DeckFest Boston | March 2026 | Boston, MA

DeckFest Boston is a student focused film festival of national scale in New England, bringing student filmmakers and industry professionals from across the country together to celebrate the culture of independent filmmaking. We had our inaugural festival in March 2026 to a crowd of 150+ attendees, with screenings for student filmmakers to share their work and a mixer for fellow rising filmmakers, community members, and established professionals to connect through the craft of student filmmaking.

DeckFest was founded in response to the lack of an event specifically for student filmmakers to come together in New England. In our first year, we received over 116 submissions from 58+ colleges and institutions; with local schools including Emerson College, Boston University, and Suffolk University, as well as schools across the country including New York University, George Mason University, Chapman University, DePaul University and more.

Our program includes a FEATURE FILM presentation, a NARRATIVE SHORTS program, and a DOCUMENTARY SHORTS program, as well as fun events for students to connect with one another and professionals in the film industry.

More information to come on future seasons!

Awards & Prizes

NARRATIVE SHORTS JURY AWARD
NARRATIVE SHORTS RUNNER UP AWARD
DOCUMENTARY SHORTS JURY AWARD
DOCUMENTARY SHORTS RUNNER UP AWARD
AUDIENCE AWARD

Rules & Terms

ELIGIBILITY AND CATEGORIES:

Films eligible for submission must fit one of the following descriptions:
1) The project was completed on was in progress while the filmmaker was enrolled in an educational institution (higher education, high school, workshop)
2) The project centers a subject or topic that is highly relevant to students.

SHORTS submissions must be under 30 minutes; FEATURES submissions must be under 110 minutes. Both Documentary and Narrative are eligible for competition in either the Features section or the Shorts Section.

Filmmakers may submit multiple projects, but each must be accompanied by a separate submission form.

ONLY 1 FREE SUBMISSION per filmmaker for each category during early submissions or if using a fee waiver.

If you are unclear if your project is eligible, please email info@deckfest.org prior to submitting.

GENERAL GUIDELINES:

Non-English films must provide English subtitles for review and public screenings.

By submitting, filmmakers are acknowledging that their film may be screened at any of DeckFest official events. Filmmakers will additionally be asked to provide clips and stills that can be used on the festival’s publicity materials if the film is accepted.

Any submission fees are non-refundable.

Submissions found to violate copyright laws will be disqualified.

TECHNICAL GUIDELINES:

Your submission’s total runtime (TRT) must NOT exceed the specified time limit for the category you are submitting. Credits are included in your TRT.

Films that are accepted into the festival will be screened in Flat 1.85:1 composition (1998x1080) aspect ratio for the both SHORTS categories. If your film is submitted in a different ratio, We may have to add pillar-boxing or letter-boxing when we encode your DCP to make it fit the Flat 1.85:1 composition (1998x1080) aspect ratio.

DeckFest reserves the right to edit regulations or scheduling as needed.

4 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Seneca Schwartz

    An incredible first year for this student run film festival. Excited to see where it goes and how it grows for years to come.

    March 2026
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  • Paula None

    Thank you again for the opportunity of being part of this festival!

    March 2026
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  • Suffolk University

    DeckFest Boston was a major success in its first year running! Great communication, great screening venue, and a fun environment. In most film festivals, student films are a side note. DeckFest puts student films on the main stage! An honor to have had my work shown during the inaugural Fest.

    - Kely Maloney (director of Keytar Bear, official selection for the 2026 festival)

    March 2026
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  • Kateri Esposito

    DeckFest Boston was an absolute blast! The whole team behind the festival were not only incredibly communicative, but were also incredibly kind and hospitable. The whole event was very professional and the networking mixer was a great opportunity to meet artists and make connections. It was an honor to be a part of the event!

    March 2026
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