The Glass City Film Festival celebrates the art of filmmaking, offers an outstanding selection of films, and empowers artists to use technology and creativity to share stories in meaningful and unexpected ways.

We accept short and feature-length films, including narrative, documentary, and animation, and we encourage filmmakers of all ages, experience levels, races, and genders to enter their films, attend the festival, and enjoy Toledo, Ohio.

Filmmakers whose films are accepted will receive an all-access pass to the festival, be treated to filmmaker receptions and after-parties, and experience the best of downtown Toledo.

Our Spotlight on Local Film program highlights the world premieres of short films made in Northwest Ohio or Southeast Michigan. Filmmakers accepted to the program will receive promotional and festival consulting from an experienced film producer.

All award winners will receive a signature glass trophy created by the artists at Gathered Glassblowing Studio. In addition to the coveted Audience Award, the Glass City Film Festival gives jury awards in the following categories:

Best Narrative Feature

Best Documentary Feature

Best Narrative Short

Best Documentary Short

Best Local Film

RULES

*Every Entry must be the original work of the Entrant, and must not infringe upon the copyrights, trademarks, rights of privacy, publicity or other intellectual property or other rights of any person or entity.

If an Entry contains any material or elements that are not owned by the Entrant, and/or which are subject to the rights of third parties, the Entrant is responsible for obtaining, prior to submitting such Entry, any and all releases and consents necessary to permit the use and exhibition of the Entry by the Festival in the manner set forth in these Terms, including, without limitation, name and likeness permissions from any person who appears in or is identifiable in the Entry, music licenses and location releases. The Festival reserves the right to request proof of these permissions in a form acceptable to the Festival from any entrant at any time. Failure to provide such proof may, if requested, render the Entry null and void.

*By submitting an Entry, the Entrant warrants and represents that he/she and any persons appearing or who are identifiable in the Entry consent to the submission and use of the Entry in the Contest and to its use as otherwise set forth herein.

*Any Entry not in English must contain English subtitles.

*By submitting an Entry, the Entrant acknowledges and agrees that the Festival may obtain many Entries in connection with this Contest, and that such Entries may be similar or identical in theme, idea, format or other respects to other Entries submitted in connection with this Contest. The Entrant waives any and all claims that any Entries and/or other works accepted, reviewed and/or used by the Festival may be similar to the Entrant’s Entry, or that any compensation is due to the Entrant in connection with such other Entry or other works used by the Festival.

*To qualify for the Spotlight on Local Film program, films must be under 15 minutes in length (including credits), made in Northwest Ohio or Southeast Michigan, and not have been screened publicly or released online prior to the festival. (Student films may have screened in class or as part of a campus exhibit and still be eligible.) Filmmakers selected for the program will receive two email consultations and two half-hour phone consultations from an experienced producer. The selected films will be part of a special film block at the festival.

PRIZES

Prizes are non-transferable and are not redeemable for cash or subject to substitution. The odds of winning depend on the number of entries and the quality of each specific Entry.

GENERAL CONDITIONS

By submitting an Entry, each Entrant agrees: (a) to abide by these Terms, and the decisions of the Festival, which shall be final and binding in all respects relating to this Contest; (b) to release, discharge and hold harmless the Festival, the Festival’s licenses and assigns, and their respective parents, affiliates, subsidiaries, and advertising and promotion agencies, and the respective officers, directors, shareholders, employees, agents and representatives of the forgoing (collectively, “Released Parties”) from any and all injuries, liability, losses and damages of any kind to persons, including death, or property resulting, in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, from the Entrant’s participation in the Contest or any Contest-related activity and from any and all claims, debts, demands, actions or causes of actions, suits, sums of money, damages, and liabilities of whatsoever kind or nature, which have arisen or may arise as a result of the Released Parties exercise of the rights granted to them as set forth herein; (c) to the use of his/her name, voice, performance, photograph/Film, image and/or likeness for programming, advertising, publicity and promotional purposes in any and all media, now or hereafter known, worldwide, including without limitation, on the Internet, and in perpetuity by the Festival and its designees, without compensation (unless prohibited by law) or additional consents from the Entrant or any third party and without prior notice, approval or inspection, and to execute specific consent to such use if asked to do so; and (d) to hold the Released Parties harmless and to indemnify the Released Parties from and against all costs, expenses and liabilities incurred by the Released Parties in connection with the defense of any claim or claims on account thereof, including reasonable attorney’s fees. By participating, the Entrant also agrees not to release any publicity or other materials on his/her own or through someone else regarding his/her participation in the Contest without the prior consent of the Festival, which it may withhold in its sole discretion.

OWNERSHIP/USE OF SUBMISSIONS

By submitting an Entry, you hereby grant to the Festival a royalty-free, fully paid up, perpetual, irrevocable, non-exclusive and fully sub-licensable right and license to use, reproduce, modify, adapt, publish, translate, combine with other works, create derivative works from, distribute, perform, edit and display such Entry (in whole or part) including, without limitation, the names and likenesses of any persons or locations embodied therein, and/or to incorporate it in other works in any form, media, or technology now known or later developed. These rights include, without limitation, the right to exhibit the Entry at the Glass City Film Festival and to use the Entry in any and all media including but not limited to the Festival’s and the Festival’s licensee’s social media properties and/or offline media, in perpetuity without compensation, permission or notification to the Entrant or any third party. By submitting an Entry, The Entrant acknowledges that the Festival has no obligation to use or post any Entry submitted. Subject to these Terms, the Entrant retains copyright ownership of the Entry.

Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Lonnie Carrier

    Nice atmosphere but a little less formal than expected. However I loved the whole experience. Truly appreciative to the organizers for choosing my film and having me out. It was truly an honor.

    January 2019
  • Ewan Fletcher

    A really well-organised festival. Our team love Toledo and it was a pleasure to be a part of it!

    January 2019
  • Justin Mashouf

    Really enjoyed being a part of this festival. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to attend in person but the organizers were very proactive in promoting my screening even finding community partners to get involved.

    May 2018
  • Dan Edwards

    We thoroughly enjoyed having our film Maestro appear at the Glass City Film Festival. Getting to meet other filmmakers was helpful and the audience was appreciative and passionate. Also, the staff was very friendly. We would love to attend again next year.

    May 2018
  • Thomas Butcher

    An enjoyable experience and a fantastic festival put on by Kim and her team!

    May 2018