Melrose Film Festival

Melrose Film Festival

Also known as: MFF
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The Melrose Film Festival is organised by the Dorothy Lumley Melrose Center for Technology, Innovation & Creativity, the technology and creative studio space of the Orange County Library System at Orlando Public Library in Florida. Dating back to 2018, it screens short films of up to ten minutes from filmmakers around the world and gives special consideration to Florida filmmakers. Entries compete in five categories: Short Films, Micro Short Films, Animated Films, Documentaries and AI Short Films. The programme is limited to work suitable for G and PG audiences.

Selected films screen in person at the Melrose Center, accompanied by a filmmaker Q&A panel, and then stream online; winning films may be broadcast on local Orange TV. The 2026 edition is held on 26 September 2026, with the Official Selection available online until 19 October 2026.

Country

United States (USA)

Categories

Animation, Documentary, Short

Awards and prizes

Awards are given in five categories: Best Short Film, Best Micro Short Film, Best Animated Short Film, Best Documentary Short Film and Best AI Short Film. One winning film in each category receives a digital certificate with laurels. Every film in the Official Selection receives a digital certificate with laurels.

Festival rules

Films must be 10 minutes or shorter in total length; a running time of 10:01 or more is disqualified. Films must have been completed within the last two years. Films that were submitted to the Melrose Film Festival before are not accepted. Films produced or financed by a major motion picture studio are not eligible. Films must be submitted by the filmmakers or their assigned representatives, electronically through FilmFreeway, with a working screener (and a password for privately locked platforms). Non-English language films must include subtitles. Films must fit the MPA G or PG ratings; films rated PG-13 are not programmed. Films should be shot in HD or higher; filmmakers must provide a high-resolution poster. Entrants must hold all rights and clearances needed to submit and screen the film. Special consideration is given to filmmakers in the state of Florida; Florida residents and students may enter one film free of charge. The Orange County Library System may screen films more than once; Official Selection programmes premiere on public YouTube for two weeks after the in-person event, and films may be broadcast on a local TV channel in Orange County, Florida. Judges' decisions are final; no feedback is provided.

Contacts

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