The Lake Michigan Film Festival (LMFF) was previously know as the Lake Michigan Film Competition (LMFC) of 23 years that was previously a section of the East Lansing Film Festival is now its own film festival going forward.

If you have recently made a film from the four states, Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, you qualify for The Lake Michigan Film Festival.

Awards & Prizes

2020 Winners:
Best Feature Film- Foster Boy By: Youssef Delara
Best Student Film- Things We Carry By: Zach Righetti
Best Short Film- Rear View By: Stephen Kniss
Best Documentary Film- The Talk By: Adam Kuban

$300 for Best Feature Film
$300 for Best Documentary
$300 for Best Short Film
$300 for Best Student Film

$1200.00 In Prizes, amounts may change per category based on the films accepted. (Example: If the LMFF does not accept any films for the student category, the prize money for that category will be split up evenly between the other categories.

Rules & Terms

-Submissions will only be accepted via FilmFreeway by the final submission deadline.

-Works in progress are not accepted.

-Submissions must have been produced since January 2019.

-Submissions received without the proper entry fee will not be considered.

-Entries must be in English or subtitled in English.

-See submission category guidelines for details on genre and length requirements for submission.

-Entrant are responsible for all submission information being correct.

-Entrant will allow usage of clips from the entry and all related publicity material submitted for promotional use on television, radio, in print, web and at live Festival events.

- All decisions by judges, programmers and organizers will be final and no refund of entry fee will be permitted.

- LMFF Staff is not eligible for prizes but their work may be eligible to be screened at the festival.

Other Details:

-I have read all of the Lake Michigan Film Festival (LMFF) rules. I understand and have complied with these rules.

-I warrant the submission of my original work and there are no disputes regarding the ownership of the submission. I also warrant the submitted material does not defame or invade the rights of any person living or dead and I fully indemnify LMFF against any claim made for such violations of law.

-To the best of my knowledge, all of the statements herein are true and correct.

-I understand that failure to adhere to LMFF's rules will result in disqualification and no refunds of any kind will be made.

-I agree to hold LMFF harmless from and defend them against all claims, demands, losses, damages, judgments, liabilities, and expenses (including attorney’s fees) arising out of or in connection with any and all claims of third parties, whether or not groundless, based on any film submitted to LMFF.