SCREENING APRIL 15
submit
Deadline March 1st
Governor Kay Ivey presents IMC with the Governor’s Work-Based Learning Seal of Excellence, the first ever awarded to a four-year university program
Rules
Submission Deadline
All entries must be submitted by March 1, 2026
Eligibility
Open to filmmakers of all ages
Open to all US residents
Submissions must be original work (no copyrighted material without permission)
Runtime: 2-11 minutes, including credits
Film must have been completed in 2025 or 2026
Submission Requirements
We welcome films shot on phones, tablets, or any recording device. Professional cameras and expensive equipment are NOT required. We value creativity and storytelling above all else.
Submit films in MP4 or MOV format
Include a completed entry form with filmmaker contact information
Provide a brief synopsis (150 words max)
Content Guidelines
Films must be appropriate for a general college audience
No hate speech or discriminatory content targeting race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, disability, or other protected characteristics
No excessive violence, explicit content, animal cruelty
No pornographic or sexually explicit content
No defamatory content about real individuals or organizations
No plagiarized work or unauthorized use of others’ intellectual property
No commercial advertisements
Technical Standards
Minimum resolution: 1080p HD
Clear audio quality required
Proper credits for all cast and crew
Judging and Awards
Films will be judged on creativity, technical execution, and storytelling
Winners announced at the festival screening event
Award Categories
Best Film
Best Director
Best Actor
Best Actress
Best Screenplay
Best Cinematography
Best Editing
Best Sound Design
Best Original Score
Best Animation
Audience Choice (Votes collected after festival screening)
AI Policy
Generative Artificial Intelligence tools may be used for technical enhancement, such as color grading or audio leveling, but may not be used to generate content. Films containing AI-generated video, images, or audio will be disqualified.
Rights
Filmmakers retain all rights to their work
By submitting, filmmakers grant the University of West Alabama and the Communications and Creative Arts Department in the College of Liberal Arts permission to screen the film at the festival, share clips on this website and social media for promotional purposes, and feature it on University channels. All usage will include proper accreditation and links to the creators’ sites or socials.
Who are we?
IMC Master’s
UWA’s Master of Arts in Integrated Marketing Communications has been named the 2026 #1 Master’s in Communications program in Alabama by MastersinCommunications.org. This master’s program prepares students for leadership roles in marketing, communications, journalism, media, advertising, public relations, social media and more. Coursework can be completed in just one year and uses open educational resources for most courses, eliminating textbook costs. In addition, Adobe Creative Suite is provided to all students free of charge, allowing them to use industry-standard tools to complete coursework.
The University of West Alabama Short Film Festival is sponsored by the Communications and Creative Arts Department in the College of Liberal Arts at the University of West Alabama, located in the heart of scenic Livingston.
Known for its 100% job placement rate, CCA features two undergraduate majors and one graduate program.