Our ambition for this festival is to forge a dynamic and collaborative platform tailored specifically for independent filmmakers, seasoned actors, industry professionals, and aspiring film students alike. We aim to provide a fertile ground for these creative minds to weave their narratives and share their unique perspectives with a wider audience.

5 Day Format
The reason is inclusivity. By partnering with a diverse array of universities, film studios, cultural institutions, and various organizations, we are committed to ensuring that this opportunity is accessible to all passionate individuals yearning to express themselves through the art of cinema.
Details
The Guidelines, Theme, mandatory Prop, and a Line of Dialogue will all be unveiled to you at the commencement of the challenge on September 8th, 2024. Within 48 hours of your submission, you’ll receive a confirmation email from us. This email will contain an essential code that you must use to finalize your registration.
Film Submission Date
Be sure to complete your online registration by the deadline of September 1st, 2024.

The PhxMF Film Festival is an integral part of our wider celebration of cinema,
designed not only to host the thrilling 5 Day Film Festival Challenge but also to
serve as a beacon for exceptional storytelling that Phoenix, Arizona is eager to embrace.
Our festival is an invitation to filmmakers worldwide to immerse
themselves in the art of storytelling and bring forth their cinematic treasures by
submitting to our different categories (different than then film challenge
category).
We are calling upon creators from every corner of the globe to submit their work
across an array of film genres. There is a place here for every story, a chance for
every vision to be acknowledged, and an opportunity for every filmmaker to
compete for recognition and accolades in an array of prestigious categories.
This is more than just a festival; it’s a movement—a collective endeavor where
we come together to create, to celebrate, and to revel in the joy of filmmaking.
We cordially invite you to join a distinguished assembly of artists where your
selected films will do more than merely appear on screen; they will vie for a
plethora of awards, judged by both a panel of experts and the opinions of an
engaged audience.
We guarantee that every film submitted to us receives the careful consideration
and respect it deserves.We deeply understand and value the hard work and
dedication that goes into each film. That’s why we shine the limelight on your
work through our unique offering: Officially Selected films will be granted up to
10 minutes of dedicated dialogue, delving into the intricacies of your filmmaking
process. This conversation will be featured on our official website, broadcast
on our YouTube channel, and shared widely across various social media
platforms.
Our committee is as eclectic as the films we honor, composed of an
international mosaic of professionals ranging from Architects to Entrepreneurs,
Artists to Filmmakers, and Producers. Each member contributes their distinct
lens to the cinematic experience, ensuring that every film is watched with the
utmost attention to detail and that your artistic vision is fully appreciated and
understood.

Awards & Prizes

Best Local Short Film
Best International Short Film
Best Local Short Documentary
Best International Short Documentary
Best Local Feature Fiction
Best Local Feature Documentary
Best International Feature Fiction
Best International Feature Documentary
Best Supporting Actor
Best Supporting Actress
Best Art Direction
Best of Arizona
Best Director
Best Screenplay
Best Original Idea
Best Music
Best Sound
Best Actor
Best Actress
Best Short Film
Best Cinematography
Best Supporting Actor
Best Supporting Actress
Best Sound
Best Original Idea
Best Directing
Best Art Direction
Best Lead Actor
Best Music
Best Lead Actress
Best Screen Play

Rules & Terms

All submissions will be received through Film Freeway only. No Exceptions.
This movie link must not require download and must remain active and accessible through the closing date of the festival.
Entry forms and payment will not be processed without an accompanying submission link in the accepted format.
Please include a Film poster, two film stills, and a director’s headshot with your entry. These can be emailed or included with the submission.
For (up to) a 5-minute interview, a set of questions about their chosen entry will be sent to the filmmaker.
The filmmaker is then responsible for editing answers to the questions into a high-resolution video, superimposed with our logo.
This completed edited video file must be sent back in the stipulated time communicated by the festival representative.
If the filmmaker wishes for the festival to take care of the editing, there will be a nominal fee to do so.
If the video is not received in the required format within the stipulated time, the festival reserves the right to disqualify the film.
Feel free to send along any additional press material, cast and crew bios or any other information about your film.
Filmmakers with Student IDs to submit the right category by providing Student ID.
Filmmakers 18 and under can submit their film in the respective category by providing a government-issued age-proof ID.
You can submit from all the countries as being student filmmaker, or producer; there are no restrictions. We consider films in any language but screened only in English. They need to be SUBTITLED, DUBBED in English or else the film will be disqualified. Festival is not responsible for any lost, stolen, or damaged entries.
Exceptions to the festival regulations must be authorized by the Festival Director.
Multiple entries are permissible, but each entry must be accompanied by a separate entry form and fee. Any situation related to music and copyrights belongs to the sender.
By submitting, you agree to publish your film’s trailers & images and you agree to share your data for promotional purposes.
Withdrawn films are considered they were disqualified and the fee will not be refunded.
All fees are non-refundable.
Submitting is not a guarantee of being programmed.
Written comments describing entries are beneficial.
Makers should authorize us to use the film in any platform independently or it will be disqualified.
Once the contest is over, winners can upload their films on IGTV only not on their YouTube channel.
ELIGIBILITY/ RIGHTS Submitted films should be the original work of the contestant.
We consider films regardless of their premiere status.
Limited to If your film has already premiered at another festival at a physical venue or on the festival’s site only.
Films available on the Internet are not eligible.
We consider films based on the competition program mentioned in the rules and regulations.
Features previously self-distributed by the filmmakers online are not eligible for consideration in Feature categories.
There are no additional eligibility criteria for short films.
All shorts are eligible! All screeners must be uploaded by the appropriate deadline.
Deadlines close at 11:59 PM PST.
We will contact entrants if there’s anything wrong with the submission.
If this occurs, you will need to fix the submission issue by the requested deadline, otherwise, we can’t guarantee that your film will be watched in time.
The films submitted to the contest will remain in the files of the Festival and the video archives. The works will not be commercially exploited.
Before any other different use, the authors will be contacted for receipt of the agreement.
The Film Festival has the right to exclude from the festival any film that is judged, at its sole discretion, not compliant with its ethical code or to the provisions of applicable law.
In case of exclusion, the festival fee that has already been paid will not be reimbursed.
We don’t provide screening fees.
The festival jury will also define, at its sole discretion, the winners of the festival categories.
The names of the winners will be announced on the festival’s official website, social media platforms and to the winners’ email addresses that are communicated at the time of the film submission.
The Festival reserves the right to opt for a different genre than the one the candidate chooses and indicated in the submission form; The Festival is not responsible for any spelling mistake or wrong information provided in the application.
The titles and names of filmmakers used in all promotional materials will always refer to the ones provided in the application.
Equally, title changes made by the filmmakers after the submission, may not be possible to alter, as such the applicant recognizes this at the moment of completing the submission.
The festival programmers do not share festival selection committee comments or ratings with the public or submit filmmakers. In fairness to all filmmakers, fee waiver requests will be declined.
Promotional materials of selected films become the property of the Film Festival and can be used to promote the Festival and the programs of the Festival in all mediums.