The Loudoun Arts Film Festival takes place in Loudoun County, VA under the umbrella of The Loudoun Arts Council. LAFF is a non-profit organization serving as an international platform for independent filmmaking, creative expression and immersive entertainment. LAFF supports emerging and established voices.

We are seeking submissions of films, screenplays, and music videos.

We had a successful hybrid festival in 2020 with both a drive-in and a virtual event. It is our intent to have a fully in person event this fall. We are planning the event keeping the safety of our audience and creators in mind.

We promise to keep you all updated as our plans are solidified. Either way, please know that we will hold the event and will showcase and promote all accepted works in the best way possible.

Awards & Prizes


2021 Award Winners

Screenplay finalists

Short Screenplays

Winner Reheated
2nd - Guilt
3rd - Maddi
4th - Firefighter
5th - Milton

Feature Screenplays

Winner Gold Trail Pass
2nd Farther
3rd Cindy
4th Grandma Was a Gangster
5th. Francis Underground

Best Music Video A$$ Level

Midnight Awards

Best Midnight Feature An Ideal Host
Best Director Midnight Feature Robert Woods for An Ideal Host
Best Director Midnight Short Theo Rhys for Stuffed
Best Cinematography Midnight Feature Matt Henley for Coming Home in the Dark

Best Midnight Short Stuffed
Nominated
Mum's Sweater
Each Other

Best Cinematography Midnight Short Piers McGrail for Stuffed

Student Awards

Winner Best Student Film Mum's Sweater

Nominated
Appa Appa Appa
Le Cri

Best Director Student Film Anna Sang Park for Appa Appa Appa
Best Cinematography Student Film Erin G. Wesley for Mors Dag

Jury Special Mention Actor Jack Riley in Each Other
Jury Special Mention Short Funeral
Jury Special Mention Midnight Short Final

Narrative Short Awards

Winner Dolapo is Fine

Nominated
An Occurrence at Arverne
Feeling Through

Best Director Ethosheia Hylton for Dolapo is Fine
Best Cinematography The Tide
Best Actor Liam Thomas in The Tide
Best Actress Doyin Ajiboye in Dolapo is Fine
Best Supporting Actor Tie:
Robert Tarango in Feeling Through & Jerry Carlton for In France Michelle is a Man’s Name
Best Supporting Actress DeAnna Toten Beard in The Age of Bryce

Jury Special Mentions

Best Editing - Urban Sphinx
Best Animated Short Homeward (for attention to detail)
Best Sound Design Tie:
Wild Will & Each Other

Documentary Shorts

Winner Tanagokoro: A Culinary Portrait

Nominated
Full Picture
Once the Dust has Settled

Best Director Marlén Viñayo for Unforgivable
Best Cinematography Victoria Fistes & Masashi Nozaki for Tanagokoro: A Culinary Portrait

Local Film Awards

Winner The Making of: Please Don’t Make me play Piano Man

Nominated
Deaf Reach: Hope for Pakistan
Jasmine

Best Director Steve Nerangis for The Making of: Please Don’t Make me play Piano Man
Best Actor Julian Velard for The Making of: Please Don’t Make me play Piano Man
Best Actress Bonnie Jourdan for Legacy Sessions

Best Local Documentary Tainted Blood

Special Jury Mention Just a Guy

Documentary Features

Winner Best Documentary Feature The Conductor
Nominated Joy Womack: The White Swan

Best Cinematography Beyond the Visiable- Hilma AF Klint
Best Director The Conductor

Narrative Feature Awards

Best Narrative Feature Coming Home in The Dark
Nominated
Drown
Ludi

Best Director James Ashcroft for Coming Home in The Dark
Best Cinematography Philippe Kress for A Beautiful Curse:
Best Actor Javad Ezati in Drown
Best Actress Shein Mompremier in Ludi
Best Supporting Actor Matthias Luafutu in Coming Home in the The Dark
Best Supporting Actress Tannaz Tabatabaei in Drown

Jury Special Mention for Acting Mark Strepan in A Beautiful Curse
Jury Special Mention Production Design A Beautiful Curse
Special Mention for Outstanding Performance Svetlana Yancheva for Fear

Spotlight Emerging Director A Shot through the Wall Aimee Long
Spotlight Film Peace By Chocolate

Rules & Terms

You must fully comply with these Entry Rules & Regulations, including all deadlines, film length, entry material and other requirements.

Submitted project must have been completed January of 2019 or later to be submitted in competition.

Non-English language works must have English subtitles at the time submitted.

Filmmaker must provide a working link on FilmFreeway, Vimeo or equivalent.

Any film with an incomplete edit must provide a description in the cover letter of items to be completed. Completed films are encouraged and incomplete films are not assured acceptance.

Entrant will allow usage of clips and images from the film for promotional use on television, radio, in print, and at live Festival events.

Entrant confirms and warrants required legal authority to submit the entry into the Festival and to use all music, images, and content in the entry.

The submitter warrants that the submitted project does not infringe upon the intellectual property rights of any person or entity and agree to hold harmless and fully indemnify and defend the festival and its representatives against any and all claims made for such infringement or any other violations of law.

Paying a submission fee does not guarantee acceptance

Student film entries must include proof of student status at the time of production (i.e., copy of student ID, transcript, etc. and should be emailed at time of entry to wk@loudounarts.org with entry title in subject line.

Virginia film entries must provide proof of residence or local shooting and should be emailed at time of entry to wk@loudounarts.org with entry title in subject line.

LAFF reserves the right to change these rules.

32 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Lisa Bell Roden

    What a great festival. I have participated as an audience member and now with a selected short film and enjoyed both experiences immensely. The organizers are committed film enthusiasts and professionals striving to create a special experience for everyone involved. It was a real thrill to get to see my short, TEDDY, shown in front of an audience.

    September 2021
    Helpful
  • Shoshana Rosenbaum

    This was a really fun festival -- the screening was a drive-in at a beautiful winery, with live music and food preceding. As an attending filmmaker, I was invited to introduce my film. The festival also created a FaceBook group for filmmakers to connect. Overall, well-organized, well-publicized, and I was honored to be a part of it!

    September 2021
    Helpful
  • Benjamin Anklam

    Excellent Festival. It's hard to throw a public in-person event during a pandemic and the Loudoun team did it in a safe fun, and professional environment with clear and easy communication every step of the way. I would attend again.

    September 2021
    Helpful
  • Alan King

    Great communication, amazing program of films and such a unique and beautiful setting. This festival has a great future!!

    September 2021
    Helpful
  • Valentine Miele

    I highly recommend Loudoun Arts FF. Terrific communication and attention to the films and filmmakers, cool venues and environment. I was unable to travel from California for the physical experience but everything they did virtually went a long way towards making me feel included. A terrific fest and organization.

    September 2021
    Helpful