The Vero Beach Film Festival celebrates independent films and their filmmakers, now at an all new time of year, April 11-14, 2024. You bring the films and we’ll add the wine, food and FUN!

VBFF has been recognized as a “Top 100 Film Festival” by FilmFreeway and named “The Summer Sundance” by the Huffington Post. We feature a curated selection of independent films, paired with live screenings, fabulous parties, a hidden cellar and so much more. We screen your films at unique venues in our quaint and charming seaside town on Florida’s east coast. New seminars, roundtables and educational opportunities will be better than ever. We are bringing back our wildly popular podcast, Yak About Film with David Yakir and Susan Keller Horn. Year round events and film screenings are also in the works.

VBFF screens full length documentary and narrative features, as well as dramatic, documentary and comedy shorts. Local filmmakers on the Treasure Coast are featured in Vero Visions and Florida Students can submit in our NextUp! Category. We are introducing “Potpourri”, where you can submit social media stories (TikTok, Instagram, etc), web or TV pilots and more. If your work doesn’t quite fit our typical criteria, this is the place to submit.

All genres are welcome – drama, comedy action, romance, sci-fi, musical, film noir, historical, experimental, LGBTQ, sports, etc. We love it all, but are also looking for environmental, social activism, culinary, food, spirits and wine cinema.

We roll out the red carpet for our film makers. In-person festival benefits include festival passes and home host accommodations. Our warm and welcoming volunteers are helpful and knowledgeable. Film makers interact with industry professionals and audience members in one of the most intimate, relaxed and inspiring settings on the festival circuit. Our contagiously social and culturally aware audience supports independent films and loves getting to know you. The Q&A’s are highly anticipated and attended.

Our “Life Worth Living Legend Award” Honorees have included actor, author and activist George Takei; box office film star Burt Reynolds; and singer, songwriter and actress Gloria Estefan. Our Honorary Festival Chair people have included Jeffrey Lyons, 5-time Emmy award-winning film critic; and Peabody award-winning Director, Jeff Woolnough.
Many films have gone from screenings at the Vero Beach Film Festival to significant success and distribution. We look forward to screening your films and welcoming you to a warm and wonderful film festival by the sea which embraces independent filmmakers!

Here is what some of our filmmakers are saying about us:

Jane Rosemont – "Acting Like Nothing Is Wrong"
Vero Beach Film Festival blew me away on every level. They treat the filmmakers like royalty… The volunteers should receive trophies, I've never been to a festival where volunteers work as hard and are as lovely as they are at VBFF. Films were top notch. Still feeling the glow!

Leanne Melissa Bishop – "In Search Of"
Everything about this festival is just magical! I… am honored to be back again this year (2023). Vero is such a special town, the people, the networking, the wine... oh did I say the wine?! And the icing on the cake, they put their filmmakers up!

Jennifer Scott – "Eyes Upon Waking"
The Vero Beach Film Festival is on my top six of 99 film festivals I have been in. They way they cater to filmmakers is beyond. The love of film and events and the crowd they draw in is top notch… The festival events were not only fun and well organized, but beyond professional. I can't encourage enough to other filmmakers to submit to this festival.

Colin Alistair Campbell - "Fundamental Shapes"
Vero Beach Film Festival is an absolute gem - I loved every minute of it. … It’s a festival that’s both sophisticated and down-to-earth. A terrific curation of films, a welcoming community and team that treats you like extended family, … from the warm hospitality to the large audiences and excellent programming… This is the wonderful Faberge egg of film festivals.

VERO BEACH IS EASILY ACCESSIBLE from Florida airports in Melbourne, Orlando, West Palm Beach, and Fort Lauderdale. Breeze Airways flies directly into Vero Beach from Westchester Airport (NYC area) and Hartford Connecticut Airport.

"Life Worth Living" Film Award

JURY PRIZES:
Best Narrative Feature
Cash Award Value: $250 USD

Best Documentary Feature
Cash Award Value: $250 USD

Best Comedy Short
Cash Award Value: $100 USD

Best Documentary Short
Cash Award Value: $100 USD

Best Dramatic Short
Cash Award Value: $100 USD

Best TV/Web Series Episode
Cash Award Value: $100 USD

Best Social Media Story
Cash Award Value: $100

Vero Visions Award
Cash Award Value: $100 USD

NEXT UP! Student Filmmaker Award - Dramatic Film
Cash Award Value: $100 USD

NEXT UP! Student Filmmaker Award - Documentary Film
Cash Award Value: $100 USD

AUDIENCE AWARDS:

Best Narrative Feature
Best Documentary Feature
Best Comedy Short
Best Dramatic Short
Best Documentary Short
Best Potpourri Submission

Rules & Terms
GENERAL RULES
The Vero Beach Film Festival will take place in Vero Beach, FL beginning Thursday, April 11, 2024 and ending on Sunday, April 14, 2024.
Submission Format
Films for consideration must be submitted on FilmFreeway.com. We require complete contact information, including a valid phone number and best email address for the film contact person. Films selected for screening will be notified no later than February 12, 2024.
We love getting to know about you and your film, so cover letters are encouraged. You may submit once and still be considered for multiple categories. We sometimes will request that a submission be considered for a different category than originally submitted. We do not require a premiere status, but will promote a premiere if selected.
Festival Screenings and Scheduling

Films selected for screening at the Festival will be notified on or before February 12, 2024. If your film is accepted to be part of the program, we hope to have the some of the film’s key personnel (directors, actors, writers, producers, etc.) attend the festival to present the film and interact with the Vero Beach audience. Selected films with attending filmmakers will receive two free filmmaker passes. Additional passes will be available at a discount.
If your film is selected, you will receive asset upload and file requirements by email. Films will screen from a computer with a digital file depending upon the venue programing your film. Formats, including 4K or 1080p are preferred. We will have very limited venues with DCP. Full instructions will be in the acceptance email.
For selected films, assets and other requirements will be due no later than February 25, 2024.
We prefer assets via drop box, but can accept other methods.
Contact us at (772) 444-2827 or submissionquestions@vbfilmfest.org for more information.
Our website is www.vbfilmfest.org.
Vero Beach Film Festival aspires to provide the best quality projection possible but will not be held liable for any failure in the technical quality of the projection, nor will fees be refunded in any such case. Vero Beach Film Festival assumes that the submitting party or filmmaker(s) or entrant(s) or print source company has been insured for damage and loss of any physical festival assets.
Screenings are scheduled during the Festival at the discretion of Vero Beach Film Festival up to three times during the festival. While every effort will be made to adhere to the published schedule, Vero Beach Film Festival reserves the right to make changes at any time for any reason. Vero Beach Film Festival will not be liable for any costs claimed as a result of a change in scheduling.
No film may be withdrawn from the festival program after its selection, and no film may be screened outside the festival venue during the Festival and before its official presentation without the pre-approval of Vero Beach Film Festival.
TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF ENTRY
1. I, the representative of the project being submitted (the "Film"), acknowledge and agree as follows in connection with the Film's submittal to Vero Beach Film Festival, Inc. (the “ORGANIZATION”) for consideration for the Vero Beach Film Festival (the "Festival"):
2. I hereby represent and warrant to the Festival that (a) I am duly authorized, on my own behalf and on behalf of all other persons or entities who have any ownership rights in the Film, to exhibit this Film at the Festival, (b) this exhibition will not violate any law or any right or consent of any person or entity and (c) the Film is not subject to litigation nor is it threatened by any litigation.
3. I further represent and warrant that, to the best of my knowledge, the exhibition of the Film at the Festival will not violate or infringe any copyright, patent, privacy right, publicity right, trademark, service mark or any other personal or property right of any person or entity and that my Film does not constitute a defamation of any person or entity. I have paid and will pay in full all license fees, clearance fees, and other obligations, of any kind, arising from the exhibition of the Film in connection with the Festival.
4. If accepted, I acknowledge that the Festival's presentation of the Film does not create any confidential or fiduciary relationship between the Festival and me. I understand that I will not receive any compensation for such exploitation, although some prizes at the Festival may include cash awards. I acknowledge that no obligation of any kind is assumed by or may be implied against the Festival or the ORGANIZATION because of the Festival's selection of the Film. I understand and acknowledge that the selection of my Film by the Festival does not in any way constitute an express or implied endorsement or approval by the Festival or the ORGANIZATION of the content of the Film or any opinion expressed therein.
5. I agree to indemnify and hold harmless the ORGANIZATION, the Festival, the affiliate, subsidiary and parent entities of each, and the officers, directors, employees, attorneys, advisers and agents of each of the foregoing from and against any and all claims, losses, or liabilities (including reasonable attorneys' fees) that may be asserted against any of the foregoing or incurred by any of the foregoing at any time in connection with the Film or the Festival's use thereof, and/or arising from any breach or alleged breach of any representation made by me to the Institute or the Festival.
6. In the event that the Film is accepted into the official Festival program, I and all other parties involved with the Film agree that the Film will not associate with nor receive support from corporations during or related to the Film's participation in the Festival that are not Official sponsors or supporters of the Festival without prior written consent of the Institute. Methods of support include: hosting a dinner, party or junket for or in conjunction with the Film, providing media space for round-table or one-on-one interviews, etc. The ORGANIZATION is producing a fundraiser for a non-profit organization that relies on the funding of our official sponsors and supporters to produce the Festival. For an official list of sponsors and supporters, please refer to the contributors list at http://www.vbfilmfest.org. If you have been approached by a company or corporation that does not appear on this list, they are NOT officially aligned with the Vero Beach Film Festival.
7. If accepted, I hereby grant without reservations, to the Festival, and their related entities (a) the right to use footage, stills and/or titles, and information from the Film for promotional purposes and (b) the right to issue and authorize publicity concerning the filmmakers and the Film and to use all associated names, likenesses and biographical information. The Vero Beach Film Festival is also hereby granted the right to utilize an excerpt from any film submitted and accepted for exhibition at the Festival for promotional purposes. I also agree to provide contact information for the director and producer(s) of the Film and grant the Festival the right to provide this information to film industry organizations sponsoring Festival events at its discretion.
8. I represent that I am 18 years of age or older, or that if I am younger than the legal age to enter into contracts in my state, I have provided a written consent from my parent or legal guardian. I agree that any controversy arising out of or in connection with my Film and the Festival will be governed by the internal laws of the State of Florida and conclusively determined by arbitration in Indian River County in accordance with the rules of the American Arbitration Association before a single arbitrator mutually agreed by the parties. I hereby waive any and all rights and benefits which I might otherwise have or be entitled to litigate any such dispute in court, including without limitation a trial by jury.
9. I acknowledge that I have read and understood the rules and regulations for submitting a film to the Festival.
10. By submitting a film to ORGANIZATION, I constitute my full and complete acceptance of the terms hereof. I acknowledge that no oral representations of any kind have been made by the ORGANIZATION or the Festival.

Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Oswmer Louis

    The Vero Beach Film Festival is the absolute gold standard for how a film festival should be run. The quality of films we had the honor of screening alongside and the huge crowd of moviegoers at every single movie block is something I have experienced very rarely traveling to other film festivals. The close tie that VBFF has with the Vero Beach community is absolutely unmatched.

    VBFF welcomed all filmmakers with open arms and created such an amazing environment for us to connect with each other and with industry professionals. From the filmmaking panels they created, to the multiple mixers, to the Q&As during different film blocks, the VBFF gives space for filmmakers like me to make genuine connections as opposed to the usual quick swap of social media info where we never interact with each other again.

    Susan, David, and the rest of the VBFF team have created a filmmaker’s paradise that I wish could run every single weekend. We are honored to have had the opportunity to attend such a well-run festival and if we don’t have a film ready by next year we’re going to find some way to get involved with the magic that Vero Beach Film Festival creates.

    April 2024
  • Tobiasz Wałkiewicz

    After festival I was invited to another one, so it definitely created an opportunity. Now I really regret I couldn't be there. What else could happen ;) Thank You for the selection

    August 2023
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    Response from festival:

    Sorry you couldn’t be here. Hoping we will see you next time!!!

  • Jerry Toth

    Super fun film festival with a great community! Very social, lots of opportunities to meet and spend time with other filmmakers, and the Vero Beach community really comes out to support this festival in full force. It's also a great town with fun nightlife, great weather, progressive and kind people...it was all-around a really fun experience.

    July 2023
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    Response from festival:

    Thank you so much for coming all the way from Ecuador. We absolutely love your beautiful film and hope to see you here again!

  • Vero Beach Film Festival sets the bar HIGH for any other festivals I will attend. The community was both welcoming and engaging when it came to all filmmakers and I met a lot of great filmmakers as well. Looking forward to being here again!

    Thank you VBFF!

    June 2023
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    Response from festival:

    CJ, so much fun having you join us. Your film was amazing and we can't wait to see what you bring to us next! Plus, your fabulous wardrobe was the best!

  • Dawn Natalia

    I really enjoyed attending The Vero Beach Film Festival. The festival events were very creative, well planned, and well attended. The screenings were well attended as well. The local community really comes for this festival, and I’ve never seen so many enthusiastic volunteers. I’m grateful to the festival for having my film “By The Water’s Edge”, and I would love to return next year.

    June 2023
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    Response from festival:

    Dawn, We hope you are here with us again too. By The Water's Edge is such a terrific film and we look forward to seeing what you bring to us next!