Awarding over $28K in 2024 to High School & College Students in Florida!

The Palm Beaches Student Showcase of Films (SSOF) is the largest statewide film competition and award show for Florida student filmmakers, graphic designers and digital media artists. Operating for nearly three decades the juried competition recognizes outstanding high school and college students by presenting more than $24,000 in scholarships and awards in the following categories: College & High School Feature/Shorts, Documentary, Music Video, Animation, Environmental PSA, Commercial PSA, Screenwriting, Poster Design and new this year Palm Beach County Tourism PSA and Teacher Appreciation. Honoring the late acting and directing legend, Burt Reynolds, the SSOF will continue to endow a scholarship bearing his name, memorializing his legacy as a staunch advocate for education, to a Palm Beach County, Florida, High School Senior. Runners up in this category will be considered for the Sara Fuller, Mel Maron or Gray Family Scholarship Award.

Each year, the submitted films, PSAs, scripts, and posters are judged by top industry professionals from around the globe and competition finalists are honored at a sizzling live awards show in the Spring.

Student filmmakers who are unable to attend the awards show will be asked to create an award acceptance video to be shown at the event.

*FilmFreeway is only part of the submission process. You must also visit the Palm Beach County Film & Television Commission website to submit your APPLICATION and PROOF of Florida student status.

FOR FLORIDA STUDENTS ONLY!

For full details on the awards, prizes, rules & terms, and application process please visit www.pbfilm.com/ssof.

College Feature/Short Film Award
Open to Florida College students.
First Place $2000, Second Place $1500, Third Place $1250.
Films must be 30 minutes (TRT) or less.
Funds will be awarded to the submitting school.
https://www.pbfilm.com/collegefeatureshort

High School Feature/Short Film Award
Open to Florida High School Students.
First Place $1500, Second Place $1250, Third Place $1000.
Films must be 30 minutes (TRT) or less.
Funds will be awarded to the submitting school.
https://www.pbfilm.com/hsfeatureshort

The Suzanne Niedland Documentary Award
Open to Florida High School and Florida College Students.
$2000 Award.
Film must be a minimum of 5 minutes and not exceed 15 minutes (excluding credits). Funds will be awarded to the submitting student.
https://www.pbfilm.com/criteria-for-documentary-entries

The Vanilla Ice Music Video Award
Open to Florida High School and Florida College Students.
$1000 Award.
Videos must be 5 minutes or less.
Funds will be awarded to the submitting school.
https://www.pbfilm.com/criteria-for-musicvideo-entries

Animation Award
Open to Florida High School and Florida College Students.
$3000 Award.
Films must be 30 minutes (TRT) or less.
Funds will be awarded to the submitting school.
https://www.pbfilm.com/animation

Keep Palm Beach County Beautiful Environmental PSA Award
Open to Florida High School and Florida College Students.
$1000 Award.
Video must be 30 or 60 seconds (TRT) or less.
Funds will be awarded to the submitting school.
https://www.pbfilm.com/criteria-environmental-psa

Commercial PSA Award
Open to Florida High School and Florida College Students.
$1000 Award.
Video must be 30 or 60 seconds (TRT) or less.
Funds will be awarded to the submitting school.
https://www.pbfilm.com/commercialpsa

The Nellie and Fred Chasin Screenwriting Award
Open to Florida High School and Florida College Students.
$650 Award.
All work must be original. Adaptations are not permissible. Submissions must be a screenplay of 5 - 20 pages; in any genre. Only PDF submissions will be accepted.
Funds will be awarded in the student's name.
https://www.pbfilm.com/criteria-for-screenwriting

Poster Design Award sponsored by Laurence Gartel
Open to Florida High School and Florida College Students
$1000 Award.
Funds will be awarded in the artist's name.

Poster design entries CANNOT be submitted through FilmFreeway. Please visit https://www.pbfilm.com/criteria-poster-design for information on how to submit in this category.

(NEW) Palm Beach County Tourism PSA Award sponsored by Discover The Palm Beaches
Open to Florida High School and Florida College Students.
$1000 Award.
Video must be 30 or 60 seconds (TRT) or less.
Funds will be awarded to the submitting school.
https://www.pbfilm.com/pbctourismpsa

(NEW) Teacher Appreciation Award
Nominations will be accepted for Florida High School and Florida College Instructor(s) for Excellence in Film & Television Education in the following subjects:

TV Production
Film & Media
Digital Art
Cinematic arts
Mass Media

Nominations CANNOT be submitted through FilmFreeway. Please visit https://www.pbfilm.com/teacher-appreciation-award for information on how to submit in this category.

** Scholarships are open to Palm Beach County, Florida High School Seniors ONLY **

Burt Reynolds Scholarship
Open to Palm Beach County, Florida High School Seniors Only.
$5000 Award.
Funds will be awarded in the student's name.
https://www.pbfilm.com/criteria-for-brs-entries

Sara Fuller Scholarship
Open to Palm Beach County, Florida High School Seniors Only.
Awarded to the runner-up in the Burt Reynolds Scholarship category.
$1000 Award.
Funds will be awarded in the student's name.

Mel Maron Scholarship
Open to Palm Beach County, Florida High School Seniors Only.
Awarded to the runner-up in the Burt Reynolds Scholarship category.
$1000 Award.
Funds will be awarded in the student's name.

(NEW) Gray Family Scholarship
Open to Palm Beach County, Florida High School Seniors Only.
Awarded to the runner-up in the Burt Reynolds Scholarship category.
$1000 Award.
Funds will be awarded in the student's name.

(NEW) Dr. B. Carleton Bryant Scholarship
Open to Palm Beach County, Florida High School Seniors Only.
Awarded to the runner-up in the Burt Reynolds Scholarship category.
$1000 Award.
Funds will be awarded in the student's name.

***FOR FLORIDA STUDENTS ONLY! ***

ENTRY IS A TWO STEP PROCESS:

Step 1 - Complete the online application at www.pbfilm.com/ssof, including your signature and your FLORIDA student I.D.

Step2 - Upload your project through FilmFreeway!

For all rules and regulations, please visit: www.pbfilm.com/ssof

Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Had a great time at the student showcase! a great first time festival experience. Highly recommend to students in the area

    May 2023
  • Harrison School for the Arts

    My students had a great time and said it was a good networking opportunity!

    May 2022
  • Erick Marquez

    Very well organized and entertaining! Thank you for having us be a part of this year's show!

    May 2022
  • Alyssa Stephens

    Unfortunately because of the virus we could not attend the showcase, Congratulations to all the winners!

    April 2020
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    Response from festival:

    Hi Alyssa! We truly regretted not having our live award show, but there is always next year! We hope to see you again!

  • The Student Showcase of Films is SO much fun not only for nominees but for the students who attend from all across Palm Beach County. I was a Burt Reynolds Scholarship nominee in 2019 and was treated exceptionally before, during, and after the actual festival. It was my first experience at an event l like this and one I will never forget.

    May 2019
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    Response from festival:

    Thank you, Val! You are an exceptional person and you make Palm Beach County proud! We know you'll go far!