Winning Film Prize Short to Receive Screening, Red Carpet Premiere and Academy Qualification
Shreveport, LA – The ultimate prize for filmmakers is now within reach thanks to a new partnership between the Fort Worth Film Commission and Louisiana Film Prize. Through this new collaboration, the winning short film of the 2025 Louisiana Film Prize at Prize Fest will receive a trip to Fort Worth for a limited theatrical release, complete with a red carpet premiere and celebratory after party. This screening will allow the Film Prize Grand Prize Winner qualification for the Academy Awards in 2026.
Now in its 14th year, the Louisiana Film Prize awards up to $50,000 to the winning short film shot in Louisiana, the largest award in the world for a narrative short. This new partnership not only provides an additional incentive for filmmakers to compete in the Louisiana Film Prize but also highlights Fort Worth’s reputation as a dynamic and film-friendly city committed to celebrating and showcasing the cinematic arts.
“The Louisiana Film Prize has always been about connecting filmmakers with amazing industry mentorship and real, tangible opportunities,” said Gregory Kallenberg, founder of the Film Prize and Executive Director of the Prize Foundation. “This partnership with the Fort Worth Film Commission represents a major leap forward. We’re not just celebrating independent film—we’re creating real access to the industry’s biggest stage.”
Tarrant County was designated as an Oscar®-qualifying region by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for the 98th Academy Awards® season. The Fort Worth Film Commission created the Premiere Package program to support filmmakers who plan to submit their work to the Academy for consideration – a process that can otherwise be costly, time-consuming or difficult to navigate. Now the grand prize winner of Film Prize will also have the ability to host an Oscar-qualifying screening in Fort Worth, with a weeklong theatrical run, red carpet premiere, travel accommodations and promotional support.
“We’ve been blown away by the global interest in screening in Fort Worth as a path toward Oscar® eligibility,” said Taylor Hardy, Fort Worth Film Commissioner. “We’re excited to partner with a powerhouse like the Louisiana Film Prize to provide more opportunities while connecting with talented and inspiring filmmakers.”
This new partnership underscores Fort Worth’s growing reputation as a film-friendly city with an eye toward innovation and cultural exchange. It also expands the Louisiana Film Prize’s mission of supporting independent filmmakers and building a creative economy throughout the South.
Together, the organizations aim to champion emerging filmmakers, amplify regional film culture and foster meaningful connections between creative communities and the broader film ecosystem. This
forward-thinking partnership exemplifies how two dynamic organizations can come together to create meaningful opportunities and remove barriers for the next generation of independent filmmakers.
Louisiana Film Prize 2025 is still open for submissions and will be held during Prize Fest, October 16–19 in downtown Shreveport. For more information, visit PrizeFest.com/Film. Filmmakers with completed short film projects interested in pursuing Oscar® qualification can apply for a Premiere Package now at FortWorth.com/PremierePackage.
*Please note: Eligibility for Academy Award® consideration is determined by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and is subject to change based on its official rules and guidelines.
