The Unspooled Film and Animation Festival strives to be a platform for independent filmmaking and animation, creative expression and multimedia entertainment. By screening content, offering workshops, and hosting guest speakers/panels the Unspooled Film and Animation Festival actively supports emerging and seasoned storytellers. We seek to highlight the convergence of technology and imagination through presentation events, premieres, exhibitions, and outreach.

Awards & Prizes

Best Animated Film
Best Narrative Film
Best Student Film
Best Student Animation
Best High School Student Short
Polytechnic Pioneer Award for Animation
Groundbreaker Award for Video

Rules & Terms

Selected projects from all categories will be presented to the public at the Festival Event in Spring as well as an encore event in Fall.

Feature and Short Films/Animations:
Unspooled showcases short, feature, and animation films from emerging talent and established content creators with unique perspectives and audacious new ideas. Films invited to participate in the 2023 Festival Event will be shown in the section determined most appropriate by Festival programmers at their sole discretion.

Eligible projects include feature films/animations (runtime ≥ 40 minutes), short films/animations (runtime < 40 minutes); including documentaries, narratives, commercial projects, animation, and experimental films.

How to enter
Apply online via FilmFreeway.

Entry Materials
You are responsible for ensuring the streaming link is functional, and the link and password submitted are accurate.

Multiple Entries
Each project must be individually submitted; please do not send links to multiple projects, as any or all of them may be disqualified.

Re-Entry
If your project was submitted and considered for previous editions of the Festival, you may re-enter it if you have made significant changes and all applicable eligibility requirements are met at the time of entry.

Invited Projects
Invited creators will be notified by email or phone using the information on the submitted entry form. Ensure the festival is updated with new contact information or any other festival invitations before the event.

13 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Melina Her

    Unspooled is a hidden gem in the midwest. Being able to experience films from both the local and international level was a fun viewing experience. The organizers were very helpful and accommodating with any specific needs we had. Thank you for allowing our student film VOHRA to be included in your screening, and it was a tremendous honor of being awarded the Polytechnic Pioneer title. Definitely recommended from both an attendee experience and filmmaker experience :)

    May 2025
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    Response from festival:

    VOHRA is such a cool and exciting animated short! I'm so glad you were able to attend.

  • Mhairi Kerr

    Although I was unable to attend, I did speak with Jonathan Wheeler, one of the organizers. It was apparent that Unspooled wants to bring the world to their students, so they can appreciate and learn from the work of others. There is a definite enthusiasm here. Highly recommended.

    May 2025
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    Response from festival:

    It was wonderful speaking with you. I felt a great sense of honor sharing your words with the audience at the event.

  • Melle Windig

    Thank you for having our student stopmotion film Cell Buddies as part of your programme! Unfortunately we could not be there but we found it really well organised and the communication excellent.

    May 2025
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    Response from festival:

    Our audience loved Cell Buddies! Thanks, so much, for sharing it with us.

  • Augustus Hinton

    I loved this festival and its showcase of both local Midwest talent and international talent. I can't wait to see how it grows!

    May 2024
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  • Harry Waldman

    Thanks for selecting "Enter the Room" into your festival! The venue was nice and the turnout was pretty great, especially considering that this is a relatively new festival. The quality of films was very high, especially a handful of the animated films that were screened on Saturday. I am a huge fan of animated films, so it was really cool for me to get to attend my first film festival that heavily focuses on them.

    What really makes this festival special is the Festival Director, Jonny. I was traveling from Chicago to the festival and Jonny really went out of his way to move my film to a late enough time slot so that I could make it in time for my screening. He also treated me to lunch the next day at this really good pizza place, which is the first time that a Festival Director has done anything like this for me.

    I had a great experience at the Unspooled Film and Animation Festival and I see very bright things ahead in the future for this festival!

    May 2024
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