Abilene Christian University’s FilmFest is a student short film festival designed to give those interested in film production and the motion picture and entertainment industries a creative outlet at ACU and allow inroads into the industry through alumni and professionals that serve as judges for the event.

Students follow a specific calendar and rules tailored each year to create a short film. Judges across the United States evaluate those films; then awards are presented at a gala red-carpet event at Abilene’s historic Paramount Theatre in downtown Abilene. ACU FilmFest began in 2005. The top films in contention for best picture will be shown during live event.

The awards event is open to the public. Admission is free.

Awards & Prizes

Each year at the FilmFest Gala, the best work in student films will be honored with awards in performance and production categories.

Awards and prizes will be selected by FilmFest judges selected from a panel of ACU alumni and industry professionals.
Individual awards will be given based on achievement in a range of production and performance roles. We typically award only one person in each category, but an individual may win multiple awards.
Current full-time ACU students who are enrolled in at least 12 hours at the undergraduate level and 9 hours at the graduate level will be eligible for awards or prizes.
Non-students are welcome to all FilmFest events and feedback sessions but are not eligible for awards.

Rules & Terms

All participants must meet the requirements listed below. Failure to do so may result in disqualification of a film or team from FilmFest.

FilmFest is open to all ACU students. Non-students are allowed to participate given the following stipulations:
Production teams must include a majority of ACU students.
A “student” is defined as someone enrolled in at least 12 hours at ACU as an undergraduate or at least 9 hours at the graduate level during the fall or spring preceding the Gala.
Non-students are not eligible for awards or prizes.
ACU faculty and staff may not fill a production role but may contribute as actors or consultants on films.
Films must be written, directed, and produced by ACU students.
FilmFest production teams must meet all submission deadlines.
Students may begin working on films in the fall or spring semester, but teams must share production plans, scripts, and shooting schedules with the FilmFest Director.
FilmFest teams must make an effort to attend all FilmFest meetings and workshops.
Attendance is taken for all scheduled meetings and workshops and important topics of concern for all films will be discussed. Make sure to sign in.
At least one team member must be present from each film production team though the entire team may attend. Those attending should ensure any updates from meetings are communicated back to their production team.