Voices With Impact is a hybrid film festival celebrating film that creates transformative conversation on the topic of mental health.

An open call for short films on the topic of mental health to screen at in our festival in June 2026. Selected films will become part of our online programming in our hybrid festival and shared with our global audience.

We're looking for short films between 0-25 minutes that explore mental health topics.

We do not place any formal restrictions on submissions, and will consider all genres and types of short films, including submissions utilizing original footage, shared footage, photo stills, music, essays, screenplays, original art work and more. The film must however be your own original work and you must have the correct license for any materials used within the film. There is no fee for submissions.

The submission window opens on October 28 2024 and closes on Feb 3 2026. Entries will be juried by our advisory board of filmmakers, students and mental health professionals. Filmmakers will be notified of outcomes in late May 2026.

To watch films from our library visit www.voiceswithimpact.com/archive
This should give you a good idea of the films that we love!

Awards & Prizes

Official selections will be made and the filmmakers will be notified of their selection a few weeks before the festival. Filmmakers will be sent a promotion pack and information on the program their film will be part of.

Rules & Terms

Length & Content

> We only accept submissions as Vimeo video URLs. YouTube, Google Drive, Dropbox, and any other URL links are not accepted and will be disqualified.

> Submissions must either be interpretive of mental health, or address it directly to be eligible for the festival.

> Submissions must be 25 minutes or less. Films longer than 25 minutes will be disqualified.

> Submissions may not advertise any product, service, brand, or other commercial interest.

> Submissions that are music videos may only portray original music that you own rights to.

Language and Location:

>There are no geographic limitations on entries — we accept short films made anywhere in the world!

>If a submission is not in English, a translation or subtitles in English must be burned into the film.

Process:

> If your video is listed as private, you must provide a viewing password in your submission form so our jurors are able to view it.

> Participants may submit only one version of a given project. However, any participant may submit more than one project. A separate Entry must be completed for each submission.

> Film jurors from our Advisory Board who are also filmmakers may submit work, but only during competitions in which they are not serving as a juror.

Content Rights:

> Filmmaker agrees that all submitted films may be screened by Voices With Impact for duration of the festival month.

> Filmmakers are responsible for securing any and all necessary licenses for any third party content, including footage, music, fonts, artwork, and any other asset used in film production.

Jurying Procedures:

> Films will be judged by the Film Program team and select members of the Advisory Board, which comprises of filmmakers, mental health professionals, and students.

> To select the films, jurors respond to the 10 questions found in the contest FAQ.
Art With Impact reserves the right to not select any films if submissions do not meet the jury’s standards for both content and production value.
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  • Rachel Fowler

    I love this festival and this company, such a terrific mission and a great way to lift up filmmakers and the public alike.

    January 2026
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  • Gavin Seal

    I love this team so much. This is the future of film festivals and film funding (through their grants). This is getting back to why we make films, for real people, not for executives in tuxedos in screenings where the public can't get in. Amazing festival, I highly recommend applying, and attending (and make sure to check out their film fund).

    July 2025
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