About the Festival

Shawn Landrum Films proudly presents the First Annual Landrum Visionaries: Film & Creative Arts Festival, a dynamic, genre-celebrating platform dedicated to powerful storytelling, diverse voices, and creative excellence across film, scripts, music, and visual innovation.

Founded and curated by Shawn Landrum, a multi-award-winning writer, filmmaker, producer, and the driving force behind Courtside Seats, The Unimaginable Truth: Black Wall Street, and Goons for Hire: The Rise of Norm, this festival was born from his passion to spotlight underrepresented creators, unique visions, and bold genres that are often sidelined in traditional festival circuits. With over a decade in the film industry, Shawn brings not just experience and industry reach, but a deep personal mission: to elevate the voices of creatives who have something real to say, and the talent to say it differently.

The Landrum Visionaries Festival champions creators who push boundaries, challenge formats, or simply make something unforgettable. Whether you’re producing a sci-fi thriller on a shoestring budget, writing the next breakout comedy series, or composing a score that punches through silence, this is your stage.
Submissions are accepted in English, with options for dubbing or subtitles for international creators. Each submission is reviewed with intention and care by a team of creatives, curators, and professionals who understand that a visionary isn’t just someone with a camera, it’s someone with a point of view.

Submission Categories

FILM
• Feature Films
• Short Films

SCRIPTS
• Feature-Length Scripts
• Short Scripts
• TV Pilots & Series Concepts

MUSIC
• Original Scores
• Film Soundtracks
• Theme Songs for Film or Series

From gripping dramas to mind-bending sci-fi, experimental art films to laugh-out-loud comedies, if it moves an audience or makes them see something new, it belongs here.

Special Awards

Legacy in Focus: The William Landrum Cinematic Vision Award
Named in memory of Shawn’s late pops, William Landrum, a dedicated camera operator who took pride in his precision and visual craft, this award honors exceptional cinematic storytelling through the lens. It celebrates the filmmakers and cinematographers who understand how to move an audience with what they see, not just what they hear, where focus, framing, composition, and movement elevate the story itself.
Open to film, series, and documentary submissions with outstanding visual impact.

The Ronetta Stringer Comedy Award

Named after Shawn’s late grandmother, Ronetta Stringer, this award reflects her lifelong love for comedy, from the slapstick genius of Mr. Bean to the layered emotional humor of Tyler Perry. She believed laughter could heal, connect, and lift spirits even in life’s toughest moments. This award honors creators who embody that same spirit — using humor to inspire, empower, and bring people together across genre, background, or generation.

From the Founder

“I built this festival to create space for the kinds of stories I grew up loving, and the kind of talent I know the industry too often overlooks. As a writer, filmmaker, and someone who’s been in the trenches of indie film, I know how important it is to feel seen and taken seriously. This isn’t just a festival, it’s a platform, a launchpad, and a statement. We’re here to celebrate visionaries. If that’s you, I can’t wait to see what you bring to the table.”
Shawn Landrum
Founder & Festival Director

Our Mission

The Landrum Visionaries Film & Creative Arts Festival exists to amplify authentic voices and visionary perspectives in the film, music, and creative arts industries. We are committed to curating work that resonates, emotionally, visually, and culturally, and offering creators a space where their work is not just screened but celebrated.

We welcome the bold, the new, the strange, the soulful, the hilarious, and the heartbreaking. If your art moves people, challenges norms, or lights up a screen in a way we’ve never seen, this is your moment.

We don’t just recognize talent.
We recognize vision.

Awards & Prizes

Prizes:

• Film & Music Winners:

• Exclusive distribution through Shawn Landrum Films, opening doors to a global audience of over 1,000 titles worldwide.

• Script Winners:

• A scene from the winning script will be performed on Zoom by seasoned professional actors.

• Consideration for representation through One Moorer Management.

In addition to the prestigious awards mentioned, new and extraordinary film prizes will be unveiled daily, adding excitement and invaluable opportunities for selected filmmakers, including mentorship programs, exclusive screenings, and creative collaborations with leading industry professionals.

Winners in all categories will receive:

• Digital laurels and certificates.

• Select prizes, including software licenses, personalized mentorship, and more.

Rules & Terms

1. Introduction

Shawn Landrum Films presents the first annual Landrum Visionaries: Film & Creative Arts Festival, highlighting visionary works in Film, Scripts, and Music.

• Submissions are open in the following categories:

• Films: Feature and Short.

• Scripts: Feature and Short.

• Music: Original Score/Soundtrack.

• Submissions are accepted in English, with options for dubs or subtitles for non-English entries.

• Shawn Landrum Films is a partner distributor of over 1,000 titles worldwide, offering winners exciting distribution and professional opportunities.

2. Submission Guidelines

• Submissions must be made through the designated festival platform (e.g., FilmFreeway).

• Required materials:

• Films: MP4 or MOV file, synopsis (100-250 words), director’s bio, and promotional materials.

• Scripts: PDF file (properly formatted), synopsis, and writer’s bio.

• Music: MP3 or WAV file with accompanying description and composer bio.

• Non-English films must include hardcoded or SRT subtitles or a dubbed version.

• Films exceeding 120 minutes must include an explanation of why their runtime is essential.

3. Deadlines & Fees

Category Early Bird Deadline Regular Deadline Late Deadline Extended Deadline Late Visionary Deadline

Feature Film $25 $35 $40 $50 $60

Short Film $20 $25 $30 $35 $40

Feature Script $30 $35 $40 $45 $55

Documentary $25 $35 $40 $50 $60

Short Script $10 $15 $20 $25 $30

Original Score/Soundtrack $5 $10 $15 $20 $25

The Ronetta Stringer Comedy Award $25 $35 $40 $50 $60

The Black Lens: Stories of Depth, Resilience, and the Beauty of Black Culture $25 $35 $40 $50 $60

• Students are eligible for a discount with valid proof of enrollment (e.g., student ID or enrollment letter).

• Submission fees are non-refundable, regardless of selection.

4. Selection Process

• Submissions will be evaluated by a jury of industry professionals, including filmmakers, writers, composers, and critics.

• Evaluation criteria:

• Creativity & Originality (30%)

• Technical Quality (20%)

• Storytelling & Vision (30%)

• Relevance to Festival Themes (20%)

• Notifications of official selection will be sent by [notification date].

5. Screening & Streaming Rights

• Selected films will be screened online on a secure platform.

• Creators retain all copyright and intellectual property rights.

• A limited-time screening window (e.g., 72 hours per program) will be implemented to protect content.

6. Awards & Categories

Categories will be split by genres (e.g., Drama, Comedy, Documentary, etc.) across Films, Scripts, and Music.

Special Awards:

• The Ronetta Stringer Comedy Award: Honoring the most original, bold, and side-splitting comedy that pushes boundaries and redefines laughter.

• The Black Lens: Stories of Depth, Resilience, and the Beauty of Black Culture: Celebrating works that thoughtfully explore the richness, history, and enduring spirit of Black culture and resilience.

Prizes:

• Film & Music Winners:

• Exclusive distribution through Shawn Landrum Films, opening doors to a global audience of over 1,000 titles worldwide.

• Script Winners:

• A scene from the winning script will be performed on Zoom by seasoned professional actors.

• Consideration for representation through One Moorer Management.

In addition to the prestigious awards mentioned, new and extraordinary film prizes will be unveiled daily, adding excitement and invaluable opportunities for selected filmmakers, including mentorship programs, exclusive screenings, and creative collaborations with leading industry professionals.

Winners in all categories will receive:

• Digital laurels and certificates.

• Select prizes, including software licenses, personalized mentorship, and more.

7. Content Guidelines

• Submissions must not violate any copyright laws or third-party rights.

• No submissions containing hate speech, graphic violence, or illegal content will be accepted.

• Sensitive content must include a content warning.

8. Promotional Use

• By submitting, filmmakers, writers, and composers grant the festival the right to use trailers, stills, and promotional materials for marketing purposes.

9. Technical Requirements

• Films must be submitted in HD (minimum resolution of 1080p).

• Scripts must be submitted in PDF format and adhere to standard industry formatting.

• Music must be submitted in MP3 or WAV format.

• The festival is not responsible for technical issues caused by improper formatting.

10. Disqualification

• Submissions that fail to meet guidelines or deadlines will be disqualified.

• Plagiarized content or violation of copyright laws will result in immediate removal.

11. Intellectual Property

• All submitted works remain the sole property of the filmmakers, writers, or composers.

• The Landrum Visionaries: Film & Creative Arts Festival does not claim ownership of any submission.

• Creators are responsible for ensuring they hold all necessary rights (including music, visuals, and third-party content) for their submission.

• The festival is not liable for any claims, disputes, or legal issues regarding intellectual property.

• By submitting, participants agree to indemnify and hold harmless the festival, its organizers, and affiliates from intellectual property disputes.

12. General Terms

• Participants agree to abide by the decisions of the festival jury and organizers.

• Rules may be updated without prior notice to maintain the integrity of the festival.