With the influx of new technology over the past 10 years, it’s not surprising that some of the most innovative storytelling now resides in the digital space. Jump online and browse over to one of thousands of content-sharing platforms and you’ll find that impactful, entertaining series don’t always equate to big budget or hour-long productions. Going into its fourth year, SeriesFest’s Digital Short Series Competition has discovered and honored exciting new digital short series that have gone on to major streaming platforms.
SUBMISSIONS
Submissions for SeriesFest: Season 8 open on September 21st. Please carefully review the deadlines, material requirements and guidelines listed below and on our FilmFreeway page. Fill out your applications and get your projects end before the final deadline. Got questions? Check out our Submission FAQs or email us at info@seriesfest.com.
OFFICIAL SELECTIONS
Once submissions are closed, our team of our team of experienced producers, writers, programmers and filmmakers carefully reviews each application and pilot to narrow it down to a select group of comedies, dramas, and unscripted series representing the highest reviewed submissions in each category. Official Selections to be screened at SeriesFest: Season 7. Official Selections are determined on the basis of the following elements:
- Originality and creativity
- Overall quality of all elements & aspects of the production of each entry, including, without limitation, writing, acting, directing, editing, etc.
- Adherence to and appropriateness for a particular format or type of program
- The ability to develop story through a first season and thorough drafting of the arc.
WINNERS & PRIZES
Official Selections are up for the following awards:
- Best of Digital Short Series
- Best Actor
- Best Actress
- Best Director
- Best Writer
- Audience Award
Winners will be determined by a jury of high profile industry and talent during the annual festival and recognized with an award at our Awards Ceremony, included in our media announcement and showcased on our website. Past jurors include David Person (IFC), Liz Shannon Miller (Collider), Kuye Youngblood (BricTV), Jose Acevedo (Comedy Central), Brian Newman (Sub-Genre). Scroll down to see the complete list of last year’s jurors and winners. Pilots in this competition are also eligible for the Level Forward Diversity Award.
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Key Dates and Fees
|
Earlybird Deadline Nov 11, 2021 |
Regular Deadline Jan 27, 2022 |
Final Deadline Mar 03, 2022 |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | $50 | $70 | $100 |
| FilmFreeway Gold Member | $40 | $55 | $85 |
| Student | $30 | $35 | $45 |
Entry Materials
Produced Pilot
Submitted via FilmFreeway's Secure Online Screener system. Each episode must be under 15 minutes. Creators are encouraged to submit multiple episodes totaling 20 minutes of run time. Foreign production is eligible.
Series Format Deck
All submissions must also include a Series Format Deck to be uploaded to the application page under “Files & Attachments."
An effective Series Format Deck introduces your project in a visually exciting and emotionally powerful way. It captures the reader’s imagination, allowing them to see the full scope of the series and embrace the characters.
The Series Format Deck should be no longer than 15 pages and include the following:
- Log Line
- Pilot Synopsis
- Season One Outline
- Main Character Descriptions (Up to 5)
- Tone of your series (can include no more than 2 comps)
- Producing Team
- Key Creatives
- Goals for your Series
- A Creator Statement which includes Why This Idea, Why Me, and Why Now?
Entry Fee
See fee schedule above for details.
Press Kit Material
Any available press kit material.
Need more info?
View Submission FAQs