The National Alliance on Mental Illness, (NAMI) is the largest grassroots mental health organization in the United States. NAMI Miami-Dade's Film Festival is back for the 5th year after a hiatus since 2019 due to COVID!

Films are a compelling storytelling form that connects with our deepest sensibilities. That's why for the fifth consecutive year, NAMI Miami-Dade is showcasing a curated list of short films inspired by the lives of those who have been affected by mental illness. These narratives will share a range of life experiences meant to inspire, heal, and empower. The festival will explore the intersection of art, mental illness, film and storytelling for a unique immersive experience.

For the first time, this event will include an entry/ticket price of $10, with some free tickets available to community partners and organizations.
Refreshments will be available for purchase
Event will feature mental health resources
Recovery resources focused on art

Rules & Terms

Submission Policy

Genre: Mental Illness Short Film
(and co-occurring disorders, such as addiction, with mental illness).

Films MUST be about hope and recovery.

Mental Illness MUST be the focus topic of the film, which includes but is not limited to:

Bipolar Disorder

Schizophrenia

Postpartum Disorders

OCD (Obsessive- Compulsive Disorder)

Eating Disorders (BDD, Bulimia, Anorexia, etc)

Anxiety

Depression

Addiction

ALL FILMS MUST BE RATED "G" or "PG-13."

Films that are HORROR, EROTIC, OR VIOLENT will NOT be accepted.

Experimental films are NOT accepted.

The films Should bring to light that recovery is possible. If you have any questions, please email us.

Please DO NOT submit any other films unrelated to mental illness.

Film Requirements:

Time: Minimum 4 Minutes, Maximum 25 Minutes

All films must be a minimum of 4 minutes and a maximum of 25 minutes in length.

Spoken Language: Films MUST be either in English spoken language, Creole spoken language, or Spanish spoken language. No other spoken languages are accepted.

Films in Spanish or Creole must have English subtitles.

English language films that have Spanish or Creole subtitles are a plus.

Anyone, under age 18, submitting a film must have parental/guardian consent. Please contact us for more information.

All films must follow this export format:

1920 x 1080, .mp4 (H.264 compression) (Vimeo presets work well)
Square pixels
23.98 OR 24 FPS ; Stereo Sound

3 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Darren & Suzanne James-Teale

    Thank you to the festival for including our film The Edge of Reality. Great communication and a wonderful programme of speakers and films.

    October 2024
    Helpful
  • Matthew Villegas

    I had the honor of showing my film "My Week With Charlie" at Reel Minds and had a wonderful experience. The staff does a great job of curating films and really making sure that the filmmakers get their recognition. Thanks again!

    October 2024
    Helpful
  • Roberto Sanchez

    Great selection of films! Very important festival to have.

    December 2020
    Helpful