St. Croix River Tales believes in the power of storytelling to protect important places, to reveal deeper meaning and truth, and to connect us together through shared experience.
We encourage filmmakers of all experience levels to create short (5-minute or less) film or animation about the St. Croix River.
We have some confirmed screening events ahead to showcase select films that are submitted as part of this project: Minnesota State Fair, Square Lake "Floating Film" Showcase on 9/25/26.
St. Croix River Tales is a three year project. 2026 is year one with its own prizes and screenings. Participating filmmakers could submit a film each year.

Awards & Prizes

PRIZES:
Cash prizes: $1,000 First place – $500 Second place – $250 Third place – $350 Emerging Filmmaker Award
Your film will be part of the October 2026 St. Croix Riverboat “Square Lake Film Showcase” as part of the Stillwater Film Festival.
Selected films will be included online at St. Croix 360.
We will include select films in a screening at the 2026 MN State Fair.

Rules & Terms

By submitting your film to the "St. Croix River Tales" film project, you consent to your film being screened at any and all events (both online and in person) in perpetuity as part of the St. Croix River Tales and/or Square Lake Film & Music Festival film events.
If you use the drone footage, you have agreed to the usage agreement, required crediting
and understand the drone footage cannot be used for other purposes outside of the project.
By submitting a film, the filmmaker grants the St. Croix River Tales & Square Lake Film & Music a non-exclusive license to exhibit the film during our St. Croix River Tales Season I events and at any related, affiliated, or year-round Square Lake Film & Music events presented by the festival organization. The filmmaker will be notified of any screenings outside the primary festival dates of the MN Films at the Fair (8/28-29 & 9/4-6), Square Lake Showcase 9/25 screening dates.