The Grand Prairie Arts Council presents PrairieFest 2025 at the historic Uptown Theater in Grand Prairie, TX. Following the resounding success of our previous PrairieFest Film Showcase, we're excited to bring you another amazing event! Our film festival is open to filmmakers from all over the world. Selected films will be showcased on a state-of-the-art projection system on a full-size movie screen at our live event on August 30, 2025.

Our goal is to promote the work of independent filmmakers and offer a platform to showcase their work to a large audience. We are seeking innovative filmmakers of all experience levels and short films of all genres. Whether you create narrative films, documentaries, situation comedies, action films, romantic comedies, thrillers, or dramas, there’s a place for you in our festival. Join us for the PrairieFest Film Showcase.

We are now accepting submissions!

The Grand Prairie Arts Council (GPAC) was incorporated in 1979 to produce, promote and support the visual and performing arts in Grand Prairie, TX. GPAC is an independent, non-profit cultural arts organization with 60% of our funding coming from memberships, donations and grants. We are proud to say that the Arts Council serves thousands of patrons from throughout the North Texas area each year.

Awards & Prizes

Entry Categories:

Best Drama Short
Best Comedy Short
Best Horror Short
Best Animated Short
Best Documentary Short
Best Student Short
Best TV/Web Series Pilot

Additional honors to be awarded from among all entries:

Best Director
Best Screenplay
Best Actor/Actress
Best Special Effects
Best Soundtrack
Best Cinematography
Best Original Song
Best Original Story
Young Filmmaker Award

Rules & Terms

All films must be submitted in English or with English subtitles.

Films must not exceed 25 minutes in length.

Entrant confirms and warrants required legal authority to submit the entry and to use all music, images and content therein.

All entries must be submitted digitally. We require a Vimeo or FilmFreeway digital screening link. Any exceptions must be made by special arrangement with the Festival organizers.

Multiple entries are allowed for each filmmaker and each submission may be entered in multiple categories.

All submission fees are nonrefundable.

Any technical issues with the submitted films are 100% the responsibility of the filmmaker. If, at the time of judging, your video file doesn’t work or doesn’t meet requirements for entry, it will be rejected, without refund. Please contact the festival team ASAP if there are any issues with the submission process so that a solution may be found.

To qualify for the “Student” category, entrants must be able to provide proof of student status at the time of production.

All awards and recognition will be announced at the live event and thereafter posted on our website and social media.

All Officially Selected films will receive our laurels.

Winners in all categories will receive additional laurels and award certificates.

By submitting your film:

You give us consent and right to screen your film in front of a live audience, and, under special circumstances, online screening.

You agree to the use of parts of your film (including trailer/teaser/film poster/stills, etc.) for promotional purposes.

You agree to receive promotional email from us and our festival partners.

You understand that only selected films will be screened before a live audience at the event.
6 Reviews
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  • Paper Horse Pictures

    Being part of the PrairieFest Film Showcase was an great experience. Although scheduling conflicts kept us from attending, we were really impressed by the festival's fantastic support. They genuinely care about both the films and the filmmakers.

    September 2024
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  • Rebekah Louisa Smith

    This is most definitely a strong up and coming film festival that is going from strength to strength and is in the process of putting Grand Prairie on the filmmaking map. Loved the fest and thank you for the 3 wonderful awards!

    September 2024
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  • Jessica DeJohn

    We were honored to be selected for the PrairieFest Film Showcase. The Uptown Theater is a beautiful historical building and you get the sense the festival director, Randy, and the others in the GPAC truly love the space. As filmmakers, we felt very welcome. The selection and quality of the films showcased were impressive. The guest speakers and the emcee were great. The entire day, into the evening, of the festival was fun. We look forward to participating again or supporting our fellow filmmakers at the next event.

    September 2024
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  • Tylin Bernard

    First festival attending as a screener and I was not disappointed. Shoutout to Randy, he was a big help throughout the process. Definitely submitting the next story here.

    September 2024
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  • Laura Le

    Thank you so much for awarding my film "The Blue Hour" best student short and best screenplay! I was not able to attend the showcase in person, but Randy kept in contact to ensure that my certificates would be sent to me. To have an event dedicated to celebrating and showcasing local filmmakers is so amazing. Very excited to see the future of PrairieFest and rising talent.

    December 2023
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