In SANTA BARBARA, CA,

This is the 10th season of the 3-Minute Film Festival. It is a boutique festival that screens in July 2021, date and time TBA.

It's all About excellence and the number 3.

Original Score is a serious category, so don't forget to put that in your credits, if a composer wrote the music for your film -- Credit: Original Score.

3...THREE... is an Awesome Number! We live in the 3rd Dimension! Everyone loves a Major 3rd. The 3 Stooges were funny and all religions have something to do with 3, because --
It is all about three.

Films must be no longer than 3 minutes, credits must not extend longer than 20 seconds after the film is finish, which must end by 0.03:00.

Five genres are accepted: Narrative, Documentary, Animation, Experimental. And, once again, Original Music Scores are encouraged! Make sure you include them in credits and with the notation -- Original Score.

Awards & Prizes

Laurels will be given for: Official Selection, Winner for Best Documentary, Best Narrative, Best Experimental, and Best Original Music Score. Other acknowledgments are Finalist and Honorable Mention. Student work may be judged with all others, including professionals. There is a Director's Choice award, as well. And, also a People's Choice .

If you have a dance film, we will also be opening that category in 2022 through the International Fine Arts Film Festival, www.IFAFF.org. If you have a poem-based film go to the PoetryFilmFestival.org and enter there.

Films will be judged by professionals in the fields of filmmaking, writing, reviewing, film curating, photography and music composition.

No financial awards.

Rules & Terms

All work must be easily accessed and downloaded, created within the last five years, which includes 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022. Some exceptions are made.
If not in English, then there must be English subtitles. All work must arrive at least 2 weeks prior to the festival in an MP4 format or movie file to download..

Four genres accepted: Narrative, Documentary, Animation, Experimental.

Not accepted are: Political/Religious ads, gratuitous violence and abuse, or pornography.

If accepted, filmmakers are required to allow the festival to use trailers, clips and film information for promotions, including promoting original score music.

When entering this festival, we ask you to allow us to use your film in any Best of the Best re-runs of the festival seasons through out the life /seasons of the festival. All films chosen for any future screening will first have a notification to the filmmaker and/or the producer. No film will be screened after the festival in another venue unless the producer or filmmaker is notified and agrees to a future screening.
18 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • gaele sobott

    The organisers at 3 Minute Film Festival went above and beyond. They created a page on the Festival website called Poetry in Motion screening films with poetry at their base. They also invited discussion around poetry in film. Communication was fantastic. Our film, Dear Rosa won an Honourable Mention in the animation category. We would love to continue to work with this exciting Festival.

    August 2021
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  • Grecia Agular

    This was a great film festival that treat the filmmakers very well. I was sad I could not be there in person because of covid but it was still very enjoyable!

    August 2021
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    Response from festival:

    Thank you. It wasn't in-person this year but next year -- 2022--it will be. Congratulations on your big win as Best in Narrative.

  • Dasha Khritankova

    Great festival! Great communication, friendly team. I have a very positive with this festival!

    December 2020
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    Response from festival:

    Thank you Dasha, it was a pleasure screening your film. Great Job.

  • Derlis Alvarenga

    Great for meeting and greeting, I had a wonderful time watching the works of fellow filmmakers and animators while attending the festival in Santa Barbara.

    January 2019
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  • Tyler Cole

    I was unable to attend this year, but so honored to be selected. The communication was also wonderful!! A+++

    August 2018
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    Response from festival:

    Thank you Tyler!