Follow Your Heart Film Festival

In 2026, Follow Your Heart Film Festival invites filmmakers, artists, and guests to experience a truly unique celebration of cinema and the arts.

Over three unforgettable days, the festival will feature screenings of short films, feature films, documentaries, and animated films, along with an art photography competition, a fashion show, educational events, and exclusive networking opportunities across multiple venues in the heart of Los Angeles.

Follow Your Heart Film Festival is an international film festival dedicated to discovering and supporting emerging talent while also welcoming established filmmakers from around the world. Our mission is to create an inspiring environment where creativity, collaboration, and new opportunities come together.

Through our partnership with VUGA TV, finalists who wish to do so may have the opportunity to showcase their films on an international streaming platform, subject to their consent and participation.

The festival program includes:

* Public screenings with live audiences;
* Q&A sessions with filmmakers and industry professionals;
* Networking with producers, casting directors, distributors, and investors;
* Opportunities to find collaborators, production partners, and potential financing for future film projects.

For actors, the festival offers a unique opportunity to connect directly with directors and producers. Many creative collaborations begin at the festival, and your next leading role could come from meeting one of our participating filmmakers.

Award winners receive official festival laurels, certificates, social media promotion, special partner awards, and the opportunity to present their films during the annual Follow Your Heart Film Festival.

Our mission is to support talented filmmakers of all ages and backgrounds whose stories inspire, move audiences, and make a lasting emotional impact.

Don't miss this unique opportunity to showcase your work, gain valuable industry experience, build meaningful professional connections, and become part of an international filmmaking community.

All non-English language films must include English subtitles.

Winners will be announced on the festival's official website and social media channels and will also receive individual notifications through FilmFreeway.

Awards & Prizes

Awards & Recognition
Each season, our international jury carefully reviews every submitted project and selects the films, filmmakers, and artists that best represent excellence in storytelling, creativity, and cinematic achievement.
Awards are presented in the Main Competition Categories, while additional recognition may be granted through Special Awards and Partner Awards.
Every Winner receives:
Official Digital Certificate
Official Festival Laurels
Promotion across the festival's social media platforms
Listing on the official festival website
International recognition through the Follow Your Heart Film Festival community
In addition, Finalists and Winners may receive exclusive professional opportunities through the festival's international partnerships.
Thanks to our collaboration with VUGA TV, selected finalists and winners may be invited to distribute or showcase their films on an international streaming platform, subject to the filmmaker's approval and interest.
Depending on the partners and sponsors of each festival edition, additional awards, grants, partner prizes, industry opportunities, and special recognitions may also be presented.
Main Awards
Best Film
Special Jury Prize
Audience Award (Live Audience Voting)
Best Director
Best Short Film
Best Comedy
Best Feature Film
Best Documentary
Best Animation
Best Student Film
Best Actor
Best Actress
Best Cinematography
Best Color Grading
Best Costume Design
Best Editing
Best Visual Effects

Special Awards:
Festival Discovery Award
Outstanding Artistic Achievement
Emerging Talent Award
Social Impact Award
Inspiration Award
Partner Awards

Partner organizations may present additional awards, grants, distribution opportunities, educational scholarships, production services, equipment prizes, promotional packages, festival invitations, and other special recognitions depending on the official partners participating in each edition of the festival.
The list of partner awards may vary from year to year.
We are committed to supporting filmmakers beyond the festival itself by creating opportunities for international exposure, professional networking, industry collaboration, and future career development.

Rules & Terms


Rules & Terms
All films are rated according to the category specification. Submission to a subcategory should be added to the main category. A subcategory without a main category will not be considered.
Films can be presented in several categories.
You can submit multiple projects.
We don't need the status of the prime minister.
Please send the director's statement and an image, a description of the project with all technical characteristics, promo photos/ videos of the project.
If you decide to make any changes to your movie, you will have to go through the submission process again.
If the film gets into the official selection, the director will be notified about it using the contact method specified in the application form.
The films should be shot in 2020 or after that date.
Film Festival Follow Your Heart accepts films in all languages. If the movie is not in English, it must have English subtitles by the time it is sent. Film Festival Follow Your Heart does not cover any expenses for subtitles.
Film Festival Follow Your Heart takes the quality of films very seriously. We only accept HD movies, so any movies with a resolution below 720p and poor sound quality will not be considered.
Applications for participation in the festival must be accompanied by a registration fee and a completed online application form. Movies must be submitted via online streaming services such as Youtube, Vimeo, etc. (using a private link) or via the FilmFreeway submission platform.
Film Festival Follow Your Heart encourages all filmmakers to send us promotional materials such as posters, stills, trailers and teasers so that we can fully promote the film. Film Festival Follow Your Heart reserves the right to use any promotional materials on our website, social media and press releases.
Applicants are responsible for having all rights and permissions to all third-party materials in their films, including, but not limited to, music, trademarks, logos, copyrights and other intellectual property rights.
By submitting a film, you grant us the rights to show it in front of a live audience during the festival, if it is selected for the program.
The films of the "Official Selection" will be notified by e-mail specified by the applicant.
After sending the project, the application cannot be canceled or returned.
Film Festival Follow Your Heart does not waive any application fees. This rule applies to all applicants.
Film Festival Follow Your Heart has the right to add, change or remove any part of the guidelines at any time without prior notice.
The Festival reserves the right to determine the compliance of any project with any Festival program or category of applications.