Films that can tell a great story or demonstrate a transformation will be given priority.
All films in deep or shortlisted consideration will be required to submit marketing material in advance of formal selection. If you have questions before you submit, ask us at rebecca@existimpactfully.com.
AWARDS & PRIZES
OxFilm awards 11-15 prizes each year. All juried awards are selected by industry professionals—including studio/tv/distribution representatives, producers, pr reps, cinematographers, editors, actors, writers and award-winning filmmakers.
Juried Awards: Cash and in-kind prizes are possible in all competition categories, judged by industry professionals. Award-winning films receive opportunities for encore screenings during the membership season following the festival..
Alumni Benefits: Directors whose work has screened at OxFilm receive partial submission fee waivers for future submissions.
RULES & TERMS
-Entries must not have premiered to the public, either in-person or virtually, before April 5, 2024.
-In order to be eligible for the Oxford Film Festival, your film must be at least a Mississippi premiere. In other words, your film should not have screened publicly at a film festival or anywhere in Mississippi prior to the Oxford Film Festival.
-Competition is open to U.S. and International entries. Please check individual categories for additional requirements.
-Films submitted in previous years are not eligible for resubmission to the current and open season.
-The festival typically selects up to 100 films each year out of about 1,000 film submissions.
-Feature films must have a runtime of 40 minutes or longer, while short films must be under 40 minutes in length. When submitting either a short or feature film, runtime is an important factor in the selection process. For example, short films with longer runtimes can be more challenging to accommodate within the program, and this will be taken into account when making decisions.
-All accepted films must provide a DCP on a formatted USB hard drive for exhibition. We only screen DCP format at the Festival. OxFilm is NOT responsible for the creation or fee associated with a DCP. The hard drive must be submitted no later than Feb 1, 2027. There are no exceptions to this.
-OxFilm will provide individual feedback on films that are not selected, if requested..
-The use of artificial intelligence (A.I.) in any part of the final submitted work must be disclosed and clearly noted at the time of submission, and again if the film is later invited to be included in the program.
-Selected film teams will receive 2 all-access festival badges. Additionally, film teams will receive a select number of complimentary tickets to their film's screening, as well as a discount code.
-Films not in the English language must be subtitled in English.
-Once an invitation to participate in the Festival is issued, filmmakers have two weeks to confirm their acceptance. After this period, the invitation may no longer be valid.
-If a filmmaker wants to pull their film after acceptance, they may be subject to a monetary penalty. Please contact us as soon as possible to discuss this, as the consequences vary depending on timing.
-Entries must be submitted for pre-screening via filmfreeway. If you use a secured link, you are REQUIRED to keep us updated with passwords or your film may be rejected. NO HARD COPIES WILL BE ACCEPTED FOR ENTRIES.
-Works-in-progress (WIPs) are accepted but are not encouraged. We can't promise that we will be able to watch re-edited submissions depending on timing. Please contact the programming team if you have any questions or plan to submit a WIP.
-You may submit multiple entries but must fill out a separate entry form and pay an entry fee for each.
-OxFilm employees, including seasonal staff, contract workers, board members, sponsors, and their immediate families, are not eligible to submit in any category for competition. They may submit for inclusion.
-Any potential prize awards are subject to all relevant federal and/or state laws and are therefore not guaranteed. Prize winners are responsible for providing required documentation in a timely manner and are responsible for any tax liabilities they may incur. Oxford Film Festival is not responsible for providing tax advice.
FESTIVAL SCREENING
The individual or corporation submitting the film/ short film warrants that they are authorized to commit the film to one screening at any time during the 2027 Oxford Film Festival (OxFilm) taking place March 18-20, 2027.
LIABILITY
Every possible care will be taken with DCPs while in our possession, however, we cannot accept responsibility for loss, damage or additional charges incurred en route, or due to normal wear and tear, or due to equipment failure. Do NOT send original prints or master copies. Additionally, OxFilm is held harmless from any and all claims, liabilities, losses, damages, and expenses which may be incurred by reason of any claim involving copyright, trademark, credits, publicity or screening of any film.
SHIPPING
The cost of shipping an entry to the Festival must be paid by the entrant or preceding festival. All international entries must be sent with all transportation charges, duties, and taxes prepaid by the shipper. For films accepted into the Festival, the entrant is responsible for inbound shipping. OxFilm will pay the cost of outbound shipping of the print to its next destination, or back to the film team. However, the Festival will not be responsible for unnecessary expedited or overnight shipping charges to other destinations.
ALL OF THE FOLLOWING MUST ACCOMPANY YOUR ENTRY:
-Entry fee (must be paid online via FilmFreeway).
-3-Line Synopsis (may be used for Festival Program and website)
-poster jpeg
-list of names/ location if there are ties to Mississippi
-trailer (15-60 sec)
-one digital, horizontal 300dpi still photo from the film.
WAIVER POLICY
We provide partial waivers for alumni directors only. As a nonprofit organization, our annual operations and the process of viewing the volume of submissions we receive is costly, therefore we do not offer full or discounted waivers in most cases. We aim to keep our fees reasonable, and encourage all applicants to take advantage of our early and official deadlines to save on submission fees. For submissions from countries where sending money to the U.S. is not possible, we can not offer a waiver. Please do not email about student discounts as our student competition section is already priced at a discounted rate. If you have any questions, please contact us at rebecca@existimpactfully.com
NOTIFICATIONS
OxFilm will notify all applicants who have been selected to participate on a rolling basis no later than January 1, 2027.
FILM COMPETITION FAQ
What important dates do I need to know?
Open - April 5, 2026
Early-bird - Jun 1, 2026
Regular - Aug 1, 2026
Extended - Sept 15, 2026
Late - October 12, 2026
NoExceptions Final - November 1, 2026
How do I submit my film?
You can submit your film via FilmFreeway.
Who is watching my film after I submit it?
All Film submissions are reviewed by our programming team who have practical expertise in film/ content creation, along with critical insights that align with the Oxford Film Festival’s programming goals and audience. All films are also vetted by the Artistic Director for further evaluation and consideration.
How much is it to enter?
Fees are staggered based on Deadlines. You can also receive a discounted rate if you are a Gold member on FilmFreeway.
Do you accept works-in-progress?
Work-in-progress can be submitted, though not encouraged.
Do you accept re-submission from previous years?
We do not. Any work that was submitted in previous years is not eligible for the 2027 Festival.
Do you require premiere status?
We do not require World, US or Southeast premiere status. We DO however, require Mississippi premiere status, and that the film will not be shown in Mississippi or within 90miles of Oxford, MS for 60days before or after screening.
I have a question that wasn’t addressed. Who should I contact?
Please email rebecca@existimpactfully.com
