Mid Ohio Valley Film Festival
April 17–18, 2026 | WVU Parkersburg | Parkersburg, WV
Experience a celebration of storytelling at the Mid Ohio Valley Film Festival, hosted on the campus of WVU Parkersburg in beautiful Parkersburg, West Virginia.
The two-day festival, taking place Friday and Saturday, April 17-18 2026, shines a spotlight on films that highlight the voices, stories, and creativity of the Mid Ohio Valley region—while also welcoming submissions from filmmakers around the world.
Attendees can enjoy screenings, filmmaker Q&As, and opportunities to connect with creators and audiences who share a passion for independent film. The event is free and open to the public, making it a perfect weekend for film lovers, students, and community members alike.
Join us in celebrating local talent, global perspectives, and the power of cinema to bring people together in the heart of Appalachia.

Awards & Prizes

The Mid Ohio Valley Film Festival celebrates outstanding storytelling, craftsmanship, and creativity from filmmakers near and far. While the festival highlights works connected to the Mid-Ohio Valley region, submissions are accepted globally — and all selected films are considered for the following honors:

Festival Award Winners 2026

Short Documentary – Dublin
Awarded for excellence in short-form documentary filmmaking, recognizing distinguished achievement in nonfiction storytelling.

Short Narrative – Operation Pomme De Terre
Awarded for excellence in short-form narrative filmmaking, honoring outstanding storytelling, direction, and performance.

Best of Show – End
Presented as the festival’s highest honor, recognizing exceptional achievement in filmmaking across all categories.

Best Animation – Space Delivery
Awarded for outstanding achievement in animated filmmaking, honoring excellence in visual storytelling and technical craft.

Best International Film – The Dog
Presented to a film produced outside the United States that demonstrates exceptional storytelling and artistic merit.

Spirit of the Valley Award – My Name is Robert Ruark
Awarded to a film that exemplifies the character, heritage, and cultural spirit of the Mid Ohio Valley.

Best Feature Documentary – My Name is Robert Ruark
Awarded for excellence in feature-length documentary filmmaking, recognizing depth of research, storytelling, and impact.

Best Local High School Film – Hatchet on the Hardwood
Presented to a local high school production that demonstrates notable achievement in filmmaking and storytelling.

Best Student Produced Film – Project Frankenstein
Awarded to a student-led production in recognition of excellence in execution, creativity, and overall production quality.

Best Music Video – Damsel in Distress
Awarded for excellence in music video production, recognizing innovation, visual storytelling, and artistic direction.

Testament to Appalachia Award – Oral Histories of Amonate
Presented to a film that meaningfully documents and preserves the history, culture, and lived experiences of Appalachia.

Best Experimental Film – Tori’s Bathroom Selfie
Awarded for achievement in experimental filmmaking, recognizing innovation, risk-taking, and unconventional narrative form.

Best College Film – Game Night
Presented to a collegiate production that demonstrates distinguished achievement in filmmaking and storytelling.

Most Unique Film Idea – Standing Waves
Awarded in recognition of an original concept that demonstrates exceptional creativity and innovation.

Stylistic Award – Bone Heaven
Presented for distinguished achievement in visual style and directorial approach that enhances the film’s artistic impact.

(All awards will be presented as official festival certificates. Winners will be recognized during the closing session of the festival weekend.)

Rules & Terms

Mid Ohio Valley Film Festival — Rules & Terms
Eligibility

The Mid Ohio Valley Film Festival (MOVFF) celebrates filmmaking that reflects the stories, talent, and spirit of the Mid-Ohio Valley region, while also welcoming creative voices from around the world.
To honor our regional focus, priority consideration will be given to films that meet at least one of the following criteria:

Directed by a filmmaker from or currently residing in the Mid-Ohio Valley region (including areas of West Virginia, Ohio, and Kentucky).

Written by a screenwriter from or currently residing in the region.

Filmed in part within the Mid-Ohio Valley area.

Set within the region or thematically tied to its culture, history, or people.

While we welcome global submissions, films with a clear regional connection will receive special programming emphasis.

Submission Information

Filmmakers should clearly explain their connection to the Mid-Ohio Valley, if applicable, in their cover letter or film description.

Works of all genres and lengths are accepted, including narrative, documentary, animation, experimental, and music video.

For programming purposes, we define:

Short films: 39 minutes or less

Feature films: 40 minutes or longer

Shorter films (under 10 minutes) are encouraged, as our festival schedule has limited screening time and shorter works have a higher chance of selection.

Originality & Rights

All submissions must be original works. The submitting filmmaker must have the legal rights and clearances for all content, including music, images, and video clips.
By submitting, you grant the Mid Ohio Valley Film Festival permission to exhibit your work publicly as part of the 2026 festival.

Completion Date

Submitted films should have been completed within the last two years (2024–2026). There are no premiere requirements.

Selection & Screening

All films will be reviewed by the festival programming team. Selections are based on storytelling, creativity, technical quality, and regional connection (when applicable).
The festival reserves the right to disqualify any submission that does not meet these terms or adhere to eligibility guidelines.

General Terms

Entry is free and open to the public.

The festival takes place April 17-18 2026, at WVU Parkersburg in Parkersburg, West Virginia.

This is a family friendly event. Films portraying nudity, intense violence or strong language may be disqualified.

The Mid Ohio Valley Film Festival reserves the right to determine the time, venue, and format of screenings.

By submitting to MOVFF, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agreed to these rules and terms.
4 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
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Networking
  • Ramzi Abed

    It was a true honor and privilege to get to screen my music video for the Nightcrickets song, Don't Be Afraid, at this truly inspiring and important film festival that highlights relevant social and even political themes that are universal to all human beings. Thank you!

    April 2026
    Helpful
  • Si Paros

    We had such a great experience at Mid Ohio Valley Film Festival. Not only were we honoured to receive two awards, but the entire festival felt genuinely supportive and thoughtfully run. The crew were incredibly kind, communicative, and clearly passionate about what they do.

    What really stood out was the balance between welcoming a wide range of work while still creating meaningful space for local and emerging artists to be seen and celebrated. It felt like a festival that truly cares about filmmakers at all stages.

    We’re so grateful to have been part of it and can’t wait to submit again and attend future events.

    April 2026
    Helpful
    Response from festival:

    Thank you so much for the kind review. We hope to see you submit to future festivals!

  • John Dawson

    Nice festival to be in

    April 2026
    Helpful
    Response from festival:

    Thank you so much for the kind review. We hope to see you submit to future festivals!

  • Nikki Durbin

    Absolutely wonderful. Our film, END, was selected as the Best of Show, and we couldn't be more honored or proud to have been held in such high regard for this wonderful festival. Cody is an amazing festival director, and the entire experience was incredibly rewarding. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

    April 2026
    Helpful
    Response from festival:

    Thank you so much for the kind review. We hope to see you submit to future festivals!