FilmGate Festival

Now accepting films for the FilmGate Festival 2026 program.

FilmGate Festival is Florida’s longest-running monthly short film series, created to spotlight local filmmakers, actors, producers, and creative teams telling bold stories from across the state - celebrate local culture and regional creativity.

Held monthly every last Wednesday of the month* at Silverspot Cinema in Downtown Miami, FilmGate Festival is more than a screening. Each edition brings together Florida’s film community for a curated short film showcase, filmmaker Q&A, audience voting, juried awards, and networking before and after the program.

*For FilmGate Music Video Festival, we have the pleasure of hosting it at the Miami Beach Bandshell in September

We accept short films, documentaries, music videos, pilots, web series, and select AI-assisted works from Florida or made by a Florida citizen, 20 minutes or less.

Submission Rules
- Films must be under 20 minutes
- Films must be Florida-made or submitted by Florida-based filmmakers/directors
- Filmmakers must attend in person or send an above-the-line representative for the Q&A
- Filmmakers must submit social media handles and tag @filmgatemiami when posting
- Selected filmmakers (only the director) receives free entry to the event
- Family and friends may receive a limited-use discount code
- All submitted films must have proper permissions, rights, and clearances

AI Film Category Rules
For films made with generative AI or AI-assisted tools:
- Films must be under 10 minutes
- Filmmakers must be Florida-based or the film must be Florida-made
- AI tools used must be listed in the credits and submission notes
- Any actor likeness, voice, or image use must include consent and permission
- A filmmaker or representative must attend in person for the Q&A

What Happens If You’re Selected?
Selected filmmakers receive:
- A theatrical screening at Silverspot Cinema in Downtown Miami
- A filmmaker Q&A after the screening
- Networking with local filmmakers, actors, producers, studios, and film lovers
- Eligibility for Jury Award and Audience Award recognition
- The chance to qualify for the end-of-year Best of Fest competition

FilmGate Festival is designed to help Florida filmmakers build community, meet collaborators, and share their work with a live audience.

OFFICIAL FESTIVAL DATES (2026):
FilmGate Free-For-All Festival - January 28 (Deadline: November 21, 2025)
FilmGate Untold Stories Festival - February 25 Deadline: January 23
FilmGate Femme Directors Festival - March 25 Deadline: February 20
FilmGate Comedy Festival - April 30 Deadline: March 27
FilmGate Documentary Festival - May 27 Deadline: May 1
FilmGate Free-For-All Festival - June 24 (FULLY PROGRAMMED - Next will be August)
FilmGate Films With Subtitles Festival - July 29 Deadline: June 19
FilmGate Free-For-All Festival - August 26 Deadline: July 24
FilmGate Music Videos Festival - September 17 Deadline: August 21
FilmGate Horror Festival - October 29 Deadline: September 25
FilmGate Best-of-Fest - November 18

FILM COMMUNITY NETWORKER BEFORE AND AFTER

Enjoy meeting other creatives and film geeks during our film community networker before the screening. Grab some drinks, some grub, and start mingling!

We will also have networking at the end of the event so feel free to gush about the cool films afterwards too.

PERCOLATOR
Starting off the night, we have our Percolator. Sign up and tell the audience your skills or if you are looking for a professional in particular! You will have 1 minute to pitch. You can meet Florida's film scene face-to-face and pitch your film ideas to the broad community of talent!

FILMMAKER Q & A
After the screening, as our jury judges discuss the night's award-winning film, we will invite our featured filmmakers for a Q&A session about their creative process and inspirations in creating their films.

AWARDS CEREMONY
At the end of the screening, we will present the jury's choice in the best film of the night! Our jury is a team of industry professionals that use their expertise to judge the technical and artistic qualities of each film screened.

Submit your short film, documentary, music video, pilot, or web series today and see your work on the biggest screen in Miami.

Please note that we select our films as they arrive, to allow us more time to promote this festival. Submit your films as early as possible to improve your chances of being selected. If your film has not been accepted for the month you submitted for, it stands the chance to be programmed for another month.

If you have any trouble with entering your film or using a waiver code, please contact us at michi@film-gate.org or info@film-gate.org