"This was really a wonderful festival experience. I loved it and was impressed with all aspects of it.I especially love the energy or spirit with which everything was handled - I felt a genuine passion for film and filmmakers that of course should be at every festival, but unfortunately is not." -Alix Lambert, Prison Zoo & Edge of Daybreak
"The Florida Film Festival has become my favorite festival to attend. The staff are so friendly, personable, and truly enthusiastic about what they do. Their taste in film is the best. I can't get over how organized and knowledgeable the volunteers are. It's a laid back and well-oiled machine." -Brian Lonano, Gwilliam
"The audiences of the Florida Film Festival are some of the most fun I’ve experienced anywhere! It was truly excellent being able to not only watch our movie with the Florida audience, to feel their energy, but also really great to be able to hang out with them afterwards - laughing, talking and — lots and lots of mojitos." -Stefan Avalos, Strad Style
"I really think [Florida Film Festival] might be the best festival ever. The energy is so great, the venue is fantastic, and as a few other festivals are approaching, I have such an appreciation for how organized and thoughtful you guys were leading up to the festival. - Amanda Bailly, 8 Borders, 8 Days
"The Florida Film Festival in Orlando gets it right by every metric you can think of." - John Wildman, Festworks
Regarded as one of the finest film festivals in the U.S., the Florida Film Festival is an annual showcase for the best in American Independent and Foreign Cinema.
This 10 day celebration of filmmakers and their art includes an Oscar® accredited American Independent Film Competition for features, docs, shorts, and animation, along with an International Showcase, Spotlight Films (those already with distribution), Midnight Movies, Music Films, Food Films, Florida Films, Secret Screenings, Tributes, Special Guests, Panels & Forums, parties, and more.
Hosted by the historic Enzian Theater in Maitland (Orlando), Florida. The Florida Film Festival has been named "one of the top 50 festivals" by indieWIRE, and one of the top 10 festivals in the world by festival guru Chris Gore in his book, The Ultimate Film Festival Survival Guide, 2nd Edition. Nestled in at number eight (alongside such prestigious events as Sundance, Toronto, Cannes, Berlin, and SXSW), the Festival continues to showcase the best in American independent and foreign cinema.
Moviemaker Magazine named the FFF one the "50 Film Festivals Worth the Entry Fee" in 2014, 2018 & 2019, and one of the "Coolest Film Festivals in the World" in 2013.
The Florida Film Festival is a qualifying festival for the Oscars in all three shorts categories: Live Action, Animated, and Documentary. As of 2020 the Florida Film Festival remains the only Oscar accredited festival in the State.
The winners of the Grand Jury Awards for Best Short in those categories will automatically qualify to enter the Live Action Short Film, Animated Short Film, and Documentary Short Film categories of the next year’s Academy Awards.
In recent years, special guests and forum hosts included Richard Dreyfuss, Joshua Leonard, Cynthia Wade, Ellen Burstyn, Pam Grier, Blake Jenner, Don Mancini, Romany Malco, Billy Crudup, Lea Thompson, David Zucker, Robert Hays, AnnaLynne McCord, Sissy Spacek, Mark Duplass, Sam Rockwell, Bob Balaban, Susan Sarandon, Giancarlo Esposito, Paul Sorvino, Tippi Hedren, Zoe Bell, Cary Elwes, Barry Levinson, Cloris Leachman, Glenn Close, Ken Russell, Jon Voight, Emma Stone, Edward James Olmos, Allison Anders, Gabriel Byrne, Jason Lee, Joe Pantoliano, Ed Burns, Campbell Scott, James Caan, Alan Rudolph, Leelee Sobieski, Peter Falk, Judy Greer, Peter Bogdanovich, Chazz Palminteri, John Waters, Joan Chen, Anthony Bourdain, Jennifer Tilly, Malcolm McDowell, and Mary Stuart Masterston. Past years' guests include Oliver Stone, Gena Rowlands, Christopher Walken, Dennis Hopper, Steve Buscemi, and William H. Macy. Festival seminars have included such film industry notables as Bingham Ray, Victor Nunez and Blair Witch creators Dan Myrick and Ed Sanchez; cinematographers Haskell Wexler and Bill Butler; animators Bill Plympton and Corky Quakenbush; screenwriters Shane Black, Mike Werb and Guinevere Turner; distributors Bob Berney and Tom Prassis; and producers Gale Anne Hurd, Mike Medavoy, and Roger Corman.
Grand Jury Award - Best Narrative Feature
Grand Jury Award - Best Documentary Feature
Grand Jury Award - Best Narrative Short
Grand Jury Award - Best Documentary Short
Grand Jury Award - Best Animated Short
The Florida Film Festival is accredited by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences (AMPAS). The Grand Jury Award for Best Narrative Short, Best Animated Short, and Best Documentary Short automatically qualifies the winner for the next year's Academy Awards in the categories of Best Live Action Short, Best Animated Short, and Best Documentary Short.
The Florida Film Festival requires films in competition for the Grand Jury Award be at least a Florida Premiere.
Special Jury Awards are bestowed in the categories of Narrative Feature, Documentary Feature, Short Film
Audience Award - Best Narrative Feature
Audience Award - Best Documentary Feature
Audience Award - Best Short Film
Audience Award - Best Midnight Short
Audience Award - Best International Feature
Audience Award - Best International Short