The Sacred Underground Film Festival is now accepting submissions for its 2026 season, welcoming filmmakers worldwide across categories including Short Film, Extended Short Film, Student Film, and Music Video. Submissions are open through October 31, 2026, with selections announced by November 7, ahead of the November 21 showcase at the Carver Community Cultural Center. Filmmakers of all experience levels are invited to share their work and be part of this vibrant creative gathering.
The Sacred Underground is thrilled to share that The Godfathers, a short film showcased at The Sacred Underground, is moving forward as a feature-length project! The filmmakers have partnered with Film Independent to continue developing the film and are now welcoming supporters to be part of the journey through tax-deductible contributions.
If you’d like to support independent filmmaking and help bring The Godfathers to life, click the link below.
Every year, The Sacred Underground Film Festival selects a unique theme to celebrate the spirit of creativity, nostalgia, and storytelling that shapes our community. These themes help set the tone for each festival - immersing our audience in a distinct world, inspiring our filmmakers, and adding an extra layer of fun and connection to the experience.
For 2026, we’re turning the clock back to the electric, neon-soaked world of the 1980s. Expect big hair, bold colors, retro synths, and the unmistakable energy of an era defined by iconic films, groundbreaking music, and unforgettable pop culture.
Don’t miss this essential, timely, and transformative production. Enjoy Automatic: A life With Shem at the Overtime Theater April 17th - 26th.
This April, join us for a profound and moving theatrical experience for Autism Awareness Month. ‘Automatic: A Life With Shem’ dives into the enduring impact of a family’s separation during the darkest period of autism stigma.
The play centers on John, who seeks hypnotherapy to confront the trauma of his younger brother Shem’s institutionalization. This separation occurred during the tail end of the infamous ‘Refrigerator Mother’ era, a time when mothers were unjustly stigmatized as the cause of autism and cruelly isolated from their institutionalized children.
Through John’s subconscious journey, the audience takes a deep dive into the layers of impact—on Shem, on John, and on the family forced to navigate a world of blame and isolation. Automatic is a raw, unflinching look at the mirror autism holds up to the individual and society at large.
John’s journey ventures through emotional corridors that range from the humorous and whimsical to the dark and deeply poignant. In a powerful narrative of reckoning, the path toward vindication and redemption emerges from an entirely unexpected source.
Our Totally Rad, Limited-edition, 2026 80s-Themed Festival Tees are officially here, and they’re bringing all the retro vibes, bold colors, and throwback style you love. Grab yours now and get festival-ready in true throwback fashion. Perfect for festival days and beyond. Get yours today!
En esta entrevista, John Lambert reflexiona sobre el cine como una experiencia transformadora, el valor de las narrativas independientes y la importancia de crear espacios donde las historias auténticas, provocadoras y humanas puedan existir fuera de lo convencional.
In this interview, John Lambert reflects on cinema as a transformative experience, the value of independent narratives, and the importance of creating spaces where authentic, provocative, and human stories can exist outside the conventional.
Sat down with The Sacred Underground Film Festival's John Lambert and got some meaningful and great topics beyond film making!
