Celebrate the art of cinematic storytelling at Orem Film Festival, coming to the big screen at Megaplex's Geneva location in September 2026. OFF brings exceptional short films from around the world to Utah County's vibrant film community.

Experience every filmmaker's vision exactly as intended—with pristine projection and premium sound in a professional cinema setting. OFF welcomes diverse voices and perspectives through narratives, documentaries, animations, and music videos from students, emerging talents, and established creators alike.

Join our community of passionate storytellers and film enthusiasts as we cultivate a new creative hub in the heart of Utah Valley. Let OFF be the platform where your artistic vision meets the big screen.

Learn More:
www.OremFilmFestival.com
Instagram: @OremFilmFestival
Join the conversation: #OFF2026

Awards & Prizes

Selected films will compete for recognition and cash prizes in three distinct categories:

Audience Choice Award — $1,000
The heart of our festival lies in the audience experience. After the final screening, attendees will cast their votes for the film that resonated most deeply, with the winner receiving a $1,000 cash prize. This award celebrates the universal language of storytelling that connects filmmakers directly with viewers.

Jury Prize for Best Short — $1,000
Our panel of industry professionals and cinephiles will evaluate each film based on originality, technical execution, narrative strength, emotional impact, and artistic vision. The film achieving the highest overall score will be awarded $1,000. Open to all submissions, including non-Utah-based films.

Utah Emerging Filmmaker Award — $1,000
Celebrating the bright future of Utah cinema, this $1,000 prize recognizes an outstanding early-career artist demonstrating exceptional promise. We seek bold perspectives and fresh voices that represent the next generation of Utah storytelling. Limited to Utah-based filmmakers.

Winners will be announced during our closing ceremony, providing filmmakers with valuable recognition, financial support, and industry exposure.

Rules & Terms

By submitting to the Orem Film Festival (OFF), the applicant acknowledges and agrees to the following terms and conditions:

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

Duration: Films must not exceed 40 minutes in length. While submissions under 20 minutes are preferred, all works within this limit will be considered.

Language: Non-English films must include English subtitles.

Genre & Medium: We welcome submissions across all genres and formats including narrative, documentary, animation, and music videos.

Completion Date: While films of any completion date may be submitted, those created within the past two years (2024-2026) will receive priority consideration.

Regional Eligibility: The Emerging Filmmaker Award is exclusively reserved for Utah-based filmmakers. International and out-of-state submissions are not eligible for this specific award but may compete in all other categories.

SUBMISSION PROCESS

Complete the entry form on FilmFreeway

Provide a secure online screener via password-protected Vimeo, YouTube link, or other approved streaming platform

Submit the appropriate non-refundable entry fee through FilmFreeway

Notification: All filmmakers will be notified of their film's status by August 25, 2026. Please ensure your contact information remains current on FilmFreeway throughout the selection process.

LEGAL AGREEMENTS

Authorization: The applicant must possess full legal authority to submit the film to OFF. The work must not be subject to any pending or threatened claims or litigation.

Copyright Clearance: Applicants bear sole responsibility for securing clearance for all copyrighted materials included in their film. The applicant indemnifies and holds harmless OFF, its employees, volunteers, and representatives from any claims related to copyright infringement or other rights violations.

SELECTED FILMS

By accepting an invitation to screen at OFF, the applicant grants:
Exhibition Rights: Permission for OFF to screen an exhibition-quality digital file of the film during the festival and at related educational or awards events.

Promotional Use: Authorization for OFF to utilize clips (not exceeding 2 minutes), stills, titles, and related information for promotional purposes across all media platforms, including but not limited to the OFF website and social media channels.

Applicant Information: Consent for OFF to publicize information about the applicant and film, including names, likenesses, and biographical details in festival materials.

Industry Networking: Permission for OFF to share contact information with film industry sponsors and partners.

Archival Purposes: Agreement that OFF may retain a preview copy of the film in its non-circulating library for educational and archival purposes only.

OFF reserves the right to disqualify any submission violating these guidelines without refund of submission fees.

By submitting to OFF, the applicant confirms possession of all necessary rights to the film and agreement to these terms.

© 2026 Orem Film Festival LLC. All rights reserved.
6 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Mekhai Lee

    Such an amazing fest with the most supportive and communicative team! I'm super proud to have been a part of this fest for their inaugural year and will definitely be submitting future projects to this fest in the future!

    October 2025
    Helpful
    Response from festival:

    Thank you Mekhai! Our audience was so moved by your film, so cool to see Them That's Not win the audience award. What a great film! So lucky to have it as part of our selection.

  • Jacob Hamblin

    For a first year festival this was AMAZING!!! Felt like it had been running for far longer. Trevor and the whole team were amazing! It truly feels catered for the filmmakers and made to showcase everyone's work in the best and brightest way. I feel spoiled to live so close to such a great festival, and I can't wait to see how much more they do in the years to come. Highly recommend the festival to anyone, they respect and showcase your work with so much care. Looking forward to next year!

    October 2025
    Helpful
    Response from festival:

    Thank you Jacob, Till Death Do Us Part is such a fun and terrifying film, we were so lucky to have you and your team at the festival with us for our first year! Looking forward to your next projects!

  • BRAIDS FILM

    This film festival is a must-go! The films were carefully selected and had a significant impact in both subject matter and quality. The staff made a friendly environment for the filmmakers, and we all were able to connect with other amazing filmmakers.

    October 2025
    Helpful
    Response from festival:

    Braids was such a great film, which our Jury loved and awarded the Emerging Filmmaker award! We couldn't have asked for a better film for our first year selection. The cast and crew behind Braids are the real deal!

  • Mya Iannuzzi

    It was such an honor to have my film, The Bug Hotel, screened this year along with 9 amazing films! The community was so welcoming and having the film festival take place at a movie theater made it a magical experience!

    October 2025
    Helpful
    Response from festival:

    So cool to see The Bug Hotel on the big screen! Such a great film! We were so honored to have your film with us.

  • Claire Timothy

    I was so impressed by the quality of this festival, especially for its first year! It was an honor to have my piece shown with such high-caliber films.

    October 2025
    Helpful
    Response from festival:

    Thank you Claire! Reflections was such a great short, so happy to have it as part of our selection this year!