Surrounded by a rich musical and southern culture, the Macon Film Festival celebrates independent films while promoting filmmaking for entertainment, inspiration, education, and economic development.

The Macon Film Festival is heading into its 19th year with a four-day festival planned for August 15th - 18th. The Macon Film Festival screens independent films from around the world in historic theaters in the city's downtown district as well as fulldome immersive content at Macon's Museum of Arts & Sciences. The festival features daily film screenings, celebrity guests, special screenings, and workshops throughout the festival weekend.

The 2024 call for submissions will open in late October 2023 and will run through mid April 2024.

The Melvyn Douglass 'Best in Show' Award: $1,200
Best of 'Narrative Feature' Category : $1,000
Best of 'Documentary' Category: $1,000
Best of 'Documentary Shorts' Category: $800
Best of 'Georgia Made' Category: $800
Best of 'Narrative Shorts' Category: $800
Best of 'LGBTQ' Category: $800
Best of 'Student Shorts' Category: $500
The Karen Black Audience Choice - Narrative: $500
Audience Choice - Documentary: $500
Festival Special Mention Award: $500

Submission Rules

1. Submission Formats: Online screeners must be embedded in each film's FilmFreeway submission profile. DVD submissions, download links or stand-alone links will not be accepted.

Only completed entry packets will be processed and considered for festival presentation. A complete entry packet includes:

-- An online screener embedded in a FilmFreeway submission. Passwords are encouraged.
-- Completed submission online form (Macon Film Festival is not responsible for incorrect wording in publications or on awards if the entry form is incorrect.)
-- Submission fee (made payable to Macon Film Festival)
-- Digital Press kit (2 Hi-Resolution JPEG stills from the film. No behind scenes stills please.)
-- Brief film synopsis

2. Each entry must be a separate submission. If you select more than one film category for your film you must pay the full entry fee for each category.

3. Student films must include a copy of a current student ID or proof of current enrollment. Copies of student ids can be uploaded to FilmFreeway or e-mailed to maconfilmfestival.submissions@gmail.com.

4. Complete submission packets must be completed by deadline dates below.

-- Super Early Deadline - December 15, 2023
-- Regular Deadline - March 1, 2024
-- Late Deadline - March 29, 2024
-- Last Call Deadline - April 19, 2024

5. Works in progress are not encouraged. Submissions will be jurored in the state they are received.

6. To qualify for the 2024 Macon Film Festival submissions must have been completed after May 31, 2022. Submissions completed prior to May 31, 2022 will not be accepted.

7. All official selection films selected to be in competition for the 2024 festival will not be eligible to receive screening fees.

8. Official selection filmmakers are required to provide one digital file of their official selection film for festival screenings. Digital screener files must be either Pro-Res or H.264 file formats. Hard copies of the film will also be accepted in Blu-ray or DVD NTSC format. PAL formatted DVDs are not accepted.

9. If your film is selected as an official submission the cost of shipping hard copies or external drives of festival screeners to the Festival must be paid by the entrant. Collect or COD shipments will not be accepted.

10. All international entries must be sent with all transportation charges, duties, and taxes prepaid by the shipper. Fees charged to the Macon Film Festival will be refused. Be sure to include the proper customs documentation required by your shipping service.

11. Hard copies or external drives of official selection screeners will NOT be returned unless the submission filmmaker provides a self addressed envelope with pre-paid shipment included.

12. Entrant confirms and warrants required legal authority to submit the entry into the Festival and to use all music, images and content in the entry. Entrant will allow usage of clips from the entry for promotional use on television, radio, in print, at live Festival events and virtual award programs.

13. By submitting the filmmaker confirms that they are duly authorized to submit the film to the Macon Film Festival without the consent of any third party (or, if the consent of other parties is required, all of them are also signing this Agreement).

14. By submitting the filmmaker confirms and warrants required legal authority to submit the entry into the Festival. The film does not violate any copyright, trademark or other intellectual property right of any person or entity. Releases for music, images, content and talent must be obtained by the filmmaker. The Macon Film Festival is not liable for copyright infringement or unauthorized use.

Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Anthony Assad

    I was notified that my short film, Panic Attack, had won an award back in Sept 2023. I responded to Tabitha regarding my home address and country of origin but have yet to receive any updates in relation to the award certificate and prize money.

    The film is mentioned as an award winner on this web page and within the awards program video published here.. https://www.maconfilmfestival.com/2023-winners

    I'm sure the break in communication is just a clerical error as my experience/communication with the festival team was otherwise stellar in the lead up to the festival. Please let me know who I should contact as my mails to Tabitha and the festivals 'info' email account remain unanswered.

    March 2024
  • darcy miller

    Wonderful communication and people. So happy to be part of this festival.

    August 2023
  • I was only able to attend my screening. There weren't many people there. I was really looking forward to popcorn but there wasn't any. The filmmaker lounge was kind of sad. Nice folks though.

    August 2023
  • Eli McGowan

    Tremendous hidden gem of a festival. Overwhelming hospitality like the biscuit buffet and multiple open bar parties. Beautiful historic venues. A bus tour for filmmakers. In a few years, this is going to be a harrrrd festival to get in, because I predict it’s close to blowing up with popularity once people realize how next-level it all is!

    Thanks so much for hosting “August!”

    August 2023
  • Andrea Behring

    This festival is the little engine that could. The entire staff was so welcoming and they had an amazing weekend planned where you screened TWICE which was awesome. It was a joy to be apart of and I have come back many times over with different projects because it’s such a joy to be apart of. Hats off to their whole team! They work really hard on this festival and it shows.

    August 2022