The Greater Lehigh Valley Filmmaker Festival is a celebration that aims to captivate both filmmakers and cinephiles alike. This annual event proudly showcases the very top submissions from the talented artists of the Greater Lehigh Valley through screenings held at the Frank Banko Alehouse Cinemas. More than just honoring filmmakers, this festival is a gathering where film enthusiasts and creators can immerse themselves in the mesmerizing world of movies. It's an event dedicated to celebrating the magic of cinema together!

The festival will conclude with an awards ceremony, where outstanding accomplishments in various categories such as Best Narrative, Director, and Performance will be acknowledged. One winner will receive the Best in Show Award, accompanied by a $500 cash prize and one-year film pass to the Frank Banko Alehouse Cinemas. The winners will be determined by a panel of jury members comprising both committee members and respected regional film professionals.

SUBMISSION RULES:
-Filmmakers interested in submitting must either reside in or attend school in the Greater Lehigh Valley, Eastern Pennsylvania, or Central/Western New Jersey.
-All films must have a runtime of 30 minutes or less.
-Filmmakers are required to have legal licenses for any copyrighted music in the film. The GLVFF retains the right to ask for proof of licensing from the filmmakers.
-Must have been filmed after Jan. 1, 2022.

Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Burls & Bramble

    A huge thank you to the GLVFF for accepting my animated short Rivercobble - it was actually my first film festival submission ever and I am very grateful. It was such a great experience seeing all of the work everyone made, we have tons of talent in our area. And it was super fun talking the same language with everyone post-screening. Hope to see you all again! Great fest!

    May 2025
  • David Lamm

    This was our first year at the festival and it was a wonderful experience. The communication with the staff was easy and cordial. The ArtsQuest center is a great venue for a film festival. This year our entry took Best Editing, it was an unexpected thrill!

    March 2025
  • It's been my fourth year attending GLVFF. The quality of the festival selections never ceases to impress me.

    March 2025
  • Scott Lentz

    We had a fantastic and memorable experience at GLVFF 2025. The venue is perfect for a film festival, a great theater with a lively music venue in the lobby captured the music culture of downtown Bethlehem. Our film took home Best Director and Best in Show, which was a great honor. The organizers were welcoming and clearly have a passion for film and filmmaking. I would highly recommend this festival to any filmmaker in the Greater Lehigh Valley area.

    March 2025
  • Arguably one of the best film festivals that my Swing 46 doc has been selected and screened as a part of. A fantastic Q&A from a passionate audience and a great team that made it a blast! Just wonderful overall!

    May 2024