For 4 years we have successfully produced one of the top competitive film festivals in the country. We champion the art of independent filmmaking and the dedicated, passionate and creative individuals who produce it. Over the years we have worked with Warner Bros., HBO, Picturehouse and IFC to name a few. We have built a great brand that has continued to gain equity and identity on the festival circuit. We have continued to honor our mission of becoming a top film festival based on innovation and the ability to adapt to the ever changing film industry. It is for this reason that we have decided to reposition Solstice Film Festival to better differentiate ourselves from other traditional film festivals and events. SFF has now become Solstice Universal Film Festival & Market. Our brand and programming will now, literally, be marketed and available to a Universal audience. SUFFM showcases our program through alternative and innovative forms of distribution and exhibition while championing alternative and innovative forms of production. Our primary priority was to transform our website from simply a location to find information about the live event into a hub of entertainment and interaction. We will be holding two Official film competitions throughout the year with a bi-annual presentation of The Awards, as well as many National Brand-based film competitions. Over the years our programming has earned accolades and global attention. We are excited to be able to offer our programming year round, and we have now implemented a bi-annual presentation of awards for the various competitive categories. Our call for entries is perpetual, though we do have deadline dates for inclusion in each bi-annual competition. Competition 1 Announced on June 21 Deadline for inclusion into Competition 1 is May 21 Competition 2 Announced on December 21 Deadline for inclusion into Competiton 2 is November 21 All movies received (physically or digitally) after deadline dates will automatically be eligible for the following Competition. We have partnered with FilmXibitor to provide our filmmakers a platform to showcase, promote and sell their movies to a global audience. FilmXibitor is a forward-thinking company that was built by individuals from every area of the filmmaking industry. We worked with them to design and implement a SUFFM specific platform that will allow us to give our filmmakers the opportunity to not only exhibit their films to a global audience but also make money in the process. We designed our Market to make it easy for acquisition and distribution professionals to directly view any available IP and directly contact the filmmaker to discuss options and/or negotiate terms. Until now, a filmmaker's hopes of being discovered relied heavily on getting accepted to film festivals and simply being in the right place at the right time with the right people watching your movie. FilmXibitor not only assists and consults filmmakers on marketing their film, but they have also actively built an impressive database of film professionals who have the authority to make acquisition descisions. Please take a tour of our new company. The various sections and sub-sections of the site will provide you with further information regarding the new SUFFM, as well as new programming additions, new strategic partnerships and new ways that SUFFM keeps you involved the entire year with short film competitions and innovative exhibition and distribution opportunities. Thank you, and enjoy the ride! -Devin Halden, Founder/Executive Director