Virginia Emerging Filmmakers Festival
presented by The Film Studio at Shenandoah University
in association with Alamo Drafthouse Cinema

PLEASE NOTE: This is a student festival. Please read "Rules and Terms" for details.

Join us in the historic Shenandoah Valley for the 8th Virginia Emerging Filmmakers Festival. We will present short films from current high school and college students across the United States and Canada. Films must be 15 minutes in length or less and not previously submitted. We will accept films in the categories of animation, comedy/drama, horror, documentary or music video. Films will be considered by a team of judges from the Shenandoah University faculty and alumni base, the programming team at the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema, and guest judges. Selected films will screen for a live audience at the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema in Winchester.

Awards & Prizes

Cash prizes will be awarded for Best Film Winner ($100), Finalist ($50), and Semi-Finalist ($25)

Rules & Terms

Films must be created within the last two years by current high school or college students studying in the United States or Canada. The festival will also accept submissions from recent graduates, assuming the student graduated within one calendar year and the film was made while still the filmmaker was still a student.
PLEASE include a cover letter with your current enrollment status. Films must be 15 minutes or less in length, including credits. Filmmakers are responsible for clearance of copyrighted materials such as music, and may be asked to provide documentation of clearance. Films must be completed before submission, so no "work in progress" projects, please. Filmmakers grant the festival permission to use stills or clips in promotional purposes, but the festival does not claim ownership of submitted films. No exclusivity is granted to the festival. Winning submissions will be downloaded by the theater for DCP creation and on-screen projection.

18 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Lily Minarcik

    I had the BEST time at VEFF 2025. The coordinators were wonderful people and super welcoming. The filmmakers were incredibly talented. The Alamo Drafthouse Cinema was an overall lovely place to be!
    Hope to see you next year!

    March 2025
    Helpful
    Response from festival:

    Thank you Lily. We enjoyed meeting you and your family, and we LOVED SCREENS! Keep up the amazing work.

  • Treyson Guild

    Loved attending this as my first festival! Was organized very well and focused heavily on honoring local film students. Definitely will submit again next year!

    March 2025
    Helpful
    Response from festival:

    Thanks, Treyson. We hope to follow your work and see you in the future.

  • Madison Traub

    I am extremely grateful that my film, "Pity Party", was selected as Best Drama, as well as placing in other categories. Though I wasn't able to attend the festival in person, communication was direct and timely. I especially appreciated that the festival provided information for nearby hotels for those who planned on attending. Would definitely recommend!

    March 2025
    Helpful
    Response from festival:

    PITY PARTY was fantastic! That you so much for submitting.

  • Brendan Hylton

    My group had an incredible time at VEFF! Awesome theaters, staff, and short films aplenty! Looking forward to submitting again next year!

    May 2024
    Helpful
  • Trevor Anderson

    Great event, and we're happy to have screened at such an amazing festival!

    May 2024
    Helpful