Now in its tenth year, the UNT Media Arts Festival is including the works of North Texas student filmmakers! This two-day event will include student film screenings, and panels with professionals, culminating in a competitive student block and awards ceremony.

Our goal is to provide a platform for UNT students and local Denton High school filmmakers to show their work. We want to create a festival that not only the UNT Media Arts program can be proud of, but also UNT and the city of Denton.

The festival features seven separate student competitions:
- Short Film
- Documentary Film
- Screenwriting
- Mixed Media/Music Videos/Audio
- News/Promo
- MRTS Student Org Showcase
- High School

With broadly set categories, we hope to put together a program that encompasses a variety of genres, mediums, experiences, and cinematic journeys. All UNT and Denton high school student filmmakers are encouraged to submit work!

We have six categories and the top two in each category will receive an award.

BEST IN SHORT FILM
BEST IN DOCUMENTARY
BEST SCREENWRITING
BEST MIXED MEDIA/MUSIC VIDEO/AUDIO
BEST IN NEWS/PROMO
BEST IN HIGH SCHOOL

SUBMISSIONS
There is no entry fee for this competition.

ENTRY REGULATIONS
All entries must be from UNT students currently or previously enrolled in the past school year OR high schoolers from the Denton, North Texas, or DFW area. STUDENT VERIFICATION WILL BE REQUIRED!

Additionally, only films completed within the last year are eligible. This includes films completed in spring 2024. Films that have previously screened in other festivals or on UNT’s campus are still eligible. UNT Media Arts Festival reserves the right to not screen films that it finds overly offensive, obscene, or vulgar.

Any UNT student or Denton/DFW high school student is eligible to submit a project, regardless of filmmaking or production experience. Please see the various categories for more information on submitting to each of the sections. It is important that you determine your film’s category when you submit it, as that determines eligibility for awards (for any further questions about the categories, please email mediaartsfestival@unt.edu).

HIGH SCHOOL REQUIREMENTS
High school submissions must be from students enrolled in a Denton High School or a student enrolled in the surrounding North Texas high schools. High school students in Denton, Aubrey, Argyle, Ponder, Krum, Lake Dallas, Lewisville, Carrollton, Dallas, Fort Worth and any other surrounding DFW high schools are all eligible to submit.

SCREENPLAY REQUIREMENTS:
Screenplays must have a maximum length of 10 pages. Anything over that page limit will not be eligible. Additionally, only one screenplay may be submitted by an individual. Multiple screenplays from the same student will not be eligible. Make sure to read over all your screenplays and pick the best one. :)

All other entries that do not meet the above regulations will be disqualified for entry into the festival.

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COPYRIGHT
It is expected that filmmakers hold all of the respective rights required for their films before submitting them. This includes all music, sound effects, product placement, actor/model release forms, etc. For music, there are a number of fair-use soundtrack sites with music available online for free (we recommend reaching out to student musicians as well). Filmmakers without these rights will not be able to screen their films. UNT Media Arts Festival will contact you if we believe there is a copyright problem with your submission. Any questions on copyright can be directed to mediaartsfestival@unt.edu

FORMAT REGULATIONS
All foreign language entries must have English subtitles. Projects must be submitted through an online screener (an online screener is the preferred method; we recommend using Vimeo or YouTube and password-locking your film).

You will receive a confirmation email upon successful submission. If you did not receive an email, please follow up at mediaartsfestival@unt.edu

ENTRY DEADLINE & NOTIFICATION
Films must be submitted by March 30th, 2025
This is a hard deadline.

You will be notified of acceptance no later than APRIL 14, 2025.

PRESS MATERIALS
We want to help you show off your film! If selected, please use the FilmFreeway press kit to submit production stills, bios, trailers, etc. about your film.

PHOTO/VIDEO/PUBLICITY RELEASE
By submitting to the UNT Media Arts Festival, you agree that upon acceptance, we may use your film as part of promotional materials for the festival, in addition to your likeness in photos and video during the days of the event.

FURTHER QUESTIONS
We encourage you to ask any more questions you might have by reaching out to us at mediaartsfestival@unt.edu

Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Rodger Woodruff III

    Great experience. UNT is a great place to have your work shown as an up and coming film school.

    May 2017