Film Florida has announced a new competition for student filmmakers across the state. The Film Florida TV Student Film Competition is open to high school and college students currently enrolled in Florida-based institutions. Eleven awards will be given, and winning films will be featured on a dedicated channel of Film Florida’s new streaming service, Film Florida TV.
“We launched Film Florida TV to showcase the incredible work of our members,” said Sandy Lighterman, Film Florida President. “We are excited to give more opportunities and avenues to student content creators to showcase their creative work.”
The competition runs from March 6th to 16th, during which participants must create five-minute short films. Each team will receive a prompt with a Florida theme, a required line of dialogue, and a prop. All films must be shot entirely within the state and completed within the 10-day window.
Students interested in participating must submit their notice by February 20, 2026. Submissions are due by March 16, 2026. More information and submission details can be found at https://filmfreeway.com/FilmFloridaTVShowcase.
Awards will recognize creativity and technical skill in categories such as Best High School Student Film, Best College Student Film, Best Director, Best Editing, Best Screenplay, and Best Cinematography. There will also be an Audience Choice Award selected by viewers on Film Florida TV.
The competition aims to encourage creativity and collaboration while highlighting stories that reflect the people and places of Florida.
For questions about the competition, contact Tyler Martinolich at tmartinolich@visittampabay.com.
Film Florida is a non-profit organization that supports marketing, professional development, and networking for the state’s screen production industry. It is managed by volunteers representing various sectors of film production in Florida.
