SUBMISSIONS ARE OPEN for the 28th UNAFF, which will run from October 16-26, 2025 in Palo Alto, East Palo Alto, San Francisco and Stanford University.

In its enduring advocacy for the Universal Declaration of Human Rights UNAFF celebrates the power of international documentary films dealing with the environment, refugees, famine, homelessness, racism, disease control, women's issues, children, universal education, war and peace and other topics mentioned in the UDHR.

This year’s theme, MESSAGES FOR THE FUTURE, continues our devotion to human rights with an emphasis on our concerns of what lies ahead and the imprint that we will leave behind.

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES:

• Documentaries only and absolutely no films that are available online for free before the end of the festival (10/26/2025)
• No production year limit
• No runtime limit – UNAFF accepts both shorts and longs
• Rough-cuts or works-in-progress accepted, but please submit as close to the final cut as possible. UNAFF cannot accept updated versions of a film less than 10 days before the start of the festival

Submission formats:
• -enabled online link with a valid until June 30, 2025. Please email online link and with attached signed submission form to [email protected]
• Blu-ray region 0 or 1 (see mailing address below)
• USB flash drive

The language of the festival jury and audience is English, so if your film is in a different language, please translate the title and submit an English subtitled version, or send us an English SRT file.

SUBMISSION PROCESS:

Filmfreeway.com

or

Email us a able link directly to [email protected], or send in your disc/flash drive to our mailing address below. CLICK HERE TO ENTRY FORM, which must be filled out, signed and sent with all direct submissions, either printed and included in your package, or as an attachment with your able link.

ENTRY FEES:

• $35 for films up to 30 minutes (late deadline $45)

• $45 for films longer than 30 minutes (late deadline $55)

 

Please send check or money order payable to UNAFF, or via PayPal 

(please use [email protected]) and don't forget to quote the title of the film.

 

SUBMISSION DEADLINE:

• Early Deadline – May 5, 2025 

• Regular Deadline – May 15, 2025* 

• Late deadline – May 25, 2025*

(*Postmarked)


MAILING ADDRESS:

Please submit screener and payment (if paying via check or money order) to:

UNAFF
P. O. Box 19369
Stanford, CA 94309
U.S.A.

AWARDS include a CASH prize

All entries will be reviewed by our 30-member jury, which will determine these award winners:

• UNAFF Grand Jury Award for Best Documentary ($2,000)

• UNAFF Grand Jury Award for Best Short Documentary ($1,000)

• UNAFF Award for Best Cinematography ($500)

• UNAFF Award for Best Editing ($500)

• UNAFF Youth Vision Award ($500)

UNAFF provides filmmakers with credentials, guest festival es and some assistance with lodging and airfare. In addition to screenings, UNAFF provides filmmakers the opportunity to present their work through discussions and Q&As and to meet distributors and leaders of community organizations.

Questions or comments: Email [email protected] or call (650) 724-5544