We are a small Boutique festival that only screens and awards our top 100 winner! BEFORE you enter your project into our IMDB-qualified event, please understand that if you are selected, you need to be able to attend the entire festival (or one of your Crew or cast), Arriving Oct 15th, 2026, in time to register from 4-6 pm. Departing Monday October 19th, 2026. Our opening party will be on Thursday October 15th! Films shown each day on the 16, 17, 18 with the Award Show (mandatory for one member to attend) on Sunday, Oct 18th. It's a 3.5-hour drive down the mountain to Phoenix - Not suggested late at night! If you are not willing to do so, please do not enter. This is the Top 100 winners! All films are screened on several screens in a beautiful theater. This requires you to either have Simple DCP make a DCP for you, or upload your existing DCP free through them. We do not download films. Each showing has it's own Q & A.

Genres: Family, Drama, Horror, Sci-Fi, Mockumentary, Comedy, Documentary, Suspense, Vertical, Web Series, LGBTQ, Music Videos, AI & More - we separate awards by genre and also divide shorts into several time categories. AI-assisted or generated films have their own category.

If you are unwilling to do so, please do not enter this event. Instead, enter our alternate festival with online awards that do not require attending. https://filmfreeway.com/whitemountainsfilmfest

We have keynote speakers, top Industry workshops, pitching opportunities, and excellent Swag Bags. We create a custom web page on our site for each accepted film and provide a free custom name badge for you to use not only at our festival but also at any other events. We offer our winners a lot besides great Awards - And we always hope you walk away with more than just the trophy when you leave our event!

Once you receive our award-winner notification, please fill out our online filmmaker acceptance form, which will be emailed to you. We notify winners as soon as they reach a certain score and receive a recommendation for an award from one of our judges. And yes, all entries are being watched and judged.

The deadline for uploading the DCP is September 10th. Housing info (hotel or Airbnb name) will need to be supplied to the festival before Sept 30th so that we can schedule your film for screening. A refundable deposit is required to assure your attendance. You may use it for additional passes should you need them or an ad. If none of this is needed, it will be refunded to you, if you are in attendance. This might sounds a bit strict, but it works and assures that we only show attending films.

This is not the hot Arizona you might imagine, we have fishing, hiking, biking, lakes and yes, sometimes snow in October. The fantastic White Mountains are calling you.

All award winners are shown in a state-of-the-art theater! Both the US and International categories compete in separate awards.

To be eligible, Film Projects must be finished after January 1st, 2024, or, if completed prior, not released until after January 1st, 2024. Scripts can be accepted if registered after Jan 2022.

Please keep this in mind - we do not make exceptions! No entry fee Refunds!
Arrive Thursday, depart Monday

NO FREE WAIVERS

FILMS
Our international festival is held in the beautiful White Mountains of Arizona, showcasing films from all over the world. Come be in the cool pines and fresh mountain air. All of our winners receive a classy award, and our CASH awards are given on stage during the ceremony.

One free VIP All Access filmmakers pass is given to each winning project that is attending. Additional passes will be available for purchase on a first come first serve basis- limited quantity. Only these passes will be allowed on the red carpet and into the workshops. We treat all filmmakers equally and like VIP. Each attending film (or representative if more than 1 film or script) will receive a swag bag. A free page on our website per film, including your trailer, at no cost- info will be taken from FilmFreeway. We are a fun group with a great heart and a drive to help filmmakers further their careers, and we truly care about your films and scripts. Start making your DCP early —either Do It yourself or have someone create it for you. This way, you can take care of travel arrangements as well as DCP conversion and upload early. If you do not get an early notification, don't worry; you are still in the running until all films have been judged. If selected, a $150 deposit is required, it will be refunded at the festival if the film or script is attending or can be applied to extra passes, etc.

We invite the Press and distributors to attend our festival. Our film fest is all about you being there to attend great workshops, learn from industry experts, and be mentored for the 3 days.

Our FANTASTIC industry workshops are optional to attend and free for filmmaker passes. Entertainment Law, Pitch Fest, Is my Movie sellable?, Producer panel, Lighting workshop, Media magic, Think Tanks, and more.

Check www.showlowfilmfestival.com for details often, as we will be adding them. To be eligible,

SCRIPTS:
Script winners also have to attend the entire festival. We have pitch sessions for those scripts. Take advantage of the workshops.

Screenings are Fri, Sat & Sun. We will do our best not to overlap screenings with workshops. Discounted lodging links will be available via www.showlowfilmfestival.com. These are hotels we vetted and referred! This festival has the support of the Arizona Film Commission and the local chambers and cities.

The Owner and Producer of the festival, Daren & Martina Webster, and their daughter, Dalea Faulkner, owners of DarMar Production LLC, are filmmakers and screenwriters themselves. Martina was a producer on Justin Hayward's (Moody Blues) Music video "The Wind of Heaven", Hashtag Blessed the Movie, Turnover, and has numerous projects in the works. It's a family business, and they all live in the White Mountains.

Awards & Prizes

Winners will receive a prestigious award; some will receive other industry-sponsored prizes, such as a run in the movie theater, products, or CASH.
Categories might be split, deleted, or combined according to entries and selections. Check often for any changes in categories, prizes, and awards along the way. Cash awards are based on the number of competitors within that category, as well as sponsorships. Please check often, as we are working on the categories after our final deadline.

Over 100 trophies in the different categories, including Best in each category, Actor and directing awards, producing awards, and, of course, our top winners
Best of Fest high-scoring - TOP 10 highest-scoring films
Best of Fest high-scoring scripts - TOP 3 highest-scoring scripts!

Rules & Terms

Eligibility: Please understand BEFORE you enter that the films we show are the top 100 award winners - that means you know if selected that you will be receiving an award, because of this we require one official from the project to attend the entire time of the festival (3days), including the Awards ceremony and all Q & A. arrive Thursday, Depart Monday.

The online filmmaker form must be filled out in time. The deadline for uploading DCP is September 10th. Housing info (hotel or Airbnb name) will need to be supplied to the festival before Sept 30th in order for us the schedule your film for screening.

Parties and workshops are optional. We also require you to submit your film for the festival in DCP FORMAT ONLY. If you are not prepared to do this, please do not enter! If you do, we would love to have you! NO FREE WAIVERS. Must work in English; International entries must have English subtitles. Only works completed after January 1, 2024 will be accepted. (exceptions are scripts) We only take digital online submissions via FilmFreeway. FilmFreeway accepts all major video formats in full-quality HD for online FilmFreeway judging. After being selected, all officially selected films for the festival must be submitted in DCP format to be shown at the state-of-the-art theater. All submitted works will be judged by the Selection Committee and festival producers. We reserve the right to determine the eligibility of any project or to combine, delete, change, or add categories. Works will be categorized or changed at the sole discretion of the Festival Committee. Filmmakers irrevocably grant the Festival the right to use, for promotional purposes, an excerpt from the Film if it is selected for screening at the Festival. We do not show nominations. Accepted films must have a representative properly registered during the festival's official registration times and be present throughout the entire festival to conduct their own Q&A and awards ceremony. This is required to be eligible for any awards or Screening. The representative must be someone on your film who has knowledge of the film. Any other representative, such as a company that reps films, must be approved and accepted by the festival. You may not ask another film to rep yours unless they are in the official credits of that film. Custom forms must be filled out completely.

Projects must be finished after January 1st, 2023 or if finished prior, not released until after January1st, 2023

The judging committee has the right to change the category of an entry if it is in the best interest of the filmmaker. All entries must be paid for in order to be judged or accepted. All decisions are final - no Refunds - Reminder: after you are selected, you must submit your film as a DCP. Please check them out in advance. Judges' overall average score and their personal selections for each award are taken into consideration. Best of Festival Top 10 will not score within a category. It is the highest honor of the festival.

Submitters and affiliates, if accepted into the festival, are responsible for the transport costs and housing. Arizona White Mountains Film Festival, Show Low Film Festival, white Mountain Film Fest, and its directors and staff cannot be held responsible for any loss or damage. By submitting to the Festival, you warrant, as sole and exclusive owner/s of all legal rights and titles, that you have absolute authority to submit to the Festival. You indemnify and hold the Festivals and all its affiliates harmless, including WME theatres, event locations, all judges, sponsors, and staff against all claims, losses, damages, costs, liabilities, and expenses, including legal fees, based on films/videos submitted to the Film Festival. You hereby grant the right to utilize an excerpt from any film submitted and accepted for exhibition at the festival for promotional purposes, as well as the full film at the theater during the festival. Judges will keep content, form, technical aspects, and sound in mind. By digitally signing the entry form, each participant accepts, without reservation, the terms of the regulations as stated in this document. We will request a deposit to create your webpage and custom-printed items as part of the acceptance form. This is refundable or applicable to any additional passes you might need. If you decide at any time not to be at the festival, the deposit becomes non-refundable to cover the expenses incurred. NO Exceptions!

95 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Ben Nathan

    Can't speak highly enough of this festival. Incredible hosts, great selection of films, and friendly and welcoming filmmakers. Thank you to Martina and Dalea for organizing such an enjoyable festival!

    November 2025
    Helpful
    Response from festival:

    Truly honored

  • Neill McKenzie

    What a fantastic time at the Show Low festival. We were honoured to receive 4 awards, including best Thriller Feature film, Producer award, Best poster design and Costumes. Brilliantly organised and so welcoming. Great contacts made. We very highly rate this festival.

    October 2025
    Helpful
  • Kevin Chambers

    This is my 2nd year here at the Show Low Film Festival and I can say this was life changing! The first year I went I met some amazing people and this time around it was phenomenal to reconnect with those same people. Martina and Dalea are the very best. Both are extremely kind, professional, and are genuine people who want to help you with whatever they can. I will make sure to come back every year I can! This is one of the best film festivals out there!

    October 2025
    Helpful
  • Robert Timmons

    This Film Festival is INCREDIBLE! I thoroughly enjoyed my time in Show Low! This is the only Film Festival I've attended where I've have truly felt special the entire weekend. From personalized merchandise, to intentional workshops and mixers, to seeing my film on the big screen. I am very happy that I submitted and was selected to participate. 10/10 recommend for any film maker! I will definitely submit in the future.

    October 2025
    Helpful
  • Darren Burch

    This Show Low Film Festival was absolutely the most wonderful experience I’ve had in a long, long, long time, let alone the BEST film festival I've EVER attended.

    There’s a lot of reasons why I’m showering such love upon this event, but of all the myriad reasons, I'll start with the amazingly talented family behind it all: Marina, Dalea & Daren (who spells his name wrong).

    Between the three of them, they have created more than a first-rate film festival, they have nurtured a premiere film festival filled with one-of-a-kind networking opportunities, invaluable workshops and training sessions, distinguished awards and other quality elements that far surpass all other festivals.

    For example, on the last day of the festival one of the “workshops” was the opportunity to pitch your film project to an actual Hollywood studio executive.

    And not a cold pitch, because up to this point, workshop after workshop prepared you for just such an amazing opportunity to pitch your film project with complete confidence as a professional in the industry.

    As a first-time producer, I was treated with the same love, attention and appreciation of effort as all the other seasoned filmmakers’ who were in attendance.

    And that community of directors, writers, artists, craftsman, producers and other professionals that were in attendance had reflected that same loving spirit to each other.

    This festival revived my artistic soul from an insulting and disrespectful festival that was my first experience in this arena. Thankfully, I saved the best for last, as nothing I had experienced at most of the other excellent festivals, even compared to my over-all experience at the Show Low Film Festival.

    From this point forward, I will ALWAYS be attending this festival, year after year, until the day some poor soul has to pull a half-drafted script from my Rigor Mortis clutches…
    Sorry, the old, retired homicide sergeant comes out at times, and I like horror stories -

    THANK YOU, Martina, Dalea and Daren (and all the judges) for showing my short film project “IN MONSTER’S HANDS” with so much love.

    Darren Burch
    producer, writer, actor

    October 2025
    Helpful