Dates & Deadlines
About festival
"We of the craft are all crazy... all are more or less touched." - Lord Byron
"No great mind has existed without a touch of madness." - Aristotle
"You're only given a little spark of madness. You mustn't lose it." - Robin Williams
SOMFF is a not-for-profit film festival with in-person screenings and CASH PRIZES. We specialize in CRAZY films, INSPIRATIONAL films, and films made in the ROCKY MOUNTAINS.
Festival Amenities
Filmmaker pass
Spark Of Madness Film Festival
11 perks included
Accommodation
Hotel Discounts
Discounted hotel rates
Travel
Shuttle Service
Transportation service
Airport Transport
Airport pickup/dropoff
Amenities
Filmmaker Lounge
Dedicated lounge space
Swag Bags
Gift bags
Green Room
Private backstage area
Events
After Parties
Post-screening events
Q&A Sessions
Audience interaction
Access
All Access Badges
Full festival access
Complimentary Tickets
Free guest passes
Marketing
Professional Headshots
Photography session
Accepted Content
Submission Categories
East Idaho FeatureCloses within 30 days
Features (between 40-120 min) of any genre and budget made in Eastern Idaho (e.g., Pocatello or Idaho Falls). To qualify as an Eastern Idaho Film, your project must meet one of the following criteria: 1) The director of the film is a current resident of Eastern Idaho. 2) At least 50% of the film was shot in Eastern Idaho. 3) Eastern Idaho strongly features as a character, setting, or plot point in the film.
Deadline: November 1, 2026
East Idaho ShortCloses within 30 days
Shorts (under 40 min) of any genre and budget made in Eastern Idaho (e.g., Pocatello or Idaho Falls). To qualify as an Eastern Idaho Film, your project must meet one of the following criteria: 1) The director of the film is a current resident of Eastern Idaho. 2) At least 50% of the film was shot in Eastern Idaho. 3) Eastern Idaho strongly features as a character, setting, or plot point in the film.
Deadline: November 1, 2026
Rocky Mountain FeatureCloses within 30 days
Features (between 40-120 min) of any genre and budget made in the Rocky Mountains (i.e., Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Utah, and Colorado). To qualify as Rocky Mountain Film, your project must meet one of the following criteria: 1) The director of the film is a current resident of one of the states listed above. 2) At least 50% of the film was shot in the Rocky Mountains. 3) The Rocky Mountains strongly feature as a character, setting, or plot point in the film. For features or short films made in Eastern Idaho, submit under those categories for an even bigger discount.
Deadline: November 1, 2026
Rocky Mountain ShortCloses within 30 days
Shorts (under 40 min) of any genre and budget made in the Rocky Mountains (i.e., Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Utah, and Colorado). To qualify as Rocky Mountain Film, your project must meet one of the following criteria: 1) The director of the film is a current resident of one of the states listed above. 2) At least 50% of the film was shot in the Rocky Mountains. 3) The Rocky Mountains strongly feature as a character, setting, or plot point in the film. For features or short films made in Eastern Idaho, submit under those categories for an even bigger discount.
Deadline: November 1, 2026
Narrative FeatureCloses within 30 days
Narrative feature films of any genre made in the U.S.A. or Internationally (for East Idaho and Rocky Mountain films, submit in those categories).
Deadline: November 1, 2026
Narrative ShortCloses within 30 days
Short films of any genre made in the U.S.A. or Internationally (for East Idaho and Rocky Mountain films, submit in those categories).
Deadline: November 1, 2026
Documentary FeatureCloses within 30 days
Documentary feature films made in the USA or Internationally (for East Idaho and Rocky Mountain docs, submit in those categories).
Deadline: November 1, 2026
Documentary ShortCloses within 30 days
Documentary short films made in the USA or Internationally (for East Idaho and Rocky Mountain short docs, submit in those categories).
Deadline: November 1, 2026
Festival Team
John Evans
Founder/Director
Ron Torres
Programmer
Festival Rules
All rules:
Types of Films - We want to see crazy stuff from any genre. Unconventional dramas (Tree Of Life), Weird comedies (Nacho Libre), Absurd horror movies (Evil Dead II, House), Docs about the surreal (Virunga) or about eccentrics (American Movie, Loving Vincent), Misfit music videos (Turn Down For What), and Abnormal animations (Howl's, Flow). Films that celebrate creativity. Films that embolden the bizarre. Films with a Spark Of Madness.
Premiere Status – There is no premiere status requirement.
Attendance - If your film is selected to screen, it'd be nice if a representative for your film would come. But we understand if you can't.
What if my film is available publicly already? - It can be available online already, who cares.
Run Time – • Short films (narratives and docs): 0–40 min. • Feature films (narrative and docs): 40-120 min.
English Language or English Subtitles – All films submitted to the Spark Of Madness Film Festival (SOMFF) must be in English or have English Subtitles.
Eastern Idaho Film (films of any genre made in Pocatello, Idaho Falls, Rexburg, etc.) – To qualify as an Eastern Idaho Film, your project must meet one or more of the following criteria: 1) The director of the film is a current resident of Eastern Idaho. 2) At least 50% of the film was shot in Eastern Idaho. 3) Eastern Idaho strongly features as a character, setting, or plot point in the film.
Rocky Mountain Film - Films of any genre and budget made in the Rocky Mountain region (e.g., Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Utah, Colorado, Canadian Rockies). To qualify as Rocky Mountain Film, your project must meet one of the following criteria: 1) The director of the film is a current resident of the Rocky Mountain region defined above. 2) At least 50% of the film was shot in the Rocky Mountain region. 3) The Rocky Mountains strongly feature as a character, setting, or plot point in the film. For features or short films made in Eastern Idaho, submit under those categories for an even bigger discount.
Refunds - SOMFF does not issue refunds.
Agreement of Use – Selected films agree to allow the festival to use screen shots, clips, trailers, posters, or other materials to promote the film and festival. Filmmakers and guests agree to allow the festival to use their likeness in any photo, video, or audio recordings to promote the film and festival.
Copyright – By submitting, filmmakers acknowledge they own the full copyright to their film, soundtrack, and all other elements contained within the film, and have the legal right to exhibit the film in the United States. The festival takes no responsibility for any copyright violations, and the filmmaker agrees they are the sole responsible party of their work.
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