Cinequest Film Festival
Where Film, Innovation and Technology Meet
Cinequest was voted Best Film Festival by USA Today readers and has established itself as one of the world's most influential destinations for filmmakers, innovators, media professionals and audiences.
A Festival Built for Filmmakers and Innovators
Cinequest programs approximately 85% to 90% of its festival from paid submissions annually, one of the highest percentages among the world's most influential film festivals.
Cinequest connects artists, innovators, media and audiences as people converge to experience a powerful mix of immersive stories from around the globe and breakthrough technologies.
Cinequest's stellar reputation rests not only on its ability to curate a compelling lineup, but also on its success in securing distribution for many of its honored filmmakers.
A Gateway to Distribution
Cinequest success stories have secured deals with some of the world's leading entertainment companies, including:
Cinequest has qualified 54 films for Academy Award consideration, resulting in multiple nominations and wins.
Best Short Narrative and Best Short Animation winners receive a chance at Academy Award® consideration.
A Vanguard for Film, Television and Emerging Technology
Cinequest is a vanguard festival for premiering and showcasing feature films, short films, television and innovative filmed media.
The festival showcases unique social and artistic visions from around the globe while creating opportunities for thought-provoking dialogue between filmmakers and audiences.
Cinequest also provides cutting-edge technology and filmmaking forums designed to empower professionals, students and emerging creators.
Silicon Valley Meets Cinema
Cinequest takes place in person in San Jose and Silicon Valley and globally through its proprietary virtual platform.
Located in the heart of the world's most influential media and technology ecosystem, Cinequest is surrounded by companies such as:
Apple • Nvidia • Zoom • Google • Meta • Netflix • LinkedIn • Cisco
Cinequest has led the world in showcasing and implementing technologies that have transformed filmmaking, exhibition and distribution.
The Maverick Awards
Cinequest's blend of artist and innovator is exemplified through its prestigious Maverick Awards.
Maverick Spirit Award
Honorees have included Harrison Ford, Nicolas Cage, Elle Fanning, J.J. Abrams, Tatiana Maslany, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Steve Zahn, Vivica A. Fox, Bill Nighy, Sir Ben Kingsley, Rosario Dawson, Spike Lee, Sam Neill, Eddie Izzard, Gemma Arterton, Neil Gaiman and Sir Ian McKellen.
Maverick Innovator Award
The award recognizes visionary technologists, including Martin Cooper, inventor of the cell phone, and Steve Wozniak, co-founder of Apple.
“This festival is one that sets the trends and is actually ahead of the trends. Other festivals are copying Cinequest.”
— Chris Gore, Ultimate Film Festival Survival Guide
“Being a part of Cinequest is not about following industry trends, but witnessing the moment they are set.”
— MovieMaker, Max Weinstein
Just a Few of the Big Films Programmed at Cinequest
- The Man Who Killed Don Quixote — Terry Gilliam, Adam Driver
- Hotel Mumbai — Anthony Maras, Dev Patel
- The Public — Emilio Estevez, Jena Malone
- Teen Spirit — Max Minghella, Elle Fanning
- Beirut — Brad Anderson, Rosamund Pike, Jon Hamm
- Borg/McEnroe — Janus Metz, Shia LaBeouf
- Krystal — William H. Macy, Nick Robinson, Rosario Dawson
- Submergence — Wim Wenders, James McAvoy
- What They Had — Hilary Swank, Michael Shannon
- The Humanity Bureau VR — Nicolas Cage
- Six Minutes to Midnight — Eddie Izzard, Judi Dench
- Rams — Jeremy Sims, Sam Neill, Miranda Richardson
World & U.S. Premieres That Received Distribution
- I Love You Both — Magnolia Pictures
- East Side Sushi — Sony Pictures
- This Is Not a War Story — HBO
- Push — IFC Films
- Auggie — Samuel Goldwyn Films
- Midnight Clear — Lionsgate
- Before the Fire — Showtime
- Beneath the Banyan Tree — Freestyle Digital
- Adventures in Success — Utopia Distribution
- Fixed — Gravitas Ventures
- Every Time I Die — Gravitas Ventures
- A Beginner's Guide to Snuff — Indican Pictures
- Dear Zachary — Oscilloscope Pictures
- Impossible Monsters — Gravitas Ventures
- Dependent's Day — Freestyle Digital
- Lost Solace — Raven Banner Entertainment
- Friends Effing Friends Effing Friends — Gravitas Ventures
- Search Engines — Indican Pictures
- ToY — Gravitas Ventures
- Wake — E1 Entertainment
- Blood Car — TLA Releasing
- Love in the Time of Monsters — Indican Pictures
- The Skeptic — IFC Films
- On the Doll — Peace Arch
- El Camino — Lifesize Entertainment
- Family Inc — Seventh Art Releasing
- Monster Camp — Lifesize Entertainment
- Critical Condition — PBS
- The Nature of Existence — Walking Shadows
- The Brainwashing of My Dad — Gravitas Ventures
- The Truth About Marriage — Gravitas Ventures
- God Knows Where I Am — BOND360
- Bel Borba Aqui — Oscilloscope
Awards & Prizes
Rules & Terms
Cinequest continues to discover and showcase hundreds of international films and filmmakers each year. The festival provides emerging creators with a powerful platform to gain recognition and launch successful distribution and promotional opportunities.
Festival Sections
A single submission to Cinequest qualifies your film for consideration across all applicable sections.
- Narrative & Documentary Feature Films: Submit to one feature category only. The programming team will place selected films in the most appropriate category.
- Narrative & Documentary Short Films: Submit to one short category. Films are considered across applicable categories.
- Television & Webisodes: Episodes and webisodes are accepted in both long-form and short-form formats.
- Music Videos: Eligible for the Music Video Competition.
- All films are eligible for Audience Awards.
- Works in progress are welcome.
Marketing & Publicity
Cinequest's marketing and publicity teams develop tailored promotional campaigns for selected films. Filmmakers must provide required materials by the January deadlines, including digital images, EPKs, a secure online screener for media access, trailers, film clips and additional promotional assets.
A detailed materials request will be provided upon selection.
Submission & Release Terms
If selected, filmmakers are responsible for shipping their film to Cinequest. Cinequest will cover return shipping. If the film is sent directly to another festival, that festival is responsible for onward shipping costs.
Cinequest is granted the right to use excerpts from accepted films for promotional purposes. By submitting, the filmmaker or rights holder confirms they have full authorization to enter the work and agrees to all applicable rules and terms.
The submitter also agrees to indemnify and hold Cinequest harmless from claims, liabilities, damages or expenses arising from matters including copyright, trademark, credits, publicity, screening or loss/damage of submitted materials.
Submit Your Film to Cinequest
Discover one of the world's leading film festivals and give your project the opportunity to reach filmmakers, audiences, media and industry professionals.
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