The 11th Annual Moondance Youth Film Festival is opening its Call to Submissions on Wednesday, September 2, 2026!
The Moondance Youth Film Festival is officially accepting short film and animation submissions. We invite young filmmakers ages 8-22 across Los Angeles County to submit their work and share their stories with our community.
Submission Window: Wednesday, September 2, 2026 – Monday, September 21, 2026
Festival Date: October 2, 2026
Location: The Bridge Theater at A Place Called Home (APCH), South Central
Admission: Free & open to the public
Key Submission Guidelines
- Open to filmmakers ages 8-22 residing in LA County
- Short films and animations must be 12 minutes or under (projects under 2 minutes are welcome)
Perks for Selected Filmmakers
- Exclusive Green Room access with complimentary refreshments for networking
- Official on-stage introduction prior to your film’s screening
- Live audience Q&A moderated by the Festival Director
- Photo opportunities at the official step-and-repeat banner
- Reserved parking on the APCH campus
Special Program & Community Highlights
- Project Involve Showcase: We are thrilled to partner once again with Film Independent Project Involve, an intensive mentorship program for filmmakers from underrepresented communities, to showcase two featured short films.
- Interactive Audience Experience: Enjoy live prize giveaways featuring exclusive merchandise from our partners
- Accessibility Commitment: Selected filmmakers may be asked to partner with the APCH team to add Spanish subtitles to ensure culturally relevant programming.
Submit your film using this link! Now open!