“Fernando Mico is a force. Nobody is more in command of an event from concept to planning to execution than he is. He is perfectly organized and stages events on a grand scale that support artists at all stages of their careers. It’s that humanitarianism coupled with his experience and know-how that gets the job done every time efficiently, on budget and schedule, and with a dramatic impact.” (November 2022)

-Michael Uslan, Executive Producer the modern Batman Film Franchise, since 1989.

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“Mr. Mico is a "can do" machine. If his vast experience in this industry isn't statement enough, he is a truly genuine, thoughtful human being, who is totally committed to excellence.”

-Russell Williams II, Legendary, First, 2-Time, Back-to-Back, African American Oscar Winner for Sound in the films Glory and Dances with Wolves (November 2022)

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Red Carpet Video Testimonials: https://youtu.be/7GWoQEc4Lrg?si=oaZoX9EbldkE0mE6

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Welcome to The NOVA Fest! The Northern Virginia International Film & Music Festival is celebrating its 12th Anniversary!

After hosting several hundred films from over 35 countries, and celebrating industry leaders like Eduardo Sanchez of The Blaire Witch Project, Michael Uslan, the executive producer of JOKER and all modern BATMAN films, and Russell Williams II, the first African-American to win back to back Academy Awards for his work on Glory and Dances With Wolves, in the Spring of 2023, we returned to live screenings and our awesome Awards Ceremony; celebrating the latest season’s Stan Lee Foundation Award Recipient Kelly Hu.

We are also continuing our highly successful film market. The CAPITAL FILM MARKET works in conjunction with The NOVA Fest and the Virginia Film Office to bring sales agents, domestic & international film offices and buyers from around the globe, searching for and buying new content. In the age of new media CFM fully embraces and offers an environment to sell content to platforms such as Netflix, Hulu, Amazon, Tubi, Roku, Vudu, and on and on.

Seminars, panels, receptions and party after party, lead up to an elaborate Oscar-style Awards Ceremony! Please check for updates.

*Unprecedented times require unprecedented action. Just like on set, we're having to improvise when forces beyond our control impose themselves. 2026 and the immediate future will be a continuous course correction, until the industry dust begins to settle.

Before submitting to our festival, please read our Rules & Terms.

By submitting to our festival, you are acknowledging that you have thoroughly read and understood our Rules & Terms.

-Thank you, The NOVA Fest Selection Team

Awards & Prizes

Oscar-Caliber Trophies & High Quality Certificates

Complimentary Winner Certificates upon Request
Complimentary Award Winner, Trophies for most prestigious, competitive, and/or impactful categories
Award Winner, Oscar-Caliber Trophies available to Order
Harold L. Brown Award for Excellence - First Time Screenwriter - $200
Russell Williams II Award for Best Soundscape - $100

Rules & Terms

We are accepting submissions for Feature and Short Narrative, Documentary, Screenplays, Teleplays, Music Videos and Art & Design. Shorts will play prior to a feature or in a shorts program. All genres are welcome. The festival programming staff will place your film in the appropriate category.

All entries will be judged on content, creativity, imagery, story and skill of the filmmaker or screenwriter. Productions produced from January 2018 to January 2027 may be submitted. Works in progress will be accepted. All films must be submitted on DVD (Region 1) or available online via FilmFreeway, YouTube, or Vimeo for consideration by the Selection Committee.

All disc entries must be sent to the Northern Virginia International Film & Music Festival. Videos and DVDs submitted will not be returned unless accompanied by SASE. Films selected for the NOVA Fest will be announced no later than February 01, 2027.

All presentation materials for the Northern Virginia International Film & Music Festival must arrive in Virginia no later than January 05, 2027 (post marked by January 05, 2027). Please notify us by mail, or email of any address changes.

The Northern Virginia International Film & Music Festival is hereby granted the right to utilize footage and promotional materials supplied by the submitting agent from any film submitted, film accepted, video, or project for exhibition at the Festival for promotional purposes. All accepted filmmakers agree that the Northern Virginia International Film & Music Festival and F.A.M.E related entities may use content (film, trailers, art, marketing collateral) from their projects in order to promote the festival, their film or the NOVA Fest Event via print, web and broadcast television. The individual or corporation submitting the film hereby warrants that it is authorized to commit the film for screening and promotion, and understands and accepts these requirements and regulations. The submitters shall indemnify and hold harmless the Northern Virginia International Film & Music Festival and F.A.M.E. related entities, it's vendors, sponsors and supporters from and against any and all claims, liabilities, losses, damages, and expenses (including but not limited to attorney's fees, and costs of the court) which may be incurred by reason of any claim involving copyright, trademark, credits, publicity, screening, and loss of or damage to the screening videos entered.

If 'Nominated', presence at the Awards Ceremony is NOT required to Win. Trophies are available for order. The most prestigious and competitive categories receive complimentary Award Trophies. Award winning certificates are available upon request.

The NOVA Fest, SoCAL Fest, and DC After Dark Fest – Live Screening Policy
New screening policies have been instituted in terms of content delivery and platform presentation. Going forward, The NOVA and GO Independent Film Festivals will screen exclusively Live. Live screenings will take place in the best venues. We have currently selected the LOOK Cinemas. We require film content to be in DCP format.

DCP stands for Digital Cinema Package, which is the industry standard for distributing and projecting movies digitally in theaters. DCPs are a collection of files that include audio, video, and metadata, and are encoded separately and combined at playback. (Google - AI Overview)

In concert with both format upgrade and returning to accepted cultural norms (travel, attendance, etc.), the following are our policies for screening live, accepted film content going forward.

Please understand that policies and protocols will adapt in accordance with factors within and beyond our control. We will do our best to share, with as much notice as possible, any changes in schedule, venue, or procedures.

Please stay tuned for any updates. We will do our best to maintain as much stability, as we have control over. Thank you for your patience and understanding. As always, we will make every decision based on what is best for our artists.

Please understand, before submitting, that with little to no notification, we may have to change presentation formats, venues, and/or dates in adherence to any local or national policies and/or laws.

By attending our events, you accept that any media produced (Video, Photography, Audio, etc.) with your image or voice may be used in marketing or promotional collateral.
68 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • John Martins III

    My deep gratitude to Founder & Executive Director, Fernando A. Mico, for his leadership in making the NOVA Fest a premier film event in the metropolitan D.C. area, and for honoring my unproduced feature screenplay, "The Fourth Psalm," as a recipient of your NOVA Jury Award. Thank you again, Master Mico, for all of your hard work, and to those individuals in Alexandria who have played a part in your wonderful journey in making NOVA a smashing success. The very best to your team and to you in all things, sir.

    April 2026
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  • hunter christy

    The NOVA Film Festival was incredibly welcoming, well organized, and curated. Communication was clear and thorough, the venue was beautiful (as was the crystal clear projection), and I was very humbled to have my project "909" included alongside so many other great pieces. Thank you so much to everyone involved, and thank you for selecting "909" as Best Music Video.

    April 2026
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  • Sarah Phillips

    I had the very best time attending this festival. It was such an honor for my screenplay to be nominated, and I met such wonderful people and learned so much about the world of filmmaking. I miss it already!

    May 2025
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  • Naomi Lisner

    I was not able to attend as it clashed with the arrival of my grandchild, who I would like to add is a gorgeous healthy boy.
    The communication was wonderful and I received non stop updates.
    I was nominated for several screenplay awards and was honoured to win best family friendly script & best SciFi for Yrrem Samtsirhc from Mars.
    I hope to get to this festival in the future- sounded wonderful. Thank you so much

    April 2025
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  • Charlie Finesilver

    This is a festival not to be missed!! Our screenplay HEIMRICH FARM was nominated for four awards and received three trophies, we are truly grateful. But it went further still. Fernando Mico is not only an excellent host, sending emails updating the festival events, but gave me personal attention and much valued assistance with our project- he is fabulous!! And it is worth attending if possible: I was approached by a director and two other film makers with an interest in taking our script to the next level...I could not ask for more!! With so many film festivals promoting their event, in my opinion this is the one!!

    May 2024
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