Where independent films meet a real audience
Independent stories, screened in a real theater, for a live audience at Savor Cinema in downtown Fort Lauderdale.
Independent cinema, seen together
Miami Beach Cinema Awards brings independent films to the screen the way they were made to be seen: in a theater, with an audience, in the dark.
Our inaugural edition welcomes features, documentaries, shorts, animation and student work from filmmakers around the world. Every submission is watched by a person, and every selected film gets a proper theatrical screening.
24 award categories
- Best Feature Film
- Best Short Film
- Best Documentary Film
- Best Animation
- Best Experimental Film
- Best Vertical Series
- Best AI-Generated Film
- Best Comedy
- Best Horror, Mystery or Thriller
- Best Science Fiction (Sci-Fi)
- Best Film About Disability
- Best Sports Film
- Best Travel Film
- Best Anti-War Film
- Best LGBTQ+
- Best Music Video
- Best Director
- Best Actress
- Best Actor
- Best Cinematography
- Best Dance Film
- Best Stop-Motion Film
- Best Student Film
- Junior Filmmaker Competition
Nominees and winners will be published here after the closing presentation.
From submission to the screen
Submit
Complete the form, provide a secure screener and pay the applicable fee.
Eligibility check
We confirm runtime, subtitles, category and required project details.
Human review
Every eligible film is watched in full by a real person.
Programming
Selected films are grouped into category and theme screening blocks.
Official Selection
Accepted films receive Official Selection status and delivery instructions.
Notification
Filmmakers hear back through the same channel they used to submit.
Theatrical screening
Official Selections screen at Savor Cinema.
Awards
Nominees and winners are recognized at the closing presentation.
Cinema with a history
Screenings take place at Savor Cinema, a historic independent arthouse theater in downtown Fort Lauderdale, with a full stage, professional sound and lighting, and a character no generic multiplex can reproduce.
Seen in person
The festival team visited Savor Cinema in person: the auditorium, the stage and the lobby.
Three levels, one standard
Selected for the festival program and theatrical screening.
Shortlisted within an award category.
Announced at the closing awards presentation.
What we commit to
A real venue
Every screening happens in a theater at Savor Cinema, never online.
Human review
Every submission is watched by a person, not scored by an algorithm.
Transparency and respect
Timelines, fees and decisions are communicated plainly and professionally.
Submit your film
We welcome submissions through FilmFreeway. Every film follows the same review and programming standards. Questions about direct submission? Write to us.
Contact the festival
We read and respond to every message personally. Write to us about submissions, the schedule, press access or accessibility.
503 SE 6th Street, Fort Lauderdale, Florida