Join us at one of the most scenic Jersey Shore summer destinations for the inaugural AVALON FAMILY FILM FESTIVAL!

MonaVision Films will present the Festival at the iconic Bobby Dee’s Rock n’ Chair, steps from the beautiful beach in the picturesque town of Avalon on the Jersey Shore.

The Avalon Family Film Festival will provide a space where families can experience independent cinema, showcasing a diverse array of high-quality films that are accessible to all ages. We invite filmmakers to submit any works that meet our criteria below.

MonaVision Films exists to entertain, uplift, and move the human heart through storytelling and we are excited to share this mission with a community of filmmakers. Submitted films should be family-friendly and can explore stories of redemption, triumph, hope, faith, love, nature, and shared humanity. Films should not exceed a “PG” rating and this is not the festival for any explicit sexual content or gore. Filmmakers are encouraged to submit a note with their submissions sharing how their films align with this mission.

For more than a century, Avalon has been a popular vacation destination for beach lovers everywhere. Located on the 7 Mile Beach, sharing the island with Stone Harbor to the south, this island offers a unique charm that you won’t find anywhere else, with a seven-mile stretch of white-sand beaches, touched by the Atlantic Ocean. Enjoy unlimited activities including boating, sailing, wave running, kayaking, paddle boarding, fishing, surfing and more in the island’s ocean and back bays. Avalon’s downtown shopping district has everything you need including high-end boutiques and retail stores featuring clothing, shoes, accessories, beach toys, books and much more. Family activities abound, including several mini golf locations, family dining, and local spots for homemade ice cream. Avalon also sits in close proximity to the nightlife of Atlantic City, and other iconic south Jersey beach towns including Ocean City and Cape May.

Bobby Dee’s Rock n' Chair restaurant, affectionately known as “The Chair”, is the favorite spot for locals and visitors who want live music, great food and signature cocktails. Festival events will take place in the upstairs screening room, while the downstairs restaurant and bar will remain a hub for filmmakers to network and mingle as the events are in full swing.

The three-day festival will host panels of experts, Q&A sessions with filmmakers, NYC agents, networking opportunities with distributors with plenty of time to explore the surrounding beaches and attractions.

Festival Schedule:
Thursday 8/27 Feature film, red carpet opening, opening party
Friday 8/28 Film screenings, industry panels
Saturday 8/29 Film screenings, awards ceremony, closing party

We look forward to viewing your films!

Awards & Prizes

Awards will be given to the Best Film in each category, along with an Audience Favorite Award, and a cash prize for Best of Fest.

Submitted films may be considered in multiple categories:
Drama
Comedy
Animation
Documentary
Faith-based
Sci-fi/Supernatural
Surf/Skate/Snowboard
Children’s
Student
Home Grown (NJ filmmakers)
Short Film (under 40 minutes)
Music Video

Rules & Terms

Compliance with these Rules and Guidelines is necessary in order to participate in the 2026 Avalon Family Film Festival (AFFF). Submission of a film implies unconditional acceptance of the Rules & Guidelines, therefore, please carefully read through the Rules prior to submitting your film. If you have any questions, please contact info@monavisionfilms.com

1. The Entrant/s submitting the film must hold all legal rights for the submission, as well as all necessary clearances for public exhibition.

2. The Filmmaker/s retain/s all submission and intellectual property rights.

3. Films completed after January 1, 2023 are eligible for submission. There are no requirements for premiere status.

4. Film must not exceed that which would be allowed by a "PG" rating. The festival's selection panel has discretion in determining whether a movie's content would be allowed under a "PG" rating. For more information on rating classifications, please see pages 5-7 of the MPAA's rating guidelines - https://www.filmratings.com/Content/Downloads/rating_rules.pdf Absolutely no explicit, sexual content or gore.

4. Films must be submitted electronically via FilmFreeway. The Filmmaker/s is/are responsible for making sure all submission materials are submitted by the submission deadline indicated. Please keep screener links and passwords up-to-date and notify AFFF office promptly with any changes. Please test your media prior to submission to make sure they run properly and are not damaged.

5. All non-English films must include English subtitles.

6. Filmmakers may submit more than one film for the Festival provided that each film is submitted separately and meet AFFF guidelines. Submitted films may be considered in multiple categories.

7. A student submitting a film must provide a photocopy of a current and valid student ID or a letter from his/her school verifying enrollment.

8. All personal contact information is to remain confidential and not to be shared with any third parties.

9. AFFF reserves the right to use images from films selected in the Festival for marketing purposes.

10. All decisions regarding award winners are considered final and incontestable.

11. Applicants acknowledge that AFFF reserves the right to change the nature of screenings and events due to circumstances related to public health and welfare or at the direction of local, state, or federal authorities. In such cases, no submission refunds shall be issued.

12. AFFF reserves the right to amend these rules and terms at any time. Any changes will be communicated to participants via the FilmFreeway platform.