Bright Minds Film Festival is dedicated to showcasing films that entertain, inspire, educate, and explore the fascinating world of young minds. Open to filmmakers of all ages, our festival celebrates youth-focused storytelling—whether through compelling themes, animations, engaging narratives, or innovative perspectives. If your film highlights the experiences, imagination, and creativity of children and teens, it has a home here. Bright Minds Film Festival is your chance to shine!

We believe in the power of storytelling—its ability to spark curiosity, inspire change, and bring people together. That’s why we intentionally offer 60 diverse categories to ensure there is space for every type of storyteller. Whether your film is animated, live-action, documentary, experimental, or something entirely unique, there’s a place for it at Bright Minds. Our goal is to welcome storytellers of all backgrounds, providing an opportunity to showcase their vision and be recognized.

Each month, we celebrate films that capture the power of youth-driven storytelling, spanning animation, live-action, and documentary filmmaking. Selected films will be featured in our monthly showcases, earning official Bright Minds laurels, certificates, and recognition on our website. Monthly winners will advance to the year-end grand festival, where standout films are celebrated and honored, with cash prizes awarded to the most outstanding works.

✨ A Festival That Gives Back! ✨
A portion of every submission fee contributes to the Bright Minds Filmmaker Grant, providing scholarships to talented youth filmmakers. By submitting, you’re not just entering a competition—you’re helping create opportunities for emerging storytellers to bring their visions to life.

Awards & Prizes

Each month, outstanding films receive Bright Minds laurels, official recognition, and are featured on our website as well as our Social Media page! Winning filmmakers will also have the option to participate in an exclusive written Q&A, sharing their creative process and insights. Monthly winners will advance to the year-end grand festival, where standout films are celebrated and honored, with cash prizes awarded to the most outstanding films!

Rules & Terms

Bright Minds Film Festival – Official Rules & Terms are subject to change.

1. Eligibility
Films must be for, about, or inspired by youth content. Filmmakers of any age may submit their work. All entries must be family-friendly—content should be appropriate for young audiences.

2. Submission Guidelines
Films must be between 1-30 minutes (shorts) or 40+ minutes (features). Accepted formats include animation and live-action. Filmmakers may submit the same film in multiple categories within a single monthly showcase. Films that win first place in any category may not be resubmitted to the same category in future months. However, they may still be entered into new categories they have not previously won in. Films must be submitted via FilmFreeway with a working link. Entries must be original works—no unauthorized clips or copyrighted material.

3. Copyright & Permissions
Submitters must own or have clearance for all content, including music, images, and footage. By submitting, filmmakers grant non-exclusive rights for the festival to showcase their film on official platforms. The festival does not claim ownership over any submissions.

4. Selection Process & Awards
Monthly winners are chosen based on storytelling, creativity, and technical quality. Winning films receive official laurels, certificates, and features on the festival website (and more). 1st place monthly winners automatically advance to the year-end showcase for additional recognition.

5. Festival Conduct & Ethics
The festival promotes inclusive, respectful storytelling—films that discriminate or depict harmful content will not be accepted. Any false or misleading information in submissions may result in disqualification.

6. Social Media & Public Commentary
We encourage filmmakers to celebrate their participation in Bright Minds Film Festival on social media! Official festival laurels may be used for promotional posts, as long as they are not altered or misrepresented. Constructive discussions are welcome, but any negative, defamatory, or harmful commentary about the festival, judges, or winners will not be tolerated. Public criticism or complaints regarding selection outcomes should be handled professionally and not directed at individual filmmakers or festival staff. Any attempts to discredit the festival, harass winners, or spread false claims may result in disqualification from future submissions.