2026 UKY Film Festival Details

• Dress to impress at this Blue Carpet Event!

• Date and Time: TBT

SUBMISSION DEADLINE: TBT (Submissions open Spring 2026)

Film Categories and Descriptions

ANIMATION

An animated film is defined as a motion picture in which movement and characters’ performances are created using a frame-by-frame technique. Some of the techniques of animating films include but are not limited to hand-drawn animation, computer animation, stop-motion, clay animation, pixilation, cutout animation, pinscreen, camera multiple pass imagery, kaleidoscopic effects created frame-by-frame, and drawing on the film frame itself.

DOCUMENTARY

A nonfiction motion picture dealing creatively with cultural, artistic, historical, social, scientific, economic or other subjects. It may be photographed in actual occurrence, or may employ partial reenactment, stock footage, stills, animation, stop-motion or other techniques, as long as the emphasis is on fact and not on fiction.

EXPERIMENTAL/ART

A film that primarily explores the medium of film or video itself, they are not fundamentally narrative, and/or their dominant element is abstraction or artistic expression.

FICTION

A live action film uses imagery created primarily through practical photographic techniques used to capture physical actors, props, sets, and locations.

Judging and Scoring

All submitted films will be screened by the UK Film Festival Selection Committee. Film selected to show at the festival will be forwarded to an award winning panel of local industry professionals to be scored. Films are scored, 1-10 in the following five categories:

• Overall Quality - Directing, Editing, Production Value and Overall Execution

• Story/Theme - Writing, Story Elements and Structure, Theme

• Visual Elements - Cinematography, Visual Effects, Production Design

• Audible Elements - Sound Design, Sound Effects, Dialogue Quality, Music

• Character Development and Performances - Performance of the film entire cast, Character Depth

Awards (2025 awards subject to change) - Sponsored by: Courage Media

• Audience Choice - Selected by the live viewing audience the night of the show

• Best Narrative Film - Awarded to the narrative fiction film with the highest combined judges scores

• Best Experimental Film - Awarded to the experimental film with the highest combined judges scores

• Best Documentary - Awarded to the documentary film with the highest combined judges scores

• Best Animation - Best animated film with the highest combined judge scores

• Best Super Short - Best film of any genera that is less than 60 seconds

• Honorable Mention - Favorite film determined by the selection committee

Sponsors/Partners: Check out our campus and local sponsors!

• UK Smart Campus

• Media Depot

• Courage Media

• The Media Collaboratory