An annual celebration of cinema in the beach town of Lavra in Portugal. Sister festival of the River Bend Film Festival in Goshen, IN, United States. Sister festival of Moinho Cine Fest.

The Ocean Coast Film Festival is a competitive festival that showcases independent films from all over the world and provides a platform for filmmakers to meet other like-minded people.

Just 15 kilometers north of the city of Porto, winner of the Best European Destination award for several straight years, the OCFF has quickly become a favourite among travelling filmmakers.

'Anartem - Cultural Non-Profit' is the promoter of this event.

Awards & Prizes

Total Prize Value: $5000 in online courses
(in partnership with learning platform Evenant)

Award List 2020:
- Best Short Film (OCFF Main Award)

- Jordon Hodges Award for Best Short Drama

- Tim Richardson Award for Best Comedy Short

- Best Documentary Short

- Best Portuguese Short

- Best Student Short

- Best Animation Short

- Best Local School/Institution Film

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Benefits for filmmakers who get selected:
- 2 VIP filmmaker badges that give full access to all screenings and events
- Potential for one-on-one meetings with other filmmakers and industry professionals

Rules & Terms

Submission costs vary depending on category and discounts. When submitting to the festival you are agreeing, if selected, to screen the submitted film during the dates of the festival. OCFF will not pay any screening fees for presentation of the film during the festival. The only exception would be if there is a pre-negotiated agreement.

ENTRY REGULATIONS
The Ocean Coast Film Festival is a competitive showcase of feature films, documentaries and shorts. The OCFF reserves the right to determine the eligibility of any project submitted. Projects must be submitted for consideration on DVD, BluRay or preferably as an online screener. All entries should have English or Portuguese subtitles in .srt format. If you don’t have any subtitles at the time of submission don’t worry, we’ll consider your project without subtitles and, if selected, we will work with you to get them ready for exhibition at the film festival.

COMPETITION
For a list of competitive categories, please see our awards page. All films are selected and voted upon by an impartial jury of filmmakers, industry professionals and festival programmers.

SCREENING MATERIALS
If selected, the OCFF will require a digital copy of the film in the best quality available. If you have an Electronic Press Kit (EPK) you can send it along with the copy of the movie so we can use it for promotional activities (it can include high-resolution production stills, key art, bio and filmography of the director, production notes and full cast and crew credits).

REPRODUCTION AGREEMENT
Submission of an entry gives the OCFF permission to have excerpts of accepted work, including film trailers, shown in all promotional activities related to the festival and the entire work screened at the festival and other subsequent screenings made by Anartem.

NOTIFICATION
Films selected to the OCFF will be notified no later than the Notification Date set on the FilmFreeway page.
32 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • José Paulo Santos


    A film festival that promotes author films. A very friendly and familiar team. A festival that will be a reference. Thanks for the hospitality and see you next year

    November 2022
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    Response from festival:

    Thank you so much for the review and congrats on your film!
    Wish you the best!

  • Amigo Ivo

    Foi Perfeito! Ficámos muito surpreendidos

    January 2022
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    Response from festival:

    Muito obrigado Amigo Ivo!
    Forte abraço!

  • Guilherme Proença

    A festival that is made of real people. Everyone I was in contact with was really nice and helpfully throughout the whole process.
    Strongly recommend this festival.

    March 2021
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    Response from festival:

    Thank you so much Guilherme!

  • Vasco André dos Santos

    As the writer and director of "Fall" I want to thank to the Ocean Coast Film Festival organization for, once again, provide us an amazing edition of this festival.
    I also have to say that it's an honor to see this festival growing up (even in the middle of a pandemic crisis). I worked with the team on the first edition and now I had the opportunity to screen my first short here. I don't have words to thank. The Ocean Coast Film Festival is one of best festivals in Portugal, and it's definitely a special place to screen/present a project. I really hope that, soon, we have the chance to meet in a cinema / teathre again.
    Thank you.

    January 2021
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    Response from festival:

    Just to think we met in the first edition of the fest, while you were working on the auditorium's sound and lighting booth, and from there you presented us with very interesting projects that are proof amazing content can be produced not only in our country but on our area in particular as well!
    Kudos for that!

  • Mo Fini

    As the script writer, music supervisor and co-director of Mambo |Man, I would like to thank Ocean Coast Film Festival organization for this amazing festival. Even though we have been in the middle of the Corona crisis, amazingly they managed to sail through the difficulties as best as one can expect. It is not easy for anybody under the present circumstances but their approach and dedication makes it easier for all of us to cope. Beautifully organized and communication could not be better. We are thrilled and appreciate your consideration which at the age of 70 gives me inspiration to start on my second film!
    Thanks to all of you. Keep up your amazing work as this world without arts and culture won't be a world worth living in!
    Thanks to you Fabio Santo and his team for organizing such an event.
    Mo Fini

    January 2021
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    Response from festival:

    Thanks for this inspiring review Mo! It was great having Mambo Man playing at our festival!
    Take care and keep creating!