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Little Fort Film Festival | Festival de cine de Little Fort
  • Home
  • 2026 Festival Tickets
  • About
    • 2026 Schedule
    • Tickets
    • Map and Restaurants
    • People and Partners
    • Corporate Partners
    • Education
  • Submit Your Film
    • Submit your film
  • Support
    • Partnerships
    • Volunteer & Events
  • Connect

Submit your film to FilmFreeway

About Little Fort Film Festival Film Festival

Submit through FilmFreeway

Little Fort Environmental Film Festival | Festival de cine de Little Fort proudly accepts entries on FilmFreeway, the world's #1 way to enter film festivals and creative contests.

Submit your film here

Welcome to Little Fort Environmental Film Festival

Filmmaker VIP Treatment

We are so excited to have you join LIttle Fort!  In honor of your commitment to the environment and your filmmaking, we are pleased to offer you these film festival benefits should your film be selected for the film festival:

  • VIP Pass to the 2-Day Festival
  • Hotel accomodation at TownePlace Marriott in Waukegan, our official hotel partner. 
  • VIP Reception and filmmakers networking event on Saturday, June 20, 2026.
  • Feedback from audience surveys on your film.
  • Private tour of selected environmental sites to honor.
  • VIP Seating at events.
  • VIP introduction to environmental leaders in the region.

Little Fort Film Festival Film June 20-21, 2026

Awards & Prizes | Premios y premios

 

 Awards & Prizes

If selected to screen at the annual festival your film will be considered for one of six unique festival awards available for the following categories:

* Best Environmental Feature Film (40 minutes and over) Award
* Best Environmental Short Film (Under 40 minutes) Award
* Best Student Environmental Film Award
* Best Experimental Film Award
* Best Waukegan, Illinois Filmmaker Award
* Audience Choice Award


Si es seleccionada para proyectarse en el festival anual, su película será considerada para uno de los ocho premios únicos del festival disponibles para las siguientes categorías:

*Premio al Mejor Largometraje Ambiental (40 minutos y más)
*Premio al Mejor Cortometraje Ambiental (Menos de 40 minutos)
*Premio a la Mejor Película Ambiental Estudiantil
*Premio a la Mejor Película Experimental
* Premio al Mejor Cineasta de Waukegan, Illinois
*Premio a la Elección del Público

Welcome to Little Fort Film Festival Film Festival!

Join our email list to stay in touch | Únase a nuestra lista de correo electrónico para mantenerse en contacto

Rules & Terms

 

OFFICIAL REGULATIONS


Eligibility Requirements:


Completion Date
- Films from around the world with an environmental theme will be considered.  


Premiere Status
- Films with Premiere status are given priority. All films will be reviewed by the programming committee.


Films are NOT eligible if they:
- Are available to the public for purchase on DVD/Blu-ray or online.

Entrant confirms and warrants required legal authority to submit the entry to the Festival and to use all music, images, and content in the entry.  Submitting to Little Fort Film Festival confirms you have secured all permissions and approvals to show the film, promote in social media and all other channels.  


For any specific questions regarding a film’s eligibility, please email: info@littlefortfilmfestival.org


Submission Guidelines
- Films must be submitted via an online screener hosted by Vimeo or another secure online platform.
- Only complete entries (including fee payment and screener) will be considered.


Deadlines
Early deadline entries must be postmarked/submitted online by March 1, 2026.
Regular deadline entries must be postmarked/submitted online by May 1, 2026.


Judging & Selection
Films are selected for Festival presentation by the Little Fort Film Festival programming committee. If a film is selected, the Festival office will contact the entrant by phone or email.


All entrants will be notified on or before May 22, 2026.


REGLAMENTO OFICIAL


Requisitos de elegibilidad:


Fecha de finalización
- Las películas deben haberse completado a partir de septiembre de 2023.


Estado de estreno
- Se da prioridad a las películas con estatus de estreno. Todas las películas serán revisadas por el comité de programación.


Las películas NO son elegibles si:
- Están disponibles al público para su compra en DVD/Blu-ray o en línea.
- Los largometrajes (narrativos o documentales) que estén disponibles para su visualización pública en línea en su totalidad NO son elegibles. Los cortometrajes (menos de 40 min) pueden estar disponibles en línea.


El participante confirma y garantiza la autoridad legal requerida para enviar la entrada al Festival y utilizar toda la música, imágenes y contenido de la entrada.

Si tiene preguntas específicas sobre la elegibilidad de una película, envíe un correo electrónico a: info@littlefortfilmfestival.org


Directrices de envío
- Las películas deben enviarse a través de una proyección en línea alojada en Vimeo u otra plataforma en línea segura.
- Sólo se considerarán las inscripciones completas (incluido el pago de la tarifa y la evaluación).


Plazos

Las inscripciones con fecha límite anticipada deben tener matasellos o enviarse en línea antes del 21 de junio de 2025.
Las inscripciones con fecha límite habitual deben tener matasellos o enviarse en línea antes del 13 de marzo de 2026.
Las inscripciones fuera de plazo deben tener matasellos o enviarse en línea antes del 3 de abril de 2026.

Juicio y selección

Las películas son seleccionadas para la presentación del Festival por el comité de programación del Festival de Cine de Little Fort. Si se selecciona una película, la oficina del Festival se pondrá en contacto con el participante por teléfono o correo electrónico.


Todos los participantes serán notificados a más tardar el 22 de mayo de 2026.

Experience Little Fort Environmental Film Festival 2026

 

Filmmakers Invited to Submit Entries for Inaugural Little Fort Film Festival in 2026

Festival aims to spark conversation and action on behalf of the environment


WAUKEGAN, IL — The Little Fort Film Festival is now accepting submissions for its inaugural event, a celebration of environmental storytelling meant to galvanize the power of environmental filmmaking to educate, entertain and motivate action. 


It will take place June 20-21, 2026, in Waukegan, Illinois, situated north of Chicago on the shores of Lake Michigan. The film festival will be set against the backdrop of the Great Lakes, the largest body of freshwater on Earth. This vital resource, holding 6 quadrillion gallons of water -- or one-fifth of the globe's fresh water supply -- is larger than the United Kingdom.


“Film has the unique ability to connect us emotionally and intellectually to the issues that matter most,” said festival co-director MaryIlene Blondell, an internationally recognized filmmaker. “Through the Little Fort Film Festival we aim to bring together filmmakers, environmental advocates and communities for creative storytelling and to speak about and explore innovative solutions for safeguarding our world,” she said.


Blondell’s partner and co-director Susan L. Kelsey of Lake Forest, who entered the filmmaking world with her documentary, “The Negotiator: Billy Caldwell.” The film recounted the story of Caldwell, a man of Irish and Mohawk parentage who became known as Chief Sauganash and negotiated historic Chicago treaties that resulted in Native American tribes leaving the state of Illinois and moving west. The film, which Kelsey produced with members of the Potawatomi community, had its world premiere in 2024 and continues to win recognition from several film festivals.

Kelsey said she was inspired to launch an environmental film festival because she loves to swim, especially in chilly Lake Michigan. “I was looking at the beautiful lakefront in Waukegan and wondered what I could do to inspire other people to appreciate and protect this tremendous asset.” 


The festival invites filmmakers to submit productions from feature films and documentaries to short films and animated works. Kelsey and Blondell also encourage high school and college students to create films for entry into the festival.


“I know from my own children that there is a concern about the environment,” Kelsey said. “This festival is one of hope. We want people to know we can each make a difference.”


The festival has already been booked into three venues, garnered support from several sponsors, and has the endorsement of Ann B. Taylor, mayor of Waukegan.


"The Little Fort Film Festival represents exactly the kind of cultural renaissance we're building in Waukegan," Taylor said. "As we prepare to welcome filmmakers and audiences to our lakefront city in June 2026, we're not just hosting a festival -- we're showcasing Waukegan's commitment to becoming a vibrant arts destination on the shores of Lake Michigan.


“This bilingual, inclusive event across three venues perfectly embodies our city's spirit of innovation and resiliency."


The festival is named for Waukegan’s original name, Little Fort. “It was an important harbor,” Kelsey said, “a ‘little fort’ that protected the north end of Chicago as fur traders were coming along the Great Lakes.” Founded in 1849 as Waukegan (taken from the Potawatomi word for “fortress”), it grew into a satellite city of Chicago and major manufacturing hub, with a current population of 90,000 residents.

Films will be selected for the festival based on their ability to ignite positive dialogue, inspire thought and drive awareness about protecting our planet, Kelsey said. 


Submissions are open through April 30, 2026. Filmmakers can visit the festival’s website, LittleFortFilmFestival.org for submission guidelines and instructions. The two-day event will include screenings, panel discussions and special events designed to engage audiences and foster connections between creators and viewers, as well as special musical guests who are aligned with environmental causes


Sponsorships and memberships are also available in the festival, which is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. Current sponsors include the City of Waukegan, Genesee Theater, Three Brothers Theatre, Waukegan History Museum at the Carnegie and Marriott Towneplace Suites Waukegan/Gurnee.


For more information, visit LittleFortFilmFestival.org.

Submit your film now

Filmmakers can submit their film on FilmFreeway.com.  We look forward to screening your film!

Submit Film

Welcome to Little Fort Environmental Film Festival Film Festival

Awards & Prizes

If selected to screen at the annual festival your film will be considered for one of six unique festival awards available for the following categories:

* Best Environmental Feature Film (40 minutes and over) Award
* Best Environmental Short Film (Under 40 minutes) Award
* Best Student Environmental Film Award
* Best Experimental Film Award
* Best Waukegan, Illinois Filmmaker Award
* Audience Choice Award


Si es seleccionada para proyectarse en el festival anual, su película será considerada para uno de los ocho premios únicos del festival disponibles para las siguientes categorías:

*Premio al Mejor Largometraje Ambiental (40 minutos y más)
*Premio al Mejor Cortometraje Ambiental (Menos de 40 minutos)
*Premio a la Mejor Película Ambiental Estudiantil
*Premio a la Mejor Película Experimental
* Premio al Mejor Cineasta de Waukegan, Illinois
*Premio a la Elección del Público

About our Official Hotel Partner: TownePlace Suites

Towneplace Suites Marriott Waukegan Illinois

TownePlace Suites in Waukegan - OFFICIAL PARTNER HOTEL

Little fort film festival will host each filmmaker for Saturday, June 20, 2026 for two nights in Waukegan Illinois. TownePlace Suites is the official hotel partner of Little Fort film festival. Filmmaker will receive a special welcome package from TownePlace suites.

Connect With Us

  • Home
  • 2026 Festival Tickets
  • 2026 Schedule
  • Tickets
  • Map and Restaurants
  • People and Partners
  • Corporate Partners
  • Education
  • Submit your film
  • Partnerships
  • Volunteer & Events
  • Connect

Little Fort | An Environmental Film Festival

Copyright © 2025 Little Fort Film Festival. All Rights Reserved. We are a 501(c)3 non profit organization.