Our Mission
The Gulf Coast Film and Video Festival was established in 1998, to promote and showcase the discovery of motion picture artists through inspirational, educational and thought-provoking stories.

Our Goals
To encourage and support the work of independent filmmakers.
To promote all forms of motion pictures.
To encourage creativity in the development and production of motion pictures.
To acknowledge the artistic struggle of independent filmmakers through awards.

Awards & Prizes

Best Festival Award
Best Feature Award
Best Foreign Film Award
Best Short Award
Best Student Award
Best Actor
Best Actress
Best Feature Screenplay Award
Best Short Screenplay Award
Best Student Screenplay (Feature or short) Award

This is a competitive entry festival and only ONE winner per AWARD category will be announced and given an award if they meet the high caliber of movie-making skills that warrant recognition. (Not all categories will receive an award each year)

Rules & Terms

The Gulf Coast Film & Video Festival welcomes filmmakers. screenwriters and attendees of every age, race, religious preference, nationality, political affiliation, gender and economic standing. We do not, however, welcome or include projects that promote hate, discrimination, violence against humanity or sexism.

1. WHO WILL RECEIVE THE AWARD?

It is the goal of the Gulf Coast film & Video Festival to recognize the accomplishments of those that have merited an Award for their outstanding project. Ordinarily, it is the “DIRECTOR” of the project that will receive an award with his/her name inscribed on the award’s plate in a winning category (unless otherwise noted). If the Director is NOT present at the awards presentation, the award will be given to the teams representative who will accept the award on behalf of the non-present member OR MAILED TO THE OFFICIAL CONTACT LISTED ON THE ENTRY FORM, if no one is present at the awards ceremony. In case there are multiple “DIRECTORS” (two or more directors) for a single project, no name will be inscribed on the award’s plate and the team member(s) present at the awards presentation will receive and accept the award as a group. If NO members of the team are present and/or NO directors are present at the ceremony, the Award WILL BE MAILED TO THE OFFICIAL CONTACT LISTED ON THE ENTRY FORM. ONLY one award per category will be given out.

2. WHAT IF THERE ARE MULTIPLE DIRECTORS AND I WANT MY AWARD?

If your project has multiple directors and no name is inscribed on the award, YOUR team will have to decide who will receive that particular award. However, you may purchase your own award (the exact award given out) inscribed with your name on the Award plate for a fee to cover the cost and postage of the award. For duplicate awards with your name inscribed on the Award plate, request your award by emailing the director of the Gulf Coast Film & Video Festival. Hal Wixon, at halwixon@gmail.com or by calling Mr. Wixon at: 281-333-5804 for inquiries and for rates.

3. CAN I PURCHASE MY OWN AWARD IF I AM NOT THE DIRECTOR?

If your project wins an award from the Gulf Coast Film & Video Festival and you are NOT the Director, you are entitled to purchase and receive your own award with your name inscribed on the Award’s plate in recognition of YOUR efforts in completing this award-winning project. You may purchase your own award (the exact award given out) inscribed with your name on the Award plate for a fee to cover the cost and postage of the award. For duplicate awards with your name inscribed on the Award plate, request your award by emailing the director of the Gulf Coast Film & Video Festival. Hal Wixon, at halwixon@gmail.com or by calling Mr. Wixon at: 281-333-5804 for inquiries and for rates.

QUESTIONS?

Should you have ANY questions or concerns regarding ANY of the Rules, Guidelines or forms, please feel free to contact the organizer and founder of the Gulf Coast Film & Video Festival, Hal Wixon at: halwixon@gmail.com or by calling Mr. Wixon at: 281.333.5804 between 9AM to 4PM Monday through Friday.

36 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Brandon Vega

    For a film festival that has been around for 24+ years, I expected more. Having been to major festivals in Los Angeles and New York, I kept my standards open to what could be. Still, after 24+ years, you'd expect there to be at least a banner or poster letting you know you were actually at a film festival. But it all started with a personal phone call from Hal Wixon, the festival director (and nice guy), letting us know that our short film had been selected as a finalist, so it was off to a promising start!

    The awards dinner (given before the festival?) seemed a bit disorganized and lackluster. Though there were people in their best dress, when it came to basic things like reading off the nominees in the awards category, 99% of the time was spent telling us about the people presenting the awards than the films/filmmakers or even the awards themselves, as in "Hey, we don't distinguish between a narrative and a documentary like the rest of the film industry, so we just put them all in this category." (Full disclosure: my short film narrative was a "finalist". But I blinked and by the end of the evening, I wasn't sure who won in the Best Short Award category. After an email to the festival director, I was told a short film documentary had won the award. Replying with a half a dozen more questions (Were narratives and documentaries lumped in to one category? If so, why and why weren't the other nominees read? etc.) but weeks later have yet to receive an explanation. All in all, it felt like a homecoming (or local get-together) for people who had been in the Houston film community for at least as long as the festival had been around. Very nice people - as long as you knew each other. The filmmaker who won the feature and I were at the same table and we didn't seem to know anyone else.

    The film festival itself was held in one smallish conference room with about 50 chairs set up. I had to ask around if that was indeed where the film festival was being held because, again, there was no poster or banner. By the 4th short film, there were about 2 dozen people and we left after, so I can't say for sure what the audience numbers were like over the course of the two days. It was - quaint.

    Just not what I was expecting for a film festival that had been around for 24+ years.

    October 2024
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  • James Coate

    The 25th Annual Gulf Coast Film and Video Festival was fantastic! I had the pleasure of networking with talented folks representing almost every facet of the filmmaking industry. The mixer was relaxing and fun, and the awards banquet was a memorable experience. The films presented were diverse, insightful, and educational. Hal and Karen Wixon provide an atmosphere akin to a family gathering. Good times!

    March 2024
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  • Al Mertens

    Hal Wixon’s 25th annual festival was Amazing—great people, great venue, and more. Especially thankful for Hal’s verbal updates.
    And exceedingly grateful to have been awarded the Best of Festival award for our film and a Best Actress award as well.

    We can’t wait to submit again—you should, too!

    Al Mertens
    Writer/Director/Producer
    “Thank You, Amelia Earhart” feature film

    October 2023
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  • Kathy Stout

    Truly enjoyed the awards ceremony. Sharing a table with filmmakers, actors and politicians was a blast, not to mention receiving the Best Animation award from NASA's CGI artist. Definitely a night to remember!

    October 2023
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  • Emily Giuffre

    I want to thank the Gulf Coast Film Festival and Hal Wixon for his kind generosity! Thank you for including our film in the festival!

    October 2023
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