At the Oil Valley Film Festival, our mission is to bring the voices and films of new and established filmmakers to the heart of Venango County, an area underrepresented in the world of film.

Located in Oil City, Pennsylvania, and nestled in the foothills of the Appalachian mountains, attending the Oil Valley Film Festival will grant you the experience of watching engaging cinema within an intimate community with a rich history.

2023 Venues: Oil City Library & The Pointe - Oil City, PA

The 2023 Oil Valley Film Festival is partnered with and sponsored by the following businesses: Virtual Pitch Fest, Robot Blonde, InkTip, Austin Ink, The Pointe and the Oil City Library.

2023 Festival Schedule:

In-Person Schedule:
Sep. 8 - Shorts Program.
Sept. 9 - Features Program.
Sept. 10 - Director Curated Block.

Awards & Prizes

All films selected are eligible for awards. The following awards will be granted for outstanding achievement: ("Actor" designates both male and female actors)

FILM COMPETITION AWARDS:

Jury Prizes:

- Best Actor, Feature
- Best Actor, Short
- Best Supporting Actor, Feature
- Best Supporting Actor, Short
- Best Cinematography, Feature - Narrative
- Best Cinematography, Short - Narrative
- Best Director, Feature - Narrative
- Best Director, Short - Narrative
- Best Editing, Feature - Narrative
- Best Editing, Short - Narrative
- Best Picture, Feature - Narrative & Documentary
- Best Picture, Short - Narrative & Documentary

Audience Awards:

- Favorite Feature Film
- Favorite Short Film
- Favorite Web / New Media Episode

SCREENPLAY COMPETITION AWARDS:

- Outstanding Achievement in Screenwriting, Feature
- Outstanding Achievement in Screenwriting, Short
- Outstanding Achievement in Screenwriting, Hour-long Pilot Teleplay

Winners of the 2023 Screenwriting categories will receive:

A 4-month InkTip Pro Membership ($130 value). As an InkTip Pro Member, thousands of filmmakers can find and read your scripts, and you'll be able to pitch directly to production companies every week. With over 3,000 options and 400 movies made, InkTip is the place for independent film.

Winners get 5 Pitches and Finalists 3 Pitches on VPF, the platform for TV/Film professionals seeking scripts and writers to represent. With VPF, writers can submit Written Pitches to 500+ networks/studios, producers and agents with the assurance of a guaranteed response.

All screenwriting submitters will receive 1 pitch with VPF.

Rules & Terms

DISCLAIMER: The personal views of judges affiliated with the Oil Valley Film Festival do not reflect the view of the festival itself, and in no way are those outside views, posted, written, or spoken, the responsibility of the Oil Valley Film Festival.

BASIC SUBMISSION RULES

- No Waivers or Discounts on Submissions.

- Films must be completed before submitting. No "works in progress" accepted.

- Films and scripts submitted must not have been completed before January 1 of the previous year. (THIS IS WAIVED IN RESPONSE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.)

- Online screeners are accepted for submission, but are not exclusive. If submitting an online screener that is password protected, please include password with submission.

- Films that are available online for free, or available for purchase (VOD, YouTube, Netflix, Hulu, Amazon, etc...) or have screened theatrically (via traditional distribution) in New York or Los Angeles are not eligible for the festival.

- No premiere status is needed, but it is encouraged.

- If accepted, all screening films must be available via digital copy.

- All films not in English must be subtitled in English.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

The Oil Valley Film Festival is hereby granted the right to utilize an excerpt from any film submitted and accepted for exhibition at the Festival for promotional purposes. The individual or corporation submitting the film hereby warrants that it is authorized to commit the film for screening, and understands and accepts these requirements and regulations. The Oil Valley Film Festival reserves the right to refuse entries. The individuals and corporations who submit shall indemnify and hold harmless the Oil Valley Film Festival 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.
17 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
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Networking
  • Joia Danai

    So glad to have been chosen as a finalist for the Oil Valley Film Festival! I will definitely be participating in the future. Thank you!

    September 2022
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    Response from festival:

    Thank you for your kind words. We're so glad you shared your work with us this year.

  • Dean Cummings

    Matt is great. There is a sense that this festival will grow and the film makers will flock to it (see Jamie Lee Curtis).

    September 2022
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    Response from festival:

    Thank you for the kind words, Dean. And thank you for sharing your writing with us this this year.

  • Derrick Scocchera

    Great festival run by filmmakers for filmmakers. A special thanks to Matt Croyle for his hard work and dedication. Excited to see his festival grow in the coming years.

    September 2022
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    Response from festival:

    Thank you, Derrick. It was wonderful to have your work screen with us this year.

  • Michael Greene

    Special thanks to The Oil Valley Film Festival for awarding The Bridge Builder with the Outstanding Screenwriting, Feature Screenplay Award. Excellent communication from they very beginning. Very happy to have been a part of the festival.

    November 2021
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    Response from festival:

    Michael, thank you for the kind words. Glad you could be a part of the festival. Keep writing.

  • Armand Arekian

    Great festival. Very friendly folks. I would highly recommend.

    October 2021
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    Response from festival:

    Thank you for the wonderful words, Armand. Much appreciated!