The Great Film Festival

Four Days of Great Films, Industry Access, and Creative Community

Join us August 27–30 at The Frida Cinema for four exciting days celebrating independent short films and the filmmakers who bring them to life.

This year’s festival will feature a wide variety of short-film screening blocks, filmmaker Q&As, educational conversations, industry panels, networking mixers, special events, and an awards ceremony.

From animation, drama, horror, and comedy to student films, Reel Ladies, Rainbow Reels, and our signature Great Films blocks, audiences will have opportunities to discover bold independent work and connect directly with the people behind the films.

More Than a Film Festival

The Great Film Festival is designed to bring filmmakers, audiences, and entertainment-industry professionals together.

Festival programming will include:

• Curated independent short-film screening blocks
• Filmmaker Q&As
• Industry panels
• Filmmaker educational panels
• Networking mixers
• Opening-night programming
• An awards ceremony
• A closing-night celebration

Early Bird Festival Passes

Full Festival Pass — $50

Experience all four days of The Great Film Festival with one convenient pass.

Your Full Festival Pass includes access to eligible film screenings, filmmaker Q&As, industry panels, educational programming, mixers, and special festival events throughout the weekend.

Early bird pricing is available for a limited time.

Day Pass — $30

Choose the festival day that works best for you and enjoy eligible screenings, panels, filmmaker Q&As, mixers, and special programming scheduled for that day.

Individual Event Ticket — $22

Individual tickets are available for $22 for individual film screening blocks and industry panels.

This is a great option for guests who want to attend a specific screening, support a particular filmmaker, or join us for one of our industry conversations.

Festival Schedule

Thursday, August 27 — Opening Day

Great Films Block 1 — 1:30PM

Kick off the festival with the first of our signature Great Films screening blocks, featuring an eclectic collection of independent short films followed by a filmmaker Q&A.

Film Lineup:

• Giving Mom the Talk
• Too Late
• Launch at Paradise
• Traffic Jam
• Little Vines Run!
• Other People
• Puberty for Humans
• Marcelo Dreams of Charros

Filmmaker Q&A follows the screening.

Great Films Block 2 — 4:00 PM

Continue opening day with another curated selection of independent shorts and filmmaker Q&A.

Film Lineup:

• The Super
• 305 Fishkill Avenue
• Don’t Wake the Baby
• The Nightwalker
• Life is (a) Short
• We Buy Souls
• Disc

Filmmaker Q&A follows the screening.

Industry Panel — 6:00 PM

Hear from entertainment-industry professionals and gain insight into filmmaking, careers, and the business of bringing creative work to audiences.

Welcome Block — 7:30 PM

Celebrate the official opening of The Great Film Festival with a special lineup of independent films, filmmaker Q&A, and opening-night festivities.

Film Lineup:

• No Escape
• Penguin House – Credit Limit
• A Caged Bird
• May I Put You On Hold?
• Sex, Love, and the End of the World
• Sabor a Mi
• The Worm’s-Eye View of the Bird
• Them That’s Not
• How to Make Mapo Tofu

Filmmaker Q&A follows the screening.

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Friday, August 28 — Great Films, Drama & Industry Conversations

Great Films Block 3 — 1:30 PM

Friday begins with another collection of standout independent short films.

Film Lineup:

• Catalogue of Noses
• Orange Chicken Night
• Pushed Together
• Chasing Memory
• The Sharp Point of Time
• Dating
• Tea
• Useless

Filmmaker Q&A follows the screening.

Great Films Block 4 — 3:30 PM

Discover even more independent filmmakers through our fourth Great Films block of the festival.

Film Lineup:

• Days of Eden
• Muse
• Quiet Wing
• Wired
• The Truth About Engines
• Hot Set
• Making Space

Filmmaker Q&A follows the screening.

Great Dramas — 5:30 PM

Experience a curated lineup of dramatic short films exploring compelling characters, emotional stories, and powerful perspectives.

Film Lineup:

• Hema
• All Change
• Foxtails
• The Great Divide
• El Luchador
• Last Man’s Land
• Pasensya
• My Right Hand

Filmmaker Q&A follows the screening.

Industry Panel — 7:30 PM

End the evening with an industry conversation featuring entertainment professionals sharing their experiences, knowledge, and insights.

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Saturday, August 29 — Education, Animation, Reel Ladies, Horror & Networking

Saturday features educational programming, animation, women filmmakers, networking opportunities, an industry conversation, and a late-night horror showcase.

Breakfast Mixer — 10:00 AM

Start Saturday by meeting filmmakers, artists, and members of the festival community.

Filmmaker Educational Panel – 11:30AM

Join us for an educational conversation on “How I Raised Millions for Independent Films” hosted by Rob Margolies.

Great Animations — 1:30 PM

Celebrate independent animation with a diverse collection of animated short films.

Film Lineup:

• Wheels & Roses
• Battle of the Moonlets
• Buggie
• Goblin Quest Ep. 1: Jonah The Muscular
• Nubbinwood
• Hymn for a Rose
• Magic Dragon
• I’m About To <3
• Irreplaceable
• Migratory
• Timbertown: The Squirrel and The Lumberjack
• OHOIOrOI Syndrome
• Living On The Edge of the Internet

Filmmaker Q&A follows the screening.

Reel Ladies — 3:30 PM

Reel Ladies celebrates women filmmakers and the stories, characters, and perspectives they bring to the screen.

Film Lineup:

• Scissor Sleepover
• In the Middle of Something
• Of the Earth
• Girl | Dad
• Overgrown
• The Neutral Zone
• Rocketship
• Obscura

Filmmaker Q&A follows the screening.

Filmmaker Mixer — 5:00 PM

Meet fellow filmmakers, actors, writers, producers, artists, and members of the creative community.

Industry Panel — 6:30 PM

Join us for another conversation with entertainment-industry professionals about filmmaking, careers, creative development, and navigating the industry.

Great Horrors — 8:00 PM

Close out Saturday night with our Great Horrors block—a collection of independent horror shorts ranging from unsettling and suspenseful to strange, dark, and terrifying.

Film Lineup:

• Caught
• The Smother
• morningshed
• Mr. Sticks is Back in Town!
• Nocturnal
• The Bodysnatchers
• The Nightwalkers
• Follow Me Home
• Rave

Filmmaker Q&A follows the screening.

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Sunday, August 30 — Student Films, Rainbow Reels, Comedy & Awards

Great Students — 1:30 PM

Celebrate emerging voices with a curated collection of student short films.

Film Lineup:

• A Bird in the Field
• Merde!
• Blue Darts
• Yes, Chef
• The Holdens
• Mi Vida Mi Futuro
• Snow Dog
• Unlimited, Forever and Ever, No Matter What
• Sam & Quinn
• Whisper in the Abyss

Filmmaker Q&A follows the screening.

Rainbow Reels — 3:30 PM

Rainbow Reels celebrates LGBTQ+ filmmakers, stories, characters, and perspectives through an exciting collection of independent shorts.

Film Lineup:

• Ashamed
• Tu y Yo
• Bed Death
• Rodeo
• Good Feeling
• Latched
• Itch
• Burning of a Family Tree

Filmmaker Q&A follows the screening.

Great Comedies — 6:00 PM

Laugh your way into the final evening of the festival with a collection of independent comedy shorts.

Film Lineup:

• Frankslist
• Girl Dinner
• Another Murder Mystery
• Te Seguiré a la Oscuridad
• Connie & Clyde
• Red Thunder VS The Intrusive Thoughts
• Wet Socks
• RIGHT ON!

Filmmaker Q&A follows the screening.

Awards Ceremony — 8:00 PM

Join filmmakers and festival guests as we celebrate this year’s films and recognize outstanding work from across The Great Film Festival.

Closing-Night Celebration — 9:00 PM

Finish four days of films, conversations, connections, and community by celebrating together at our closing-night reception.

Choose How You Experience the Festival

Whether you want to spend the entire weekend with us, attend for one day, support a particular filmmaker, or hear directly from industry professionals, there are multiple ways to experience The Great Film Festival.

Full Festival Pass — $50 Early Bird
Access eligible programming across all four festival days.

Day Pass — $30
Access eligible festival programming on the day of your choice.

Individual Event Ticket — $22
Attend an individual film screening block or industry panel.

Discover Great Films. Meet Great Filmmakers.

Whether you are a filmmaker, actor, writer, producer, entertainment professional, or passionate film lover, The Great Film Festival offers four days of opportunities to discover independent films, learn from industry professionals, meet filmmakers, and build meaningful creative connections.

Purchase Your Tickets

Full Festival Pass: $50 Early Bird
Day Pass: $30
Individual Screening Block or Industry Panel: $22