Submissions for Amazing Fantasy Fest 2027 will open soon on FilmFreeway. All Film and Unproduced Screenplay submissions must be submitted through FilmFreeway. We only accept online screeners and digital scripts. 

For the third consecutive year we are lowering our submission fees!  With the economy in its present shape, we are trying to help independent filmmakers. We will not grant waivers. We will not respond to requsts for waivers. Most waiver requests come from filmmakers who haven't even read our guidelines.

This year our venue will screen everything from DCP file. If selected, we require exhibition copies of films in DCP file format or MP4 format, h264 pullown, no greater than 1080p, which the theatre will convert to DCP. These are the ONLY TWO file types we'll accept.  

We do not accept Unproduced Screenplays written using genrative A.I. or films written with A.I. or using A.I. tocreate or enhance images. In short, we do not want films using A.i. in any manner whatsoever. We do not want A.I. slop.

Beginning this year, all Unproduced Screenplay submissions must be submitted with the name of the screenwriter, the location of the screenwriter, and the contact information for the screenwriter removed from the title page. 

Please note: Our only student film category is only for films produced in Western New York. All other student films should be submitted in regular non-student categories.  Empire State Film Festival accepts student film submissions from across New York State.

Territories: United States & Canada, International, Western New York.

DEADLINES FOR AFF 2027

Prehistoric: 11/09/26

Early Bird: 12/31/26

Regular: 2/14/27

Late: 4/01/27

Extended: 5/15/27

Post Apocalyptic: 7/01/27

Selections announced on 7/08/27

SUBMISSION FEES

WNY Student Films 

Produced in Western New York by stuents in Western New York!                                              

Prehistoric: $8

Early Bird: $12

Regular: $16

Late: $20

Extended: $24

Post Apocalyptic: $28

Micro Shorts  1:01 - 7 mins

Prehistoric: $8

Early Bird: $12

Regular: $16

Late: $20

Extended: $24

Post Apocalyptic: $28

Shorts  8 - 39 mins                                                               

Prehistoric: $10

Early Bird: $15

Regular : $20

Late $25

Extended $30

Post Apocalyptic: $35

                                                   Features  40 – 120 mins                                                   

Prehistoric: $25

Early Bird: $35

Regular :$45

Late: $55

Extended: $65

Post Apocalyptic: $75

Unproduced Short Screenplays  1 - 65 pages

Prehistoric: $20

Earlybird $25

Regular $30

Late $35

Extended $40

Post Apocalyptic: 45

Unproduced Feature Screenplays  80- 120 pages

Prehistoric: $25

Early Bird : $35

Regular :$45

Late: $55

Extended: $65

Post Apocalyptic:  $75