Tag Line:
Short Films. Big Ideas. Small Budgets. All Ages. Real Connections.

Mission Statement:
The Balboa Del Mar Film Festival seeks to support and promote emerging, independent, and non-dependent filmmakers for short subject films created with little to no budget and to showcase student filmmakers of all ages. (Youth to Seniors.) We want to share original stories with the community and with filmmakers who value the spirit of independent film.

We want to provide a platform for filmmakers of all levels of experience from student films, including both "film school" and "pre-film school" (Youth / 17 and under) to indie filmmakers. Creativity and quality are the guiding criteria, not prior experience.

Presented at the beautiful Lido Theater in Newport Beach, California in July 2026, the Balboa Del Mar Film Festival will present short format films (20 minutes or less). Encouraged subjects (but not limited to) include: Animation, Documentary, Action, and Fiction.

The event will host a casually catered "meet and greet" and award ceremony for the filmmakers in attendance. This is open to public attendees as well. Come ask your favorite filmmaker questions in a friendly, relaxed environment.

There will be trophies for the awards in the categories below, as well as awards for Audience Favorites. (Unfortunately, we cannot provide cash prizes.)

A word about the venue: if you are in Southern California and love Art Deco, the Lido Theater is a must see! It combines classic Art Deco style architecture and design with marine themed tile murals and a dramatic hand-painted ceiling.

The Lido Theater truly is a time capsule from the golden age of Hollywood.

For further information about the Lido Theater and its history, please see:
https://www.TheLidoTheater.com

The Balboa Del Mar film Festival is a proud member of the Film Festival Alliance and is a Federally recognized 5013(c) non-profit organization. EIN: 39-3576212

So filmmakers and film lovers, you are invited to participate in and attend the Balboa Del Mar Film Festival!

Awards & Prizes

Winners will be awarded for:
Best Actor
Best Actress
Best Cinematography
Best Director
Best Editor
Best Music
Best Screenplay
Best Sound
And Audience Favorite

Best Animation
Best Action / Sports
Best Comedy
Best Documentary
Best Drama / Fiction
Best Horror
Best Thriller
Best Science Fiction

Best Student Filmmaker (17 & Under)
Best Student Filmmaker (18 & Older)
Best Regional / Local Filmmaker (Southern California)
Best Non-Regional Filmmaker (USA/Canada)
Best International Film

Each winner will receive a small trophy prize, presented at the post festival screening "Meet & Greet". All festival attendees along with the filmmakers are invited to this casual event. All filmmaker attendees to the festival are provided with admission ticket and "+2" tickets.

Judging by our panel in each category is done on a weighted z-Score rank of 1 to 10. All films submitted will be viewed 100% of duration by the judging panel. (Unless deemed inappropriate to be programmed.)

You do NOT need to apply or pay an extra fee for every category to be considered. One submission fee per film applies to all categories.

Rules & Terms

- [ ] Each film submitted is limited to 20 minutes or less, including titles and credits. ("20 minutes or less" is 00:20:59. 00:21:xx is not qualified)
- [ ] Not all films submitted will be shown.
- [ ] Not all films shown will win.
- [ ] Submission fees are not refunded if your film is not selected.
- [ ] NO AI of any kind to be utilized.
- [ ] Film must have been created in last 3 years.
- [ ] Student Youth Film (17 & younger)- film must have been made when you were a minor. It's on the honor system. Nothing to prove.
- [ ] Film School student (adult) - proof of enrollment in last 3 years required. (Just send us your film school name student ID number. )
- [ ] Film must be complete when submitted - No "works in progress" nor changes after submission. Sorry, you are locked in.
- [ ] If the film is the premiere, just let us know. If not, that's OK.
- [ ] No vertical, portrait or 9:16 ratio submissions.
- [ ] No adult only themed, overt sex, hate speech or violence. (Minors may be present.)
- [ ] Subtitles required if not in English.
- [ ] Film is to be uploaded to FilmFreeway or a Vimeo link to be provided to the festival judges.
- [ ] Accepted formats for judging are MP4, MOV, AVI. If accepted we will ask for Apple ProRes 422HQ or equivalent for the DCP.
- [ ] If selected, you must provide artwork for a "movie / lobby poster". High resolution / print ready (PNG/PSD), for 14"x36" lobby card we will have printed for you. (Will be used to locate you for the post screening "Meet & Greet" if you attend the festival.)
- [ ] The Festival Director reserves the right to revoke screening or awards. All decisions are final.

MORE...
Copyright release. Original works only. You, the filmmaker, must attest that you have full rights to all material shown, including but not limited to the screenplay, music and sound. If selected, you the filmmaker, must sign a Copyright Waiver and Indemnification form in order for your film to be shown. Again, no AI to be used.

Unlike Douglas Adam's quote, "I love deadlines. I love the whooshing noise they make as they go by.", here the deadlines are etched in stone.

The festival has permission to use clips and images of your film before, during, and after in order to promote the festival. If selected, we may ask you for a trailer in which to promote your film and the festival. Trailers may appear on the festival website BalboaDelMarFilmFestival.com.