On the banks of the Mighty Mississippi the 573 Film Festival was born to present the coveted Mucky Award. Welcome to the 5th Annual 573 Film Festival. The 573 Film Festival will present independent short films, trailers, documentaries, TV pilots and experimental short films from around the world. The indie spirit is alive and well in the 573 region. 573 Film Festival is here to support local filmmakers. The festival is put on by independent filmmakers. To us, indie means blood, sweat, and tears -we’ve been there. It means overcoming insurmountable obstacles and loving it. It means ignoring naysayers and dream squashers and doing it anyway. We're here to support their passion. We need your help. 


Winner Awards
Selection Awards
Creativity Awards
Ingenuity Awards
Sponsor Prizes

*Producer must attend festival to receive a physical award.

Rules:

1. Submissions shall be submitted here.
2. Completed short films only 1 to 44 minutes. 
3. Submissions must be received by Jan 20, 2024 
4. Please include a link to the film and electronic press kit. 
5. Submission does not guarantee entry into the competition, only that it will be viewed by the programming department and considered for competitive judging. 
6. Filmmakers may submit more than one film; a separate submission form is required for each film. 
7. 573 Film Festival not responsible for lost, damaged, stolen, or late submissions, marketing materials, etc.  
8. Exhibition copies of submissions shall be in a digital file format, with no watermark, intended for laptop playback; MOV, MP4. 

Categories:

Short
Trailer
Pilot
Experimental
Animation

Fees:

Financial Hardship Requests are available.

Deadlines and Selections:

Once all films have been reviewed by our screening panel official selections will be determined and forwarded to our judges. If your film becomes an official selection of 573 Film Festival 2024, you will be notified via email no later than Feb 5, 2022.

By submitting to 573 Film Festival, you grant the festival permission to display the film's trailer, stills and information from the required press kit/EPK on the festival website, social media outlets, and in other marketing and promotional actions.

We do not accept mailed in screeners (please do not send DVDs, BLURAYs, or flash drives to our office).

We do not accept prescreening materials through email and are unable to download files from sharing services. (links only)

All entries must be original works. The 573 Film Festival has the right to utilize an excerpt from any film submitted and accepted for exhibition at the Festival for promotional purposes. The individual or corporation submitting the film warrants that it is authorized to commit the film for screening, and understands and accepts these requirements and regulations. All participants shall indemnify and hold harmless 573 Film Festival from and against any and all claims, liabilities, losses, damages, and expenses (including but not limited to attorney’s fees, and costs of the court) which may be incurred by reason of any claim involving copyright, trademark, credits, publicity, screening, and loss of or damage to the screening videos entered.

To receive a gift, cash or physical award, a producer or representative is required to attend the festival.

Best of luck to everyone!

Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Alexandre de Villeneuve

    Amazing film festival ! Thank you for selecting two movies of my catalog !

    March 2024
  • Great festival and honored to be a part. I will submit again in the future.

    February 2024
  • Joshua Rodriguez

    Fantastic festival! Really lovely people showing really great work. Would recommend everyone to attend and for my fellow filmmakers to apply.

    February 2024
  • Walter Haussner

    Thomas has organized an outstanding festival and his love of film is evident throughout. Great communication and organization. I regret we could not attend in person. We are very honored that Xpendable won the award for best production design. Filmmaker everywhere should take notice of this remarkable festival and submit their work.

    February 2024
  • I flew to Missouri for this festival and they had a big theater showing our film . This was my first time getting a Yes so I flew from LA to be there . The communication theu email and phone was great. They showed some great films . Our film received best Documentary. I would highly recommend that you submit your film here.

    February 2024