Film Festival Submissions

About the Marblehead Festival of Arts Film Festival

The Marblehead Festival of Arts is considered by many to be the finest July 4th celebration of the arts on Boston’s North Shore. This year the Festival will be held from Wednesday, July 1 through Sunday, July 5, 2026.

We invite both aspiring and seasoned filmmakers to submit "family fare" films for our 2026 Short Film Festival. The Adult and Student films will be shown together in a 90-minute screening.

We show a variety of film genres (excluding horror, violence, or anything that may be unsuitable for a family audience), ranging up to 15 minutes. We accept films from filmmakers worldwide.

The MFoA Film Festival is intended to show the many ways that film can be used as an artistic medium to inform and express. These are not commercial films of the sort that you can find in your standard multiplex.

Films selected will be eligible for cash and other prizes. Selected films may also be screened at a later date.

Awards & Prizes

Adult

• Best of Show: $125.00, Ribbon

• Outstanding Work: $50.00, Ribbon

• Honorable Mention: Ribbon

• People’s Choice: Ribbon

Student (Age 18 and Under)

• Best of Show (Youth/Student division): $50, Ribbon

• Outstanding Work: $25, Ribbon

• Honorable Mention: Ribbon

• People’s Choice: Ribbon

Other films may be recognized, in which the judges' opinions present unique techniques, with a Special Recognition Award Ribbon.

Rules & Terms

Requirements for Submitting Works to the 2026 Short Film Festival:

• Film genres considered: Animation, Comedy, Documentary, Narrative, Music Video. No horror, no violence, or graphic language allowed. Films must be suitable for a family audience.

• Films must not exceed a maximum 15-minute run time

• Films should be produced within the past few years

• Adult Division submissions include ages 19 and up. Student division includes youth and students to grade 12 and up to 18 years old.

• Adult submissions must be accompanied by an entry fee of $15 per film. There is no entry fee for students or youth but a copy of a valid Student ID Card must be included.

• Format – Films must be submitted in a screening format. Passwords should be included if necessary.

• AI technology is strictly prohibited from any/all use in the creation of all submitted films.

• Submission deadline: Sunday, May 31, 2026