The Monthly Film Festival

The jury selects Film of the Month, second and third place, Student Film of the Month and Trailer of the Month. Category awards cover animation, experimental film, documentary, music video and web shorts. Individual awards recognise directing, screenwriting, original score, acting, editing and cinematography. Film of the Month receives prize money, a trophy, a promotional review and an interview. Second place receives a promotional review, and the student winner receives a trophy. Winning films receive printable award certificates. Monthly short-film winners enter consideration for Film of the Year; the Best of the Fest award includes a trophy and interview, and an honorary award includes a trophy. The Audience Award goes to the entry with the most votes and an average rating of at least four out of five stars. The feature competition runs every two months: the winner receives a trophy, with certificates for second and third place. The screenplay competition also runs every two months, awarding a trophy, industry memberships and a partner-competition entry to its winner, with certificates for the runners-up.

Films of any genre and format are eligible. Short films may run up to 40 minutes and features up to 140 minutes. Films must be completed in 2023 or later. English subtitles are required unless English is the main spoken language or the entry is a music video. Projects from all countries and student films are accepted. A submitter may enter up to two projects per month. A film may be submitted again if it receives no award; an award-winning film may not be resubmitted. Entries received on or after the 25th normally move to the next monthly competition, with an exception for categories with fewer than three selected films. Submitters must own the necessary rights. Full films are not published without permission; a trailer, teaser or excerpt can be shown instead. The jury assesses the full film regardless of the public viewing option. There is no screening at a live venue and no screening fee is paid. Entry and service fees are non-refundable. The screenplay competition runs every two months through FilmFreeway. Scripts may be of any genre and up to 140 pages. Submitted screenplays remain private. Standard entries do not include feedback; reviews are a separate service.