Makona Film Festival: It’s gonna be a classic.

Hey, War Hawks! The Men of Makona are rolling out the red carpet once again for the Makona Film Festival, the annual celebration of cinematic creativity and storytelling in short form. As director of this year’s festival, I’m elated to invite McMurry students and Abilene community members to showcase their filmmaking prowess at one of McMurry University’s largest student events!

In keeping with this year’s theme, Cult Classics, this year’s festival picks up a briefly abandoned but classic tradition of recognizing and rewarding creativity with the prestigious Zappies awards. The Makona Film Festival is expanding the Zappy pool to reflect our commitment to celebrating all facets of filmmaking, from technical precision to audience impact. These electric accolades span a wide variety of categories, including the “Best Cinematography Zappy,” “Best Sound Design Zappy,” “Audience Choice Zappy,” and the “Best Organizational Submission Zappy,” which celebrates films created by campus organizations. The highlight of the evening will be the Thunder Zappies, awarded to the top three films of the festival.

Submissions are now open exclusively through FilmFreeway. Filmmakers should include a trailer for their film, and submissions are categorized as either individual or organizational entries. This year, we are also reinstating submission fees to help expand our prize pool and accommodate the growth of film fest year after year. This year’s competition promises to be fierce; with a judging panel featuring esteemed McMurry faculty and staff from every corner of McMurry, we’re ensuring a well-rounded and fair judging process for submitters.

This is your chance to share your creative vision with the McMurry and Abilene communities! Beyond the awards, the Makona Film Festival offers an opportunity to see your work screened in a professional venue, connect with other creatives in the community, and gain recognition for your hard work!

The festival is set to take place at a top-of-the-line venue in Abilene in early March. Attendees can expect a night filled with passionate stories, raffle prizes, and a vibrant atmosphere as we come together to support local talent. Whether you’re a seasoned filmmaker or stepping behind the camera for the first time, the Makona Film Festival is a platform to shine. Submissions close February 14th, so don’t wait to submit your work and make your mark on McMurry’s only cinematic stage. If you submit by our Lightning-Quick Deadline, your submission fee will be 50% off on top of the 50% off student discount! For more information, visit Film Freeway or contact us at makonafilmfest@outlook.com. Start your cameras and let the filming begin!