The love of the game! You don’t need a massive budget, a production studio, or a fancy camera to make a wondrous film.

The Failed Film Festival encourages everyone to shoot their shot at creating something ambitious and amazing, and celebrating your picture no matter how it turns out.

Filmmaking Period: September 1st – October 6th, 2026.

Festival Kick-Off: If you are in NYC, join us for a casual launch event and picnic in Prospect Park, Brooklyn on Saturday, September 5th, 2026 under the old bandstand. At the event you’ll meet other artists / filmmakers and have a chance to assemble or be matched with a team!

Attendance is encouraged but not required to participate. Pack a sandwich!

Submission Deadline: Monday, October 6th, 2026.

Screenings and Gala: occur mid-October, precise dates TBD

Location: The festival is based in Brooklyn, NYC, but we welcome submissions from anywhere in the world!

Experience: Zero experience is encouraged! Amateurs, professionals, first-timers, even kids are all welcome to submit films.

Creation Window: Your film must be produced (shot and edited) entirely within the filmmaking period (September 1st - October 6th, 2025).

Device: No fancy camera required! Films can be shot on any device, from professional cinema cameras to cell phones.

Genre & Style: Anything goes! Action, documentary, animation, horror, experimental art film, drama—get creative! The only thing your film shouldn’t be is uninspired!

Language: Films in any language are welcome. If your film is not in English, it must include burned-in (open) English subtitles. This means the subtitles are part of the video image itself and are always visible, not a separate file.

We will provide a form to all Filmmakers by Oct 1st which will allow you to submit your film! Films are due by October 6th, 2025.

Our goal is to celebrate every single attempt. Here’s what happens after you submit:

Online Release: Every film that follows the rules will be eligible for awards and will be released on our website for a global audience.

NYC Screening Parties: Films will be shown at various apartment and community screening parties across New York City.

The Gala Screening: The most ambitious, daring, and creative films will be selected for a special Gala screening event in a Brooklyn cinema.

Awards: Awards are for bragging rights only! We celebrate achievements in creativity, ambition, and fearlessness!

A Note on the Gala: Due to the volume of submissions, In the spirit of the festival, please remember that submission does not guarantee selection for a theater screening. We celebrate the act of creation itself as the ultimate success!

Filmmaker Rights & Permissions: By submitting, you grant the Failed Film Festival non-exclusive rights to exhibit your work online, at in-person screenings, and in promotional materials. This includes the right to feature the film in ticketed events or as part of a collection that may be accessible online for a fee, which helps support the festival's continuation. You, the filmmaker, always retain full ownership and copyright of your work.

Film Length: We have no official minimum or maximum length policy. However, please be aware that shorter films are more likely to be selected for cinema screenings, as this allows us to showcase a greater number of works. For longer films, we may choose to screen a representative excerpt or scene at our live events to ensure a varied program.

Content Policy: The Failed Film Festival is built on creative freedom and community respect. We will not accept films that are morally abhorrent, promote hate speech, or were created in a way that caused genuine harm to people or animals. This is a space for creative risk, not harmful action.

This festival is a passion project run on a shoestring budget. If you are able, a small donation is greatly appreciated to help cover costs.

Good luck, don't be afraid to fail, and we can't wait to see your movie!