Dead City Film Fest 26

About this event

WELCOME TO DEAD CITY…

The Dead City Film Festival is an annual celebration of raw, independent filmmaking that thrives in the overlooked corners of America and beyond. Hosted at the historic Fairborn Phoenix in Fairborn, Ohio—a restored 1948 Streamline Moderne theater—the festival champions the gritty, DIY spirit of creators from so-called “dead cities” .

Awards include the Spirit of The Dead featuring a custom skull trophy and a $1,000 gear rental package from Midwest Grip and Lighting, as well as the Spirit of the Dead and Swarm honors . Audience engagement is integral, with votes cast via tickets, adding a communal and spirited dimension to the event.

Beyond film screenings, the festival atmosphere is enriched with live punk performances and local food trucks. It's a gathering that celebrates the tenacity of filmmakers who turn adversity into art.

Awards & Prizes:

Best Of Dead City Prize: Dead City Skull Trophy & Midwest $1000 coupon grip & gear

More to come!

Spirit of the Dead: Dead City trophy & a beer **

Swarm Award : A Beer and Dead City trophy **

**if you're under 21 we'll figure something out

Rules & Terms:

1. The film must be under 20 minutes.

2. Films that are from directors from "Dead Cities" and low budgets advantage over films that have larger budgets and more populated cities.

Voting:

Films are judged based on the total points awarded by anonymous judges made up of all walks of life and the audience ticket votes.

The Best Of Award is the total points awarded by the judges and the audience votes, which is the highest overall.

The Swarm is an Audience Award based on the audience votes.

Spirit of the Dead has lower judge points but a higher audience vote.

There are no Sweeps.

Be Cool.

*It’s okay if you don’t think you’re cool. You made a film, so you’re pretty cool.

SUBMIT AT https://filmfreeway.com/DeadCityFilmFest