Trinity Film Festival (TFF) is a platform for collegiate filmmakers to exhibit their work to the widest possible audience of peers, professionals, and local audiences.

Undergraduate students from all around the world submit films to TFF in the hope of being awarded the opportunity to visit Cinestudio Theater in Hartford, CT and present their films to a packed audience in a venue without peer.

The thirteenth annual Trinity Film Festival will take place in Hartford in May 2024, with components held virtually at www.trinfilmfestival.org. This year's festival will continue to provide intimate connections for filmmakers and theatergoers at Cinestudio, reaching a wide audience in celebration of our thirteenth year.

Entrants must have produced their short film while enrolled as undergraduates at an accredited college or university within the approved Trinity Film Festival timeline, and must comply with all Entry Rules & Regulations, including the stipulation that films must be represented in-person at the festival to be eligible for screening.

Films of any genre will be accepted, but all films must be no longer than ten (10) minutes in length.

Cash awards will be given to at least the top three films, as judged by the TFF panel of film professionals. All will be welcome to vote for the Audience Choice winner.

Cash prizes will be awarded, in addition to in-kind services, products, and other awards. Unless otherwise approved by the Festival in writing, awards will be given to the winning film directors on behalf of the film and will be fulfilled approximately six (6) weeks after the closing date of TFF. Award eligibility is subject to any restrictions or conditions imposed by applicable laws and regulations (international, federal, state or otherwise), and the award recipient is responsible for all applicable taxes, customs, tariffs, insurance and similar charges or costs (if any). 2024 Awards listed are subject to change.

- Past Awards -
First Place Best Picture
Second Place Best Picture
Third Place Best Picture
Audience Choice
Alumni Choice
Screeners' Choice
BIPOC Excellence in Film
Best Director
Best Writing
Best Acting
Best Sound
Best Cinematography
Best Editing

UPDATE
Entrants must have produced their short film while enrolled as undergraduates at an accredited college or university within the Trinity Film Festival 2024 season.

Any film made since September 1, 2022 is eligible as long as the student is still enrolled at an accredited college or university during the festival, or finished their film in their final undergraduate year (fall 2022-spring 2023).

Films may be of any genre but must be no longer than ten (10) minutes in length.

Submissions may not be in work-in-progress form.

Eligibility: Please review the following conditions for eligibility:

1. Entrants must be enrolled as an undergraduate at an accredited college or university prior to Trinity Film Festival, and must fully comply with all Entry Rules & Regulations.

2. Submitted films must be no longer than ten (10) minutes in length.

3. Non-English dialogue works must have English subtitles.

4. Films screened, broadcasted, distributed or exhibited for public audiences on any Theatrical, DVD, or Television platform inside the United States before September 1, 2022 are INELIGIBLE for submission. Films privately screened for family, cast, students/faculty, or for critical feedback are ELIGIBLE for submission. Films “released” on any password protected web-based platform, such as Vimeo, are also ELIGIBLE for submission. Please write to tffsubmissions@gmail.com for any questions regarding eligibility.

How to Enter: Entrants will have successfully submitted to Trinity Film Festival by completing the two-step process below:

1. TFF is accepting submissions online through FilmFreeway. If digital entry is not possible, please contact tffsubmissions@gmail.com and we will work with you to make your submission possible.

2. Current student ID or equivalent proof of undergraduate enrollment or recent graduation date must be digitally scanned and emailed, along with all necessary contact info, to tffsubmissions@gmail.com at the time of submission.

Entrants may email tffsubmissions@gmail.com to find out if their submission has been successfully received, but submission status will also be updated on FilmFreeway. Properly completing the process through FilmFreeway will constitute an official TFF Entry Form. Any materials received through the mail will not be returned and will be archived or discarded by the Festival.

Multiple Entries: Multiple entries are accepted, but each entered film must be submitted through FilmFreeway separately.

If Your Work is Selected for the Festival: If your work is selected, you must fulfill the following requirements by the date(s) designated by the Festival:

1. You must execute a release agreement wherein you:
I. Confirm your ability to have your film represented at the TFF screening and Awards Ceremony.
II. Accept responsibility for obtaining any and all clearances necessary to exhibit your film at TFF.
III. Guarantee you have the rights necessary to exhibit your film at TFF.
IV. Indemnify and hold harmless TFF, its affiliates, subsidiaries, and any of their respective directors, officers, employees, and representatives against any claim arising out of exhibition of your film at TFF.
V. Acknowledge and accept that TFF may use clips and stills from your selected film as promotion for TFF.

2. You must deliver to the address(es) designated by the Festival:
I. One digital exhibition copy of the invited work.
II. Any additional exhibition or DVD copies if requested by the Festival. These conditions will be expressly and specifically addressed to you if your film is chosen for the Festival.

**All exhibition copies should be uploaded and delivered in Quicktime 1080p format unless otherwise stated.

Trinity Film Festival Shipping Address: All mail must be sent prepaid (including any applicable customs fees) to: Trinity Film Festival Trinity College, Box 702574 300 Summit St. Hartford, CT 06106

Any materials received through mail will not be returned and will be archived or discarded by the Festival.

Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Trinity Film Festival was absolutely fantastic. It was truly an event that wanted to celebrate films and filmmakers of all kinds of backgrounds. An incredibly memorable experience.

    May 2023
  • Such an incredible experience even during the pandemic. It is clearly one of the best festival I had the chance to participate. I hope to be back for the 2023 edition. Thank you again for giving me the opportunity to participate.

    January 2022
  • Christian Groen

    Lovely festival hosted by lovely people!

    July 2021
  • Simon Yahn

    Trinity was great about responding to the pandemic and still creating a good festival experience. Some of the limitations of zoom and online screenings did impact the experience but it was clear the energy and enthusiasm for film is still strong here.

    May 2021
  • Rafaël Beauchamp

    Great festival, fantastic people and great communication! This event has a lot of heart, which means a lot in the huge world of cinema where you can quickly be shrunk down to a name under a movie. Thanks for the opportunity and see you next year! :)

    May 2021