Dream Con 2026 Film Festival

Dream Con’s Film Festival is free to apply and accepting currently applications.

‍Welcome to Dream Con’s 2026 Film Festival. This year Dream Con has partnered with Black Cinema Club HTX to spotlight remarkable film production on all levels. The Film Fest will showcase filmmakers’ storytelling, creativity and cinematic performances. At Dream Con, we aim to amplify diverse voices and our Film Festival is the perfect opportunity to platform filmmakers, whether emerging or established, and their short films to our audience. Please read the following submission guidelines and rules carefully before submitting your film. 

If you have any additional questions, comments or concerns, please reach out to us at programming@dreamconvention.com.

Eligibility

• The Film Fest is open to filmmakers of all levels: amateur, student, and professional.
• Films must be the original work of the submitter and must have been completed in the last 3 years.
• Any genre is welcome: drama, comedy, horror, documentary, animation, experimental, etc.
• Films must not exceed 15 minutes in length, including credits.
• Submissions must be suitable for a general audience: no nudity, explicit sexual content, or excessive cursing.
• Films must be hosted on YouTube. Ensure the video is set to either Public or Unlisted.

Submission Process

1. Fill out the submission form on Eventeny. The form will require basic information about the filmmaker, a brief synopsis of the film, and the YouTube link to the film.
2. Multiple submissions are allowed, but a separate submission form must be completed for each film.
   There is no submission fee.
3. Deadline: May 31, 2026 at 11:59 PM CST. Late submissions will not be considered.

Selection Process

• Films will be reviewed by a panel of judges to be announced at a later date.
• Selection criteria will include creativity, originality, storytelling, visual & audio quality, and adherence to the submission guidelines.
• Selected films will be notified via email and will be featured during the Dream Con.

Awards
Award Categories: Fan Favorite, Best Ensemble Cast, Best Story, Best Directing, Best Cinematography, and Best Film.

Prize(s): Up to $1,200 in prizes, Screening and Q&A at Dream Con, and More!

Rules & Regulations
1. Content Restrictions: Films must adhere to content guidelines prohibiting nudity, explicit sexual content, and excessive cursing. Films failing to meet these criteria will be disqualified.

2. Copyright: Filmmakers must own the rights to the content, music, and any other intellectual property included in their film. It is the filmmaker's responsibility to obtain necessary permissions for any copyrighted material not owned by them.

3. Film Length: Films must not exceed 15 minutes in length, including credits.

4. Film Hosting: Films must be available for viewing on YouTube. Please provide a direct link to the film when submitting.

5. Publicity: Selected films may be used for promotional purposes by the festival, including but not limited to trailers, posters, and social media marketing.

6. Awards & Recognition: Complete details about awards and recognitions will be announced at a later date but we can confirm that there will be both cash and non-cash prizes.

7. Amendments: Dream Con reserves the right to make changes to the submission guidelines and rules as necessary. Filmmakers will be notified of any significant changes.

8. Attending Screening: You will need a Dream Con Badge ticket in order to attend the screening if you are selected as a winner.

Miscellaneous

This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties and supersedes any prior agreements or understandings, whether written or oral.

We look forward to seeing your work and celebrating the power of film together. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact us at programming@dreamconvention.com.

Thank you for your interest in Dream Con’s Film Festival partnered with Black Cinema Club HTX. Happy filmmaking!