Carp Film Fest returns to Carpinteria for its second year, August 14-16, 2026, at the historic Alcazar Theatre.

Held in the charming beach town of Carpinteria, California, Carp Film Fest spotlights independent filmmakers, builds community connections, and continues the work we started in year one: a laid-back, welcoming home for short films on the Central Coast.

Whether you're a seasoned storyteller or an emerging voice in film, our festival remains an intimate, grassroots showcase, not a competition for scale. This year we're focused exclusively on short films and on getting a little better at what we do: sharper programming, a smoother submission process, and the same community spirit that made year one special. Come be part of our second chapter.

Awards & Prizes

Carp Film Fest will not offer formal monetary prizes or trophies this year. As in year one, our focus stays on community, creativity, and exposure over competition. Selected films will be recognized with informal category acknowledgments based on audience reactions and jury feedback.

Rules & Terms

Open to filmmakers of all experience levels, with a focus on works created in or connected to the Santa Barbara and Ventura County areas (but not exclusive to local filmmakers).

All genres and styles are welcome, including narrative, documentary, animation, experimental, and student films.

Films must be under 20 minutes in length for this year's showcase.

Submissions must be original works and not infringe upon any copyrights.

By submitting, you grant Carp Film Festival the non-exclusive rights to exhibit your film during the event and use stills/clips for promotional purposes.

This year's festival is a non-commercial, community-oriented showcase. Submissions are free of charge.

Filmmakers must have the rights to all music, footage, and other content used in their work.

SCREENING FORMAT: DCP REQUIRED
For submission and judging, upload a standard screener file via FilmFreeway (any common format is fine for review).

If your film is selected, you must deliver a DCP (Digital Cinema Package) for the actual theatrical screening. We cannot project any other file format, including ProRes, MP4, or MOV. This is a change from last year, when we accepted a range of file types; the Alcazar's projection system requires standard DCP files this year.

DCP delivery specs:
- Resolution: [2K, e.g. 2048x1080]
- Frame rate: [24fps]
- Audio: [5.1 or stereo, specify]
- Format: SMPTE-compliant, interoperable DCP

DCPs must be delivered via the link provided upon acceptance no later than July 31, 2026. Selected films that do not deliver a compliant DCP by this deadline may be removed from the program. If you do not have the technical means to create a DCP, contact us as soon as you're accepted so we can advise on options.