The Grand Prairie Arts Council presents PrairieFest 2023 at the historic Uptown Theater in Grand Prairie, TX. Our goal is to provide a venue for aspiring filmmakers to showcase their talents. This film festival will be open to filmmakers from all over the world. Top films will be showcased on a state of the art projection system on a full-size movie screen in the Uptown Theater.

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 make narrative films, documentaries or 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.

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.