F3: Queen City Film Festival, Film Curation, & Film Awards is a monthly film competition with a virtual audience award competition four times a year and annual in-person screenings in the Queen City (Cincinnati, Ohio). Our goal is to celebrate and showcase films and filmmakers – including those that might not fit into the typical film festival mold. Each film can be submitted to multiple categories.

F3: Queen City Film Festival, Film Curation, & Film Awards started out as the F3: Frankly Film Fest an annual all genre festival established as a one-off film festival in 2005 to showcase independent films. In 2016, F3 was resurrected and combined with a local convention, The Un-Con. In 2020 because of the Covid19 pandemic, the festival and convention went virtual and remained virtual until 2022 when the convention disbanded. In 2023, F3 became a hybrid festival - incorporating both online and in-person screenings. We also added an audience award component to the film competition.

Due to the overwhelming success of our 2023 season, we’ve added several more categories to our film festival and film awards. We’ve also added new award categories, including MONTHLY award winners! Wishing to reflect our expanded focus and new festival home of Cincinnati, in 2024 we changed the festival name from F3: Frankly Film Fest to F3: Queen City Film Festival, Film Curation, & Film Awards.

Each month, our jury will pick winners through private screenings. Each submitter can enter MULTIPLE CATEGORIES in order to increase their chances to receive an award. Every Winner and Honorable Mention will receive our Official Laurels and HQ digital Certificate, and will be included in the next virtual Audience Choice Award Competition that occurs four times a year. Top films from each of the quarterly Audience Choice Award Competitions will screen at our annual in-person screenings along with our curated films. Our top award, Best of Fest, will be presented at the awards ceremony during the festival at local rotating venues. Filmmakers included in the screening will be notified two weeks before the event. This screening will take place in August of 2024.

Submitters can also select to be a curated film. These films automatically become an official selection and qualify to be included in the quarterly Virtual Audience Choice Award Competition. They will also screening during our in-person screenings or virtual screenings, either quarterly or at the annual Audience Choice Screenings & Award Ceremony.

Monthly Awards:
Best Short
Best Short (Student)
Best Short (Ohio)
Best Micro-Short
Best Music Video
Best Vertical Video
Best Trailer
Best Poster
Best Short (Action/Adventure)
Best Short (Animation)
Best Short (Biographical)
Best Short (Black & White)
Best Short (Comedy)
Best Short (Crime)
Best Short (Documentary)
Best Short (Drama)
Best Short (Experimental)
Best Short (Family)
Best Short (Fan Film)
Best Short (Film Competition)
Best Short (Fantasy)
Best Short (Film Noir)
Best Short (Horror/Thriller)
Best Short (Inspirational)
Best Short (LGBTQ+)
Best Short (Musical)
Best Short (Mystery)
Best Short (Parody)
Best Short (Period/Historic)
Best Short (Romance)
Best Short (Science Fiction/Sci-Fi)
Best Short (Social Justice)
Best Short (Supernatural)
Best Short (War)
Best Short (Western)
Short (Best Directing)
Short (Best Writing)
Short (Best Cinematography)
Short (Best Lead Performance)
Short (Best Supporting Performance)
Short (Best Duo Performance)
Short (Best Ensemble Performance)
Short (Best Editing)
Short (Best Visual Effects)
Short (Best Practical Effects)
Short (Best Sound Design)
Short (Best Production Design)
Short (Best Stunts)
Short (Best Original Score/Soundtrack)
Short (Best Fight Choreography)
Short (Best Dance Choreography)
Short (Best Drone Footage)
Short (Best Wardrobe)
Short (Best Prosthetic Make-Up)

Best Feature
Best Feature (Student)
Best Feature (Ohio)
Best Feature (Action/Adventure)
Best Feature (Animation)
Best Feature (Biographical)
Best Feature (Black & White)
Best Feature (Comedy)
Best Feature (Crime)
Best Feature (Documentary)
Best Feature (Drama)
Best Feature (Experimental)
Best Feature (Family)
Best Feature (Fan Film)
Best Feature (Fantasy)
Best Feature (Film Noir)
Best Feature (Horror/Thriller)
Best Feature (Inspirational)
Best Feature (LGBTQ+)
Best Feature (Musical)
Best Feature (Mystery)
Best Feature (Parody)
Best Feature (Period/Historic)
Best Feature (Romance)
Best Feature (Science Fiction/Sci-Fi)
Best Feature (Supernatural)
Best Feature (War)
Best Feature (Western)
Feature (Best Directing)
Feature (Best Writing)
Feature (Best Cinematography)
Feature (Best Lead Performance)
Feature (Best Supporting Performance)
Feature (Best Duo Performance)
Feature (Best Ensemble Performance)
Feature (Best Editing)
Feature (Best Visual Effects)
Feature (Best Practical Effects)
Feature (Best Sound Design)
Feature (Best Production Design)
Feature (Best Stunts)
Feature (Best Original Score/Soundtrack)
Feature (Best Fight Choreography)
Feature (Best Dance Choreography)
Feature (Best Drone Footage)
Feature (Best Wardrobe)
Feature (Best Prosthetic Make-Up)

Annual Award:
Best of Fest
Honorable Mention Best of Fest

We reserve the right to change the award categories at any time depending on the films submitted during a given month. We reserve the right to not present awards in categories where we do not receive a minimum number of submissions to present an award.

Rules & Terms

Monthly Awards
• July finalists & winners will be informed by July 31 with the winners announced August 2.
• August finalists & winners will be informed by August 31 with the winners announced September 2.
• September finalists & winners will be informed by September 30 with the winners announced October 2.
• October finalists & winners will be informed by October 31 with the winners announced November 2.
• November finalists & winners will be informed by November 30 with the winners announced December 2.
• December finalists & winners will be informed by December 31 with the winners announced January 2.
• January finalists & winners will be informed by January 31 with the winners announced February 2.
• February finalists & winners will be informed by February 28 with the winners announced March 2.
• March finalists & winners will be informed by March 31 with the winners announced April 2.
• April finalists & winners will be informed by April 30 with the winners announced May 2.
• May finalists & winners will be informed by May 31 with the winners announced June 2.
• June finalists & winners will be informed by June 30 with the winners announced July 2.

Audience Vote Competition
• July, August, and September finalists & winners will compete in the October 7-14 competition.
• October, November, and December finalists & winners will compete in the January 7-14 competition.
• January, February, and March finalists & winners will compete in the April 7-14 competition.
• April, May, and June finalists & winners will compete in the July 7-14 competition.

In-Person Public Screening
• In person screenings for curated films and select winners will occur November 1, 2023; February 7, 2024; May 1, 2024; and August 5-8, 2024.
• In-person film festival and awards ceremony will occur in the month of August.

We only accept submissions via FilmFreeway. Payment is expected at the time of submission. Films will not be screened by our panel of judges for consideration without payment. No refunds will be issued for films submitted to F3 and we do not pay exhibition fees for any films.

F3 accepts feature films, short films, television shows, web series, series pilots, competition films, trailers, music videos, commercials, student films, and vertical videos. We accept films in all genres and all lengths. We accept films in any language, however films not in English must have embedded English subtitles. F3 is not a genre specific film festival. However, it is the sole discretion of the judging panel to reject a film based on content that might not be appropriate for general audiences We do not accept pornographic content.

F3 has no completion dates or world premiere regulations. However, if a filmmaker has a distribution deal, the festival must have permission to screen the film free of charge from the distributor. It is solely the filmmaker's responsibility to provide this permission and the filmmaker assumes any and all liability. Submitting to the festival implies ownership of the film and/or permission to submit the film and have it screened. Submitting your film grants the rights to F3 to utilize an excerpt from any film submitted for promotional purposes. Multiple entries are allowed for each filmmaker or filmmaker team. Each entry may be submitted to multiple categories. Categories where winners are chosen may change each month if the required minimum number of entries is not received in a category. For any category listed as student or first time, proof may be required to win an award in that category. Trophies are optional for winners and are not included in the submission fees. All winners will be provided a link to order trophies by paying for the trophy and shipping costs. F3 reserves the right to refuse entries, limit entries, and close entries early. The jury can remove an entry from the competition at any time. Entry fees are non-refundable. The person, company, or corporation submitting the entry hereby warrants that they are authorized to do so and authorizes F3 to screen the film publicly, privately, and/or virtually without any screening fee. The person, company, or corporation understands and accepts these requirements, regulations, and rules. They agree to indemnify and hold harmless F3 from and against any and all claims, liabilities, losses, damages, and expenses – including but not limited to attorney’s fees costs of court, and other unforeseeable expenses – which may be incurred by reason of any and all claims involving copyright, trademarks, credits, screenings, press, publicity, and other unforeseeable and unexpected claims. By submitting the film, the person, company, or corporation acknowledges that they have read, understood, acknowledged, and accepted all rules and regulations.

Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Festival was well attended, and very hospital. Communication was top notch. Thank you for including our film Devil's Stew. Wish the best for the festival and continued growth.

    August 2023
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    Response from festival:

    Thank you so very much for submitting to F3. It was a pleasure to be a part of Devil's Stew festival run.

  • Great time. People were very nice and it was great to accept an award in person.

    August 2023
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    Response from festival:

    Congratulations on your win. Thank you for submitting to F3! Hoping to see your projects in the future.

  • Location was great, both host were very friendly and down to earth. Very happy to be apart of the fest! Thanks for having The Curtain Call Gang and honoring us with an award.

    August 2023
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    Response from festival:

    Thank you for submitting Curtain Call Gang to F3 and for including the festival in your festival run. Congratulations on your win!

  • Thanks for selecting "Enter the Room" for an Honorable Mention for Best Horror/Thriller Short. While I couldn't attend the festival in person, the communication was clear and concise and it was a nice addition to be able to view a handful of the other films in the competition. I had a very good experience overall and will definitely consider submitting future projects to F3: Queen City Film Festival, Film Curation, & Film Awards.

    August 2023
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    Response from festival:

    Thank you so much, Harry. You were missed during our Audience Choice Screenings & Awards Ceremony. We enjoyed screening your film for the F3 audience.

  • Unfortunately, I couldn't attend but the communication was good and very cordial! Nothing but kudos for this festival, which I can hopefully attend in the future! Thanks for everything!

    August 2023
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    Response from festival:

    Thank you so much, Paul! You were missed during our Audience Choice Screenings & Award Ceremony. Congratulations on your Honorable Mention.