The Orange County Film Festival recognizes young filmakers for their excellence with a one-night-only award show.
Categories
Filmmakers submit their films to a variety of categories including Short Film, Music Video, PSA, and Commercial. Individuals are also nominated to be honored for excellence in Directing, Producing, Cinematographer and more.
A Red Carpet Affair
Upon arriving at the Orange County Film Festival Awards Show, attendees have an opportunity to socialize and network with a community of filmmakers on the red carpet.
Watch the Films
Past OCFF winners and nominees are available to watch in our Viewing Room.
Dodgeball
Another in a long line of impressive commercials from Capistrano Valley.
Alumni
By creating a partnership with FilmEd Academy of the Arts, CAE has continued to collaborate on projects with alumni all over the country. Past OCFF nominees have landed jobs at NBC/Universal, CBS, BBC, Anonymous Content, The Sparkhouse, the Antfarm, and the list goes on.
Fundraising
The OCFF needs your help to keep the magic alive. There are may ways to get involved. Click here to see our fundraising packet.
Home comes when we least expect it.
A music video by filmmaker Brian Hart that took home awards for best Music Video, Graphics and Editing at OCFF 2013
Uh-Oh
Re-watch the award winning short film from producer Jacqueline Donahue and Filmaker of the Year Nathan Rickard.
Founded in 2003, The Orange County Film Festival is designed to showcase the work of up and coming filmmakers throughout Orange County.
With over 700 people in attendance annually, OCFF has become a widely anticipated event in Southern California that has received recognition nationwide. CAE continues to support and sponsor this glamorous one night only experience that has brought students, families, and the community together to celebrate artistic excellence in filmmaking.
Each film submission must be accompanied by a completed entry form.
Individuals may submit more than one entry, provided each has its own entry form.
All films submitted must be produced between January 10, 2025 - January 9, 2026.
No film may be longer than 10 minutes in length.
Entries must be FAMILY APPROPRIATE and must not include the use graphic language, weapons, drugs, alcohol, nudity, sex, excessive violence, or material deemed to be offensive to categories of individuals based on their religion, ethnicity, race, gender, or sexuality.
All students currently enrolled in FilmEd Academy of the Arts are eligible to submit to the Orange County Film Festival. Films produced by alumni while in the program are eligible for submission.
Entries may not be published online until after the festival date. Any entries that are found online, after nomination, will be disqualified.
FAQ
Can a film be submitted to multiple categories?
No. Only submit a film to one category. If the nomination committee believes your film is better suited in a different category, it will be moved.
How many submissions does OCFF receive?
The number of films submitted continues to grow every year. Last year, students submitted more than 300 films.
When are nominations announced?
The nominated films are announced every year at The 24 screening. Check back for exact dates near the end of the year.
If submitting multiple films, is a separate entry form required for each film?
Every film requires an individual entry form.
Are there any restrictions to the number of films submitted by a student or school?
There is no limit to the number of films a student may submit. Each school may only submit one broadcast and 24 Hour entry.
Is there a submission fee?
No. Orange County Film Festival has never charged a submission fee from eligible students.
Do I need to get a permit to shoot my film?
Permit requirements vary depending on location. It is up to the filmmaker to find out if a permit is required for their selected shooting location.
Will OCFF own my film?
Orange County Film Festival does not claim ownership over any submitted films, but reserves the right to use submitted films for training and/or marketing purposes.
Can anyone enter a film?
Unfortunately, no. This year, only students enrolled in FilmEd Academy of the Arts may submit their films to the Orange County Film Festival.
What is the final deadline for entries?
December 1st, 2017 at 3pm
Award Categories
Awards will be handed out in the following categories:
categorical
24 (3 min.)
A participating school competition to write, direct, film, and edit a music video in 24 hours. For more information, click here.
48 ( min.)
Broadcast (13 min.)
A television or webcast program produced on a weekly or monthly basis for the participating schools’ student body.
Commercial (2 min.)
An advertisement or promotional feature for a product or event.
Independent (5 min.)
An open category that gives filmmakers the freedom to explore creative and artistic forms of filmmaking.
Music Video (3 min.)
A short story that is thoughtfully constructed to a musical composition.
PSA (1 min.)
A Pubic Service Announcement that promotes a cause or conveys a positive message.
Short Film (10 min.)
A narrative film from any genre.
Show Open (2 min.)
A creative introduction to the broadcast.
Spot Feature (3 min.)
A character driven short documentary or informative news story.
*The times listed below are only suggested guidelines.
