UCLAxFilmFest

Opening for Submissions - June 30th

Submit Your Films this Summer for UCLAxFilmFest 2026

The 10th annual UCLAxFilmFest will celebrate short films by current and previous UCLA Extension Entertainment Studies students with unforgettable in-person events and virtual screenings.

Designed to showcase and celebrate the best short films by Entertainment Studies students, UCLAxFilmFest selects from a pool of outstanding submissions that are 15-minutes or less and written, directed, produced, lensed, and/or scored by current or former Entertainment Studies students. Please review submissions requirements and apply starting June 30.

APPLICATION DEADLINE OCTOBER 12, 2025. 

UCLAxFilmFest 2026 Rules

Please review the full Film Festival Rules before submitting your film. 

At a Glance: Submission Requirements & Guidelines

  • You must have taken at least one (1) class with UCLA Extension Entertainment Studies or Screenwriting within the last five (5) years
  • You must include with your submission a jpeg file of your film's poster. A trailer of your film, no longer than 30 seconds, is also recommended
  • Your film must be 15 minutes or less (including credits)
  • Filmmakers may only submit one (1) film
  • You must be the writer, director, composer, cinematographer or producer of the film you submit
  • Your film must have been completed within five (5) years of the festival date (May 9, 2026)
  • We will not accept films that have received distribution in the United States of America prior to the date of the festival
  • All non-English films must have English subtitles

A Look Back at UCLAxFilmFest 2025

UCLAxFilmFest 2025 was a roaring success with three days of unforgettable events, an inspiring panel, a world-wide virtual screening and over 2,000 RSVPs. All of the films were outstanding and memorable! Thank you to all of you who attended and voted for the Audience Choice Award.

Congratulations UCLAxFilmFest 2025 Winners

Obsession - FilmFestival - 2025

Best Film

Obsession
Written and Directed by Devon Kane*
Produced by Michael Goi, Devon Kane* and Madelaine Melcher
Cinematography by Ariana Hoshino

Best Director Soo Jin - FilmFestival - 2025

Best Director

Soo Jin Jeong* for Min
 

Cat. Film Festival 2025

Best Unique & Artistic Film

cat.

Written and Directed by Jessica Redish*
Produced by Alpha Faye, Terry Hardacre and Jessica Redish*

Above the Desert - FilmFestival - 2025

Entertainment Studies Award

Above the Desert with No Name


Directed by Sonia Sebastian*
Written by Heather Older
Produced by Maarten Cornelis, Heather Older and Sonia Sebastian*
Cinematography by Tamara Santos* and Erick Turcios
 

Serene - FilmFestival - 2025

Audience Choice Award

The Serene Place


Directed by Shriya Rana*
Written by Shreyas Ayaluri*
Produced by Rui Dong and Shriya Rana*
Original Score by Miquel Pardo

 

* UCLA Extension Student or Alumni

Above the Desert with No Name
Directed by Sonia Sebastian*
Written by Heather Older
Produced by Maarten Cornelis, Heather Older and Sonia Sebastian*
Cinematography by Tamara Santos* and Erick Turcios

Amorous
Written & Directed by Tanya Jade*
Produced by Joel Crane and Tanya Jade*
Cinematography by Joel Crane

Arrowhead
Written & Directed by Reinhard J Cate*
Produced by Austin Simmons
Cinematography by Nate McLean
Original Score by Alexander Arntzen

Buckets
Written and Directed by Dan Lubetkin*
Produced by Jenica Bergere and Dan Lubetkin*
Cinematography by Grant Smith

Cat.
Written and Directed by Jessica Redish*
Produced by Alpha Faye, Terry Hardacre and Jessica Redish*

Clarity
Written and Directed by Joseph Oliver Hooten*
Produced by Don Ohmer and Kyle Smithers
Cinematography by Adriana Serrato
Original Score by Daniele Truocchio

Delphinium
Written and Directed by Melissa Puente* and Patience Ray
Produced by Patience Ray

Echoes in the Dark
Written and Directed by Connie Jo Sechrist*
Produced by Kristen Brancaccio and Connie Jo Sechrist*
Cinematography by Darren Joe
Composition by Matthew James

The Experiment
Directed and Produced by Maxim Akbarov
Written by Timur Akbarov*

Fighter
Written, Directed and Produced by David Higinio*
Cinematography by Gilberto Alves
Original Score by Sebastian Felipe Celis

In Plane Sight
Directed by Ben Gutteridge*
Written by Dave Beazley and Ben Gutteridge*
Produced by Paul Thomas
Cinematography by Matthew Emvin Taylor
Original Score by Ben Barber*

Johnny Malibu
Directed by William Mazzola*
Written by Carol Saraiva*
Produced by Maju Cancella and Bia Gallo

Marriage Interview
Written, Directed and Produced by Shirley Yip*
Cinematography by Caleb Tou
Original Score by Lydia Ainsworth

Match Dot Mom
Written and Directed by Tara Parian*
Produced by Stacey Haid and Eve Symington
Cinematography by Rachel Bickert
Original Score by Freya Berkhout

Min
Written and Directed by Soo Jin Jeong*
Produced by Suah Shim ad Thomas Percy Kim
Cinematography by Youngcheul Kim (K.S.C.)
Original Score by Tae Gyun Kim

Obsession
Written and Directed by Devon Kane*
Produced by Michael Goi, Devon Kane* and Madelaine Melcher
Cinematography by Ariana Hoshino


Physical Therapy
Written and Directed by Ahuatl Amaro*
Produced by Brian Bonilla and Jason Genao
Cinematography by Daniel Miramontes
Music by Sean Segal

Sema and Kara
Written and Directed by Lal Okyar*
Produced by Zeynep Çalka
Animated by Arda Şahinbaş, Bengisu Cengiz, Deniz Karadağ and Zeynep Çalka

The Serene Place
Directed by Shriya Rana*
Written by Shreyas Ayaluri*
Produced by Rui Dong and Shriya Rana*
Original Score by Miquel Pardo

Sexy Grandma
Written, Directed and Produced by Jonathan Wolfe*
Cinematography by Dimitri Luedemann*

The Velvet Kiss
Written and Directed by Michael David Yudcovitch*
Produced by Melissa Jay and Michael David Yudcovitch*
Cinematography by Senda Bonnet
Music Composition by Lorne Yudcovitch

marquee and signage of the Los Angeles Theatre featuring uclax filmfest

UCLA's Connection with DTLA

UCLAxFilmFest 2024 was held at the historic Los Angeles Theatre in Downtown Los Angeles. UCLA Extension is no stranger to downtown – in fact, that’s where it all started more than 100 years ago.
And with UCLA’s recent acquisition of the iconic Trust Building, the continuing education arm of the institution plans to return to its roots to better serve those at the heart of the city.

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