On April 4, 2026, the Virginia Student Film Festival (VSFF) will return to the historic Paramount Theater in Charlottesville, continuing its mission to spotlight bold, original storytelling from undergraduate filmmakers across the country.

Building on the success of last year’s revival, this year’s festival promises to be even bigger — with two screening blocks featuring a diverse selection of short films under 15 minutes, chosen from submissions representing universities nationwide.

The evening will feature a red carpet reception with live music, photo opportunities, and interviews with filmmakers, followed by an awards ceremony honoring standout achievements in directing, acting, cinematography, and screenwriting. A filmmaker panel will provide audiences with a behind-the-scenes look at the creative process, offering insights into the next generation of cinematic voices.

Sponsored by The Jefferson Trust.

Awards & Prizes

Submitted films are eligible for the following awards and cash prizes:

• Best Short Picture
• Best Actor
• Best Director
• Best Short Screenplay
• Best Cinematography
• Best Editing

Rules & Terms

- To be eligible you MUST be a current College/University student in the FOLLOWING STATES: New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, Kentucky, North Carolina, New York, Tennessee, and the national capital of Washington, D.C

- Our festival accepts ALL sorts of films

- All non-English language submissions must be subtitled in English.

-Films must be under 15 minutes long and over 5 minutes long

- Films must be submitted by the Director or Producer.

- Films must be the original work of the applicants.

- Applicants are responsible for obtaining all necessary rights and permissions for third-party materials included in their films, including but not limited to music, trademarks, logos, copyrights, and other intellectual property.
1 Review
Overall Rating
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  • Jonathan Widdup

    This festival was an excellent experience and opportunity to meet young filmmakers that have bold ideas. The films showcased took incredible risk and having the opportunity to watch my and my teams work on the big screen (and in such a nice theater) is something I’ll never forget. The Q&A was engaging and fun. I loved hearing everyone’s stories.

    April 2025
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