Submit your film to HUMP!
It’s FREE to submit your film to HUMP!
HUMP! shares a portion of all ticket revenue with filmmakers who make it into the festival.
HUMP! audiences award $10,000 in cash prizes to their favorite films!
SUBMISSIONS OPEN FOR 2027
DUE NOVEMBER 6TH, MIDNIGHT PST
— WHAT WE’RE LOOKING FOR —
HUMP! films encompass a diverse spectrum of experiences and expressions, all condensed into concise, five-minute or shorter films that explore the realms of sex, love, and relationships.
Your film can be hardcore, softcore or vanilla! Your film can showcase a spectrum of orientations and identities, including straight, gay, lesbian, bisexual, trans, poly, genderqueer and genderfluid perspectives.
Your film can be an animated adventure, dramatic storytelling, a documentary, a mockumentary, or a comedy! Your film can show off your unique kinks and fetishes! Your film can be suspenseful, an erotic thriller, or explore new dimensions with sci-fi and fantasy. Your film can be tales of hookups, role play, orgies, and even educational content to enlighten and entertain.
At HUMP!, we celebrate the diversity and creativity of human sexuality safely and respectfully!
Submitting Your Film
Submitting your film to HUMP! is secure, easy, and FREE! Follow these steps below:
Shoot your filthy, hilarious, sexy, kinky, freaky film! Check out the technical guidelines, licensing, copyright, and AI usage requirements below.
HOT TIP: While the maximum runtime is 5 minutes, here at HUMP! we really love films between 2-3 minutes long (that way we can stuff more films into our collections).
Anything goes at HUMP! Well, almost anything. No Poop, No Animals, No Minors!
Download and complete one Entry Form per film.
Download and complete one Release Form for each performer in the film.
Provide a photo of each performer’s ID card (for required age verification and performer verification).
If your film has music or sound effects, provide a music license agreement or provide equivalent verifying you have permission to use it. See the Licensing guidelines below.
Upload your completed forms, film file, and performer IDs together in one folder on Dropbox, WeTransfer, or Google Drive.
Complete the Submit Your Film form.
We will confirm we have received your submission within 72 hours. There is no limit on how many films you are allowed to submit. We are always accepting HUMP! film submissions!
Reminder that your submission folder must include:
Film file
Completed Entry Form
Signed Performer Release Form from ALL performers who appear in your film
Copy of photo ID for ALL performers who appear in your film
Music License Agreement (if your film contains music or sound effects)
All paperwork remains secure and will not be shared anywhere, whatsoever.
Contact submissions@humpfilmfest.com for any technical support needed for your submission.
Required
Forms
One Entry form is needed per film. A Release Form & ID are needed for ALL performers who appears in your film. Include all paperwork in one folder.
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SUMMARY OF REQUIREMENTS
Resolution: 16:9 container, minimum 1920×1080
Frame Rate: 24 frames per second
File Format: .mp4/H.264 or .mov/Apple ProRes
Audio: 48k, 16-bit, Stereo
Resolution
16:9 container for all film submissions
1920x1080 is the minimum resolution and will make your film look its best. We also accept 3840×2160 (4K).
We do not recommend 1280x720
Horizontal/landscape framing, especially if shooting on a phone!
Frame Rate (fps)
All selected HUMP! films are assembled into a single exhibition file, and films will look their best if they are all at the same frame rate.
24 fps is preferred (23.98 is acceptable)
We do not recommend using 30 or 60 fps
File Format
Please submit films in the following formats:
.mp4/H.264
.mov/Apple ProRes
We can accommodate others if needed, however please do not submit a DCP file
Audio
Please ensure film audio is in 48k, 16-bit, Stereo
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All films featured in HUMP! must not violate any copyright laws or licensing regulations.
Music Rights
You must have the rights to any music or sound effects used in your HUMP! film, or your film will not be considered for the festival.
If your film includes music obtained from an online music library or service, please provide all corresponding license documentation with your film submission.
If you are obtaining permission from the original owner, please provide a Music License Agreement. If you need a music license agreement, we have provided a template for a basic music license agreement here.
Animations
You must have the rights to any animations you create for HUMP!.
All artwork must be original
Recreations of existing characters are not allowed. If you choose to use artificial intelligence (AI), the characters cannot resemble any existing artwork or characters.
Pre-Existing Video
Use of public domain video is permitted, only if it is collected from an established public domain archive.
You must have the rights to use any found footage in your HUMP! film, including Release Forms for any performers or permission from video owners.
Use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI)
To preserve the authenticity and creative spirit of HUMP!, the use of artificial intelligence (AI) is not permitted for any generated, creative elements of your film. This includes AI-generated or AI-assisted actors, animations, voiceovers, music, scripts, or visual characters/scenes.
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Ticket Royalties: HUMP! shares a portion of all ticket revenue with filmmakers who make it into the festival. Paying creators is a core value of HUMP!
Audience Awards: In addition to royalty payments, HUMP! audiences vote for their favorite films and award filmmakers $10,000 in cash prizes each year! The categories are Best Sex, Best Kink, Best Humor, Most Creative, & Best in Show!
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Every year we offer a short list of Extra Credit items you may include in your film. These little “Easter eggs” let the audience know that your film was made just for HUMP!
2027 Extra Credit items:
Leopard print
Fridge cigarette
Hockey sticks
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You must have the rights to the music used in your film. Permission from the original owner or a Music License Agreement must be provided with your submission.
Need help finding music for your film? Here are a few resources:
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Do you need some help making your film? Need performers or crew? Let Seattle-based Safeword Cinema give you a hand.
The all-female crew at ForPlay Films wants to produce and direct your film for you. See their work here and contact them here.
In September 2024, we had the opportunity to interview several past HUMP! filmmakers, giving them a chance to reflect on their unique journeys with the festival. They opened up about the inspiration behind their films, the challenges they faced, and the excitement of debuting their work in front of a live audience. They also offered insightful advice for future filmmakers looking to submit to HUMP! and shared what it felt like to be part of a creative community that embraces bold storytelling. Plus, we discussed how they got paid for participating in the festival, proving that creativity and compensation can go hand in hand.