The Old Towne Film Festival is celebrating its SECOND YEAR! To say thank you -- we are hosting two Festivals this year!

Please check out our website and social media for videos of: Where, What, & Why.

This first call for entries will be for the Summer Themed one day event called on Saturday, July 13th, 2024. This event will contain:

1. Film Screenings (both shorts & features)
2. Our Famous Q&A Sessions with filmmakers after the screenings
3. A Producer Panel w/ special guest talking about:
Development, Pre-production, Production, Post-production, Release
4. And it will end with a Live Award show!

And the second call for entries will be for our full Fall Season 3-Day event taking place on the weekend of November 1st - November 3rd, 2024.

Different Done Right at the Old Towne Film Festival!

Awards & Prizes

All Official Selection films and screenplays will receive an Official Laurel from the Old Towne Film Festival.

All awards are given on an honorary basis and are subject to change at the discretion of the Festival Director.

In 2023, we gave out 20 awards to our filmmakers including: "Best Picture", "Best Director", "Best Actor" and more.

Rules & Terms

GENERAL ELIGIBILITY

1. Films for the Summer event must be finished and available for screening during the Old Towne Film Festival on July 13th, 2024 -- Films for the Fall event must be finished and available for screening during the Old Towne Film Festival on November 1st, 2024 - November 3rd, 2024.
2. All films must be in English or have English subtitles at the time submitted
3. Submissions must be submitted as an online streaming video via FilmFreeway
a. Film and Screenplay submissions must include:
i. Poster, Screenshot, or Image of key art for project in the sizes of 16:9 and 4:3 to be used for promotion
ii. Synopsis of film or screenplay
iii. Valid email and phone number to be contacted at. YOU MUST CONTACT the OLD TOWNE FILM FESTIVAL at festivaldirector@oldtownefilmfestival.com IF YOUR CONTACT INFO CHANGES.
b. We will email you directly upon receiving and processing your submission. If you have not been emailed, then your submission was not received. Please reach out to festivaldirector@oldtownefilmfestival.com if think that you have submitted and have not received a processed email.
c. The Old Towne Film Festival handles your submission with respect and it does not pay additional charges for originals, masters, or special prints.
d. All accepted submissions will be downloaded from your source file located on FilmFreeway to be included in the festival.

ORIGINALITY AND PERMISSIONS; INDEMNITY

1. Films must be the original work of the applicant. If a film is an adaptation of a book or a biopic, it is the applicant’s responsibility to secure any necessary rights. By entering the Old Towne Film Festival, you are acknowledging that you have secured all necessary rights.
2. Applicants are responsible for obtaining all necessary rights and permissions for third-party materials included in their films, including but not limited to: music, trademarks, logos, copyrights, and other intellectual property rights. The Old Towne Film Festival disclaims all liability or responsibility for any violations listed above.

11 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Wayne Diu

    Thanks a lot to Dan Parks for screening my ultra low budget first feature film "The Dental Plan" at the Old Towne Film Festival! I watched a bunch of great movies at the festival and appreciated the opportunity to meet so many talented filmmakers. I particularly enjoyed the Q&As after each of the screening blocks, and the documentary masterclass was wonderful. Thanks also for the award!

    October 2023
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  • Nahyr Galaz Ruiz

    I usually don't submit to first-year running festivals, but I'm so glad I did! Dan has created a truly one-of-a-kind experience; encouraging, relationship-building, inspiring, and celebratory. We now have a local film festival where local and out-of-town filmmakers alike can experience each other's work as well as learn from each other's process. I can't wait for next year already!

    October 2023
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  • Chris Schueler

    What a beautiful place with wonderful people. The festival is a small but very involved group of people who have rallied the community to bring together film makers of all sorts. Really a great place to display your film and meet wonderful folks.

    October 2023
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  • Lilton Stewart III

    Dan is a genuine guy who has a passion for the film arts. It shows in his commitment to making the festival experience a pleasant one.

    October 2023
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  • Alysha Nunez

    There are whispers of advice active filmmakers hear on occasion that say: instead of chasing the Big Five film festivals such as Sundance, Cannes, Berlin, Venice, and Toronto, it's worth dividends to submit to your local film festival because the party is far more intimate, and you never know what powerful guest or filmmaking kindred spirits and talents may be around.

    Those sentiments are absolutely what I have experienced a Old Towne Film Festival. It was an honor to be selected and invited to it's inaugural year, and there is no doubt that Dan Parks (festival director) will continue to make the event grow to higher heights for years to come. Old Towne Film Festival has definitely raised expectations for quality and integrity; don't underestimate small festivals!

    It was a wonderful and educational opportunity to meet prolific workers and creators in different disciplines of this industry, and the Documentary Masterclass spearheaded by 21-Emmy-Award-Winning Chris Shueler was a valuable resource, as well as each film block's accompanying Q&A session.

    The festival's hospitality is exactly the type of environment up and coming filmmakers would benefit from the most, where courage is granted to those that may need it right before they embark on their next creative journey. It was inspiring and uplifting to be around passionate workers and volunteers to help support the local filmmaking scene, and their efforts this year is greatly appreciated and just as celebrated as the bright talent they support.

    Old Towne Film Festival is exactly the kind of passionate, loving, and hard-working festival the rumors speak of, and it would be remiss to not submit, especially if you are a City of Orange resident! It is well worth the small town adventure, and I'll definitely be a returning filmmaker so long as the festival is here to stay. If not as a submitting filmmaker, then as a festival attendee, simply because the people of Orange and all surrounding areas are just that fun and caring.

    Thank you for the award of BEST ANIMATED PICTURE for my short, "SOW DON'T SING - This Old Winner." Thank you to Dan Parks, his family, his supporters, and the people of Orange for doing a fantastic and fun job at supporting the arts where it is easy to lose your way in the noise of the Southern California filmmaking scene. This is a festival that really, truly care about the talent that comes their way.

    Best of luck to all filmmakers and submitters. Cheers to next year!

    October 2023
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