Watson and Sons Christian Film Festival 2026

The Watson and Sons Christian Film Festival celebrates faith-based storytelling, creativity, and inspiration through short films that uplift, encourage, and share positive messages rooted in Christian values.

The festival will take place on Saturday, September 5, 2026, at the Byrd Theatre. Doors will open for filmmakers, staff, and participants at 1:00 p.m., with the official festival program running from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. All activities must conclude promptly at 5:00 p.m., and the theatre must be vacated at that time.

The festival will showcase up to 15 short films, with each film ranging from 2 to 4 minutes in length. Selected films will be screened before an audience of filmmakers, supporters, and community members who share a passion for faith-centered cinema.

Awards will be presented in the following categories:

Best Christian Short Film
Best Director
Best Inspirational Message
Best Student Film (awarded if sufficient student film entries are received)
Audience Choice Award (selected by festival attendees)

The Watson and Sons Christian Film Festival is committed to providing a platform for emerging and established filmmakers whose work reflects faith, hope, love, redemption, and the positive impact of Christian values. We welcome films that inspire audiences and encourage meaningful conversations through the art of storytelling.

We look forward to celebrating talented filmmakers and sharing stories that make a difference.

Dr. Jamantha Williams Watson

Awards & Prizes

Best Christian Short Film
Best Director
Best Inspirational Message
Best Student Film (awarded if sufficient student film entries are received)
Audience Choice Award (selected by festival attendees)

Rules & Terms

Watson and Sons Christian Film Festival 2026
Rules & Terms

By submitting a film to the Watson and Sons Christian Film Festival, the filmmaker agrees to the following Rules and Terms:

Eligibility
Films must reflect Christian values, faith-based themes, inspirational messages, or positive moral content.
All films must be original works, and the submitter must own or control all rights necessary for exhibition.
Films must be between 3 and 5 minutes in length, including credits.
Films may be narrative, documentary, animation, student, or experimental productions, provided they are suitable for a general audience.
Submission Requirements
Films must be submitted through FilmFreeway.
Entries must be completed by the published submission deadline.
Films must be available in a high-quality digital format suitable for theatrical screening.
Non-English films must include English subtitles.
Selection Process
All submissions will be reviewed by the festival selection committee.
Selection decisions are final.
The festival reserves the right to determine the eligibility of any submission.
Awards

Awards may be presented in the following categories:

Best Christian Short Film
Best Director
Best Inspirational Message
Best Student Film (if sufficient student entries are received)
Audience Choice Award
Rights and Permissions
The filmmaker retains all ownership and copyright to their work.
By submitting, the filmmaker grants the Watson and Sons Christian Film Festival permission to screen the selected film during the festival on September 5, 2026.
The festival may use film stills, trailers, posters, titles, and filmmaker information for promotional and marketing purposes.
Content Standards
Films must not contain material that infringes on copyrights, trademarks, or other intellectual property rights.
The festival reserves the right to disqualify any film containing unlawful, defamatory, or inappropriate content.
Films should be consistent with the mission and values of a Christian film festival.
General Conditions
Submission fees, if applicable, are non-refundable.
The festival reserves the right to make necessary changes to event programming or scheduling.
By submitting a film, participants acknowledge that they have read, understood, and agreed to these Rules and Terms.

Festival Date: Saturday, September 5, 2026
Venue: Byrd Theatre
Festival Screening Time: 2:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.