Based in Stillwater, Oklahoma, Dancing Turtle Arts Festival is a 4 day event produced by the Stillwater Community Center Foundation 501(c)3. Festivities commence June 6-9th, 2024 and encompass everything from live music acts, theatre and dance performances, interactive workshops, over 50 vendor table, and a kids zone. However there's one thing we couldn’t help but notice was missing… FILM! So this year we will mark the commencement of the first annual Dancing Turtle Short Film Festival and Screenplay Competition!

The Dancing Turtle Film Festival will have live screenings of all selected films, live performances of selected screenplays performed by local talent, meet and greets, and will finish with an Awards Ceremony. In addition to the Film Festival, the Dancing Turtle Arts Festival will have live music acts, theatre and dance performances, interactive workshops, and a kids zone. Full schedule of events to be posted soon!

The entire festival is free for anyone to attend and is all inclusive!

Awards & Prizes

Winners in all categories listed will receive our one of a kind Dancing Turtle Trophy and our Best of Fest Winner will also receive a cash prize!

Best Film (Turtle Trophy)
Best Director (Turtle Trophy)
Best Actor (Turtle Trophy)
Best Actress (Turtle Trophy)
Best Editing (Turtle Trophy)
Best Cinematography (Turtle Trophy)
Best Score (Turtle Trophy)
Best Screenplay (Turtle Trophy)
BEST Of FEST ($ and Turtle Trophy)

Rules & Terms

The following rules apply to all selected FILM projects.

1. Total runtime for submissions must be under 25 minutes.
2. All films must be submitted digitally. No hard copies, DVDs, etc.
3. No projects with offensive or illegal content, gratuitous violence or graphic sexual content will be accepted. Judges will make final determination on any questionable submissions.
3. No refunds once call for submissions has been closed.
4. All submissions must contain original work. This includes all audio, video, writing and
graphics.
5. Project must have been filmed and edited within the last 2 years.
6. Judges have the right to refuse any submission for any reason, but try to respect freedom of expression.
7. $10 submission fee.

The following rules apply to all selected SCREENPLAY projects.

1. All screenplays must be 45 pages or less in duration
2. All screenplays must have been completed in the last 2 years
3. All screenplays must be submitted digitally. No hard copies, drives, etc.
4. Judges have the right to refuse any submission for any reason, but try to respect freedom of expression.
5. $5 submission fee.
7 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Jules Taylor

    What a wonderful new festival. I love their mission: to bring the arts to their city! “In a World Full of Loneliness” was so proud to be selected in the film fest portion. Great and friendly communication through out the process.

    June 2024
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  • Anna Hanisch

    The Dancing Turtle Film Festival & Screenplay Competition was so well done and made for such a fun weekend! I attended both screenings of the short films, and there was such a great variety of selections. At the screenings, they had popped popcorn for us and there was a step and repeat complete with a red carpet to take photos. I was in the screenwriting portion of the competition, and the reading of my script was amazing! It was read by actors (some of whom are in SAG!) who brought my characters to life in a way that I couldn't have imagined. And they printed and bound copies of my script to take home! Overall, such a great festival, and I am so thankful for all the hard work Colleen put into it.

    June 2024
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  • Ian Hyden

    A very fun place to be around, had the chance to meet some talented filmmakers and do a little bit of networking.

    June 2024
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  • Scott Lancaster

    What an amazing and fun festival! The communication was excellent. Will definitely spread the word and look forward to submitting another film soon.

    June 2024
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  • Rich K

    So happy to have been selected and awarded in this festival. Very friendly, inviting and upbeat. An overall fantastic experience

    June 2024
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