The StarLite Film Festival is a juried exhibition for micro budget narrative features and student shorts that take a closer look at untold stories, investigate fresh perspectives, and magnify unfamiliar faces. Completion budgets for features cannot exceed the equivalent of $200,000 USD or $10,000 for student shorts.
The StarLite Film Festival endeavors to become the number one global destination for micro budget filmmakers, a networking hub for the international community of cinema artists and enthusiasts who wish to develop and support micro budget features, and a platform for educating the next generation of entrepreneurial filmmakers.
Situated around the historic Garden Theatre in picturesque downtown Winter Garden, Florida, the StarLite Film Festival welcomes global innovation with small-town charm and hospitality. Our festival is filmmaker-centered and focused on offering a prominent platform to unique voices. Some festival are more interested in partying with celebrities than with with helping new filmmakers reach a larger audience. We treat every director like a celebrity and strive to offer every film the largest audience possible.
Jury Prize, Best Domestic Feature
Jury Prize, Best International Feature
Jury Prize, Best Domestic College Short
Jury Prize, Best International College Short
Jury prize, Best Domestic Student Short (Pre-College Level)
Jury prize, Best International Student Short (Pre-College Level)
Audience Choice Award for Best Feature
Audience Choice Award for Best Student Short
Spirit of StarLite Award — chosen by the Garden Theatre Board of Directors to honor the feature film that best represents the festival's mission.
StarLite Legends Award — chosen by the Garden Theatre Board of Directors to honor a filmmaker whose contribution to microbudget cinema warrants special recognition.