Sans Souci Festival of Dance Cinema

About the Open Call

Sans Souci Festival of Dance Cinema is a niche film festival specializing in films that integrate the aesthetics of dance and cinema. Based in Boulder, Colorado (USA), the festival has been screening films locally, nationally, and internationally since 2004. Its mission is to provide a space for the community to share an experience of dance cinema and to elevate the ever-changing nature, culture, and field of dance cinema. The integration of dance and cinematography is central to their work. Films are selected based on thoughtful forms and themes, investigative/innovative/experimental approaches, production values, audience appeal, choreographic creativity, virtuosic performance, and program fit. Excellence in any one or two areas may be sufficient for acceptance, but cinematic elements must be an integral part of every entry. Sans Souci Festival is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. The festival offers an Audience Choice Award. Films with spoken word must have English subtitles, and all music used in films must have secured rights (original score, purchased license, or uncopyrighted). Accepted films may be requested to provide a still frame for promotional materials and may be considered for a touring program. Films are also automatically part of the Sans Souci Archive and may be exhibited during educational events. Fee assistance is available for those with financial hardship, especially artists from historically or currently marginalized communities, by applying through their website by the Early Deadline. A special screening is dedicated to Jazz dance films, exploring jazz and American social dance ideas from various forms including jazz, tap, and hip-hop. Creative aging events are also part of their programming.

What is Offered

Audience Choice Award

Requirements

Films must integrate the aesthetics of dance and cinema, with cinematic elements being an integral part of every entry. Films with spoken word must have English subtitles or be in English. Music rights must be secured for all films (original score, purchased license, or uncopyrighted music). If accepted, artists are required to provide a still frame from their film for promotional materials. Artists 21 and older are welcome to submit to the Jazz Dance Film category. For the 'youth creatives - age 18 & under' category, at least one primary creative role must be filled by a minor, and names/ages of key creatives along with an adult main contact are required.

How to Apply

General submissions are made through the FilmFreeway platform, adhering to the length-based fee scale and specific rules regarding content, subtitles, and music rights. For fee assistance, artists can submit an application form by the Early Deadline by visiting https://sanssoucifestival.org/call-for-entries/.