We are here to encourage and spotlight human-generated creativity!

1. So, what is the Five Minute Film Festival?

It’s a festival by Argo Navis Studios celebrating very short films of about five minutes or so before credits. We aim to bring a mix of filmmakers of varied experience levels together for an event where they can meet, learn from and celebrate their work.

2.What are the rules for film entries?

Films should have about a five minute runtime before credits. Since this is art we are leaving some wiggle room for creative expression but let’s agree that eight minutes is pushing it and ten minutes is just too long. Official rules and terms are at the end of this page.

3. Is there an entry fee?

Yes and all proceeds go directly to funding the festival this year, next year and beyond.

4. What if I just want to watch the films?

We will open general admission, audience-only tickets for the festival later this year.

5. What will the festival be like?

We will have a screening block for the films (possibly two screening blocks) as well as time to meet the attending filmmakers and audience members, Q&A, photo ops at our step-and-repeat, and a closing ceremony at the end of the day.

6. Where will the festival be?

This year's location will in downtown Lilburn, GA! We will reveal the screening venue address closer to the festival date. The festival will be in-person on Aug 21, 2026!

7. Do you accept vertical video?

Sure, if you’ve made a compelling film in a vertical format we will accept it for review into the festival.

8. My film was made entirely using generative AI or similar means, is that ok?

No films solely created using generative AI will be excepted. If you submit a film created by generative AI, please remember that your submission fee is non-refundable.

We are here to encourage and spotlight human-generated creativity!

9. My film has VFX or special elements (beyond traditional post-production processes like stabilization, etc) that were created with generative AI, is that ok?

That will be reviewed on a per-film basis. We prefer practical effects when we make our selections.

10. It's my first time making a film, do I have a shot at being selected?

Yes! We love bringing together first-time filmmakers and established professionals into one room, that's why the festival exists!

Awards & Prizes

We are about encouraging filmmaker collaboration rather than competition.

If your film is selected you will receive the appropriate laurels as well as a place listing your film as an official selection on our studio website. Other prizes (if any) are TBD at the Festival's discretion.

No cash prizes can be offered for filmmakers outside of the United States.

Prizes (if any) will be prioritized for filmmakers who actually attend the event in-person.

Any and all prizes, selections and screenings are at the sole discretion of our Festival Directors.

Rules & Terms

TERMS AND CONDITIONS FOR THE FIVE MINUTE FILM FESTIVAL BY ARGO NAVIS LLC ("The Festival"):

- Your film must be under ten minutes (or less) before credits to be considered

- All submission fees are non-refundable, regardless of if the film is accepted to the festival or not.

- Submission of a film does not guarantee acceptance of the film into the festival.

- Acceptance of a film into the festival does not guarantee the film will screen at the event

- if your film is selected but does not screen you are still considered an official selection of the festival and can post your laurels.

- If you submit content to the festival and we accept your content into the festival, you agree to let us show the content at the festival during the screening and to clip content from your submission to create advertisements for the festival in the form of festival highlight reels, future festivals, festival trailers, stills, etc. without compensation. These materials are only used to promote the festival or future festivals. These materials will NOT be used by us for the purposes of training AI.

- You retain all rights to your film and acceptance into the festival does not equal an endorsement of any individual filmmaker or film by Argo Navis LLC.

- Submission of your film and attendance of the festival are at your own risk. Argo Navis LLC will not be responsible for any losses, damages or hardships incurred by you in association with the festival.

- If the festival cannot proceed due to a Force Majure event, an earnest attempt will be made to reschedule the festival. If that cannot happen and the event is cancelled, Argo Navis LLC will not be responsible for any damages or hardships incurred by the filmmaker.

- Any statements made by Argo Navis LLC regarding potential prizes is not meant to imply or guarantee that any prizes will exist and is also not meant to imply that there will be any kind of cash or monetary prize. These statements are only meant to clarify the conditions that would govern any potential prize, if one were to exist.

- No cash prizes (if any exist) can be offered for filmmakers outside of the United States. If a cash prize does exist, the amount, distribution and eligibility of recipients is the sole discretion of Argo Navis, LLC.

- Prizes (if any) are for residents of the United States only.

- Prizes (if any) will be prioritized for filmmakers who actually attend the event in-person.

- Any and all prizes (if they exist), selections and screenings are at the sole discretion of our Festival Directors.

- Submission fees are to cover administration of the festival. Entering more does not improve your chances of selection as each film is selected on it's own merits and relevance to the festival based on the decisions of our Festival Directors and Argo Navis, LLC.

- Argo Navis LLC has the right to accept or reject any film submitted to the festival for any reason at any time. Acceptance/selection into the Festival can be revoked for any reason at any time at the discretion of our Festival Directors and Argo Navis LLC.

No films solely created using generative AI will be excepted. If you submit a film created by generative AI, please remember that your submission fee is non-refundable.

We are here to encourage and spotlight human-generated creativity!
8 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Jim Morrison

    Sadly, we were unable to attend, but was extremely thankful that our film was selected. This festival is run by a passionate group that genuinely cares about films and the filmmakers.
    I was truly honored that Jef remembered my film from a prior festival and was kind enough to select it to his own.

    February 2024
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  • Peter Hardy

    What a great time I had attending this festival, with my selected short LATE SLEEPER!
    Very nice folks, enjoyable films, and good conversation afterwards.
    This was the THIRD festival I'd attended with this film in a two-week period!

    February 2024
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  • Max Hofer

    Very nice and communicative festival! Unfortunately, I couldn’t make it in person, but it looked like a lot of fun! Thanks for playing ‘Charlie’!

    February 2024
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  • Douglas John Imbrogno

    I was so pleased to be an official selection of the 2024 Five Minute Film Festival for 'Missing Horses and a Killer Skillet Incident,' even though I could not make the event. Classy, responsive folk — after the subject of my film passed on in the week before the festival, they crafted a memoriam screen to my dear friend Bill Hart — who was the subject of my piece — to flash on screen in advance of my film. Made me tear up when I saw what they had done. Human beings! Running a film fest! I will certainly enter again.

    February 2024
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  • Taz Lake

    Thank you for hosting a quality local festival and having us there for a screening of Sympathizer.

    February 2024
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