animation submissions are eligible for all award categories, excluding Best Actor and Best Actress.

Current FeeUSD 40.00Early
RuntimeMaximum runtime: 39 minutes
Category

Animated Feature

The BHFF recognizes unique story lines, imagination, and use of technique in short (39 minutes or less) and feature (40 minutes or more) entries. Animation submissions are eligible for all award categories, excluding Best Actor and Best Actress.

Current FeeUSD 60.00Early
RuntimeMaximum runtime: 140 minutes
Category

Short Subject

Any film that is 1-39 minutes and 59 sec in duration is considered a short film.

Current FeeUSD 50.00Early
RuntimeMaximum runtime: 39 minutes
Category

Documentary Short

The BHFF recognizes U.S. and international documentary entries as shorts (39 minutes or less) and feature (40 minutes or more).

Current FeeUSD 50.00Early
RuntimeMaximum runtime: 39 minutes
Category

Documentary Feature

The BHFF recognizes U.S. and international documentary entries as shorts (39 minutes or less) and feature (40 minutes or more).

Current FeeUSD 60.00Early
RuntimeMaximum runtime: 140 minutes
Category

Feature

By BHFF standards, any narrative film that is 40 minutes and longer is considered a feature film. U.S. and/or international submissions may be from any genre. Narrative features in competition are eligible for all award categories, including the Golden Palm Award.

Current FeeUSD 60.00Early
RuntimeMaximum runtime: 140 minutes