Tyler Film Fest is a celebration of storytelling through film in East Texas. We accept and show short films from all around the world, but have a special fondness for local independent works.

Jury Award/Best of the Festival - $1,000 and trophy
Best Student Film - $500 and trophy
Best Cinematography - $500 and trophy
Best Actress - $200 and trophy
Best Actor - $200 and trophy
Best Child Actor - $200 and trophy
Film with the Biggest Heart - Trophy
Funniest of the Fest - Trophy
Audience Favorite - Trophy

This is a short film festival. Only films 15 minutes or shorter will be considered. Films can be narrative or a documentary of any genre but must have been completed after January 1, 2023, and should be suitable for a general audience (think 12A/PG-13). Films produced, financed, or initiated by a major film studio or television network, or which have aired on US networks or cable television or distributed to theaters prior to the festival dates, or which have exhibited at previous Tyler Film Festivals, are ineligible for competition.

Candidates may only submit to one category.

STUDENT FILM QUALIFICATIONS
To be considered a Student film, a film must have been produced entirely by filmmakers enrolled at a grade school or higher education institution.

NOTIFICATION/EXHIBITION
If your film is accepted, you'll be notified by July 1, along with instructions for digitally submitting an exhibition copy and attending the festival. Please be prepared to submit an H.264-encoded MOV or MP4 via download link. We can't guarantee your film will show at the festival unless we've received the exhibition copy before Sept. 1.

QUESTIONS
Send us an email at Contact@TylerFilmFest.com or a direct message on Facebook @TylerFilmFest.

TERMS IN HUMAN-SPEAK
You have all the necessary rights to let us show the film at the festival. If you're wrong about that, it's not our fault. If something in the film is illegal and we get in trouble for showing it, you'll take the legal heat, not us. We can show your film at the festival (obviously) but also in commercials/materials promoting TFF for the next five years. If you've misrepresented any of this—like your ownership of the film or your status as a young or Texas filmmaker—then we can disqualify you without returning your submission fee.

TERMS IN LAWYER-SPEAK
By submitting your film through FilmFreeway, you are digitally signing the following terms and conditions.

In consideration of being permitted to participate in Tyler Film Festival activities associated with, but not limited to, the showing of my/our film, I/We and the CITY and Tyler Film Festival (TFF) agree as follows:

- I/We have read all of the TFF terms and conditions. I/We understand and have complied with these provisions.
- As the writer/director/producer/cinematographer of the film or video material that I/we have submitted to TFF, I/we warrant, as sole and exclusive owner(s) of all legal rights and title thereto, that I/we have absolute authority to submit the enclosed material to TFF.
- I/we hereby agree to indemnify, release, defend, and hold harmless TFF, Main Street Department and the City of Tyler, Texas, its judges, sponsors and partners, individually and collectively, from and against all claims, demands, losses, damages, costs, liabilities and expenses including legal expenses arising out of or in connection with any and all claims, or third party claims based on material submitted to and presented by TFF.
- I/We also warrant the submitted material does not defame or invade the rights of any person living or dead and I/we fully indemnify TFF, Main Street Department and the City of Tyler, Texas against any claim made for such violations of law.
- TFF finalists and winners shall permit TFF to use the title of the work submitted and the logline, their name, contact information and/or likeness and publicity stills, and film footage in pre- and post-competition publicity and promotional efforts, for a period of five (5) years from the date of submission.*
- If the submitted material is selected for screening, TFF may transfer the submitted film to a compilation media format for screening, if needed, and the compilation may be used for TFF and City of Tyler promotional purposes, for a period of five (5) years from the date of submission.*
- I/We understand that submission of my/our work authorizes TFF to use the work for exhibition, education, and/or publicity purposes related to TFF or the City of Tyler, Texas, for a period of five (5) years from the date of submission.*
- I/We understand that failure to adhere to TFF terms, conditions and rules will result in disqualification and forfeiture of entry fees.
- By signing this form I/we understand and agree to, and will abide by, all the terms, conditions and rules of submission of materials to this festival.
- The TFF and the City of Tyler shall not be responsible for any claim involving copyright, trademark, credits, or royalty infringement related to the submitted film.
- To the best of my/our knowledge, all of the statements herein are true and correct. The terms of this release are contractual and not a mere recital.

* Entrants may opt-out of this extended promotional period by sending a written request to Tyler Film Festival, 110 S. College Ave., Tyler, TX 75702. Entrants may not opt-out of TFF’s use of their entry to promote the current (2022) and next year (2023) TFFs.

Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Rodrigo Moreno-Fernandez

    An unbelievable film festival!! The Tyler Film Festival stands out as one of the most respected and welcoming film festivals in Texas. Wonderful people and very responsive. I can not wait to be back!! Thank you Tyler Film Fest!!!

    October 2023
  • gaurangi vyas

    amazing festival. Happy to win the best film- Young filmmakers category. Hope to visit in person

    June 2021
  • Joshua Graves

    Online the year we kicked off the festival. The online presentation was top notch. Will submit again and hopefully be able to attend in person next year.

    June 2021
  • The festival was extremely well done and their communication was great!

    June 2021
  • Downtown Tyler film festival is a fantastic fest. They screen in a classic theater that has been renovated and has all the amenities of a modern theater but still has a classic look and feel. The people there were great and the community came out to support the films and the filmmakers. I highly recommend this fest to other filmmakers and it's definitely worth attending.

    December 2018