The Inland Film Festival (IFF) is a grassroots film festival and workforce initiative brought to you by Arts Connection - The Arts Council of San Bernardino County and local film makers from the Inland Empire (IE), CA. Founded in 2023 with the support from the Creative Corps Grant, the Garcia Center for the Arts and local artists founded IFF to celebrate and uplift local filmmakers and the many stories of the IE– showcasing their talent as well as highlighting their stories that reflect the cultural fabric and immense creativity of our communities.

Now an annual event led by Arts Connection – The Arts Council of San Bernardino County, IFF prioritizes films with ties to the Inland Empire, with 80% of our selections highlighting local filmmakers and stories from San Bernardino and Riverside Counties. The remaining 20% is open to exceptional films from all backgrounds, honoring and uplifting the art of storytelling while keeping the Inland Empire at the heart of the festival.

Beyond the screenings, IFF provides hands-on workshops, technical training, and industry resources in the months leading up to the event, equipping both emerging and established artists with the skills and connections needed to advance their cinematic careers.

IFF is proudly funded by Thrive Inland SoCal, a coalition led by the Inland Empire Labor Institute and Inland Economic Growth and Opportunity, ensuring continued support for the region’s creative voices.

Awards & Prizes

Thrive Filmmaker Award (IE Only)
This award honors a filmmaker from the Inland Empire who has demonstrated exceptional skill, dedication, and creativity in bringing important community stories to life. Whether addressing social justice, environmental issues, or celebrating the rich culture of our region, their work sheds light on the experiences, challenges, and triumphs that shaped the Inland Empire.

Inland Empire Filmmaker Award (IE Only)
This award will go to a filmmaker from either San Bernardino or Riverside County who has demonstrated remarkable capability, expertise, and hard work in telling a creative story, showcasing their incredible talents.

Audience Award (Open to all Films)
We recognize the power of the audience. The audience votes for their favorite film at the film festival. All votes are anonymous and only the attending audience members are eligible to vote for the best film of their choice.

Category Award (Open to all Films)
- Best of Fest
- Best Live Action
- Best Documentary
- Best Animation
- Best Music Video
- Best Film Series
- Best Experimental
- Best Student Film

Rules & Terms

1. Submission Guidelines: All films must follow festival's guidelines regarding film length, format, and submission deadlines.

2. Original Content: Films must be original works, respecting copyright laws and avoiding plagiarism.

3. Rights and Permissions: Filmmakers must ensure they have obtained all necessary rights and permissions for any copyrighted material used in their film.

4. Language and Subtitles: Applicants submitting films that contain significant non-English spoken dialogue must provide accurate on-screen English subtitles.

5. Premiere Status: The Inland Film Fest accepts both premieres and previously screened films.

6. Entry Fees:
- Early submissions (1/31/25 - 6/1/25): $15
- Extended submissions (6/2/25 - 6/31/25): $25

7. Judging and Selection: The festival's selection committee and/or jury will have final decisions regarding film acceptance and awards.

8. Promotion and Publicity: IFF reserves the right to use excerpts or stills from all film submissions for promotional purposes only.

9. Attendance: If your film is selected, we encourage you to attend the festival and engage with the audience and fellow filmmakers.

10. Format: Vertical 9:16 video format will NOT be accepted.

Please email inlandfilmfestival@artsconnectionnetwork.org for any accommodation / accessibility requests.

IFF deserves the right to disqualify, without refund of any or all submission fees previously collected from the Applicant, any project that does not follow the rules and terms of the festival.
6 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
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Networking
  • Brian Saenz

    Great community networking. Left with so many local contacts!

    January 2025
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  • 20.38 FILMS

    Was an amazing experience. Priceless I love San Bernadino ❤️ ♥️ 💕

    May 2024
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    Logo
    Response from festival:

    Thank you so much for your review. We love San Bernardino too.

  • Jhourdan Fleming

    Such an amazing event, and really a great way to highlight all of the creators in the inland empire. I’m grateful that they screamed my movie peanuts, and it was selected for nomination under the San Bernardino filmmaker award. Really hope that they have a second year!

    April 2024
    Helpful
  • Nathan San Filippo

    This festival was an incredible event that highlighted talent in the IE. So much love and care was put into this. I cannot wait for the next year!

    April 2024
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  • Esmarelda VillaLobos

    The Inland Film Festival was great! Our film played well and the whole festival was well organized and the staff were so friendly! Thank you for all of your hard work and for making the Inland Empire proud!

    April 2024
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