WELCOME TO DEAD CITY…

The Dead City Film Festival is an annual celebration of raw, independent filmmaking that thrives in the overlooked corners of America and beyond. Hosted at the historic Fairborn Phoenix in Fairborn, Ohio—a restored 1948 Streamline Moderne theater—the festival champions the gritty, DIY spirit of creators from so-called “dead cities” .

Awards include the Spirit of The Dead featuring a custom skull trophy and a $1,000 gear rental package from Midwest Grip and Lighting, as well as the Spirit of the Dead and Swarm honors . Audience engagement is integral, with votes cast via tickets, adding a communal and spirited dimension to the event.

Beyond film screenings, the festival atmosphere is enriched with live punk performances and local food trucks. It's a gathering that celebrates the tenacity of filmmakers who turn adversity into art.

For more information or to submit your film or contact the organizers at contact@fairbornphoenix.com.

Awards & Prizes

Best Of Dead City Prize: Dead City Skull Trophy & Midwest $1000 coupon grip & gear
More to come!
Spirit of the Dead: Dead City trophy & a beer **
Swarm Award : A Beer and Dead City trophy **

**if you're under 21 we'll figure something out

Rules & Terms

1. The film must be under 20 minutes.
2. Films that are from directors from "Dead Cities" and low budgets advantage over films that have larger budgets and more populated cities.

Voting:

Films are judged based on the total points awarded by anonymous judges made up of all walks of life and the audience ticket votes.

The Best Of Award is the total points awarded by the judges and the audience votes, which is the highest overall.

The Swarm is an Audience Award based on the audience votes.

Spirit of the Dead has lower judge points but a higher audience vote.

There are no Sweeps.

Be Cool.

*It’s okay if you don’t think you’re cool. You made a film, so you’re pretty cool.

3 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Tanner Hamilton

    Thankful to have been selected, but disappointed by the lack of communication and online presence of the festival. We wanted to go, but we were only notified four days prior to the event, and without any official communication, only the default FilmFreeway notification email. Since we had heard nothing in the weeks prior to the fest, we assumed we hadn't gotten in, and made other plans. We live in Michigan, and four days during the busy Halloween season isn't enough time to make travel plans, especially without any information online about the festival itself. Schedule, list of shorts, any plan at all was a mystery until the day before. We love the idea of this fest, and wanted to support it, but it ended up being disappointing to us. We hope those who attended had a good time!

    November 2025
    Helpful
  • Markham Samuels

    Thanks so much DEAD CITY FILM FEST for having us as part of the festival! It was wonderful join the film festival this season, thanks again from everyone on the "Firecrow" team :)

    November 2025
    Helpful
  • Shalyn Grow

    Honored that "Me and My Shadow" was a Finalist for the first ever Dead City Film Fest! Love to see a festival that emphasizes small towns (or dead cities) and gives them the air time they deserve. A meaningful and worthwhile mission, very grateful to be included in the stellar lineup. Thank you Dead City!

    November 2023
    Helpful