Submit a Film
Coffeehouse Cinema is a curated screening series spotlighting emerging filmmakers and unforgettable short films in intimate coffee shop spaces. Part screening, part community gathering, Coffeehouse Cinema brings audiences together to discover bold new voices, experience great stories, and connect directly with the filmmakers behind them.
SUBMISSION FEE: $40
Discover Your Voice
Curated with Intent
You didn’t make your film to disappear into an algorithm.
At Coffeehouse Cinema, your work is experienced the way films are meant to be experienced: in a room full of people. Audiences laugh together, react together, and stay afterward to talk about what they just watched. Every screening is curated with intention, giving your film the opportunity to stand out within a carefully crafted lineup rather than getting lost in an endless feed.
Whether it’s your first short or your next big step, Coffeehouse Cinema is designed to help filmmakers build real connection with audiences, collaborators, and the larger creative community.
Our Aim
Curated with Intent
We are highly selective about what we program. Every block is built around tone, pacing, emotion, and conversation. We care deeply about how films complement one another and how an audience experiences the night as a whole.
A great film can entertain people. A great lineup creates an experience people remember.
Community-First
Coffeehouse Cinema is built around the belief that film is better when experienced together.
Our screenings are designed to feel welcoming, conversational, and alive. Through filmmaker Q&As, post-screening conversations, and intimate venues, we aim to create an environment where filmmakers and audiences can genuinely connect.
Things to Know
What we look for
We’re drawn to films with a distinct voice, emotional honesty, and strong storytelling craft.
We gravitate toward films that immediately pull us into a world, make us feel something genuine, or leave us thinking long after the credits roll. We value intentional filmmaking over empty spectacle and are less interested in chasing trends than discovering filmmakers with a clear perspective.
When reviewing films, we often come back to a few key questions:
Voice — Does the film feel specific, confident, and authored?
Connection — Does it emotionally engage the audience?
Craft — Does the filmmaking elevate the story through performance, cinematography, editing, sound, and overall execution?
Experience — How does the film play in a room full of people?
The best way to understand our taste is to explore the films and filmmakers we’ve previously showcased.
What tends to work less for us
We have no strict formula, and there are always exceptions. That said, these types of projects are generally less aligned with our programming:
Films that rely solely on shock value or aesthetic without emotional substance
Comedies built around a single joke without character development
Projects driven primarily by visual effects over storytelling
Branded or promotional work without a strong narrative perspective
Films that feel overly derivative without adding a fresh voice or point of view
Work that takes too long to establish its tone, stakes, or intention
At the end of the day, we’re simply looking for films that create a meaningful experience in a room full of people.
FAQ's
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How long does my short have to be?
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Do you have genre restrictions?
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What types of films does Coffeehouse Cinema look for?
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Do you accept feature films?
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Can I submit a film that has already screened elsewhere or is online?
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Should I submit a work-in-progress short?
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Can non-English films submit?
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Do we only screen local films?
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Where should I host my film for submission?
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Do you watch every submission?
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How long does it take to receive a response?
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Can I pick my Coffeehouse Cinema screening date?
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How long is a Coffeehouse Cinema block?
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What does a Coffeehouse Cinema event consist of?
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Where does Coffeehouse Cinema take place?
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When does Coffeehouse Cinema happen?
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