Welcome to B!TCHFEST: An International Women’s & LGBTQIA+ Film Festival & Screenplay Contest - Shattering Glass Ceilings In Cinema.
The Eastwood Performing Arts Center - Los Angeles - Feb 28, 2026
ABOUT B!TCHFEST:
B!tchFest is more than just a festival — it’s a COMMUNITY! One that extends far beyond the festival event itself. We are invested in the success of your films and screenplays, offering a space for SUPPORT, CONNECTION, and COLLABORATION for all of our past and present submitters. In a world where women and the LGBTQIA+ community often face challenges with equality and representation, we’re here to unite and empower minority creators!
At B!tchFest we’re not just breaking glass ceilings; we’re shattering them into a million pieces by unleashing the POWER of FEMALE and LGBTQIA+ VOICES in film and television! B!tchFest is an INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL & SCREENPLAY CONTEST on a mission to redefine the narrative by proudly showcasing the BEST independent films, features, shorts, documentaries, student films, music videos, TV pilots, web series, screenplays, TV scripts, and stage plays scripts crafted by the most BADASS WOMEN and LGBTQIA+ CREATORS in the industry.
In a world where only 26% of key production roles belong to women and a mere 16% of major studio films flaunt LGBTQIA+ characters, B!tchFest is determined to rewrite the script. We invite you to be a part of a whirlwind in-person festival in the heart of Los Angeles featuring empowering stories, fierce creativity, and unapologetic voices at the forefront of cinema.
By providing a platform for RECOGNITION, AWARDS, PROMOTION, and making NEW CONNECTIONS, we aim to break barriers, amplify voices, and pave the way for a more inclusive entertainment industry. Join us for a festival that goes beyond screenings—promote your projects, immerse yourself in panels, flaunt your creations to cheering audiences, walk the red carpet, and forge connections with leading industry trailblazers who share our commitment to diversity and inclusion.
We’re thrilled to announce that, following the incredible SUCCESS of B!TCHFEST SEASON 1—which featured nearly 400 submission, 25 FILM and SCREENPLAY WINNERS, 67 Finalists, 77 Semifinalists, 2 WINNING FILMS PICKED UP BY STREAMING PLATFORMS, 3 SCREENWRITERS WITH PROJECTS NOW IN PRODUCTION, a sold-out venue, and an unforgettable, emotional festival experience—B!TCHFEST SEASON 2 is now open for submissions on FilmFreeway!
Submit your films and screenplays today and join a revolution that refuses to stay silent. Welcome to B!tchFest—where Badass B!tches reign supreme!
FESTIVAL DETAILS:
The 2nd annual B!tchFest Film Festival & Screenplay Contest will be held at The Eastwood Performing Arts Center in Hollywood, CA, on Saturday, February 28th, 2026.
We're gearing up for a groundbreaking in-person event that shines a spotlight on films and screenplays submitted by the most talented WOMEN and LGBTQIA+ CREATORS from around the world. The WINNING SCREENWRITERS and FILMMAKERS, chosen by our panel of award-winning industry judges, will join our RED CARPET EVENT, SCREEN THEIR FILMS in front of a LIVE AUDIENCE, snag trophies at our AWARDS CEREMONY, participate in LIVE PANEL DISCUSSIONS (which will be recorded and STREAMED on our website for PROMOTION), and engage in an INDUSTRY MEET-&-GREET EVENT aimed at making NEW CONNECTIONS.
Our esteemed panel of industry professionals including DIRECTORS, PRODUCERS, AGENTS, MANAGERS, EXECUTIVES, and CASTING DIRECTORS will meticulously ASSESS ALL SUBMISSIONS. Our jury consists of seasoned individuals from various sectors within the ENTERTAINMENT and PUBLISHING INDUSTRIES. Expert script readers, filmmakers, and story analysts are slated to carefully review all screenplay competition entries and film submissions. The top contenders are then passed on to our executive industry judges for final evaluation to determine the winners of each category.
For consideration, film projects must feature at least one woman or member of the LGBTQIA+ community in a key production role, such as director, writer, producer, cinematographer, lead actress/actor, etc. OR the film should address women’s or LGBTQIA+ issues and themes to be eligible.
For screenplay submissions, we prefer scripts written by women and/or members of the LGBTQIA+ community. While screenplays written by men and non-LGBTQIA+ individuals are welcome, they must either focus on female or LGBTQIA+ characters OR address women’s or LGBTQIA+ issues and themes to be eligible.
The B!tchFest Film Festival & Screenplay Contest will be accepting submissions from March 24th, 2025 — December 16th, 2025, via FilmFreeway!
Festival tickets will be available to the general public starting December 1st, 2025, at a price of $20 per person. Last year, we sold out fast, so we highly recommend purchasing tickets as soon as they become available to secure your spot.
Your story starts here— together we can make cinema HERstory!
AWARDS & PRIZES:
The WINNERS of all FILM CATEGORY AWARDS will be invited to SCREEN THEIR FILMS LIVE at the FESTIVAL, held at The Eastwood Theatre in Hollywood, CA on Saturday, February 28th, 2026. Winning films are eligible to be screened, regardless of whether the filmmakers can attend the festival in person or not.
TROPHIES will be presented to the WINNERS of the Screenplay Category Awards, Film Category Awards, and the Cast & Crew Awards during the FESTIVAL AWARDS CEREMONY.
All of the winners will also be invited to speak about their projects during the live-recorded FILMMAKERS & SCREENWRITERS PANELS (which will STREAM on our website for PROMOTION), take PROFESSIONAL PHOTOS on the RED CARPET, and attend the INDUSTRY MEET-&-GREET EVENT aimed at making NEW CONNECTIONS. Additionally, winners in all categories will receive TWO COMPLIMENTARY TICKETS to the festival.
The Best Feature Screenplay Winner, Best Short Screenplay Winner, Best LGBTQIA+ Screenplay Winner, and Best Female-Driven Screenplay Winner will receive a 1-hour Zoom mentorship meeting with one of our screenwriting industry judges, where they will receive feedback on their script and advice on production and gaining distribution.
ALL SCREENWRITING CATEGORY WINNERS will receive a free 4-month InkTip Pro Membership (a $130 value), courtesy of our partners at InkTip. With this membership, writers can list their scripts in the InkTip Script Library, where filmmakers and industry representatives go to discover new material. Members also gain access to weekly pitch opportunities and the Pitch Kit Tools to help effectively market their scripts. The membership allows writers to submit their work directly to literary agents and managers who are actively seeking new clients through InkTip queries, as well as free entry into InkTip’s Pitch to Page screenwriting contest. Writers can take advantage of InkTip’s contest & festival directories, track who has viewed their queries using the Share Tracker, and access exclusive writing tips from a range of exclusive industry resources.
The Best Feature Film Winner, Best LGBTQIA+ Film Winner, and Best Female-Directed Film Winner will each receive a 1-hour Zoom mentorship session with one of our executive film industry judges, where they will receive valuable feedback on their film and advice on how to gain distribution.
Winners of the Best Short Film, Best Female-Directed Film, and Best LGBTQIA+ Film categories will also receive a DCP prize package, courtesy of our partners at The DCP Works. This prize is redeemable for any film of the filmmaker’s choice and is not limited to their festival submission. (Note: B!tchFest does not require DCPs for festival screenings.) The prize includes the creation and delivery of one 2K or 4K DCP (up to 20 minutes in length). For films longer than 20 minutes, the first 20 minutes will be provided free of charge, with additional runtime rendered at a discounted rate of $5 per minute.
The winner of Best Actress, Best Actor, and Best Performance will receive a 1-hour Zoom meeting with THREE CASTING DIRECTORS from Black Sheep Casting in Los Angeles.
AWARDS CATEGORIES:
The entry fee is applicable per category. By submitting your film to the categories of Best Feature Film, Best Short Film, Best Documentary Film, Best Student Film, Best LGBTQIA+ Film, Best Female-Directed Film, Best Music Video, Best Short Social Content Video, Best TV Pilot Episode, and Best Web Series, it not only qualifies your project for festival consideration, but it also enables your Cast and Crew to be considered for the Cast & Crew Awards, free of charge.
Film Awards:
Best Feature Film (60+ Minutes)
Best Short Film (1 - 60 Minutes)
Best Documentary Film (Any Length)
Best Student Film (Any Length)
Best LGBTQIA+ Film (Any Length)
Best Female-Directed Film (Any Length)
Best TV Pilot Episode (1/2 or 1 HR Format)
Best Web Series (Up to 60 Minutes)
Best Music Video (1 - 30 Minutes)
Best Short Social Content Video (Up to 5 Minutes)
Screenwriting Awards:
Best Feature Screenplay (60 - 140 Pages)
Best Short Screenplay (Under 60 Pages)
Best First-Time Screenwriter (Any Length)
Best LGBTQIA+ Screenplay (Any Length)
Best Female-Driven Screenplay (Any Length)
Best Comedy Screenplay (Any Length)
Best Drama Screenplay (Any Length)
Best Horror Screenplay (Any Length)
Best TV Pilot Script (1/2 or 1 HR Script Format)
Best Web Series Script (Up to 60 Pages)
Best Stage Play Script (Any Length)
Cast & Crew Awards:
Grand Jury Award Winner
Best Performance
Best Actress
Best Actor
Best Director
Best Cinematography
Best Producer
Best Edit / VFX
Best Original Score
The B!TCHFEST Film Festival & Screenplay Contest will begin accepting submissions for Season 2 on March 24th, 2025 via FilmFreeway!
SUBMISSION FEES BY DEADLINE:
FEATURE FILM:
(60+ Minutes)
Kick-Off Deadline - $40
Early Deadline - $45
Regular Deadline - $50
Late Deadline - $55
Last Minute Deadline - $60
Extended Deadline - $65
Final Deadline - $70
SHORT FILM:
(1 - 60 Minutes)
Kick-Off Deadline - $30
Early Deadline - $35
Regular Deadline - $40
Late Deadline - $45
Last Minute Deadline - $50
Extended Deadline - $55
Final Deadline - $60
DOCUMENTARY FILM:
(Any Length)
Kick-Off Deadline - $35
Early Deadline - $40
Regular Deadline - $45
Late Deadline - $50
Last Minute Deadline - $55
Extended Deadline - $60
Final Deadline - $65
STUDENT FILM:
(Any Length)
Kick-Off Deadline - $30
Early Deadline - $35
Regular Deadline - $40
Late Deadline - $45
Last Minute Deadline - $50
Extended Deadline - $55
Final Deadline - $60
LGBTQIA+ FILM:
(Any Length)
Kick-Off Deadline - $35
Early Deadline - $40
Regular Deadline - $45
Late Deadline - $50
Last Minute Deadline - $55
Extended Deadline - $60
Final Deadline - $65
FEMALE-DIRECTED FILM:
(Any Length)
Kick-Off Deadline - $35
Early Deadline - $40
Regular Deadline - $45
Late Deadline - $50
Last Minute Deadline - $55
Extended Deadline - $60
Final Deadline - $65
TV PILOT & WEB-SERIES:
(Up to 60 Minutes)
Kick-Off Deadline - $35
Early Deadline - $40
Regular Deadline - $45
Late Deadline - $50
Last Minute Deadline - $55
Extended Deadline - $60
Final Deadline - $65
MUSIC VIDEO:
(1 - 30 Minutes)
Kick-Off Deadline - $25
Early Deadline - $30
Regular Deadline - $35
Late Deadline - $40
Last Minute Deadline - $45
Extended Deadline - $50
Final Deadline - $55
SHORT SOCIAL CONTENT VIDEO:
(Up to 5 Minutes)
Kick-Off Deadline - $10
Early Deadline - $15
Regular Deadline - $20
Late Deadline - $25
Last Minute Deadline - $30
Extended Deadline - $35
Final Deadline - $40
FEATURE SCREENPLAY:
(60 - 140 Pages)
Kick-Off Deadline - $40
Early Deadline - $45
Regular Deadline - $50
Late Deadline - $55
Last Minute Deadline - $60
Extended Deadline - $65
Final Deadline - $70
SHORT SCREENPLAY:
(Under 60 Pages)
Kick-Off Deadline - $30
Early Deadline - $35
Regular Deadline - $40
Late Deadline - $45
Last Minute Deadline - $50
Extended Deadline - $55
Final Deadline - $60
LGBTQIA+ SCREENPLAY:
(Any Length)
Kick-Off Deadline - $35
Early Deadline - $40
Regular Deadline - $45
Late Deadline - $50
Last Minute Deadline - $55
Extended Deadline - $60
Final Deadline - $65
FEMALE-DRIVEN SCREENPLAY:
(Any Length)
Kick-Off Deadline - $35
Early Deadline - $40
Regular Deadline - $45
Late Deadline - $50
Last Minute Deadline - $55
Extended Deadline - $60
Final Deadline - $65
COMEDY SCREENPLAY:
(Any Length)
Kick-Off Deadline - $35
Early Deadline - $40
Regular Deadline - $45
Late Deadline - $50
Last Minute Deadline - $55
Extended Deadline - $60
Final Deadline - $65
DRAMA SCREENPLAY:
(Any Length)
Kick-Off Deadline - $35
Early Deadline - $40
Regular Deadline - $45
Late Deadline - $50
Last Minute Deadline - $55
Extended Deadline - $60
Final Deadline - $65
HORROR / THRILLER SCREENPLAY:
(Any Length)
Kick-Off Deadline - $35
Early Deadline - $40
Regular Deadline - $45
Late Deadline - $50
Last Minute Deadline - $55
Extended Deadline - $60
Final Deadline - $65
FIRST-TIME SCREENWRITER SCREENPLAY:
(Any Length)
Kick-Off Deadline - $35
Early Deadline - $40
Regular Deadline - $45
Late Deadline - $50
Last Minute Deadline - $55
Extended Deadline - $60
Final Deadline - $65
TV PILOT SCRIPT:
(1/2 HR or 1 HR Format)
Kick-Off Deadline - $35
Early Deadline - $40
Regular Deadline - $45
Late Deadline - $50
Last Minute Deadline - $55
Extended Deadline - $60
Final Deadline - $65
WEB SERIES SCRIPT:
(Up to 60 Pages)
Kick-Off Deadline - $35
Early Deadline - $40
Regular Deadline - $45
Late Deadline - $50
Last Minute Deadline - $55
Extended Deadline - $60
Final Deadline - $65
STAGE PLAY SCRIPT:
(Any Length)
Kick-Off Deadline - $40
Early Deadline - $45
Regular Deadline - $50
Late Deadline - $55
Last Minute Deadline - $60
Extended Deadline - $65
Final Deadline - $70
B!tchFest Film Festival & Screenplay Contest
Event Schedule:
FESTIVAL DATE: Saturday, February 28th, 2026
Exact times for screenings, panels, awards ceremony, red carpet photos, and meet-&-greet event will be updated on January 16th, 2026.
Please check back with us for specific times!
Opening Ceremony
Screening (Best Music Video)
Screening (Best Short Film)
Screening (Best Short Social Content Video)
Screening (Best Documentary Film)
Screening (Best Student Film)
Screening (Best LGBTQIA+ Film)
Screening (Best Female-Directed Film)
Screening (Best TV Pilot Episode)
Screening (Best Web Series Episode)
Screening (Best Feature Film)
Screenwriters Awards Ceremony
Live-Recorded Screenwriters Panel
Filmmakers Awards Ceremony
Cast & Crew Awards Ceremony
Live-Recorded Filmmakers Panel
Industry Meet-&-Greet Event
Red Carpet Photos for all winners
Red Carpet Photos for all attendees
We wish you a B!TCHIN’ time on your filmmaking & screenwriting journey!
For questions about the festival, instructions on how to submit, or for info on how to purchase tickets outside of FilmFreeway, please contact us at: BFestivalLA@gmail.com
Meet Our B!tchFest Season 2 Partners:
Graciously providing additional prizes to our screenwriters & filmmakers!
ALL SCREENWRITING CATEGORY WINNERS will receive a free 4-month InkTip Pro Membership (a $130 value), courtesy of our partners at InkTip. With this membership, writers can list their scripts in the InkTip Script Library, where filmmakers and industry representatives go to discover new material. Members also gain access to weekly pitch opportunities and the Pitch Kit Tools to help effectively market their scripts. The membership allows writers to submit their work directly to literary agents and managers who are actively seeking new clients through InkTip queries, as well as free entry into InkTip’s Pitch to Page screenwriting contest. Writers can take advantage of InkTip’s contest & festival directories, track who has viewed their queries using the Share Tracker, and access exclusive writing tips from a range of exclusive industry resources.
Winners of the Best Short Film, Best Female-Directed Film, and Best LGBTQIA+ Film categories will also receive a DCP prize package, courtesy of our partners at The DCP Works. This prize is redeemable for any film of the filmmaker’s choice and is not limited to their festival submission. (Note: B!tchFest does not require DCPs for festival screenings.) The prize includes the creation and delivery of one 2K or 4K DCP (up to 20 minutes in length).