From April 26 - 28, the Canton Film Festival will screen short films in the historic Palace Theatre in downtown Canton, Ohio. Short films selected to screen in our weekend festival are all eligible for 6 audience choice prizes and a grand jury prize.
Canton Film Festival builds relationships between emerging filmmakers and an enthusiastic audience. From our selection process to our programming to our awards to our events -- everything focuses on giving filmmakers the chance to connect with the audience.
We don't invite films to play, we carefully select them through a screener process. We aren't looking for Hollywood insiders: we focus on having a majority of NEW FILMMAKERS at our festival. We're excited about fresh voices and the visions that will define tomorrow's cinema. Check out our rules for submission to see how we ensure that we're supporting NEW FILMMAKERS.
Our programs, events and structure are carefully designed to maximize opportunities for filmmakers to connect with audiences and build followers who will continue with them throughout their careers. If we select your film, you've won lifelong fans already, and the Canton Film Festival is where you'll meet them.
Even our awards are designed to facilitate these connections. Some of our awards are only available to filmmakers who join us for some great Midwestern hospitality during our festival. Six of our awards are selected by the audience.
Come and experience our midwestern, post-rustbelt, hardscrabble unforgettable hospitality. You'll never think of Ohio in the same way.
Audience prizes will be awarded in every block of the festival.
Short Films for Families: $200
Animated Short Films: $200
Documentary Short Films: $200
Dramatic Short Films: $200
Comedy Short Films: $200
Horror & Sci Fi Films: $200
A $1000 Final Jury Prize will be chosen from the top films in each block which will screen on our final day in the BEST OF THE FEST SCREENING. In keeping with our focus on building audience/filmmaker relations - only films whose filmmaker attends the festival are eligible for this Top Prize.
AWARDS FROM THE 2019 Festival:
The Canton Film Fest is delighted to announce the winners of each of our genre-driven AUDIENCE AWARDS.
MONSTERS - Family Friendly
SPIRIT SEAM - Animation
THE HAPPINESS MACHINE - Documentary
FINAL CURTAIN - Drama
BOB & EDGAR - Comedy
THE THING ABOUT BEECHER'S GATE - Horror / Sci-Fi
The juried prize for best of the fest went to THE THING ABOUT BEECHER'S GATE (Jeremy Herbert) and an Honorable Mention was awarded to Jonathan Chiarle for FINAL CURTAIN.