GILA VALLEY FILM FESTIVAL: A MICROBUDGET FILM FESTIVAL

The Gila Valley Film Festival is dedicated to providing opportunities for filmmakers working with micro, ulta low, and low budgets to compete, to network, and to screen their films. We only accept Student Films and Short Films made with a budget of $5,000 or less and Feature Films made with a budget of $50,000 or less. Categories are organized by length and the region where they were made--not by their content. We accept narrative, documentary, experimental, animation, and other types of films. They will compete against each other based on quality, length (e.g., student films, short films, and feature films) and region (Arizona, United States, and International). We have organized the festival this way to provide the greatest opportunity for budget filmmakers to compete on an even playing field. For example, student filmmakers from Arizona are competing against other student filmmakers from Arizona, etc.

Gila Valley Film Festival is a family-friendly event. As such, film submissions should be appropriate for a family-friendly audience--think a PG13 equivalent or lower (e.g., moderate violence and profanity are acceptable. No sex or nudity will be accepted. Some themes may be deemed too mature regardless of violence, profanity, or nudity).

While you attend the festival, consider attending our partner event--Safford Spring Festival just one block away! Safford Spring Festival is a wine, history, and culture festival with wine tastings, food trucks, live music, and more.

Awards will be given for the following categories:

OVERALL
Best of Festival

FEATURE FILMS*
Best Feature Film (Arizona)
Best Feature Film (United States)
Best Feature Film (International)
Audience Award for Best Feature Film

*All feature films selected to screen during the festival will be awarded a meeting with Burning Bulb Publishing (a feature film distributor specializing in microbudget films).

SHORT FILMS
Best Short Film (Arizona)
Best Short Film (United States)
Best Short Film (International)
Audience Award for Best Short Film

STUDENT FILMS
Best Student Film (Arizona)
Best Student Film (United States)
Best Student Film (International)
Audience Award for Best Student Film

Note: Awards given may change based on the number and quality of submissions.

CONTENT
Gila Valley Film Festival is a family-friendly event. As such, submissions should be appropriate for a family-friendly audience--think a PG13 equivalent or lower (e.g., moderate violence and profanity are acceptable. No graphic nudity will be accepted. Some themes may be deemed too mature regardless of violence, profanity, or nudity).

LANGUAGE
Your film does not have to be in English, but foreign-language films should include English subtitles baked into the film.

LENGTH AND BUDGET GUIDELINES
Feature Films (including documentary and narrative) should be longer than 50 minutes in length. Production budgets for feature films should be no greater than $50,000. All feature films (narrative and documentary) chosen as Official Selections for the festival will be awarded a meeting with Burning Bulb Productions (a feature film distributor specializing in microbudget films).

Short Films (including documentary and narrative) should be shorter than 20 minutes long. Production budgets for short films should be no greater than $5,000.

Student Films (including documentary and narrative) should be shorter than 20 minutes long. Production budgets for student films should be no greater than $5,000.

COPYRIGHT
Filmmakers should have secured all rights to copyrighted material prior to submission (e.g., video, audio, etc.). The festival is not responsible for securing these rights.

VIDEO SUBMISSIONS
Submissions are accepted through online links uploaded to FilmFreeway, YouTube Private Link, Vimeo Private Link, etc. Filmmakers should be prepared to provide the festival with a high-quality copy or link to their film (digital file, BlueRay, etc.).

PANELS
If you are selected to present your film, you or a representative from your film may be invited to participate in a Q&A panel or workshop during the festival.

SELECTION
It is anticipated that we will select approximately 6 total feature films (including documentary and narrative features), 10-15 total short films (including documentary and narrative shorts), and 10-15 total student films (including documentary and narrative student film).

CHANGES
Locations and times for festival screenings, panels, and workshops are subject to change. Please refer to the official festival website for up-to-date information: https://www.gilavalleyfilmfestival.com.

Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Kevin Jones

    It was a great experience being involved with this festival. We were asked to do zoom interviews which meant we got to meet the organisers. They were very nice. If you make micro-budget films I really recommend it, as this is the passion of the organisers. Some festivals can feel a bit anonymous, this one is very real. It would be great if all festivals were like this. I hope they grow.

    May 2023
  • Although we could not make it in person this year, we were still engaged and included in a big way with online interviews and networking. The organizers of this festival are doing some great things in the film community and Gila Valley FF is a wonderful home for indie film!

    May 2023
  • Hot Chilli Films

    It's a very good festival and it was a pleasure to have our film João Ayres, an Independent Painter amongst the selected films.

    April 2023
  • I could not be more pleased with the Gila Valley Film Festival! They were helpful and communicated very well throughout the process. We appreciate their unique approach, ensuring smaller budget films get a more equal playing field. We were so excited to have our film Her Name was Hester selected and to win Best US Feature was additional icing on a delicious cake. Thank you Gila Valley Film Festival!

    April 2023
  • Sara Roan

    We submitted a feature and had an absolutely brilliant experience! Not only was the team behind the festival really strong, and excellent hosts, but we also had an industry meeting as a result! Highly recommend.

    July 2022