San Francisco International Film Festival

Golden Gate Awards (GGA): juried competitions first presented in 1957, covering narrative features, documentaries, mid-length films, shorts, animation and youth-produced work. Juries of industry professionals recognise winners in Documentary, New Directors, Global Visions and other categories. Cash prizes for 2027 include the $5,000 Kirby Walker Documentary Award (best documentary feature), the $5,000 Global Vision Award (best feature in the Global Vision section) and the $5,000 New Directors Award (best feature in the New Directors section); additional cash prizes are given in other categories, including shorts. Bay Area awards go to a documentary feature and a short film by Bay Area-based directors or producers. Audience Awards for Best Narrative Feature and Best Documentary Feature are decided by audience ballot. All finalists receive official festival laurels.

Competition features must be California premieres; shorts and mid-length films must be Bay Area premieres (all nine Bay Area counties). For the 2027 edition, films must have premiered after 1 June 2026. Films previously shown theatrically, on VOD, online or on broadcast are not eligible; screenings at festivals in other states do not affect eligibility. Entries are accepted only through FilmFreeway; each title needs a separate entry form, preview copy and entry fee, and entry fees are non-refundable. Rough cuts and works in progress are reviewed. Narrative, documentary and animated shorts under 30 minutes suitable for ages 7+ may be considered for the Family Films programme. Bay Area-resident directors or producers are eligible for an entry-fee discount and the Bay Area awards.