FILM PRIZE JUNIOR NEW MEXICO IS PROUDLY SPONSORED BY
EVERY FILM PLAYS
Every year, hundreds of students, their teachers, friends, and families attend the Film Prize Junior Student Film Festival in Albuquerque, NM.
DATES
Festival Day 1: Friday, April 4th
Festival Day 2: Saturday, April 5th
Awards Ceremony: Sunday, April 6th
FESTIVAL ACTIVITIES
FILM SCREENINGS
The festival kicks off with student screenings Friday night and all-day Saturday.
PRODUCTION ISLAND & PANELS
Attendees can explore “Production Island” with hands-on production gear demonstrations, hosted by Central New Mexico Community College.
Join film industry panels, led by experienced filmmakers giving their practical insights into the art of film production.
VIP & RED CARPET
Student filmmakers and teacher producers enjoy access to VIP rooms with swag and food! Student filmmakers have the opportunity to walk the red carpet and get interviewed about their film!
AWARDS CEREMONY
On Sunday, the festival wraps with the awards ceremony, where judges select the Grand Prize for middle and high school films, alongside an Audience Choice Award and many more.
AWARDS UP FOR GRABS
All submitted films are showcased online and in person at the Film Prize Junior Festival, competing for Juried Awards, chosen by industry mentors, and Audience Choice Awards, voted on by festival attendees. Winners receive a Film Prize Junior Diploma, with awards ranging from cash prizes to film equipment grants. Teacher producers can earn stipends, and schools may receive grants or reimbursements to support future film projects. The Student Celebration Fund helps schools celebrate their filmmakers’ success!
Juried Awards
BEST of GENRE
Film Prize Junior films must be submitted in one of five (5) genres: Comedy, Drama, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Thriller, or Documentary. Our Mentor Judges select films as they represent the best of their chosen genre in their division.
BEST ANIMATION
Along with Live-Action short films, Student Filmmakers have the option to submit Animations to the festival. Films in this technique are selected by our Mentor Judges as the best representatives of this technique in their division.
FOUNDERS CIRCLE AWARDS
These films are selected both by our Mentor Judges and our Film Prize Junior team for their passion and dedication to their films demonstrated during the 2025 Film Prize Junior Film Festival. Each of these films is awarded a $250 grant to reimburse costs towards the production of short films for Film Prize Junior 2026. The award is accepted by the School or School Beneficiary.
GRAND PRIZE WINNER
One film from each division is selected by the panel of Mentor Judges as it represents the best of the submissions to this year’s festival. The winning film is awarded a $1,500 Film Equipment Grant for the School or School Beneficiary, $1,000 is awarded to the Teacher Producer and $500 in Celebration Funds accepted by the Organization on behalf of their Student Filmmakers.
Audience Choice Winners
TROUBLED MUSE POSTER COMPETITION AUDIENCE CHOICE
This Film Poster is selected solely by the in-person audience who view the poster gallery and vote during the Film Prize Junior Film Festival. The winning Film Poster will be awarded a MacMini and accessories valued at $1,500 for their School or School Beneficiary, and $250 awarded to the Teacher Producer.
FESTIVAL AUDIENCE CHOICE
This film is selected solely by the in-person audience who watch films and vote during the Film Prize Junior Film Festival. The winning film is awarded a $1,500 Film Equipment Grant for the School or School Beneficiary, $500 to the Teacher Producer, and $250 in Celebration Funds accepted by the Organization on behalf of their Student Filmmakers.
VIRTUAL AUDIENCE CHOICE
This film is selected solely by the audience who watch films and vote during the Film Prize Junior Virtual Film Festival. The winning film was awarded $500 in celebration funds to the student filmmakers.
RSVP
Keep your eye on this space to make sure you RSVP for your filmmakers to attend!
FILM PRIZE FOUNDATION, INC.
Film Prize Foundation, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2012. Our mission is to promote economic development, workforce development, youth job training, art-based and entrepreneurial business development through film production, education, live and recorded music events, conferences, competitions, and festivals in the Shreveport-Bossier area. We operate six major initiatives year-round: Louisiana Film Prize, Startup Prize, Film Prize Junior, Food Prize, Music Prize, and Fashion Prize.
LOUISIANA FILM AND ENTERTAINMENT ASSOCIATION (LFEA)
LFEA is a 501(c) 6 non-profit that exists to support and promote the Louisiana film entertainment industry. Founded in 2010, LFEA has played a major role in shaping the film and television industry in the state of Louisiana. With its primary role focused on the legislative process and access to the state’s motion picture tax credit program for all levels of filmmakers, LFEA has also fostered within it’s organization an educational component focused on high school students. In 2018, LFEA created the Louisiana Student Film Festival aimed to invest in the voices of Louisiana students by empowering them to share their stories through film. The winners of the 2020 competition were announced in a live online ceremony. And in partnership with WYES-New Orleans, the winning films were broadcast on PBS and PBS-Kids.