"The MSFF is a little gem of a festival. I was incredibly impressed with the team's warmth and hospitality, as well as their tight organization. The setting is picturesque and quaint, nestled in Oregon's wine country. The programming is thoughtful and well curated. These people really care about filmmakers and their films. This short film festival should be on every filmmaker's radar."
-Ellie Foumbi, DGA, WGA, SAG-AFTRA (Our Father The Devil)
25 New Faces of Independent Film, Mind the Gap Creation Award Recipient

Welcome to the McMinnville Short Film Festival. Short Films. Oregon Wine Country! Please join us in 2026 for our 15th Anniversary celebrating independent film!

Recognized by MovieMaker Magazine as one of "20 Great Film Festivals in Vacation Destinations," the McMinnville Short Film Festival (MSFF) is a true filmmaker’s film festival. We invite filmmakers from around the world to come together and spend a few days getting to know one another at our friendly networking mixers and professional industry led panels. Our goal is to help filmmakers widen their filmmaker community. By the end of the festival we hope filmmakers leave feeling inspired with new creative friends and future collaborators. Additionally, our screenings are routinely shown in front of sold out audiences and therefore filmmakers will receive the theatrical experience of a live audience response.

Our team carefully considers every submission and we strive to identify independent voices and original storytellers. Please note, we do not often program proof of concept, music videos or episodic shorts. Once selected, the films are reviewed by our noteworthy film industry professionals and Academy affiliated judges to determine category winners and awards.

"I've always encouraged filmmakers to make shorts. It's a great way to gain visibility and create a calling card for Hollywood to recognize new talent. It is a pleasure to watch so many high quality shorts at the McMinnville Short Film Festival." -2025 Grand Jury Judge, Peter Billingsley (Executive Producer, Iron Man, A Christmas Story, Couples Retreat, The Breakup.)

The MSFF hosts a critical component to the Oregon arts community by connecting local filmmakers with their counterparts from around the world, and by providing a venue for culturally diverse screenings, events, and gatherings.

The 2025 MSFF showcased over 107 short films and 3 screenplay finalists from over 15 countries including 18 world premieres, 6 USA premieres, 31 PNW premieres and 27 Oregon premieres.

"Imagine screening your film in a beautiful setting with welcoming audiences who appreciate your work and what it takes to make a film. Imagine networking events where filmmakers truly want to help each other. Imagine world class wine and amazing restaurants. Now imagine yourself here, at the McMinnville Short Film Festival. Come once, and you’ll want to come back every year." - Kelley Baker
Independent Filmmaker & Author (Good Will Hunting, To Die For, My Own Private Idaho, Psycho.)

All selected films receive:
-Two all access passes which include all filmmaker events and screenings along with discounted lodging to attend the Festival. All of our filmmaker events are fully catered with open wine bar to showcase our AVA and award winning Willamette Valley wines.

In an effort to raise visibility for under represented voices in film we offer the following waivers:

LGBTQ+: Directors identifying as LGBTQ+ please use waiver code LGBTQMAC26 for 25% off submission fee.

BIPOC: Directors identifying as BIPOC (Black, Indigenous of People of Color) please use BIPOCMAC26 for 25% off submission fee.

Yamhill County Filmmakers - please email films@mcminnvillefilmfest.org with proof of county residency to receive a FREE submission waiver

We look forward to watching your work and celebrating independent filmmakers with you! Questions? Email: films@mcminnvillefilmfest.org.

Each Official Selection will receive digital laurels. Each Nominee and Winner will receive additional digital laurels and a certificate and trophy (cash prizes noted below.)

Grand Jury Award - $1000 prize

Best Short Screenplay - One on one consultation with Jonathan Raymond
(Top three screenplay finalists receive coverage notes from Jonathan Raymond)

Best Oregon Filmmaker - $2000 digital camera package courtesy of festival partner KOERNER CAMERA - the Pacific Northwest's premiere digital camera house

Founders Award - $500 Awarded to Outstanding Female Filmmaker
(Director, Writer, DP, Editor, and/or Producer are all eligible)

Will Vinton Award for Best Animated Short Film - $300 prize

Best Environmental Film (Sponsor: Zero Waste McMinnville) - $250 prize

Best Locals Film - Yamhill County Residents only (Sponsor: AAYC) - $250 prize

Best Experimental / A Bit Strange

Best Documentary

Best Drama

Best Comedy

Best Suspense/Horror/Sci-fi

Shawash Ilihi Award - presented in partnership with The Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde for Best Native American Film

Short films in selected genres, maximum 20 minutes in length. If selected, WE REQUIRE A DCP OF YOUR FILM.

Entrants will be notified of their submission’s selection status on or about January 1st, 2026. Foreign language films must be subtitled in English.

Submission to the 2026 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.

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 prize, 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.

Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • S. Riley Moneymaker

    Such a wonderful group that hosts this event. Really felt encouraged and met lots of wonderful folks in the industry!

    April 2025
  • Carmela Marie Murphy

    We are so thankful to McMinnville Short Film Festival for screening our film, "A Bird Hit My Window and Now I'm a Lesbian." We were so honored to be a part of the Animation Program. The team was super communicative and kind.
    xoxo,
    Carmela and AJ

    April 2025
  • Kelly Balch

    Hands down one of my favorite film festivals I've attended, thankfully I was honored to have my film nominated. The staff were friendly and incredibly hard working. I loved the mingling activities they had for us to connect with the other filmmakers as well as the size of the festival. It wasn't too large nor too small. One of my favorite experiences.

    March 2025
  • This was a festival that just kept being recommended to us by filmmakers all over. And they did not disappoint! Great programming, care and attention given to the filmmakers, and support for travel and board (a rarity!). For 2025 we had 9 clients selected:

    🎬 Chivalry
    🎬 Family Portrait of the Black Earth
    🎬 Hema
    🎬 Hodge Podge
    🎬 Meow!
    🎬 No One is an Island
    🎬 Romchyk
    🎬 The Unseen
    🎬 Yule

    March 2025
  • Chris Liles

    Some great short films showcasing a range of talent from around the world. It was well run, lots of events and opportunities to meet others from around the industry. Will definitely be submitting films in the future.

    March 2025