Filmmakers from around the world may now enter to participate in the special celebration of twenty strong years of the Ojai Film Festival. Ranked as one of the top 100 Best Reviewed Festivals on FilmFreeway (the number one film submission platform worldwide) the Ojai Film Festival continues to grow in prestige as one of the country’s premier destination festivals. Both the film and screenplay competitions began accepting submissions March 1.
“Our festival provides a valuable service to filmmakers,” Steve Grumette, Artistic Director for the Festival, said. “We give them access to a highly appreciative audience that includes film industry professionals who can help guide their careers. We’re particularly proud of the fact that over a dozen films first shown at the Ojai Film Festival went on to win great honors elsewhere, including Academy Awards and Nominations.”
The 10-day Film Festival garners a reputation for showcasing the best new films from emerging and established filmmakers and helped launch several careers over the last decade. Since 2000, 15 alumni received Academy Award nominations, two won an Oscar, and numerous others went on to gain distribution and win prestigious awards.
Among other perks, attending filmmakers receive lodging and passes to the Ojai Film Festival’s screenings, programs and Awards Ceremony, where winning filmmakers accept several prizes, including trophies, best-of category honors, and a Panavision camera rental package worth $60,000 USD for the Best Student Film.
The Festival strives to embody their theme: “Enriching the Human Spirit through Film.” The event provides audiences a diverse lineup of titles from around the world, including many groundbreaking works otherwise inaccessible to the public. Past entries represent over 46 countries. Submissions may be short or long narrative, short or long documentary, or animation.
The allure of the beautiful mountains of the Ojai valley, a short drive from Los Angeles, draws high profile visitors who enjoy its quiet seclusion and artistic environment. Legendary Hollywood producer Peter Guber told the audience at a Toronto International Film Festival that “Ojai is the next Telluride.” This speaks volumes about Ojai’s growing importance on the festival circuit.
