Festival dossier

The Shawna Shea Memorial Film Festival

Uxbridge, United States · Est. 2012 · High structural score (80–100) for legitimacy and industry clout — not limited to Oscar-qualifying festivals

Tier ATrusted
Uxbridge, United States
96
Legitimacy Score

Should I submit?

Strong legitimacy signals

Tier A score for legitimacy and industry clout. Still confirm deadlines, fees, and categories on the festival site before paying.

  • 14 years of verifiable history
  • Physical screenings at Hilton Garden Inn and Studio 50 at WICN
  • 3 verified pro signals

Overview

The Shawna Shea Memorial Film Festival is a fringe independent film festival in Uxbridge, Massachusetts, presented by the Shawna E. Shea Memorial Foundation as a fundraiser and tribute to Shawna Shea. It is notable for championing truly independent work, especially genre, experimental, quirky, and international films, and for supporting scholarships and a Women in Film Fellowship. The festival has become a recognized stop for indie filmmakers because it regularly screens films by women and has hosted premieres and filmmakers from the U.S. and abroad.

Last updated Aug 27, 2026

Legitimacy Analysis

Positive Indicators (+46 pts)

  • 14 years of verifiable history
  • Physical screenings at Hilton Garden Inn and Studio 50 at WICN
  • 3 verified pro signals
  • Verified trusted status
  • Legitimacy signals outweigh concerns (4 vs 0)

Red Flags (-0 pts)

No red flags found

Trust Signals

Positive Signals

  • Has FilmFreeway community ratings
  • Documented history with archived programs
  • Named venues with external verification

Festival Details

Founded

2012

Venue

Hilton Garden Inn and Studio 50 at WICN

Screenings

Physical screenings confirmed

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FilmFreeway community

Avg. rating

4.7/ 5

Reviews

131

Synced 4 days ago

Rating synced from FilmFreeway; individual review text not pulled yet for this festival.

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At a glance

Legitimacy Score96/100
TierTier A
Reviews0
Community Reports0
FilmFreeway4.7★ · 131

How scoring works

Scores are calculated from structural indicators: accreditations, physical screenings, award category count, submission frequency, and acceptance rate. Higher scores reflect more verifiable legitimacy signals.

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