Fort Lauderdale, Florida — Miami Art Week

Miami Beach
Film Festival

An independent film festival celebrating cinema, emerging filmmakers, and the art of storytelling — live, in a real theater, with a real audience.

Submit Your Film Learn More
Savor CinemaFort Lauderdale, FL
Live ScreeningsReal venue, real audience
Miami Art WeekAnnual festival season
Free EntryStudent program available
About the Festival

A small, honest festival
for independent cinema.

Miami Beach Film Festival is an independent film festival dedicated to showcasing short films, features, documentaries, and experimental works from filmmakers around the world.

We host live screenings at Savor Cinema in Fort Lauderdale — a real theater, with a real audience, during Miami's internationally recognized Art Week season.

Our focus is on the films themselves: on craft, storytelling, and the experience of watching cinema together.

We are here to screen films, welcome filmmakers, and share cinema with an audience that cares.
LiveIn-person screenings
RealPhysical venue
Int'lOpen to all countries
Free*Student program
Festival Experience

What the festival feels like

🎞Live Screenings
🎙Filmmaker Q&A
🌹Red Carpet
👥Audience Reception
🏆Awards Presentation
🎭Community Gathering
🎞
Live Cinema Screenings

Selected films are screened live at Savor Cinema before a paying, attending audience — not streamed, not virtual.

🎙
Filmmaker Q&A

Attending filmmakers are invited to participate in a Q&A session with the audience following their screening.

🌹
Red Carpet

A red carpet arrival for filmmakers and guests, with photography, before each screening program.

Savor Cinema 🎬 Add venue photo
Official Venue

Savor Cinema
Fort Lauderdale

Savor Cinema is a historic independent movie theater in Fort Lauderdale, Florida — one of South Florida's most beloved art-house venues, dedicated to independent, foreign, and documentary film.

All festival screenings, the red carpet arrival, filmmaker Q&A sessions, and the awards presentation take place inside this iconic theater.

Live film screenings in the main theater
Red carpet arrival & photography
Filmmaker Q&A after screenings
Audience reception
Awards presentation ceremony
How It Works

What filmmakers experience

01
Submission & Selection

Films are submitted through FilmFreeway and reviewed by our jury. Selected filmmakers receive an Official Selection notification by email and a digital laurel.

02
Live Screenings

Selected films screen live at Savor Cinema before a real audience. Attending filmmakers are invited to a Q&A session after their film.

03
Red Carpet & Awards

The festival closes with a red carpet ceremony and awards presentation. Winners in each category receive recognition at the ceremony and a laurel certificate.

Competition

Selected Categories

A focused selection of film formats and genres. All submissions are reviewed by jury. Selection is competitive — not all submitted films are screened.

01Best Feature Film
02Best Short Film
03Best Documentary
04Best Vertical / Short-Form Series
05Best Experimental Film
06Best Animation
07Best Director
08Best Cinematography
09Best Screenplay
10Best Horror / Thriller
11Best Comedy
12Best Music Video
13Best LGBTQ+ Film
14Student & Young FilmmakersFree*
Community Support

Student & Young
Filmmakers Program

We believe independent cinema begins with people who are still learning — and we want to support them. Our student program is open to filmmakers currently enrolled in any educational institution.

We keep the process simple and the barrier low. If you are a student making films, you are welcome here.

Free submissions for selected student categories may be available with valid student identification. Contact us to request a fee waiver before submitting.
Student Program
Any educational level · Student ID required
  • Open to high school, undergraduate, and graduate students
  • Accepted: short film, documentary, animation, vertical
  • Reviewed by the same jury as all other entries
  • Selected films screened live at Savor Cinema
  • Filmmakers invited to the awards ceremony
  • Official Selection laurels for accepted films
  • Fee waiver with verified student ID
Submission Rules & Terms

Rules & Eligibility

Eligibility

  • Open to filmmakers of all nationalities
  • Films completed within the past 3 years
  • Short films: under 40 min. Features: 40 min or longer
  • English subtitles required for non-English dialogue
  • Films previously screened online are eligible

Submission Requirements

  • Submit via FilmFreeway with a screener link
  • Screener must be watchable at time of submission
  • One submission per entry form
  • Multiple films require separate submissions
  • Submission fees are non-refundable

Selection & Rights

  • All films reviewed by our jury panel
  • Not all submitted films are selected
  • Selected filmmakers notified by email
  • Screening rights for festival duration only
  • The festival does not acquire rights of any kind
Please note: Submission does not guarantee screening, selection, or award consideration. The festival makes no representations regarding distribution, sales, or career outcomes. We are an independent cultural event.
Journal & News

Festival Blog

✦

No articles yet. Generate your first SEO article above.

Submissions & Contact

Submit your film

We accept submissions through FilmFreeway. For questions about eligibility, the student program, or general inquiries — reach us by email. We read every message.

Submit via FilmFreeway info@miamibeachff.com @miamibeachff
Submit Your Film

Taking place during Miami Art Week · Savor Cinema, Fort Lauderdale, FL
*Free submission tier available for verified student categories.

Photo Manager

Photos stored in browser session. To make permanent: place files in project folder and update src in index.html before redeploying.