***READ CAREFULLY***
1. By participating, filmmakers acknowledge that unless stated otherwise by the festival administration through formal documentation, they are not entitled to any monetary compensation whatsoever for the screening of their projects at our main annual event or any event thereafter (virtual or otherwise) which features films from the Ocean City Film Festival selection. We do not pay screening fees.
2. Only films completed between January 1st 2025, and September 30th 2026 are eligible.
3. Upon being accepted, filmmakers must be prepared to deliver a hi-res MP4 or MOV file via e-mail, cloud transfer, or FilmFreeway. DCPs should be mailed to 502 94th St. Ocean City, MD 21842. For filmmakers that cannot mail a DCP or make one on their own, the OCFF offers DCP production (Fee TBD).
4. The Ocean City Film Fest allows submissions of all sorts from all over the world, but films from the Delmarva Peninsula and surrounding regions will gain priority, as will short films.
5. By submitting to the Ocean City Film Festival, filmmakers consent to the public screening of their work at any of our venues. Further, if your film is accepted to the Ocean City Film Festival, filmmakers consent to the inclusion of their film at any other event we may organize, sponsor, or program within a year of the 2026 Ocean City Film Festival event. This includes but is not limited to internet streaming, in-person screenings (ticketed or otherwise), and educational purposes.
6. Attending filmmakers will be required to RSVP, and information on the RSVP will be stated explicitly in the acceptance e-mail. Be sure to read carefully as our acceptance e-mail will also include details about hotel deals, file delivery, and artist admission.
7. Filmmakers who do not deliver their playable screener files will be removed from the program with or without notification.
8. The Ocean City Film Festival owes no explanation to applicants that were not accepted. Submission fees are NON-refundable. Submit at your own risk.
9. The OCFF serves to unite filmmakers and audiences and in doing so, the festival will prioritize submissions from filmmakers most likely to attend the event in-person.
At the Ocean City Film Festival, we highly encourage submissions from emerging filmmakers who are women, people of color, non-binary, LGBTQ+, indigenous, immigrants, and/or members of historically resilient ethnic, religious, and cultural communities. We offer a significantly reduced submission fee to filmmakers who self-identify as members of these communities. We seek to make the independent film industry, and our community, an equitable and accessible place for these filmmakers looking to showcase their work.
