Blog: Film festivals

Named one of the top "25 Coolest Film Festivals in the World" by Moviemaker Magazine, we're now in our 14th year of showcasing incredible cinema from around the world!

The Orlando Film Festival hosts an immersive 8 day festival full of diverse films, insightful panels & workshops, nightly parties & happy hours, a variety of interactive activities & networking opportunities and an exciting awards ceremony where prizes valued at over 1 million dollars will be awarded.

Over the course of the week an estimated 300 filmmakers from around the world will join us to showcase hundreds of films (350 in 2018 alone), to over 12,000 attendees.

Though we have hundreds of films each year, the festival is run by working filmmakers, so it is important to us that every film and filmmaker is given the attention they deserve. Every filmmaker is given time for a Q&A after their screening in order for the audience & filmmakers to really get the most out of the event and we find ways to help people connect & network where possible. Our desire is for every filmmaker to leave the festival not only having had a blast, but also with valuable experiences that will enhance their careers.

We are proud to call the state-of-the-art Cobb Plaza Cinema Café 12 our home; located right in the heart of Orlando. All our events take place in or around the theater, which is walking distance from our official festival hotels. The festival operates six auditoriums featuring beautiful high-end Barco projectors, 5.1 surround sound, plush luxury chairs - every screening is truly the real theatrical experience.

Audiences & filmmakers do not just watch quality cinema but also get an immersive experience full of spirited Q & A’s, panel discussions & workshops with industry professionals, script reads & fantastic nightly parties. This is the perfect opportunity for filmmakers and screenwriters to directly interact with their audience, as well as others in the industry.

In addition to large appreciative crowds, other perks include discounts at many of the local bars & restaurants, as well as hugely discounted rates at our official festival hotel. Our nightly parties have been known to shut down a few bars and our sponsor Stella Artois always takes care of the beer for everyone.

We also give out over 40 filmmaking and screenwriting awards with some fantastic prizes, including a ShortsTV distribution deal offer for EVERY winning short film and a first look deal with Valencia Motion Pictures; a local production company with over 3 million dollars of equipment. The average value of this collaboration is around $500,000 for an indie feature.

Many films showcased over the years have gone on to worldwide distribution & critical acclaim including Sundance Grand Jury Nominations (such as Queen of Versailles) and even one that took home an Oscar (Taxi to the Dark Side).

We've also been honored with participation from slew of celebrity guests including Kevin Smith, Malcolm Mcdowell, Alison Brie, Michael Rooker, Haley Joel Osment, Milos Foreman, Cheryl Hines, Marcia Gay Harden, Olympia Dukakis, Patrick Fabian, Christopher Titus, Bob Hawk, and many many others.

But the truth is whether your film features a cast of A-list celebrities or it was something shot with some friends - your film's budget, clout, or it's premiere status doesn't matter to us. All we care about is showcasing high quality independent cinema.

If your film fits that simple criteria, please send it our way and join us for what will surely be our biggest year yet!

Our sponsors include Stella Artois, Cobb Theaters, VER, Valencia College, United Arts, Great Graphics Photoscan, Movie Magic, ShortsTV, and many others.

Follow us on Twitter @OrlandoFilmFest & like us on Facebook – Facebook.com/OrlandoFilmFest to stay updated, learn more about the festival or ask us any questions!