FEES AND DEADLINES
Early Bird Period: September 1, 2026 - December 1, 2026: $10
Regular Period: December 2, 2026 - February 8, 2027: $15
Notice of Acceptance: No later than February 20, 2027
Festival Dates: Friday, April 10 and Saturday, April 11, 2027
The BisonBison Film Festival is open to filmmakers whose films were made while enrolled at an accredited university or technical school in Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Arkansas, and Texas.
- We accept films regardless of premiere status. Whether your work has shown at another festival, been made available to watch online, or only been viewed by yourself, we'll consider it!
- All works must be 30 minutes or less in length, including titles and credits. Any film exceeding this limit will not be considered.
- No works in progress or incomplete entries are accepted.
- The work must have been created within the past two years and the filmmaker must have been an enrolled student at an accredited institution at the time the film was created.*
- Any films that contain unauthorized or unacknowledged copyrighted material will be disqualified.
- Any films that utilize generative AI of any kind in their creation are ineligible.
* = Principal photography must have been completed while enrolled as a student.
SUBMISSION GUIDELINES
Each director or producer can submit up to two entries, however, only one will be considered for viewing in the Festival.
1. A copy of a valid student ID must be submitted with the entry.
2. The director or producer MUST provide a brief synopsis of the entry, the Motion Picture Association of America rating (G, PG, PG-13, etc), a brief biography of self including the school attending/attended, and a current headshot. We create pamphlets for the entire festival to showcase each film and we'd hate to have to leave any section blank!
3. The director or producer MUST own the rights to the project and must give permission for the entry to be downloaded for showing.
4. The submitter must provide a valid email. We will contact you upon forming selections and provide you with our custom laurels!
(All items can be uploaded on FilmFreeway.)
The festival values all forms of entertainment and does not wish to impose any limits or forms of censorship. However, we do look for work that: highlights stories that affect or relate to one’s community, provokes a response on pertinent issues, tells an innovative and original story, displays a personal message that the storyteller wants to impart on an audience, pushes the boundaries of the medium in an innovative manner, demonstrates overall solid storytelling and mastery of the genre utilized and/or showcases provides a forum for discussion.
Please don’t think you shouldn’t submit because you think you’re an amateur. We will show a variety of films from filmmakers with varying experience! The goal of BBFF is to help you grow as a filmmaker. DON’T get discouraged if you’re not accepted. There are so many films, but only so many festival screening slots.
And lastly, please follow us on social media! BBFF is a non-profit with limited budget, so any marketing help you can give is very much appreciated!
BisonBison Film Festival (BBFF) reserves the right in its sole discretion to reject or disqualify any entries without a refund. Disqualification is at the sole discretion of BBFF Board of Directors and BBFF Selection Committee.
