Annual FilmDayton Festival

The FilmDayton Festival launched as an all-volunteer labor of love dedicated to showcasing the great talent connected to the Dayton region. In early years, films were welcomed by invitation only with a focus on locally-connected films and filmmakers including winners from SXSW, Sundance, True/False Festivals. After years of growing crowds and great success, we've added a submission element for shorts and features in varied genres. With a special eye to Ohio-talent, we are dedicated to supporting independent filmmakers from across the country (and world) and sharing their work with our engaged and film-saavy regional audiences. The FilmDayton Festival draws strongly on audiences from the Dayton, Columbus, Cincinnati areas as well as visitors from Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Florida and New York. WHAT VISITING FILMMAKERS ARE SAYING: “Just wanted to connect and say thank you for all of your great work on making FilmDayton a success! I had a great time, and hope to be able to show more work with you guys in the future." "The workshops were very helpful,, and my whole family had fun at Pitch It!...filmmakers or not. I really enjoyed seeing the careful cultivation you guys are working on within the film community in Dayton. That is not something commonly found and your community should feel lucky." "Thanks again for all of your work, and I look forward to seeing you again in the future!” “Congratulations to you and your marvelous staff. Here's to our future collaboration and to future festivals!” “Just a note to say how pro, considerate and convenient this and the subsequent email (with the ticket download links) were. Our short is in several festivals right now, and none of them have taken the initiative to send filmmakers tickets or passes to their screenings. What a delight the FilmDayton fest is!” “My weekend in Dayton gave me a window into a small but vibrant film community. FilmDayton has managed to organize a respectable, welcoming, and learning based film community. Coming from Portland, it was nice to see people working together, talking each other up, not down, and really respecting one another. Sometimes Portland filmmakers could use a reminder of what treating others well is like. Why can’t we all build community that is really trying to improve, teach, and aim higher instead of tearing others down? That is my wish for the Portland film community over worldwide recognition, fame, or anything else.”