Diversified, in partnership with AVIXA, SVGW and #GALSNGEAR, announced that the Without Boundaries: A Behind the Screens Film Festival is now open for submissions. According to the company, the non‑traditional festival trades on‑screen star power for behind‑the‑scenes brilliance, spotlighting women whose technical mastery fuels the broadcast, AV, software, live events and digital media shaping the industry’s future.
From cameras to control rooms, and everywhere in between, women power and reimagine how the world sees, hears and connects. Diversified remarks that Without Boundaries places their work center stage, giving audiences an insider’s view of the decisions, designs and breakthroughs behind every captivating experience.
“Today’s young women seem to know every influencer trending on TikTok or latest streaming series on Netflix but probably couldn’t name a single woman who built the algorithms or apps that power those platforms,” says Jesse Humphrey, executive sponsor of the festival and senior vice president of marketing at Diversified. “Over half of teens spend four or more hours daily consuming media that often degrades their sense of worth, never realizing there are brilliant women behind those very platforms and technologies — coding the systems, designing the experiences and driving the innovations. Without Boundaries flips the camera around to reveal these hidden role models so our daughters know their power isn’t in comparing themselves to influencers, but in becoming the innovators themselves.”
Festival director Heather Best adds, “As someone who sees the engineering behind the artistry, I’ve watched some of the most brilliant work go unnoticed. Without Boundaries isn’t just a film festival, it’s a platform to break barriers and spotlight the creators behind the curtain. Here, we don’t just consume content; we spark the ambition to create it.”
Film Criteria
Short films (5–15 minutes, .mp4 or .mov) in narrative, documentary, animation, experimental, mixed-media or digital-first formats that center on a woman (or women) working behind the camera, code, soundboard or control room.
Key Dates
- Submission Deadline: August 29, 2025
- Finalist Notification: September 15, 2025
- Screenings & Awards: NAB Show NY, October 22–23, 2025
Per the statement, finalists will attend a screening in New York during NAB Show NY. Winners will receive a $1,500 prize, paid as cash or donated to their school or NextLVL Learning, along with travel, accommodations and full event access.
Award Categories
According to Diversified, winners of the Without Boundaries Film Festival will be selected based on the following award categories:
- The Unbound Voice Award: Awarded to the most powerful story that best embodies the festival’s mission to propel women into the next era of media. This film gives voice to truth, visibility to experience, and inspiration to those who follow.
- The Catalyst Award: Recognizing a film that drives real change — breaking barriers, shifting perspectives and moving us forward. This story doesn’t just inspire action; it becomes the reason change happens.
- The Script to Screen Award (Best Narrative): For a story that begins as a bold idea on the page and becomes a force on the screen. This award honors imaginative fiction that defies convention and captures the spirit of storytelling without limits.
- The Storytruth Award (Best Documentary): Awarded to a non-fiction film that educates, exposes or inspires through fearless documentation. It honors storytelling that reveals raw, real lived experiences with honesty and empathy.
- The Rising Voice Award (Best Student Film): Celebrating the work of a visionary creator aged 16–21 who is just entering the industry. This award honors emerging talent and a powerful, authentic voice that challenges boundaries from the start.
All entries must be original, says Diversified. The company adds that storytellers can submit their film via FilmFreeway and use code WOB2025 to waive the submission fee.
