284 Excellence Film Festival
Whether you're filming your first story on your phone or bringing years of filmmaking experience to the screen, there's a place for your work at 284XFF.
Created specifically for British Virgin Islands filmmakers and storytellers. Your experience level doesn't define your story — if you've made a film, we want to see what you've created.
I'M A BVI FILMMAKER →Create a short film using your smartphone and put your creativity on the big screen at 284XFF.
Turn your content skills into a story and take your creativity beyond the feed.
Bring Caribbean literature, culture, imagination and storytelling to life through film.
SUBMIT YOUR CARIBBEAN STORY →284XFF welcomes filmmakers from around the world to share compelling stories with audiences in the British Virgin Islands.
SUBMIT YOUR FILM →| IF YOU ARE... | ENTER... |
|---|---|
| BVI filmmaker | Local Lens |
| BVI student | Student Smartphone Contest |
| BVI content creator | Viral Video Challenge |
| Caribbean filmmaker | Caribbean Chronicles |
| International filmmaker | Legends of the Lens |
ELIGIBILITY
Entries must be written, directed, produced and/or principally acted by a person of colour; this is mandatory for consideration. Works in progress are not allowed.
- Year of completion must be 2024 or later
- Foreign language films must have English subtitles
- Open to filmmakers of any nationality, anywhere in the world, whose film meets these requirements
CATEGORY-SPECIFIC ELIGIBILITY
Short films produced, co-produced and/or directed by adult filmmakers 18 years or older from the British Virgin Islands. Year of completion must be 2024 or later. Any genre, up to 40 minutes including credits.
Films should creatively align with at least one element of the 284 Excellence Film Festival logo:
- Windmill: representing power and ingenuity
- Turtledove: symbolising vision, soaring and patriotism
- Sailboat: reflecting movement and cross-border appeal
Genres may include, but aren't limited to: short fiction (action, drama, comedy, romance, thriller, etc.), short documentary, short animation and music video.
Open to students of a secondary or tertiary institution. Short films produced, co-produced and/or directed by adolescent filmmakers aged 9 to 12 (Category A) or 13 to 17 (Category B) from the British Virgin Islands, produced after 1 January 2025.
Running time: no less than 5 minutes and no more than 7 minutes, excluding credits, and must be shot entirely on a smartphone. Genres may include, but aren't limited to: short fiction and documentary.
Videos produced, co-produced and/or directed by adolescent filmmakers aged 9 to 17 from the British Virgin Islands, promoting the territory as a premier destination (vacation, film, business, or any other angle of choice), produced after 1 January 2025.
Films must include footage of Cape Air's Spirit of the Caribbean and incorporate the phrase "Spirit of the Caribbean." Running time: 1 minute 30 seconds.
One Caribbean author's published work is selected each year, with a summary provided. Filmmakers create a short film adaptation of that publication and are judged on the best interpretation of the original work. Year of completion must be 2024 or later. Any genre, up to 40 minutes including credits.
Award-winning entries from other recognised film festivals, submitted for consideration in the International Category. Any genre or theme, from any country in the world. Year of completion must be 2024 or later. Up to 40 minutes including credits.
The festival reserves the right to invite select cinematographic works of any genre for screening as part of its official programme, presented out of competition. Year of completion must be 2024 or later. Up to 90 minutes including credits.
CATEGORIES & FILM LENGTH
- Feature Film (narrative fiction): 40 minutes+
- International Feature (narrative fiction): 40 minutes+
- Short Film: 40 minutes or less
- Documentary: 40 minutes+
- Short Documentary: up to 29 minutes
- Music Video: must be an original song, not a cover, not to exceed 10:00
- Student Shorts: 5 to 7 minutes; must be written, shot, directed and produced by students
- Student Viral Video Challenge: no more than 1 minute 30 seconds
For Best Actor/Best Actress consideration, be sure to list the performer's name and their character's name in your credits.
SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS
Complete the online submission form on FilmFreeway. More than one entry may be submitted, but each entry needs its own:
- Separate online submission form and entry fee
- Colour JPEG publicity photo
- One to two sentence synopsis
- URL link and password (must stay active until 1 November 2026)
If selected, you'll need to provide a final exhibition downloadable link and password on request, plus a DCP for theatrical playback.
RULES & TERMS
By submitting, you certify you're the rightful owner of the work and hold all rights and releases needed for public screening, including talent, IP, music and stock footage clearances. The submitted film must not be subject to, or threatened by, litigation.
284XFF encourages at least a premiere in your home country. Projects may have distribution but must not yet have had a theatrical release, TV airplay, or internet broadcast (music videos excluded). A selected film that has aired on TV or been released online prior to the festival becomes ineligible and will be removed from the line-up.
You grant 284XFF permission to use clips or stills from your entry for festival promotional purposes (TV, web, presentations, etc.).
If selected, add 284excellencefilmfestival@gmail.com to your contacts and include your cell phone number with your submission. This is mandatory, as time-sensitive correspondence follows immediately after the official announcement.
FEES & DEADLINES
Waivers are granted upon special request and consideration is on a case-by-case basis.
The Official Selection Announcement will be made in early September, via official acceptance email and a follow-up phone call.
AWARDS & PRIZES
- Best of the Festival: $5,000
- Best Short Film: $3,500
- Best Animation, Best Short Documentary, Best Documentary, Best Music Video
- The Neil Blyden Award for Best Cinematography
- Best Directing, Best Editing, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Soundtrack
- Best of the Festival: $3,500
- Best Animation, Best Short Documentary, Best Music Video
- The Neil Blyden Award for Best Cinematography
- Best Directing, Best Editing, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Soundtrack
- Best Student Smartphone Video, Category A: $600 | Category B: $1,000
- Best Viral Video: $800
- Best Caribbean Story: $3,500
- Best Animation, Best Short Documentary, Best Music Video
- The Neil Blyden Award for Best Cinematography
- Best Directing, Best Editing, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Soundtrack
Additional awards may also be given where applicable: Best Portrayal of Women's Rights Film, Most Inspirational Film, Best Female Impact Film, Best International Champion (for a specific cause), and Best Freedom Fighter Film.
The award ceremony takes place on the festival's closing night. Each winner receives an official winner certification.
WINNER DELIVERY CLAUSE
Winners must submit complete and accurate personal and delivery information (full name, valid contact details, correct delivery address) within 3 months (90 calendar days) of official notification.
284XFF relies solely on the information provided for delivering awards, including cash prizes and trophies, and isn't responsible for failed deliveries, delays, or losses caused by incorrect or outdated information. Failure to submit accurate information in time results in automatic forfeiture of the award, with no right to claim, replacement, or compensation.