FAQ

Athena approaches the concept of leadership with inclusion and expansiveness, recognizing that leadership takes no singular form. This can look like traditional leadership positions, but can also look like women trying new things, being themselves, impacting others for the better, and demonstrating courage and originality. Check out our festival mission to learn more about what leadership can look like at Athena.

We also recommend looking through the lineup from previous years if you are curious about what makes an Athena film. You can access our previous lineups from 2024, 2023, and 2022.

We open submissions for short films in the summer, typically beginning in June and ending in August. Be sure to follow us on Instagram and subscribe to our newsletter for updates on submissions.

The Athena Film Festival itself is held annually in the spring at Barnard College in NYC. It typically takes place in late February and early March.

You may fill out this form to indicate your interest in submitting a feature film to us. This is not a formal submission: if our programmers read your materials and are interested in learning more, you will be provided with a link to officially submit.

The Athena Film Festival is not currently seeking volunteer screeners for our festival. If you are interested in getting involved in programming at Athena, check out our Programming Fellowship – which takes applications each summer.

We accept films directed by any gender, as long as they fit our festival guideline:

“Films must have a woman (girl) or women in leadership role(s) or position(s). Projects from all genres are accepted, and stories about women from all racial, ethnic, socioeconomic, and cultural groups are encouraged.”

We open submissions for the Writer’s Lab in the spring and early summer, typically beginning in May and ending in June. Be sure to follow us on Instagram and subscribe to our newsletter for updates on submissions.

The Writer’s Lab itself is held virtually in three sessions, one taking place in the fall, a winter rewrite period, and a third in the spring.

We open submissions for the Athena List in the late summer and early fall, typically beginning in June and ending in August. Be sure to follow us on Instagram and subscribe to our newsletter for updates on submissions.

The Athena List is a script competition that seeks polished scripts looking for an opportunity for exposure. As such, we do not take first drafts or scripts still in development.

A script that is eligible for the Athena List is one that has undergone significant development and rewrites via a class, course, workshop, competition, and so on. If you have specific questions about your script’s eligibility, please email athenafilmfestival@gmail.com.

The Athena Film Festival is not currently seeking volunteer readers for our script competitions.

Unfortunately, due to time and staffing constraints, we are not currently able to offer submissions support or submission feedback for our creative development programs.

If you are curious about what makes a script competitive for our programs, we recommend checking out our past participants for the Writer’s Lab and Athena List.

You are not able to apply directly for any of Athena’s fellowships or awards.

If you are interested in one of our fellowships or awards, the first step is to apply and be accepted to one of our programs. Acceptance to one of our programs automatically makes you eligible and considered for these opportunities.

The Alfred P. Sloan Fellowship, which supports a STEM-themed script.

The Loreen Arbus Fellowship, which provides support and funding awarded to a writer with disabilities.

The AMC Networks Athena Emerging Writers Fellowship, which provides $10K and mentorship to an episodic script.

The Chinonye Chukwu Emerging Writer Award, which provides a script with $10K and additional support.

The Alfred P. Sloan Athena List Development Grant, which provides $20K to a STEM-themed script.

The Disney Athena List Development Grant, which provides $10K awarded to the writer or director of a script.

The Jaya Award, which provides $10K to a filmmaker, whose film screens at the Athena Film Festival.

The Athena Film Festival Breakthrough Award, which provides $25K to a first or second time filmmaker.