Welcome to the McMinnville Short Film Festival. Celebrate our 11th anniversary with us in February 2022!

Set in the heart of Oregon wine country, the McMinnville Short Film Festival (MSFF) is a true filmmaker’s and film lover’s fest. The MSFF has been selected as a “Top 100 Best Reviewed Festival” by FilmFreeway multiple times, most recently in 2020! We foster a critical component to the arts community by connecting local filmmakers with their counterparts around the world, and by providing a venue for culturally diverse screenings, events, and gatherings.

MSFF organizers - including the original founders - cater to filmmakers from the moment a film is submitted to the moment the festival wraps. Experience why Portland, Oregon, filmmaker Heather Older says, “There are many festivals but very few have the vibrancy, personal touches and enthusiasm that the McMinnville Short Film Festival have… It's the type of festival that builds networks for creative people and possibly future collaborations.” A festival for amateur and professional filmmakers alike, the MSFF welcomes short films of any genre and of no more than 20 minutes in length.

In 2021 held an all-virtual festival that was streamed all over the world! 127 Films were screened over 10 Days to celebrate Year 10 of our Festival. As our virtual format was so successful in 2021, for MSFF 2022 we are exploring a hybrid in-person/virtual format to be as inclusive as possible.

We look forward to celebrating independent filmmakers with you. Questions? Email films@mcminnvillefilmfest.org.

Awards & Prizes

Each Official Selection will receive a certificate. Each Award Winner will receive a certificate and a trophy (cash prizes noted below).

Grand Jury Award - $500 prize

Best Experimental / A Bit Strange

Best Documentary

Best Drama

Best Comedy

Best Suspense/Horror/Sci-fi

Best Oregon Filmmaker

Best First-Time Director

Best Student Film (Grades 6-12)

Best Student Film (College)

Will Vinton Award for Best Animated Film - $150 prize

Best Environmental Film (Sponsor: Zero Waste McMinnville) - $100 prize

Shawash Ilihi Award - presented in partnership with The Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde

Rules & Terms

Short films in any genre, maximum 20 minutes in length.

Submission to the 2022 McMinnville Short Film Festival constitutes an agreement with all festival terms and conditions, and permission to exhibit the work during the festival if selected. Entrants warrant that they have the legal right to submit the work to MSFF, that all statements made in this application are true and accurate, and that all necessary rights and clearances have been secured to exhibit the work at the festival.

MSFF DOES NOT provide screening fees or honorariums for submitted work — or for any film screening as part of the festival’s juried competition.

MSFF may deny acceptance of any film at its sole discretion. ENTRY FEES ARE NON-REFUNDABLE.

All films must be submitted through FilmFreeway.

Entrants will be notified of their submission’s selection status on or about November 15, 2021. Accepted films are required to deliver a 1080P MP4 file. Foreign language films must be subtitled in English.

Any costs necessary to deliver the exhibition file to MSFF in the required format, or for any necessary subtitling, is the sole responsibility of the entrant.

All accepted films grant MSFF and their designated agents’ permission to utilize clips, trailers, and images from the film for MSFF and McMinnville Short Film Festival promotional content. The entrant agrees to notify MSFF if or when they may lose ownership of the clips, trailers, and images and no longer be able to grant said permission.

If the submission becomes an "Official Selection" and/or wins a Jury or Audience Award, MSFF requests that this be noted on promotional materials. Festival laurels are available to all Official Selections and Award winners.

Although every possible care will be taken with exhibition material in our possession, MSFF is not responsible for loss or damage. Please do not send originals, special prints or master tapes.
61 Reviews
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  • Steve cowden

    I really enjoyed working with everyone at the festival. This was my first festival and Nancy was especially great. She was very clear and helped me feel comfortable doing the interviews and understanding the process.

    March 2021
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    Response from festival:

    Thanks, Steve! It was truly our pleasure, and we are excited to keep working with you as a filmmaker.

  • Tom Miller

    This festival was an all-around great experience. Nancy, Dan, and the whole team were warm, welcoming, and always helpful. Super-impressed with the way the team put it all together virtually. It was an honor and a delight to be part of this incredible array of excellent films. It was also wonderful to have our film Tallulah win the Local Film Audience Award. Thumbs up and kudos to one and all!

    March 2021
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    Response from festival:

    Thanks, Tom & Cristina! We hope you will be back so we can meet in person.

  • Myat Noe

    such a welcoming and warm team. The Q&A sessions were great. The film line-ups are excellent. Festival director Nancy even sent me an email to check if everything is okay when a political turmoil took place in my country. Actually so did the other filmmakers that I got to know via online Q&A did as well. I will forever remember their kindness.

    March 2021
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    Response from festival:

    It was our honor to showcase your beautiful film! Stay safe, our friend.

  • Lauren Leon

    This festival was really well organized, with friendly communication, engaging Q&As, and lot of support and respect for the filmmakers. We felt very welcome, even from afar, and we hope to meet everyone in person at a future festival.

    March 2021
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    Response from festival:

    Thanks, Lauren! We look forward to a future festival meeting, too!

  • Pierre B

    It is a great film festival with a very nice team. I hope I will have my next film there after Covid in order to meet all of them. Thank you McMinnville!!

    March 2021
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    Response from festival:

    We hope you do submit again and come in person! We would love to meet you.