GIFF 2025 Will Be Held in September 2025 in Glendale, CA
GLENDALE—On the heels of a successful 10th edition run, the Glendale International Film Festival is now accepting film and screenplay submissions for its 2025 season. Each year, GIFF brings together diverse voices from around the globe, championing independent storytellers who push the boundaries of cinema.
Presented and produced by non-profit Glendale Arts, GIFF 2025 will be held in person from September 25 to 30, 2025, just minutes from Hollywood in its namesake Glendale, CA, Los Angeles County’s fourth largest city.
GIFF accepts films and screenplays in 22 categories: Feature Film, International Feature, Documentary Feature, Animation Feature, Horror/Thriller Feature, Glendale Film – Feature & Short, Female Filmmaker – Feature & Short, Experimental Film – Feature & Short, Drama Short, Comedy Short, Dramedy Short, International Short, Documentary Short, Animation Short, Horror/Thriller Short, Short Short, Web Series/New Media, Music Video, Feature Screenplay, Short Screenplay, Student Film – Feature & Short, Student Screenplay – Feature & Short. Projects can be submitted via FilmFreeway until the final deadline on July 11, 2025.
The Glendale International Film Festival is a dynamic celebration of the cinematic arts, providing a welcoming environment and artist-friendly platform for local-to-global creatives to showcase their talents on the silver screen. A rich lineup of selected films is screened during the festival at the Glendale location of filmmaker-favorite Laemmle Theatres, accompanied by thought-provoking and informative panels, vibrant and fun-filled special events, and networking opportunities centered around building connections and fostering collaboration among filmmakers, industry professionals, and cinephiles.
This past September, GIFF marked a decade of spotlighting artistic achievement and cinematic excellence during the festival’s 10th edition. A golden hour Opening Night Party at the stunning Mya Rooftop at The Glenmark ushered in six days of robust programming and events.
- A slate of 31 programs featuring screenings of 90 feature-length and short films and 21 post-screening Q&As delighted and captivated the audience.
- A festival lounge, staged at Glendale Arts-run ace/121 Gallery, was activated as a hub for networking opportunities, including a Happy Hour, generously catered by Carousel Restaurant, and a pair of high-profile panel discussions:
“Made in California,” which explored efforts being made for California to reclaim the state’s status as a premier filming destination amidst the unprecedented challenges facing the entertainment industry.
“Shaping Reality: The Future of Documentary, Democracy, and the Human Story,” which examined the evolving role of documentaries as tools for social justice, their potential to influence democratic processes, and the ways in which they can bridge cultural divides. The featured panelists were Astral Finnie, a Peabody Award winning executive producer and showrunner (“United Shades of America with W. Kamau Bell,” “Surviving R. Kelly”) and Oscar, Emmy-nominated and Peabody Award-winning director, writer, and producer Laura Nix.
- Capping off the competition, the filmmakers and screenwriters were feted at the elegant Glen Arden Club on Awards Night, where winners in 18 categories were announced during a ceremony emceed by three-time Emmy Award winning improv actor/host and feature film screenwriter/producer Mark DeCarlo.
- Rounding out the fest was a series of screenings of the 2024 Academy Award winning documentary “The Last Repair Shop.” Through the generous support of the Glendale Arts & Culture Commission, 149 students had the opportunity to attend daytime screenings free of charge, followed by a VIP closing night screening and Q&A with Director/Composer Kris Bowers and cast members, moderated by KUSC Morning Show Host Jennifer Miller Hammer.
The Glendale International Film Festival is a celebration of storytelling and the cinematic arts – spotlighting the powerful medium of film, the creative artists who make them, and the tradition of moviegoing – presented and produced by Glendale Arts. Launched in 2014, GIFF is based in Glendale, CA and has been ranked in the Top 100 Best Reviewed Festivals in the World on FilmFreeway. The multi-day festival features in-competition screenings, Q&As, panels, and special programs at the iconic Laemmle Theatres; a film, screenplay, and student competition and awards ceremony; and networking opportunities with industry professionals. Find out more by visiting the website or @GlendaleIFF on Facebook, Instagram, and X.
Glendale Arts (GA) is an award-winning 501(c)3 non-profit organization that generates opportunities throughout greater Los Angeles to showcase, promote, encourage, and engage with the arts. Founded in 2008, GA delivers dynamic arts and entertainment programming through signature programs such as the Glendale International Film Festival and Solo Fest; operates and programs ace/121 Gallery, a multidisciplinary venue in Glendale, CA; and drives engagement through its membership program, SCENE. Find out more at online or @GlendaleArtsCA on Facebook, Instagram, and X.
