Time is running out for indie filmmakers hoping to land a nomination at the 2027 Award This! ceremony. Film Threat’s submission window closes September 30, 2026 — and filmmakers who haven’t submitted their project yet need to act now, not later.
Getting into the running is simpler than it sounds. Any film review published at Film Threat — feature, short, or web series, any genre — is automatically considered for Award This! These filmmakers don’t need a separate entry. Eligibility comes down to two things: the project must be reviewed on Film Threat, and it must be commercially available in some form, whether that’s theatrical, VOD, DVD, a streaming platform, or straight-up digital purchase in 2026. A theatrical release isn’t required, and short films and web series only need to be streaming somewhere — a festival run alone doesn’t count.
One key detail for anyone cutting it close: the completed review locks in eligibility — so films submitted right at the deadline need time to be reviewed before they count. Due to the number of submissions, not all are guaranteed to be reviewed. Options are available to guarantee a review by our staff.
Filmmakers with a film to submit can find full eligibility rules at awardthis.com/eligibility-requirements and start a submission at filmthreat.com/submit-project. The deadline is September 30, 2026.
Once submissions close, Film Threat staff and editors will pull nominees from the full slate of indie titles reviewed during the eligibility period. Nominations for the 8th Annual Award This! are expected in the weeks that follow.
The ceremony itself lands Saturday, February 6, 2027, at the Frida Cinema in Santa Ana, CA, continuing a run Film Threat describes as “an event with a mission — to champion independent films across a multitude of diverse categories to bring awareness to the growing number of exceptional indies available on DVD, VOD, and streaming services.” It’s also one of the rare industry ceremonies that doesn’t hide behind a velvet rope: Award This! bills itself as the only award show where the general public can attend just by buying a ticket.
