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ABOUT FILMFEST
This is Filmfest's second year in production, and we are thrilled after last year's debut. All filmmakers are encouraged to submit regardless of experience level.
Filmfest has two film categories: 1-10 minute short films and 10-30 minute short films. Each category is broken into three subcategories: high school creators, college creators, and professional creators. Filmmakers have no content limitations except that they must provide a content warning if applicable.
If you're a creator who would like to submit, visit our contact page for more info.
2025 FILMS
Here's a sneak peek at the films we'll be featuring at Filmfest 2025!
Fortune Cookie
Directed by Fu Yang
A fortune-cookie-head crumbles himself, piece by piece in order to keep devouring creatures out of his way...
Content Warning: Very mild forms of violence
0-10 Minute, Professional Level
A fortune-cookie-head crumbles himself, piece by piece in order to keep devouring creatures out of his way...
Content Warning: Very mild forms of violence
0-10 Minute, Professional Level
Flotsam!
Directed by Cory Byers
In the summer of 2023, the Flotsam! River Circus traveled over 650 miles down the Mississippi River, making more than 35 stops to give free performances. This short documentary covers their stops in Grafton and Alton, IL.
0-10 Minute, Professional Level
In the summer of 2023, the Flotsam! River Circus traveled over 650 miles down the Mississippi River, making more than 35 stops to give free performances. This short documentary covers their stops in Grafton and Alton, IL.
0-10 Minute, Professional Level
Hit The Mark
Directed by Keith Kennedy
An actor prepares for a high-stakes audition. A film made entirely in 48 hours.
0-10 Minute, Professional Level
An actor prepares for a high-stakes audition. A film made entirely in 48 hours.
0-10 Minute, Professional Level
Red's Run
Directed by Josh Groh
Avid board game collector Kirby, along with his friends Salt and Foxy, stumble upon an old board game, "Red's Run," which spawns an unknown entity into their world. Can Kirby and his friends survive the chase and defeat the sinister Red Man?
CONTENT WARNING: Mild language and violence.
0-10 Minute, Professional Level
Avid board game collector Kirby, along with his friends Salt and Foxy, stumble upon an old board game, "Red's Run," which spawns an unknown entity into their world. Can Kirby and his friends survive the chase and defeat the sinister Red Man?
CONTENT WARNING: Mild language and violence.
0-10 Minute, Professional Level
The Duck and the Dragon
Directed by Mason Beck
Therapist Vern (Bo Roche) helps his patient Timothy (Kendrick Dell) through a similar childhood trauma he himself went through, and learns to better cope with it himself.
Content Warning: A Scene of Mild Violence and Blood, Thematic Elements
0-10 Minute, Professional Level
Therapist Vern (Bo Roche) helps his patient Timothy (Kendrick Dell) through a similar childhood trauma he himself went through, and learns to better cope with it himself.
Content Warning: A Scene of Mild Violence and Blood, Thematic Elements
0-10 Minute, Professional Level
Late
Directed by Charlie Schutt
A student running late for class must overcome his own bad luck and laziness to avoid a dire fate.
0-10 Minute, College Level
A student running late for class must overcome his own bad luck and laziness to avoid a dire fate.
0-10 Minute, College Level
Your Last Wishes
Directed by Mason Beck
Sammy (Sam Sweere) loses his best friend in a freak unprecedented accident; the two had discussed what he'd like Sammy to do if he were no longer alive. Now faced with the loss of his childhood friend, Sammy must endure a journey of grief as he completes the list and learns more about his friend than he wishes he had before.
Content Warning: Language, Adult Topics, Thematic Elements
10-30 Minute, Professional Level
Sammy (Sam Sweere) loses his best friend in a freak unprecedented accident; the two had discussed what he'd like Sammy to do if he were no longer alive. Now faced with the loss of his childhood friend, Sammy must endure a journey of grief as he completes the list and learns more about his friend than he wishes he had before.
Content Warning: Language, Adult Topics, Thematic Elements
10-30 Minute, Professional Level
Last Bite
Directed by Ashley Seering
In the midst of a global pandemic, a very paranoid vampire orders contactless food delivery.
0-10 Minute, Professional Level
In the midst of a global pandemic, a very paranoid vampire orders contactless food delivery.
0-10 Minute, Professional Level
a film about her.
Directed by Bryant Barkley
The making of this film was to process a painful breakup. I pushed away a lot of my grief and feelings, and it just never got easier or better. So, I decided to confront those emotions and give myself clarity. This film represents how the initial breakup felt. The void of loneliness and the invasion of thoughts of what once was.
0-10 Minute, College Level
The making of this film was to process a painful breakup. I pushed away a lot of my grief and feelings, and it just never got easier or better. So, I decided to confront those emotions and give myself clarity. This film represents how the initial breakup felt. The void of loneliness and the invasion of thoughts of what once was.
0-10 Minute, College Level
Open the Door
Directed by Stephen Tronicek
A young woman. A spirit. A music box that ends your life when it finishes playing. A choice.
0-10 Minute, Professional Level
Content Warning: This film contains themes of suicide/suicidal ideation. It also contains moments of terror and violence. All gore is implied and obscured.
A young woman. A spirit. A music box that ends your life when it finishes playing. A choice.
0-10 Minute, Professional Level
Content Warning: This film contains themes of suicide/suicidal ideation. It also contains moments of terror and violence. All gore is implied and obscured.
MASKMAN
Directed by Charlie Schutt
Meet Maskman, the world's greatest (or at least the block's greatest) superhero, as film student Jerry documents his daily exploits.
CONTENT WARNING: Innuendo
0-10 Minute, College Level
Meet Maskman, the world's greatest (or at least the block's greatest) superhero, as film student Jerry documents his daily exploits.
CONTENT WARNING: Innuendo
0-10 Minute, College Level
Getting Through
Directed by Mason Beck
Vee (Joanna Ferbrache), a deaf woman, feels her life's mishaps and mistakes are due to her inability to hear. Her boyfriend Aiden (Cory Kays) does his best to communicate with her and show her the truth of how he feels.
Content Warning: Mild Sexual Content, Thematic Elements
10-30 Minute, Professional Level
Vee (Joanna Ferbrache), a deaf woman, feels her life's mishaps and mistakes are due to her inability to hear. Her boyfriend Aiden (Cory Kays) does his best to communicate with her and show her the truth of how he feels.
Content Warning: Mild Sexual Content, Thematic Elements
10-30 Minute, Professional Level
Presco is Missing
Directed by Austin Shopinski
A famous musician becomes a prisoner in his self-proclaimed biggest fan's basement. The fan, who believes he is saving the musician, crosses the line between admiration and delusion. The musician must play along in hopes to survive and escape, no matter what it may take.
10-30 Minute, College Level
A famous musician becomes a prisoner in his self-proclaimed biggest fan's basement. The fan, who believes he is saving the musician, crosses the line between admiration and delusion. The musician must play along in hopes to survive and escape, no matter what it may take.
10-30 Minute, College Level
The Birthday Party
Directed by: August Chisholm and Jackson Hoffmann
A girl attends a birthday party thrown for her, but the host's intentions are not what they seem.
Content Warning: Blood, violence
0-10 Minute, College Level
A girl attends a birthday party thrown for her, but the host's intentions are not what they seem.
Content Warning: Blood, violence
0-10 Minute, College Level
Versimilitude
Directed by Keith Kennedy
Two detectives encounter an unusual crime scene. A film made entirely in 48 hours.
0-10 Minute, Professional Level
Two detectives encounter an unusual crime scene. A film made entirely in 48 hours.
0-10 Minute, Professional Level
Pride of Texas
Directed by Ashley Seering
A look at the Texas Gay Rodeo Association and its participants who prove that rodeo, and Texas, is a place for everyone.
0-10 Minute, Professional Level
A look at the Texas Gay Rodeo Association and its participants who prove that rodeo, and Texas, is a place for everyone.
0-10 Minute, Professional Level
Our Little Worlds
Directed by Davy Stoces
A young man receives a complicated text before traveling home.
0-10 Minute, College Level
A young man receives a complicated text before traveling home.
0-10 Minute, College Level
Who Is Jerome?
Directed by Christopher Büttner
While searching for his missing wife, ex-detective Frank Cadieux is forced to confront his past by a mysterious faceless entity. He survives a surreal journey before coming face to face with the moment that changed his life.
Content Warning: Mild language; Blood; Suicide Attempt
10-30 Minute, College Level
While searching for his missing wife, ex-detective Frank Cadieux is forced to confront his past by a mysterious faceless entity. He survives a surreal journey before coming face to face with the moment that changed his life.
Content Warning: Mild language; Blood; Suicide Attempt
10-30 Minute, College Level
A Fox & A Squirrel
Directed by Jordan Lundy
A single mother turns her workday into a woodland bedtime story for her son.
10-30 Minute, Professional Level
A single mother turns her workday into a woodland bedtime story for her son.
10-30 Minute, Professional Level
Unsettled In
Directed by Gabriella Knupp
Jamie and Marco, a young couple, stumble upon an intriguing ad during their apartment search. With no luck finding a regular apartment, they decide to move into the spare room of an old woman's house. Upon arrival they are surprised by the woman's twin grandchildren. While Marco tries convincing Jamie that the twins are bad news, she stays oblivious until it is finally too clear to miss.
10-30 Minute, College Level
Content Warning: flashing lights, loud noises, profanity
Jamie and Marco, a young couple, stumble upon an intriguing ad during their apartment search. With no luck finding a regular apartment, they decide to move into the spare room of an old woman's house. Upon arrival they are surprised by the woman's twin grandchildren. While Marco tries convincing Jamie that the twins are bad news, she stays oblivious until it is finally too clear to miss.
10-30 Minute, College Level
Content Warning: flashing lights, loud noises, profanity
Some Visitors
Directed by Paul Hibbard
A woman mourning the loss of a child is home alone in an area that has been afflicted with recent home invasions. She receives a knock on the door from a mysterious man who wants to be let inside.
10-30 Minute, Professional Level
Content Warning: extreme violence
A woman mourning the loss of a child is home alone in an area that has been afflicted with recent home invasions. She receives a knock on the door from a mysterious man who wants to be let inside.
10-30 Minute, Professional Level
Content Warning: extreme violence
Banana Cop
Directed by Emily Brandt
Undercover cop Mac Bananigan faces his wildest case yet when a rogue monkey wreaks havoc on campus, taking a secretary hostage. Armed with only his wits, handsome good looks, and a banana gun (yes, you heard that right), Mac sets out to stop the chaos before it’s too late.
0-10 Minute, College Level
Undercover cop Mac Bananigan faces his wildest case yet when a rogue monkey wreaks havoc on campus, taking a secretary hostage. Armed with only his wits, handsome good looks, and a banana gun (yes, you heard that right), Mac sets out to stop the chaos before it’s too late.
0-10 Minute, College Level
Bright Lights
Directed by Annabelle Brown
As reports of missing women spread, unease grips a small town. While some dismiss the growing disturbances as an elaborate hoax, Allen, a college student, is haunted by eerie noises, looming figures, and strange lights - leading him to believe everything is much more real than it may seem.
0-10 Minute, College Level
As reports of missing women spread, unease grips a small town. While some dismiss the growing disturbances as an elaborate hoax, Allen, a college student, is haunted by eerie noises, looming figures, and strange lights - leading him to believe everything is much more real than it may seem.
0-10 Minute, College Level
Internally
Directed by Brian Moore
A woman’s inner demons clash in the wake of a funeral. Conflicting emotions, sadness and anger, are personified in a bathroom mirror. They discuss the consequences of her actions leading up to the funeral.
Content Warning: Profanity, nuances of suicide
0-10 Minute, College Level
A woman’s inner demons clash in the wake of a funeral. Conflicting emotions, sadness and anger, are personified in a bathroom mirror. They discuss the consequences of her actions leading up to the funeral.
Content Warning: Profanity, nuances of suicide
0-10 Minute, College Level
Palette
Directed by Vicky Chen
A painter suffering from the throes of perfectionism is unable to sell her work, until she develops a dangerous new technique—using her own blood.
Content Warning: depictions of self-harm
10-30 Minute, College Level
A painter suffering from the throes of perfectionism is unable to sell her work, until she develops a dangerous new technique—using her own blood.
Content Warning: depictions of self-harm
10-30 Minute, College Level
Our 2024 Winners
VOICEMAILS
Directed by Zach Neumann
Winner: 10-20 Minute Short Film
CATSKILL MANOR
Produced by Kristen Boren
Winner: 5-10 Minute Short Film, Audience Favorite
CARRY ME OUT
Animated by Raizel Lieb
Winner: Animated Film
Small Bites
& Concessions
We'll have concessions for sale so you can snack while you watch!
A Historic
Venue
The beautiful Showboat Theatre was built in 1934 as a movie theater.
Tickets for
the Family
Tickets will be on sale at the door starting at 11 AM.
Award
Ceremony
At the end of the festival, we will be giving out awards!
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