Branson International Film Festival

Branson International Film Festival is designed to educate, equip and empower Independent Christian Filmmakers while celebrating their creative diversity. At this time, it is the only faith-based film festival being hosted in the Missouri Region. It is also the first and only Christian Faith-based festival being hosted in the metaverse space for global participation

Our focus is on helping you develop story that sells, fundraising, production, and distribution. You have options to consider. We have condensed our categories and changed the screening process to help open more opportunities for you.

All submitted projects must be done in a 1920 x1080p format to be considered for screening. Others will be considered for awards but will not be screened.

Full Feature awards ( any film 41 minutes to 90 minutes long)
Short Film Awards ( any work between 10 minutes and 40 minutes)
Best Proof of Concept (trailers/teasers)- Short films less than 10 minutes
Best Animation- any length of film done in animation
Best Documentary- any length based on factual events
Best Biblical Story- any length
Best Student Film- Developed by children through young adult (to age 21)
Best Toddler Film- any story developed for children between the ages of 1-5
Best Children Film - any story developed for children between the ages of 6-12
Best Youth Film- any story developed for youth between 13-19
Best Television Series concept- Pilots only please
Most Creative Christian Music Video
Best Script (must be 120 pages or less)
Agape Award
Lightning Ned Mitchell Award - sports stories
Debra Peppers - stories that shine the light of Hope in a Dark world

Films will not be accepted if they contain nudity, profanity, or sexual content.

Anyone affiliated with the Branson International Film Festival is not allowed to submit their own work for consideration.

If award or certificate recipient is not able to attend, their certificate will be emailed to them within thirty days after festival award ceremony completion. All fee's are non-refundable.

Officially Selected Winners must have their work available for download or available through youtube unlisted by sixty days before festival. Selected work not in compliance will default their submission.

Branson International Film Festival retains no rights to the stories submitted and are held accountable for the safety of their content. All judges are required to sign a NDA prior to viewing.

Overall Rating

Quality

Value

Communication

Hospitality

Networking

Cheryl McKay

I love the hearts of all of those who help run The Branson International Film Festival. They are champions of what we're doing, helpful, and have great resources. Honored to be a part of it.

July 2024

Helpful
Ludmila Tomashpolska

Ура! Наша команда ІТА ЮН-ПРЕС Київського Палацу дітей та юнацтва - стала фіналістом Міжнародного кінофестивалю Бренсона!. Але ми вітаємо всіх учасників кінофестивалю! Дякуємо журі за високу оцінку нашого документального фільму "Режисер Лесь Курбас", створеного кінематографістами-початківцями з України!

July 2024

Helpful
Manos Triantafillakis

Great !
Thank you !
Greetings from Greece 💙

July 2024

Helpful
Nongolo Muteto

An amazing film festival! Thank you Branson international for the awards of Best children Film. What an incredible honor!

July 2024

Helpful
Tina Wake

Great festival thanks for having our Aussie film!

June 2024

Helpful

Add to List

Dates & Deadlines

March 23, 2024
Opening Date
August 31, 2024
Earlybird Deadline
October 31, 2024
Regular Deadline
November 30, 2024
Late Deadline
March 31, 2025
Extended Deadline
May 31, 2025
Notification Date
August 7 – 9, 2025
Event Date

Categories & Fees

Full Feature- Best Film
Any non-documentary, narrative work that is 41minutes - 120minutes in length. CANNOT contain any nudity, profanity or sexual content. Must be Christian faith-based in concept.
- Earlybird Deadline
- Standard: $70
- Student: $30
- Gold Members: $55
- Regular Deadline
- Standard: $85
- Student: $35
- Gold Members: $65
- Late Deadline
- Standard: $120
- Student: $40
- Gold Members: $80
- Extended Deadline
- Standard: $150
- Student: $50
- Gold Members: $100
Short Film- Best Short Film
All films, documentary, narrative, animation, between the lengths of 10minutes -40 minutes. Films CANNOT contain nudity, profanity, sexuality.
- Earlybird Deadline
- Standard: $30
- Student: $20
- Gold Members: $25
- Regular Deadline
- Standard: $40
- Student: $30
- Gold Members: $35
- Late Deadline
- Standard: $75
- Student: $40
- Gold Members: $40
- Extended Deadline
- Standard: $90
- Student: $50
- Gold Members: $65
Proof of concept
This category is for all non-documentary, non-animated, narrative works that are 10 minutes or less. Suggest to submit pilots to this category as well. All Films CANNOT contain nudity, profanity or sexuality.
- Earlybird Deadline
- Standard: $10
- Student: $8
- Gold Members: $7.50
- Regular Deadline
- Standard: $25
- Student: $12
- Gold Members: $15
- Late Deadline
- Standard: $40
- Student: $20
- Gold Members: $30
- Extended Deadline
- Standard: $50
- Student: $30
- Gold Members: $40
Best Animation
Any length of film in the animation category 120 minutes or less. Pieces in all 5 animation categories will be accepted. Traditional, (2D, cel, hand drawn), 2 D Vector based, 3D computer animation, motion graphics (typography, logo) and Stop Motion (Claymation, cutouts, puppets, etc) Animation CANNOT contain nudity, profanity or sexual content.
- Earlybird Deadline
- Standard: $10
- Student: $8
- Gold Members: $7.50
- Regular Deadline
- Standard: $25
- Student: $12
- Gold Members: $15
- Late Deadline
- Standard: $35
- Student: $20
- Gold Members: $25
- Extended Deadline
- Standard: $50
- Student: $30
- Gold Members: $40
Best documentary
All films entered must be in documentary format and under 120 minutes. They must be faith driven and contain no nudity, profanity or sexual content.
- Earlybird Deadline
- Standard: $10
- Student: $8
- Gold Members: $7.50
- Regular Deadline
- Standard: $35
- Student: $12
- Gold Members: $25
- Late Deadline
- Standard: $50
- Student: $30
- Gold Members: $40
- Extended Deadline
- Standard: $75
- Student: $40
- Gold Members: $65
Best Biblical Story
The greatest story ever told is that about the life of Jesus. There are other amazing stories documented before and after his time on Earth. We understand that some of those stories contain nudity and sexual content, however, for the sake of the viewing audience we ask that those still be omitted from this festival. All others are welcome to submit.
- Earlybird Deadline
- Standard: $10
- Student: $8
- Gold Members: $7.50
- Regular Deadline
- Standard: $35
- Student: $20
- Gold Members: $25
- Late Deadline
- Standard: $50
- Student: $30
- Gold Members: $40
- Extended Deadline
- Standard: $75
- Student: $40
- Gold Members: $65
Best Student Film
These films are all non-documentary, non-animated films created by people ages 21 and under. We will be looking for original story ideas and creativity in their work as well as technical skillsets. Films CANNOT contain nudity, profanity, or sexual content.
- Earlybird Deadline
- Standard: $10
- Gold Members: $7.50
- Regular Deadline
- Standard: $25
- Gold Members: $12
- Late Deadline
- Standard: $40
- Gold Members: $30
- Extended Deadline
- Standard: $50
- Gold Members: $40
Best Children Film
Any film age appropriate for ages 6-12. Looking for inspirational stories that challenge children in their faith and belief in Jesus as well as how they treat others. Films CANNOT contain nudity, profanity or sexual content.
- Earlybird Deadline
- Standard: $10
- Student: $8
- Gold Members: $7.50
- Regular Deadline
- Standard: $35
- Student: $20
- Gold Members: $25
- Late Deadline
- Standard: $50
- Student: $30
- Gold Members: $40
- Extended Deadline
- Standard: $75
- Student: $40
- Gold Members: $50
Best Youth Film
Any film age appropriate for youth ages 13-19 years old. Films submitted to this category could be designed to challenge them in their faith in Jesus as well as stories that teach them how to be bold and courage. Films CANNOT contain nudity, profanity, or sexual content.
- Earlybird Deadline
- Standard: $10
- Student: $8
- Gold Members: $7.50
- Regular Deadline
- Standard: $25
- Student: $20
- Gold Members: $15
- Late Deadline
- Standard: $50
- Student: $30
- Gold Members: $40
- Extended Deadline
- Standard: $75
- Student: $40
- Gold Members: $50
Best Television Series
This category is for pilots of miniseries only. Suggested submissions would be reality television show concept, comedy, drama, action, mystery, etc. Pilots should contain enough content to cause the viewer to want to see more. Films CANNOT contain nudity, profanity, or sexual content.
- Earlybird Deadline
- Standard: $10
- Gold Members: $7.50
- Regular Deadline
- Standard: $15
- Gold Members: $12
- Late Deadline
- Standard: $35
- Gold Members: $25
- Extended Deadline
- Standard: $50
- Gold Members: $40
Most Creative Christian Music Video
This category is open to all Christian music video no matter the genre. We are looking for creative, inspiration and original content. Songs must be owned by the performer. Video's CANNOT contain any nudity, profanity or sexual content and should be appropriate for the Christian community to watch.
- Earlybird Deadline
- Standard: $10
- Student: $8
- Gold Members: $7.50
- Regular Deadline
- Standard: $15
- Student: $12
- Gold Members: $11.25
- Late Deadline
- Standard: $25
- Student: $20
- Gold Members: $22
- Extended Deadline
- Standard: $50
- Student: $30
- Gold Members: $40
Agape Award
This award will be given to any Award or Honorary Certificate Recipient for the overall outstanding work on their film. It will exemplify excellence, obvious dedication to biblical principles, and have something unique that causes it to shine above the rest. There is no fee because it will be one of the awards already submitted in a previous category.***Please note- any films submitted for this that are NOT in previous category are NOT qualified and will NOT be considered. If you have submitted for this award you CAN still submit to other categories accordingly.
- Earlybird Deadline
- Standard: Free
- Regular Deadline
- Standard: Free
- Late Deadline
- Standard: Free
- Extended Deadline
- Standard: Free
Best Script
All genre scripts must be 120 pages or less and contain no nudity, profanity or sexual content. Scripts must include accurate cover page along with summary and tagline on film freeway form.
- Earlybird Deadline
- Standard: $25
- Student: $20
- Gold Members: $20
- Regular Deadline
- Standard: $50
- Student: $30
- Gold Members: $40
- Late Deadline
- Standard: $75
- Student: $40
- Gold Members: $65
- Extended Deadline
- Standard: $100
- Student: $50
- Gold Members: $90
Lightning Ned Mitchell "Shooting Star" Award
As the founder of the WBA and author of The Vision, Lightning Ned Mitchell has been an integral part of women’s professional basketball. His testimony of faith and trusting God with the outcome is told through "The Shooting Star" story. Lightning has encouraged people through generations in the sports field and it's our joy to honor other sports stories with an award dedicated to his labor of love for God, Country, and the passion of sports.
- Earlybird Deadline
- Standard: $25
- Student: $20
- Gold Members: $20
- Regular Deadline
- Standard: $50
- Student: $30
- Gold Members: $40
- Late Deadline
- Standard: $75
- Student: $40
- Gold Members: $65
- Extended Deadline
- Standard: $100
- Student: $50
- Gold Members: $90
Debra Peppers Shining Light Award
Dr. Debra Peppers one of five teachers inducted into the National Teachers Hall of Fame,(1999) inducted into the Midwest Hall of Fame.(2006) a member of the National Speakers Association, has traveled the world sharing good news to people who find themselves in dark places. We honor her and students work that shines a light in dark places so that the character can find their way out.
- Earlybird Deadline
- Standard: $25
- Student: $20
- Gold Members: $20
- Regular Deadline
- Standard: $50
- Student: $30
- Gold Members: $40
- Late Deadline
- Standard: $75
- Student: $40
- Gold Members: $65
- Extended Deadline
- Standard: $100
- Student: $50
- Gold Members: $90

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Cheryl McKay

Ludmila Tomashpolska

Manos Triantafillakis

Nongolo Muteto

Tina Wake