🎬 The 3rd Annual Santa Paula Film Festival is now accepting short film submissions!
This year, we’re also opening the stage to four full-feature films to be showcased as part of the festival lineup.

Welcome to the 2026 Santa Paula Film Festival, where creativity knows no bounds and storytelling takes center stage! As a celebration of cinematic ingenuity, we proudly champion the diverse voices of independent filmmakers, both from Ventura County and beyond. Nestled in the heart of Santa Paula and the Heritage Valley, our festival serves as a vibrant platform for emerging talents, offering a spotlight to local artists while fostering a community that embraces the art of indie filmmaking. From thought-provoking narratives to captivating documentaries, we believe that indie films enrich our cultural landscape, sparking conversations, and forging connections that resonate far beyond the silver screen. Join us as we embark on a cinematic journey filled with inspiration, imagination, and the boundless spirit of independent storytelling.

 

- Best Overall Short
- Best Overall Feature
- Best Comedy
- Best Horror
- Best Thriller
- Best Drama
- Best Documentary
- Best Up & Coming Filmmaker
- Best Actor
- Best Actress
- Best Cinematography
- Best Director
- Best Writer
- Best in Student Category
- Best in Spanish Category

The Santa Paula Film Festival is a trademark of The House of MAGIC Foundations for the Arts, Inc. A 501(c)3 Charitable Organization registered in Santa Paula, California. 

Submissions Rules for Santa Paula Film Festival are as follows:

Films that are publicly streaming or broadcasted in the United States are not eligible. (we don’t want films that people can already see online)

Finished projects that have been completed in 2024, 2025, or 2026 are eligible for the Summer festival.

Indie filmmakers may submit more than one entry, but each entry must be submitted separately, and not all entries may be selected.

We do not accept music videos or commercials.

Films not produced in English must have English subtitles. We do have a special category for Spanish speaking films, but request that they have English subtitles.

Not all submitted films will be selected. If your film is not selected, registration fees are not refundable.

If your film contains, extreme violence, language, or nudity, you must disclose this during submission. This will not make you ineligible, but it may limit your ability for viewing.

Not all films may be eligible for competition.

The selection committee’s and judges’ decisions are final.

We reserve the right to make changes to festival rules without prior notice.

If selected, you will be required to provide:
- Digital pictures from the film and a large format digital copy of the film’s poster
- The film’s synopsis and a short bio of the film’s creator
- A movie trailer for the film
- An HD version of the film that can be played in digital format
- You may be required to provide a DCP copy of the film

Filmmaker assumes all costs associated with delivering said film

Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • I wasn't able to attend due to other festival commitments, but I had great communication with the team behind the Santa Paula Film Festival and I look forward to attending in the future!

    December 2025
  • un festival magnífico con una selección de trabajos brillante

    August 2025
  • Pat Battistini

    Truly want to thank everyone over at SPFF for a wonderful experience. It was their second year and they already have a great community of people surrounding them to build the fest up! Everyone was so helpful and kind. The communication and social networking was excellent. We hope to be back as this fest is only going to get bigger and better!

    July 2025
  • We are very happy to be part of this magnifique event

    July 2025
  • Andrii Makarchenko

    A wonderful film festival! I wish the festival further development, success and prosperity! Unfortunately, due to the events in Ukraine I was unable to attend this event, but in the future, I hope to attend your wonderful screenings.

    July 2025