The EQUUS Film & Arts Fest is the world’s premier showcase for domestic and International equestrian content feature films, documentaries, shorts, music videos, commercials, training, educational materials, art & literature.

Welcome to the EQUUS Film & Arts Fest. Every horse has a story, it’s our mission at the EQUUS Film & Arts Fest to share those stories, through film, podcast, live stream, art, and literature.

The EQUUS Film & Arts Fest strives to serve the interests and needs of equine filmmakers, artists, podcasters, live streamers, bloggers, and authors, connecting artists with audiences, exhibiting and promoting new films and filmmaking talent and equine art, nurturing a creative community by facilitating relationships that last well beyond only criterion for each title is that it captures the elements or essence of the horse, the horse industry at large, and/or all that surrounds the horse.

About the EQUUS Film & Arts Fest | The Mustang Summit

The EQUUS Film & Arts Fest takes place as both a Virtual and In-Person Event! It is the first event of its kind to offer a home to the storytellers of the horse world, with films, documentaries, videos, commercials, and shorts from around the world and cultural elements of fine equestrian art and literature. 

The Mustang Summit has been added to the program as an educational platform to raise awareness and understanding about the American Mustangs in holding pens and available for adoption. A horse who has a safe and quiet start can be trainable and become a good partner. It is our mission to bring awareness to American Mustangs who need homes. Focusing on and highlighting the work taking place in the healing and equine assisted learning fields with Mustangs. Providing resources for all who want to learn about the Off-Range Mustang horse.
 
Founded in 2013 by Lisa Diersen, Director/Organizer, an equestrian, who has spent her life in the company of horses. Lisa’s mission is to show the world how horses can bring everyone together regardless of race, age, gender, abilities or disabilities. She presently raises, trains and loves Lusitano horses in Saint Charles, Illinois with her Jack Russell, Amore. Julianne Neal joined the team in 2016.

Every horse has a story, it’s our mission at the EQUUS Film & Arts Fest to share those stories, through film, art and literature.

The EQUUS Film Fest Channel You-Tube, streaming to all your devices.
Visit our website at: http://www.equusfilmfestival.net/ and our FaceBook page.

PR AND/OR SPONSOR CONTACT:
Lisa Diersen lisa@equusfilmfestival.net +1-630-272-3077
Additional Info: Julianne Neal julianneneal@me.com +1-803-351-0223
Assistant to the Director: Julie Martin

SOCIAL MEDIA
FaceBook: https://www.facebook.com/EquusFilmFestival
Twitter - https://twitter.com/EQUUSFilmNYC
You-Tube - https://www.youtube.com/@equusfilmfestival772/featured

**Awarded to Equine Network Favorite Film**
$1000
“Selected video winner will be featured in Horse Week 2024. Permission for usage must be granted to Equine Network (Horse Week) at the time of submission.”

**Awarded to Horses For Mental Health Favorite Film With A Mental Health Message**
$1000

**Special Horses For Mental Health - Charity Partners Category**
$1000

AWARDED TO THE TOP 10 WINNIE WINNERS

Espana Silk Grooming Products - $200 Product Voucher
www.espanasilk.com

OMEGA FIELDS, Inc Products Voucher - $140 Value
www.omegafields.com
Omega Horseshine 4.5 lb
Omega Nibblers Low Sugar & Sugar 3.5 lb
Omega SureGut 2 lb canister
Mega Omega 2 lb
Omega Fields large zippered totes

Breyer Model to top WINNIE WINNERS - Value $50

WINNIE Award Winners not present to collect their Awards can have them shipped.
In the Continental USA - $35
Outside USA - $65

WINNIE AWARDS:
The EFF jury will present the WINNIE Awards to films and videos selected as best in the category.

WINNIE Award & Assorted Prizes

ALL DECISIONS ARE FINAL AND THE DECISION OF EQUUS FILM FEST, LLC

All information by EQUUS FILM FEST, LLC, whether publicly posted or not, is subject to change without prior notice.
All decisions will be made by the EQUUS Film Fest, LLC, and all decisions are final.
Thank you and “Good Luck” from the EQUUS Film & Arts Fest herd.
Pony On!

Upon entering you shall indemnify and hold harmless the EQUUS Film Fest, LLC and any other agents, owners, or affiliates of said entities from and against any claims, liabilities, losses, damages, and expenses (including but not limited to attorney’s fees, and costs of the court) which may be incurred because of any claim involving copyright, trademark, credits, publicity, screening, and loss of/or damage to the screening materials entered into the EQUUS FILM & ARTS FEST.

WINNIE Award Winners unable to attend the fest can have them shipped.
In the Continental USA - $35
Outside USA - $65

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES:
Each entry must be accompanied by a completed entry form and all applicable entry fees. Entries must be submitted as a DIGITAL FILE that can be directly downloaded. Foreign language work must be dubbed or subtitled in English. Please include a 3-line synopsis of your film. A digital image of your cover art, a director photo and a selection of production images are required.

EQUUS FILM & ARTS FEST does accept films that are Works-In-Progress.
(this work may be submitted as a trailer or short film)
Only one film per application.

If entering more than one film, art submission, literary work, podcast, etc., you must submit each separately.
Each project is judged solely on its merits.

The Festival requires that all films be submitted additionally via a password-protected streaming URL link. Please prepare this link in advance of beginning your online film entry form. (If you are unable or unwilling to submit your film by URL link, please contact the Festival coordinator to discuss an alternate method of entry).

EQUUS FILM & ARTS FEST’s publicity and marketing teams will create a promotional campaign for “Official Selection” films on our FaceBook page. To assist in this campaign, participating filmmakers will be responsible for providing the following materials if selected to participate:
Digital images
Digital Press Kits
Digital File media screeners of their film
Digital copy of trailer and film clips
Any other marketing materials you wish to be used to promote your film
Upload film for Film Festival Formatting with password protection
Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter links

ENTRY REGULATIONS: The EQUUS FILM & ARTS FEST Programming Committee reserves the right to determine any submitted project eligibility. Only works completed from 2005 to 2023 are eligible for the competition phase. Any application materials sent to the EQUUS FILM & ARTS FEST will not be returned. If confirmed receipt of entry is required, please include a self-addressed stamped postcard.

You hereby grant EQUUS FILM & ARTS FEST the right to utilize any excerpt from your submitted film for promotional purposes. The individual or company submitting the film hereby warrants that it is authorized to commit the film for screening and understands and accepts these requirements and regulations.

By submitting your film to this competition you agree that, if your film is selected by EQUUS FILM & ARTS FEST, you grant to EQUUS FILM & ARTS FEST a Non-exclusive license to use, display and exhibit your name, trade names, trademarks, service marks, copyrights, still images, moving images, audio sounds, your submitted film, material, information, and/or any other things received by EQUUS FILM & ARTS FEST, whether by physical or electronic delivery, publicly, at EQUUS FILM & ARTS FEST’s sole discretion to promote, market and advertise the festival. EQUUS FILM & ARTS FEST may also use excerpts from trailers of submitted films for promotion, to market and advertise the EQUUS FILM & ARTS FEST.

You also authorize EQUUS FILM & ARTS FEST to place your images and synopsis on our website, Social Media, Twitter, Pinterest and FaceBook pages. Films are reviewed by EQUUS FILM & ARTS FEST with the intention of selecting screeners for the EQUUS FILM & ARTS FEST and the work will not be divulged to any persons not affiliated with EQUUS FILM & ARTS FEST unless first permitted in writing by a legally authorized representative of the work.

You also understand that the Official Selection and WINNIE Award-winning entries will be presented at other EQUUS FILM & ARTS FEST events, locations, exhibitions, and tours throughout 2023 – 2028.
**Filmmakers are always welcome and encouraged to join us at these events.

**IF YOUR FILM IS AVAILABLE FOR FREE ON THE INTERNET, EQUUS RESERVES THE RIGHT TO PLACE YOUR FILM ON THE EQUUS FILM CHANNEL and EQUUS TV PLATFORM FOR VIEWERS TO WATCH. **

LIABILITY: We do NOT return your films. Do not send original media. Please keep the EQUUS FILM & ARTS FEST notified of any address/phone number changes.

EXHIBITION FORMATS: Acceptable exhibition formats vary by venue and may include Digital Files. The festival requests Digital Files copies to accompany all exhibition formats. By entering your film, you agree to work with EQUUS FILM FEST, LLC to provide compatible exhibition format(s) and back-ups.

RELEASES and COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL:
If your film contains any copyrighted material (music for example) the filmmaker will be responsible for securing the licensing rights.

Upon entering your film in the EQUUS Film & Arts Fest, you authorize that your work is cleared for festival exhibition and accept full legal responsibility for the intellectual property therein. Entry into the EQUUS FILM & ARTS FEST constitutes permission to exhibit your work at the EQUUS FILM & ARTS FEST.

Fees are (non-refundable) – Credit Card payments have additional fees for processing.
• Fees for entries from outside the United States must be paid by international bank draft/money order payable from a U.S. bank, PayPal, or FilmFreeway.
• You can also pay with a credit card using PayPal. PayPal users – we will send you an invoice.
• Credit Card and PayPal payments have an additional fee for processing.

Submit ALL Films, Artwork, Literary Applications, and Podcast, Online to FilmFreeway: https://filmfreeway.com/festival/EQUUSFilmFestival

Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Lauralee Harper

    Perfect venue for the new and the experienced filmmaker!

    February 2024
  • This was an absolutely lovely festival celebrating the horse. An amazing experience to have my film make its American debut at this festival.

    November 2023
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    Response from festival:

    Thank you, we loved having you at the fest! Maybe it has inspired you to create another film in the future.

  • THANK YOU for a wonderful festival 2023! Your communication was fabulous. The EQUINALE Team was present - and stood "proxy" for us and our contribution. Thanks a lot - blessings from Germany.

    November 2023
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    Response from festival:

    Thank you so much!

  • Alberto José Redondo Villa

    Thank you for your kindness.

    November 2023
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    Response from festival:

    You are amazing and your film is brilliant! Thank you for taking the time to join us in Albuquerque!

  • Lam Can-zhao

    Absolutely wonderful Festival! I hope to come back in future years.

    January 2023