ACCEPTING SUBMISSIONS NOW! The Ogeechee International History Film Festival (OIHFF) is going into its eleventh year and is the world’s longest-running, open-submission international history film festival. "The Ogeechee" is devoted to screening and promoting quality historical documentary films from professional, student, and amateur filmmakers from around the globe. Over the past ten seasons we have screened over 150 films from fifty-five nations. The festival is sponsored by the Georgia Southern University Department of History and has included campus and community screenings in Statesboro and Savannah. Having an open-submission, international festival, allows our event to be an outlet for filmmakers across a wide spectrum of experience, from seasoned professionals to beginners with a vision. We particularly encourage students of all levels to submit their work. We are a non-profit, all-volunteer staff festival which allows us to keep all screenings and events free and open to the public.

Awards & Prizes

AWARDS:
Certificates of "Merit for Excellence in Historical Filmmaking" are awarded to films that demonstrate excellence in both historical interpretation and filmmaking. At the end of the annual festival submission cycle the review staff will review the merit winners to select the appropriate titles for the February festival screenings. Those films will be judged a second time before a jury of professional historians and filmmakers to select the best short, feature, museum/historic site, experimental, and student films.

INFORMATION FOR ACADEMIC FILMMAKERS
Are you a filmmaker affiliated with a college or university? The Ogeechee International History Film Festival is offering a service of double-blind peer review for use in tenure and promotion decisions. Our reviews typically involve a doctorate-holding historian and a filmmaker with an MFA or Ph.D. degree. Please contact festival director Michael Van Wagenen for more details and submission instructions: mvanwagenen@georgiasouthern.edu

Rules & Terms

ROLLING DEADLINES:
The Ogeechee International History Film Festival has open submission year-round. This allows for the awarding of certificates of merit on a rolling basis. Films submitted before the December deadline will be eligible for screening at the festival in February the following year. Program announcements for the festival are made in mid January.

Content: Films must have a focus on history and historical events
Length: Films can be any length, but submission prices vary.**
-Films one hour or shorter: $25 to submit
-Films over one hour: $30 to submit
-Student films of any length: $15 to submit
Language: Foreign language films are welcome but must contain English subtitles.
Relevancy: Only films completed or copyrighted in or after 2023 will be accepted.
Historical: Must have consulted a historian or interviewed one for information.

*Please note - To qualify for inclusion in any of the student categories, films must be directed, produced, written, shot, and edited by students, though they may perform these duties under the supervision of professionals.
** Applying to a student category to avoid submissions fees will automatically disqualify a film from consideration for any award.
***Please contact the coordinator if you are in a nation that is experiencing disadvantageous currency exchange rates with the United States or where artists are currently threatened or prosecuted for their work. We will work with you.
25 Reviews
Overall Rating
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  • Jean-Marie Vinclair

    I felt incredibly proud to see my feature-length documentary, 8 Seconds, programmed in this magnificent festival. And what a joy to receive the award for best feature film this year! A huge thank you to the entire team for this wonderful organization.

    April 2026
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  • Dragan Jovićević

    Thank you so much for recognizing "Warm Film" and giving the special mention award. I am truly happy and proud. It is important to keep memories in mind ❤️

    March 2026
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  • H James Gilmore

    My student filmmakers were honored that A BOOK OF FREEDOM: THE CONFESSIONS OF FRANCISCO MENÉNDEZ screened at the festival and received an award. They had a great time participating, along with our Department Chair. Likewise, my faculty colleague and I appreciate the inclusion of our documentary short FLORIDA'S FORGOTTEN FORT. I really appreciated the excellent communication throughout the process, and I would highly recommend this festival for any filmmaker creating historical documentaries or dramas.

    March 2026
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  • Vassilis Loules

    I was so honored that my film “A Vineyard Cinderella” was selected to screen at Ogeechee! I appreciate the fact that the festival director kept me informed at every stage of the process and shared his thoughts on my film with me. He did the same last year with my previous submission, “One Big Family.” A Certificate of Merit for both films makes me proud! Ogeechee is a Festival where I would like to submit every film I make.

    March 2026
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  • Eric Dean Freese

    I can't recommend Ogeechee enough! The organizers are top-notch and the festival experience is high-quality. This year, my film did not get in for screening, but did earn a Certificate of Merit. Michael, the festival director, wrote me an email thanking me for entering, while also recalling films I had entered in past years. That personal attention, for a film that's not even being screened, shows how much this festival cares about the filmmaker. Ogeechee is on the top of my list for festivals to enter.

    March 2026
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