Looking for an international film festival that celebrates Caribbean Diaspora and Caribbean filmmakers?

Entering its 3rd year, Conch Shell International Film Fest (CSIFF) will be taking place in October 10-13, 2024 at Regal UA Midway (Industry Sponsor) in Forest Hills in Queens, New York and virtually on Filmocracy.com (Industry Sponsor).

CSIFF ‘24 is a competitive festival featuring short films written by indie and student Caribbean and Caribbean Diaspora talent and established filmmakers. Films invited to participate in the 2024 Conch Shell International Film Fest will be shown in a time slot determined appropriate by Festival organizers.

SUBMISSION CATEGORIES

SHORT FILMS
Eligible projects include short films (runtime < 40 minutes); including documentaries, narratives, animation, experimental films, web series and pilots.

UNPRODUCED SCRIPTS
Eligible submissions include feature scripts and episodic (length <90 pages). Any genre.

OUR MISSION
Conch Shell International Film Fest was founded by Conch Shell Productions, Inc. a non-profit arts organization whose mission is to enlighten American audiences about the diverse emerging Caribbean diaspora and the Caribbean voices in theater and film by developing, producing, and presenting new plays and films.

Conch Shell International Film Fest welcomes Caribbean Diaspora and Caribbean filmmakers who are passionate about effecting social change by redefining the social landscape that the Caribbean diaspora operates on by telling magical/complex human stories that awaken diverse audiences.

Short films of all genres are programmed thematically (Drama, Comedy, Experimental, Animation, Documentary, Science Fiction, Web series etc.). Three top Unproduced Screenplay projects are presented as staged readings. The festival takes pride in helping filmmakers find their audience by helping them build connections with their Caribbean and Caribbean diaspora peers, sponsors, and film producers as well as diverse American industry professionals who can help advance the filmmakers career.

In addition to short films, Conch Shell International Film Fest also has an unproduced script competition that offers the top finalists a chance at participating in a staged reading of their work in front of a live audience.

All selected filmmakers receive VIP passes that allow entry into all our screenings, events, and parties.

Our festival events include: Opening Night, Closing Night, special screening events, panel discussions, masterclasses, artist chats, and afterparties. Previous panels/seminars include: Improving the Visibility and Discoverability of Caribbean Films, Creators, and Actors; Caribbean Films & Language- Strategies to Highlight Authentic Narratives in a Multilingual Setting; Dismantling Barriers to Entry for Emerging Filmmakers; Disrupting the Norms of Distribution in Film and Television; Traditional and Disruptive Film Financing Strategies; and more.

Whether you are new to the industry with your first film, or a filmmaker with several films under your belt, our mission is to help you get more exposure and media attention, reach larger audiences, and meet other industry professionals who can help further your career. Every filmmaker is given a post screening Q&A and a chance to interact with attendees and attending industry professionals.

Awards & Prizes

*Laurels, and sponsored prizes (TBD)

Conch Shell IFF is a competitive festival that honors the submissions with awards in the following categories:

Best Director
Best Screenwriter
Best Lead Performer
Best Film
Best Cinematographer
Best Student Film
Best Animation
Best Documentary
Best Experimental Film
Best Web series/Episodic
Best Micro Short
Best Unproduced Script
Audience Choice Award

Award Winners receive laurels and prizes being offered by award sponsors. This year our growing list of Jury Award sponsors include Imagine Products (workflow app), PrevisPro (storyboarding app), IPitch and more.

Submit your film, and come be a part of a fast-growing and friendly filmmaking community!

This year's theme: AWAKENING.

Rules & Terms

ELIGIBILITY

Films that have previously screened in other festivals are eligible for consideration.

Films completed from 2007-2024 are eligible for consideration.

Submitted works MUST satisfy ONE of the eligibility criteria below:

CARIBBEAN DIASPORA FILMS
Films by indie or student screenwriters and/or directors of CARIBBEAN ancestry (living in North America, South America, Central, African, Europe, Asia, Africa, etc).

OR

CARIBBEAN FILMS
Films written or directed by indie and student filmmakers who are living in the Caribbean. Filmmakers working in all Caribbean regional languages are encouraged to apply. Subtitles or dubbing required for non-English language films.

SCREENERS
A Secure Online Screener

Online screener format: .mp4 or .mov (1080p) via FilmFreeway.com. The submission must be downloadable. Passwords must be provided for password protected submissions.

FILM PRESS KIT
Including: 4 Hi-Res publicity stills, film poster, synopsis, log line, writer and director picture & bio (bio must specify Caribbean ancestry of eligible filmmaker), Cast and Crew information.

If submitting as a student entry, some form of proof of being a student must be provided (student id or current transcript). Student filmmakers must be over eighteen years of age and competent to contract in their own name.

Non-English films must be SUBTITLED or DUBBED in English.

By submitting to General submissions you acknowledge that you agree that if your film is selected to be screened in CSIFF 2024 the 15-60 second trailer of your film (including credits) will be streaming on our website for at least three years; stills for at least 10 years. If your film wins an award your trailer will be on our website for at least 10 years.

Multiple entries are permissible, but each entry must be accompanied by a separate entry form, entry materials, and entry fee.

Jury Awards and Official Selections are based on overall merits of the films and are at the sole discretion of the jury and programming committee.

SCREENING FEE
The festival does not offer screening fees for its films. By submitting through FilmFreeway you are agreeing to NOT request a screening fee as a requirement for your film's participation in the festival, should your film get selected for the program.

Filmmakers waive any right to inspect or approve the photograph, advertising copy, audio piece or printed matter that may be used or to the eventual use that it may be applied.

All fees are nonrefundable.

Submission to the festival is not a guarantee that your film will be screened.

All featured filmmakers will receive a free All-Access Fest pass to attend all screenings, panel discussions, after parties and private events.)
CSIFF does not pay for filmmakers’ transportation, lodging, or other expenses.

By submitting your film to CSIFF you are agreeing to the following conditions:
I promise to contact CSIFF immediately regarding any changes to the information above, including distribution, Premiere status of my film or exhibition format. Failure to provide complete and updated information or failure to submit an exhibition copy of my film by September 1, 2024 may cause the elimination of my film from competition.

All rights and permissions are in place for my submission (it is the sole responsibility of the applicant to obtain any and all necessary rights and permissions).

I am DULY authorized to submit this film to the Conch Shell International Film Fest and its competition (“CSIFF”) and I have read, understood and agreed to all entry requirements.

By submitting to the festival, I am showing interest in taking part in CSIFF2024 should our film be selected.

All of the above information and statements are accurate.
10 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Azriel Bahadoor

    I was so impressed by this festival's ability to create and nurture a community through online methods. Magaly and her entire team did a fantastic job. The different virtual rooms, parties, screenings were all top notch. I am honored to have had my first short film screened at Conch Shell and I plan to be there again next time!

    December 2022
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  • Alicia Diaz

    CSIFF2022 was fantastic! This festival is so thoughtfully organized with many opportunities for filmmakers to interact and engage virtually through Filmocracy in meaningful conversation. The podcast conversations were also a great feature. The focus and commitment to film as tool for social justice was exciting. The voices of the Caribbean diaspora represented in the festival is an invaluable contribution to the field. The organization, communication, and hospitality was impressive!

    October 2022
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    Response from festival:

    Thank you for your review, Alicia. We value your powerful voice and look forward to your future work.

  • Gabri Christa

    I am so very impressed by this festival, it's professionalism, curation, communication and staff. Everything ran smoothly. Magaly, Kyra, Natasha, Marquis did an amazing job, and although this was a virtual festival it was the most realistic festival to participate in, to panels, networking, parties, and more. The Filmocracy site was a true jam, the music while waiting at the beach club, so hot. Every little detail was thought of.

    The films were also original, the truly Global Caribbean filmmakers community came together and I learned a lot from my fellow filmmakers.
    I also appreciated the podcast and being interviewed, in other words, couldn't ask for more.
    Another big thumbs up for me was the fact that the festival accepts some older films (about 10 years back) and for films from the Caribbean Diaspora that is such a huge service.
    THANK YOU Conch Shell Film Festival. I definitely will submit again.

    September 2022
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    Response from festival:

    Thank you, Gabri. We value your unique vision and voice. It was a pleasure sharing your work with our audiences. We look forward to your future submissions.

  • Mark Loquan

    Excellent communication and follow up. So proud to be selected for the CSIFF2022 and featured. Thanks so much for the recognition of my project from Trinidad and Tobago.

    September 2022
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    Response from festival:

    Thank you for your review Mark. It was a pleasure sharing your music video with our audiences. Congratulations on winning CSIFF2022 Best Music Video Award. May "A Better Tomorrow" be a source of inspiration for audiences for years to come.

  • Timothy Joseph

    This was our first time at Conch Shell and it was a great experience. I love the interactive sessions with the experts and media. The quality of the films involved were high and we enjoyed watching them. I definitely recommend this festival for any filmmaker looking for a well organized and professional program. Looking forward attend more in the future.

    September 2022
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    Response from festival:

    Thank you for your recommendation, Timothy. It was an honor sharing your film "Lifeline" with our audiences. We look forward to seeing you next year.