Filmmakers Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: "I'm new to film festivals. What's all this talk about 'without a box'?"
A: WithoutABox is an international film festival submission system. There are approximately 65,000 member filmmakers and hundreds of partner film festivals. On October 14, SSFF became an official partner festival to 'WAB'. The system helps us all to efficiently connect with one another -- helping filmmakers find festivals to screen at, helping festivals to keep all the entries organized, and making all of our lives easier. After talking with other festivals and many of our filmmakers, we decided that now is the time to start using this service. We're very excited about it and if you're not a member, we encourage you to check it out! But, if you don't want to enter through Withoutabox, download entry form.

Q: "Why does your festival have an entry fee?"
A: "Unfortunately it is a necessity. As artists and festival runners, we understand the issue from both sides. Our solution is this: make the entry fee as low as possible; provide as many incentives as possible to far outweigh the cost of submission; and honor those selected filmmakers with a free submission into any subsequent festival (could be next year, could be 10 years from now). You get one waiver per year regardless of how many films screen at one year's festival. If you continue to produce films of great quality, you will never have to pay us again!"

Q: "Can't you waive the entry fee for me?"
A: "No"
Q: "Why not?"
A: "If we do it for one of you, we're going to do it for all of you"

Q: "How are films selected as 'Invitational Films'?"
A: "These are films that come highly recommended from one or more of our Jury members that was seen at another festival. We do, from time to time, ask for screener copies from filmmakers with interesting looking films that none of us have seen. In the past we've even selected one of our juried films (an entry fee paying submission) to be an invitational film and paid them money! Once we have screened the film, a collective decision will be made to Invite the film to screen at the festival."

Q: "Do you pay screening fees?"
A: "Yes, but only for Guest filmmakers and Invitational films"

Q: "Why do I need to send 2 copies of the preview submission?"
A: "Because there are 12 jurors and 6 weeks to watch all the submissions (most of us working 2 jobs, not to mention time for family)! By having two copies it allows for your film to be viewed more efficiently by the jury. In addition, should one of the submission copies malfunction (bad transfer, whatever) we have a backup and you won't have to go through the hassle of sending us another copy."

Q: "Will you send back my films if not selected?"
A: "If you sent us a Self-Addressed Stamped Envelope (SASE) -- one that actually you can fit the films inside of (this is no joke, it happens!) -- then we will return your films to you."