“With industry-leading judges & a long history of featuring groundbreaking new content, the New Media Film Festival’s call for entries is one that every creator should be answering.” – Film Daily
Why Submit
Because the future doesn’t wait — and neither should you.
New Media Film Festival® isn’t just a laurel opportunity. It’s a launchpad for creators who break molds, remix formats, and tell stories that shift culture.
What Sets Us Apart
We don’t do safe. We do seismic.
- Human Eyes on Your Work No bots. No filters. Just real industry pros watching your content and deciding if it hits hard.
- Recognition That Actually Means Something Our stages have hosted Nobel Laureates, Oscar winners, Emmy legends, viral creators, and teen prodigies. If your work’s got heat, it gets noticed.
- Your IP Stays Yours We don’t play ownership games. You made it. You keep it. Period.
- Access That Isn’t Just a Buzzword This isn’t a panel selfie moment. It’s where deals get made, scripts get optioned, and creators find their tribe.
- Innovation Is Our DNA We were first to program AI films, holographic comics, immersive formats, and blockchain storytelling — before anyone else even knew what they were.
Submit. Show up. Shake the room.
We Accept It All
From vertical to big screen — if it’s story, it’s welcome.
Whether you shot it on a phone or built it in a lab, if it moves people, we’re in. We champion creators who dream big, dive deep, and dare to tell stories that stick.
- All genres. All formats. All creators.
- Online, distributed, experimental, or classic — we see it all.
- Novice to GOAT level.
We honor stories worth telling — whether they come from a dorm room or a Dolby studio.
Stories that stick. Moments that move. This is your spotlight.
“Top six festivals for content creators” — Backstage Magazine
“Five Stars.” — FilmFreeway, Global Awards & Google
Awards
ae
Grand Prize – Meetings with HBO or Marvel – Studio time in Los Angeles – Production services from Mongo Media Solutions – Filmustage subscription ($1,000 value)
Category Winners – Hand-painted wood film slate – Filmustage subscription ($1,000 value)
Top 3 Scripts – Services from Script Reader Pro & Scriptwriters Network – Filmustage subscription ($1,000 value)
All awards valid for 1 year from festival date. Non-transferable.
Legit
– IMDb Official Event
– UFFO Code of Practices – followed
– Exposure beyond the festival circuit
– Press platform provided – 20M+ social reach & 80K+ newsletter subscribers
– Best Festival (2021–2025)
– Global & Innovation Awards – Judging panel
– Marvel, HBO, PBS, Rolling Stone & BBC
Built to elevate creators. Backed by the industry.
Perks
– Red carpet experience
– Q&As & networking
– Visibility – press, social media
– Distribution perks – guest discount codes & platform opportunities
– Ongoing connections – many nominees are introduced to opportunities even after the festival
Non-transferable. Designed to elevate your work and expand your reach.
Festival Categories A – Z
Viewing formats and interactive experiences vary by title.
Animation & Artwork – Traditional, 2D/3D, stop motion, CGI, digital & traditional art
AR / MR / AI / TECH– Augmented, Mixed Reality – AI-powered storytelling (first festival to screen AI content) and all other tech not in categories below.
Children & Family – Gen Alpha stories, faith-based & family-friendly content
Creator Economy 🆕 – Content from influencers, educators, streamers & digital entrepreneurs
Digital Comics – eComics & interactive formats
Documentary & Social Impact – Real-life stories, journalism, PSAs & socially responsible media
Drone & Mobile Media – UAV footage, phone/tablet-created content
Feature Films & Shorts – Over or under 30 minutes, all genres & formats
Gaming & Metaverse – Gameplay, immersive worlds & virtual social spaces
Music & Music Videos – Audio tracks (.mp3) & visual storytelling
Music Curation for Media – Curate, sync & score with Emmy-winner David Leon (Details in submission receipt)
New Media & NFTs – Groundbreaking formats & blockchain-based content (First festival to accept NFTs)
Pitching – Online producer panel & pitch strategy – Past pitches led to meetings with execs from BBC, Warner, Qualcomm & more
Podcasts – Audio or video podcasts distributed via apps or platforms
Scripts –All formats: shorts, features, animation, plays, books, web series, reality TV
Scripts PLUS One-Page Feedback – script category and one-page industry feedback
STEAM – Content highlighting Science, Tech, Engineering, Art & Math
Student Work – Emerging creators showcasing fresh, innovative projects
Trailers – Sneak peeks judged by a journalist specializing in trailer reviews
TV & Pilots – Full shows or standalone episodes for network/distributor consideration
Vertical Format 🆕 – Mobile-first, portrait-style storytelling for TikTok, Reels & Shorts
Virtual Reality / 360 – Immersive, interactive storytelling experiences
Web Series – Scripted or unscripted episodes released online
DEADLINES:
Opening – $65
Regular – November 6 2025, $75
Pre-Fest – January 6, 2026, $80
Final – April 6, 2026, $95
Notification by April 15, 2026
Schedule locks May 1 2026
2026 Festival Dates June 3 online -June 4 at Culver City theater different content & creators each day.
Stories that exemplify the power of the cinematic arts to inspire and transform.
Festival worth the entry fee.
Makes the cutting edge accessible.
Trailblazing Since Day One
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Pioneering the Future of Storytelling Since 2009
At New Media Film Festival®, innovation isn’t a buzzword—it’s our DNA. Since our founding in 2009, we’ve consistently shattered boundaries and redefined what a film festival can be. We were the first to embrace and program groundbreaking technologies and storytelling formats that others only dreamed of.
First-Ever Festival to Program:
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AI-Generated Film – Showcasing the creative potential of artificial intelligence in cinema.
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Touch Rotation – Interactive storytelling that responds to physical movement.
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Holographic Digital Comic – A futuristic blend of comic art and holography.
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Immersive Distribution Experiences – Pushing the limits of how stories reach audiences.
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Micro Content Distribution – Celebrating bite-sized brilliance in storytelling.
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AI Platform-Built Romcom – A love story crafted by algorithms and heart.
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AR International Art Exhibit – Augmented reality meets global artistic expression.
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Collaborative V Screening – A new frontier in participatory viewing.
Tech Meets Talent
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First Festival in Story & Technology – Where narrative innovation meets cutting-edge tech.
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EMMYS® Consulting & Broadcasting – Trusted by the best in the industry.
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Live VR Pitch Funding – A panelist funded an audience member’s VR pitch in real time.
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Feature Film Funded from a 30-Second Pitch – Proof that big ideas don’t need big time.
Ahead of the Curve
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Bitcoin Payment Integration – Embracing decentralized finance for creative commerce.
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NFT Categories – Recognizing digital ownership and blockchain-based storytelling.
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And So Much More – From AI to XR, we continue to lead the charge into the future.
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Current Awards New Media Film Festival® has won:
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Media Innovator Awards
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LUX Global Excellence Awards
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Best Celebration of Emergent Media Content – USA
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Best Annual Media and Technology Event – California
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Best Celebration of Emerging Cinematic Talent – USA
Let’s connect
Fill in our form to contact us for anything related to New Media Film Festival®. A human will respond soon, usually the same day.
Venue:
Los Angeles studio zone, California USA