RISF is a screenwriting and short film festival where we celebrate storytelling and the people who create the stories. The festival is run by multi award-winning screenwriters and filmmakers who are constantly writing, producing and shooting. Their own films have screened and won awards at international film festivals such as Rhode Island and Newport Beach. They live, breathe and eat scripts and films.
A physical festival, it will be hosted within the 1960s architecture of Duke Street Church, with its recently renovated auditorium space, in the heart of the beautiful London Borough of Richmond-upon-Thames. The venue is just a five minute walk from the station and close neighbours to the stunning and iconic Richmond Theatre.
Run in association with multi award-winning production company Nine Yards Films.
The festival will take place on SATURDAY 16th NOVEMBER 2024, including curated SCREENINGS of our short film Official Selections. There will be plenty of networking, opportunities for photos and an Industry Q&A panel session with experienced professionals working in the world of screenwriting and filmmaking. (Panel guests will be announced nearer the time).
The festival will culminate in our AWARDS CEREMONY. We'll announce the Winners and Runners-Up in each category and present the RISF trophies and certificates for each category. The bar will be open and you can grab a drink and chat to fellow screenwriters, filmmakers and our industry guests.
Whether your work is bijou, epic, bittersweet, dark, horrific, hilarious, bizarre, uplifting or heart-stopping - whatever the vibe, whatever the genre, we can't wait to immerse ourselves in your stories.
We accept SHORT AND FEATURE LENGTH SCREENPLAYS
We accept SHORT FILMS, ANIMATIONS, MUSIC VIDEOS and DANCE FILMS (please check run times in the submissions details)
Awards will be given for each category listed below.
A trophy will be awarded to the winner of each category and a certificate to the Runner-Up.
Official Selection, Award Nominee and Award Winner laurels will be given.
SHORT & FEATURE SCREENPLAYS
Every screenplay that is officially selected for the festival will automatically be considered for the relevant award category. Our custom OFFICIAL SELECTION laurel will be available to all successful submissions for download.
We will notify all submissions by the Notification date but we will also notify earlier than this in many cases.
Award Nominees will be curated from our Official Selections and each nominee will be notified after submissions have closed.
AWARDS:
BEST SCREENPLAY OF THE FESTIVAL - overall best script across every category
Winner Trophy, Runner-up certificate
BEST FEATURE HORROR/THRILLER SCREENPLAY - minimum 60 pages
Winner Trophy, Runner-Up certificate
BEST FEATURE COMEDY/ROM COM SCREENPLAY - minimum 60 pages
Winner Trophy, Runner-Up certificate
BEST FEATURE DRAMA SCREENPLAY - minimum 60 pages
Winner Trophy, Runner-Up certificate
BEST UK SHORT SCREENPLAY - maximum 15 pages
Winner Trophy, Runner-Up certificate
BEST INTERNATIONAL SHORT SCREENPLAY - maximum 15 pages
Winner Trophy, Runner-Up certificate
BEST SHORT SHORT SCREENPLAY - maximum 3 pages
Winner Trophy, Runner-Up certificate
BEST SHORT HORROR SCREENPLAY - maximum 15 pages
Winner Trophy, Runner-Up certificate
BEST SHORT COMEDY SCREENPLAY - maximum 15 pages
Winner Trophy, Runner-Up certificate
BEST SHORT DRAMA SCREENPLAY - maximum 15 pages
Winner Trophy, Runner-Up certificate
NARRATIVE SHORT FILMS, ANIMATIONS & DANCE/MUSIC FILMS
Every film that is officially selected for the festival will automatically be considered for the relevant award category. Our custom OFFICIAL SELECTION laurel will be available to all successful submissions for download.
We will notify all submissions by the Notification date but we will also notify earlier than this in many cases.
Award Nominees will be curated from our Official Selections and each nominee will be notified after submissions have closed.
AWARDS:
BEST SHORT FILM - Winner Trophy, Runner-up certificate
BEST ANIMATION - Winner Trophy, Runner-Up certificate
BEST DANCE or MUSIC FILM - Winner Trophy, Runner-Up certificate
BEST DIRECTOR - Winner Trophy, Runner-Up certificate
BEST WRITER - Winner Trophy, Runner-Up certificate
BEST ACTOR - Winner Trophy, Runner-Up certificate
BEST ACTRESS - Winner Trophy, Runner-Up certificate
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY - Winner Trophy, Runner-Up certificate
BEST EDITING - Winner Trophy, Runner-Up certificate
BEST ORIGINAL SCORE - Winner Trophy, Runner-Up certificate
BEST MAKEUP - Winner Trophy, Runner-Up Certificate
BEST COSTUME - Winner Trophy, Runner-Up Certificate