Sherwood Players is a community driven entertainment collective based in Los Angeles, CA. Starting summer of 2024, we will be accepting short films for our 4th annual international film festival with strong visions from any part of the world. Open to any country, any genre, any year, just as long as it is 20 minutes or less!

All WINNERS are promoted through our social media and website. For this purpose, we require that projects are fully entered on FilmFreeway, including synopsis, and downloadable poster, and trailer.

All NOMINATED films will receive the Sherwood Players International Film Festival official laurel and the custom certificate of achievement according to their final status in the competition.

All FINALISTS will be invited to have their film screened at our LIVE in-person festival and awards ceremony happening in Hollywood, CA mid December.

2023 WINNERS
BEST TRAILER OR SIZZLE-REEL -- "Trayizon" [US]
BEST MUSIC VIDEO -- "Recall" [Slovakia]
BEST DOCUMENTARY SHORT -- "Sarnevesht" [Iran]
BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY -- Mahsa Talebi, Amirhossein Hatami "Somewhere to Stay" [Iran]
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY -- Akin Bagcilar "Resurrection Under the Ocean" [Turkey]
BEST SPECIAL EFFECTS -- Keoni Maemori, Jess Bryden "Mando Merc Five-0" [US]
BEST EDITING -- Joseph Comar, Mona-Lise Lanfant "Fatih the Conqueror" [Turkey]
BEST ENSEMBLE -- Mahendra Shrivas, Poonam Khandare, Varsha Rathore, Priyansi Palav "I Am Not Down" [India]
BEST LEAD ACTOR -- Jaemes Peter Churchward "Undertow" [New Zealand]
BEST LEAD ACTRESS -- Daphne Lianaki "Porfyri Lemonia" [Greece]
BEST DIRECTOR -- Kiarash Bokaeyan "Varanus" [Iran]
BEST COMEDY SHORT -- "Good Business Sense" [US]
BEST DRAMA SHORT -- "Varanus" [Iran]
BEST US SHORT FILM -- "Terms and Conditions" [US]
BEST INTERNATIONAL SHORT -- "Fatih the Conqueror" [Turkey]
AUDIENCE AWARD RUNNER UP -- "Terms and Conditions" [US]
AUDIENCE AWARD RUNNER UP -- "Sarnevesht" [Iran]
AUDIENCE AWARD -- "To the Moon" [US]

Please read all rules and requirements before submitting your project:

The Sherwood Players International Film Festival accepts all forms and genres for shorts and music videos 3 - 20 minutes. All films must be in English or have English subtitles. Multiple entries are allowed for each filmmaker, and each entry may be entered in multiple categories. Films can only be judged in categories for which they are submitted.

Submissions must be an original work of the applicant’s team and not based, in whole or part, on another author’s work (unless underlying material is in public domain). You agree that you will not submit any content that is libelous, defamatory, obscene, pornographic, sexually, racially, culturally or ethnically offensive, harassing, intimidating, threatening, hateful, discriminatory, or abusive.

By submitting your film, you allow Sherwood Players International Film Festival to use parts of your film (including trailer/teaser/film poster/stills) for promotional purpose. A short synopsis and digital still photo is required for all entries (except music videos) for the jury, and for our website announcements should you win.

Entry does not guarantee acceptance into the festival. No premiere status is required. Rough cuts and incomplete projects are not accepted.

We reserve the right, at any time, without notice and without limiting any and all other rights we may have under these Rules & Regulations, at law or in equity, to remove and delete your entry to the festival.

You agree to indemnify and hold harmless the Sherwood Players International Film Festival, its management, juries, subsidiaries, agents, sponsors, affiliates, and etc. from and against any and all claims, liabilities, losses, damages, and expenses (including but not limited to attorney's fees, and costs of the court) which may be incurred by reason of any claim involving copyright, trademark, credits, publicity, screening, and loss of or damage to the screening videos entered.

Entry fees are non-refundable.

Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • varanus shortfilm

    I thank the good team of the festival. I am happy that my film won an award in this festival.

    January 2024
  • Aaron Falvey

    One of the best festival experiences I’ve EVER had. I highly recommend this festival to others! Thanks for our nomination and award!

    December 2023
  • A good festival with careful planning and a professional team

    December 2023
  • KUMAR GAUTAM

    One of the best festivals on the scene today. The festival is very immaculate with planning and create a great show. I congratulate, Matt Weinglass, festival Director and the entire team for organizing a festival of top global standards.

    December 2023
  • An extraordinary festival that I am very happy to have had the honor of participating in. Thanks for the Best Original Screenplay award for the film ''Somewhere to Stay''

    December 2023