The Big Muddy Film Festival, based at Southern Illinois University Carbondale has become one of the best-respected, wholly independent, community-focused film festivals. In its 41st year, Big Muddy is one of the oldest student-organized film festivals in the United States.

Awards & Prizes

The Festival provides cash awards to the best works in competition in the categories of experimental, documentary, narrative, and animation. The program is juried by three artists or critics of national and international recognition. Past Jurors have included Barbara Hammer, Naomi Uman, Jim Jarmusch, Kerry Laitala, James Benning, Tomonari Nishikawa, Anna Margarita Albelo, Ben Kalina and Alrick Brown.

A panel of local activists awards The John Michaels Memorial Film Award, which honors films as activism that address themes of peace, justice, community action, human rights, and environmental conservation.

Also awarded is the Mike Covell Award, named after the man who helped found the Big Muddy, Honoring Film created in the southern Illinois region.

Rules & Terms

Accepted Formats:
For pre-viewing: DVD/Blu-Ray or .MOV Quicktime, or online screeners
For The Festival screening: DVD/Blu-Ray or .MOV Quicktime

The Big Muddy Film Festival is looking for films of any style, length, content, and genre. The Festival is organized into the categories of experimental, narrative, documentary, and animation.

Cash prizes are awarded to the best of competition in each category. The John Michaels Film Award continues to recognize and honors films as forms of activism addressing themes of peace, justice, community action, human rights, and environmental conservation.

Submission:
Each work submitted should be accompanied by an entry form and fee. Please submit only one film for each entry form, and include only one film per screener DVD.

Multiple submissions are welcome. If you wish to submit more than one film, please use separate entry forms and screener DVDs.

Works must be in English or with English subtitles. All films should be completed after J. Works that had been previously submitted to The Big Muddy Film Festival are not eligible.

Shipping
Please do not mail films in fiber filled envelopes. Remember to label your film(s) with the FilmFreeway ID, director/producer's names, film title, and running time.
12 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
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Networking
  • Alec Gutherz

    Although no one from my film could make it to the festival, we deeply appreciated the opportunity to screen GOD'S COUNTRY at the Big Muddy Film Festival. The communication throughout the process was great and I very much look forward to submitting my next film there and hopefully having the chance to attend. Thank you!

    April 2018
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  • Asuka Lin

    I had such a great time in Southern Illinois!!! Thank you to the organizers for being amazing hosts that fed us and drove us around town. Loved every minute of attending and can't wait to submit next year :))

    March 2018
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  • Dan Parris

    We were really honored to have our film play in the Festival and the staff was very easy to work with. They even shared news about the film following the actual screening to help spread what we were doing. Will definitely submit future films!

    March 2018
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  • Nick Nummerdor

    They screened our short doc "Hill Climb" and I was unable to attend but the communication was really great and friendly. The program was well organized and advertised- I thought it was great that they had actual awards and finalists so even if you didn't win an award you know that people enjoyed your film. Thanks so much for your effort!

    March 2018
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  • Susan Rivo

    I wasn't able to attend, but my experience with this Festival was wonderful. They are great to work with, very professional, well-organized, great communication, excellent publicity, and they could not have been nicer.

    March 2018
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