James River Short Film Showcase is a mini-festival devoted to the short. The centerpiece is an international juried competition for short films (20 minutes or less) from around the globe that best embody what the James River Film Society and James River Film Festival are all about – the art of film and film as art.

Cash awards totaling $2,000 will be given for first, second, third places and the Kathryn Stephens Virginia Filmmaker Award will be presented to the best film to a Virginia filmmaker (if Applicable) The audience will also vote for the People’s Choice Award.

Those entrants who become finalists for the Awards screening on TBA will be notified by December 15th, 2023. A jury of area filmmakers and film educators will pre-screen and select the finalists, A special guest filmmaker/film curator (TBA) will make final all designations of cash awards at the awards screening. The Awards Screening will take place at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, Leslie Cheek Theater.

The James River Short Film Showcase is an annual juried competition of short films (20 min. or less) awarding $2000 to prize winners--this year's finalists screening will be held TBA

Dating to 1994, the competition is open to the experimental, animated, short narrative, and documentary films of 20 minutes or less. Films entered that run beyond 20 min. Will not be accepted, and the entry fee will not be reimbursed. The deadline for entries is Nov 15th, 2022! The competition is sponsored by the James River Film Society and the Virginia Film Office.

Films entered that run beyond 20 min. will not be accepted, and the entry fee will not be reimbursed.

Overall Rating
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  • Victor Guilbaud

    Great festival, so happy to be part of it !

    January 2024
  • C. E. Dye

    The James River Short Film Showcase is 1st class!
    Thanks for screening UNCLE'S CAR!

    November 2019
  • Olivier Magis

    Very good festival. Great chance to be screened in Virginia!

    January 2019