Join us for the 4th annual Daybreak Film Festival! We are looking for creators of all backgrounds and experience to share their talents with us.

Submission window: May 1- August 28

Notification Date: October 1

Festival Date: November 11

We will email PDF certificates stating participation in the film festival to the primary contact for each film shown at the festival.

Winners are selected from each category and are the top scores within those categories. Winners who choose to attend the film festival in person will receive an award for each winning film. Awards will be available for pickup for five business days after the festival. Categories will be determined after submission to allow fair comparison that accounts for age and experience.

In each category, the film with the highest score will be the winner. Winners who choose to attend the film festival will receive their award on the day of the festival. Awards will be available for pickup five business days after the festival for those winners who do not attend.

Categories will be determined after the submission deadline and announced a week before the start of the festival.

If enough submissions are received, we may also provide certificates or awards for winners within film categories. Screeners select the film’s category after your submission. Potential award categories are: Best Animated Film, Best Documentary, Best Music Video, Best First Time Filmmaker, Best of Daybreak, Best Narrative, and Audience Choice. These categories are entirely dependent on submissions received. No accolades are guaranteed.

Q&A with the Creator(s)
We may request to post Q&As with the creator(s) of each film on our social media pages. People will submit questions, and the questions and answers will be posted on our social media pages throughout or after the festival. We may also include a Q&A within the festival after awards are received. You will be notified after selection day and confirmation of your attendance.
Financing
This competition is for films made by individuals or groups for no commercial gain. Financing, however sourced, must only be used to cover the direct costs of producing the film, including (but not limited to) transportation, equipment hire, copyright fees, catering, and actual expenses incurred by actors and crew. Paid assistance from professionals, including for production, talent, or postproduction is not permitted. If it is discovered, either before or after receiving any award, that a film has infringed these requirements, the organizers reserve the right to disqualify it, revoke any awards, and reclaim any prizes.
Additional Terms
Films must be fully completed before the date the project is submitted.
The Daybreak Film Festival may use portions of your film (including trailers/teasers/stills/posters) for promotional purposes.
Festival event dates and times may be delayed or changed.

By submitting this film, you DO HEREBY WAIVE, RELEASE, DISCHARGE, AND COVENANT NOT TO SUE VP Daybreak Operations LLC, Daybreak Community Council, LLC., LiveDAYBREAK, Daybreak Community Association, Inc., LTD., Daybreak Village Association, Inc., Capital Consultants Management Corporation, VP Daybreak Devco LLC, VP Daybreak Devco 2, Inc., LHMRE, LLC, Larry H. Miller Real Estate, the Larry H. Miller Group of Companies, and their respective owners, directors, officers, employees, agents, contractors, affiliates, successors, assigns, sponsors, volunteers, representatives, the organizer of the Event (Daybreak Community Council ), and other related parties (collectively, the “Released Parties”) for any accident, harm, bodily injury (up to and including death), illness, and/or loss of or damage to property, and hold harmless from and against any and all claims, liabilities, losses, damages, and expenses (including but not limited to attorney's fees, and costs of the court) which may be incurred by reason of any claim involving copyright, trademark, credits, publicity, screening, and loss of or damage to the screening videos entered.

For more information, please visit our website: https://www.mydaybreak.com/live/

For additional questions, please email: ahill@livedaybreak.com

Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Jon Farrington

    Great local festival. Will be back next year

    May 2026
  • Elyse Miller

    This was such a cool experience!! Fantastic submissions all around and so fun to see so many cool films. First time I've ever been able to see something I've made screened anywhere, which was so exciting. Everyone who put this festival together did an amazing job!

    November 2024
  • Jon Tinsley

    Working with Daybreak Film Fest was such a smooth experience with clear and concise communication and overall, just pleasant to get involved with this. Thanks for holding it down Madeline!

    November 2024
  • B Snow

    it was the first run for a small festival, but it was still so much fun! We've submitted for this year as well.

    September 2024