The Little Blue Film Festival will take place October 16-17, 2026 in Hastings, Nebraska.
As an inaugural, community-driven festival, we value transparency, respect, and open communication with filmmakers.
Submission Deadline - As the Little Blue Film Festival requires no submission fee, there is only one submission deadline, August 1, 2026. Early entry is encouraged but in no way guarantees acceptance.
Submission Format - All submissions must be made through FilmFreeway. The preferred format is H.264/mp4. Films not in English must include English subtitles. Selected films will be required to provide a high-quality digital screening file.
Submission Eligibility - All submissions must have been created in North America (USA, Canada, Mexico, & US Territories).
- The film must have been completed after July 31, 2025.
- The film must not be pornographic in nature nor promote hatred, violence, or intolerance.
- The Little Blue Film Festival reserves the right to determine whether a film fails to meet this standard or not.
Selection of Films - Submissions are reviewed and selected under the following criteria:
- Artistic Merit
- Quality of the Production Values
- Independent Nature of the Production
The Little Blue Film Festival will make every effort to complete all selections by September 12th, 2026 and inform all submitting parties, by email, if their film has been selected or not by that time.
Selected films will receive additional information once they have been notified.
Festival Screenings - The Little Blue Film Festival is a small, intimate venue where filmmakers, guests, and the community may watch and interact simultaneously.
No film may be withdrawn from the festival program after its selection.
Exhibition Rights - By submitting, filmmakers grant the Little Blue Film Festival a non-exclusive right to screen the film during the festival dates. Filmmakers retain all copyright to their work. The festival may use film stills, trailers, and excerpts (under 2 minutes) for promotional purposes.
Permissions & Liability - The submitter confirms that they have obtained all necessary rights and permissions for music, images, and content included in the film. The Festival assumes no responsibility for copyright infringement.
By submitting the filmmaker and/or production entity agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the festival, its organizers, and partners.
Final Decisions - All programming and awards decisions are final.
