ENVIRONMENTAL RESILIENCE
OUR 2026 FESTIVAL
MARK YOUR CALENDARS
Ticket information coming late 2025!
FILMMAKERS! For our premier 2026 festival, we're focusing on environmental resilience. Please consider this prompt when submitting films:
“We seek films that document the complex stories of our natural world, acknowledge challenges and highlight creative efforts to transform our shared physical and social environment.”
FOR FILMMAKERS*
BFFF seeks filmmakers (and fans of our shared planet) of all ages and backgrounds. Current Students are encouraged to submit to the Student Category. Filmmakers should check out our festival at FilmFreeway and pay close attention to our prompt. Submissions will be accepted now until November 30th, 2025
FOR ARTISTS
For the art gallery show, we are looking for works of visual art that are thematically consistent with the selection of films: finding hope in a time of widespread environmental injustice. We welcome submissions that display a deep engagement with the subject matter
and marked formal proficiency.
FOR PARTNERS
Become a sponsor the 2026 Beaver Falls Film Festival. Gain exposure, connect with an engaged audience, and champion films that inspire change. Partner with us—shape the future!
FOR THE COMMUNITY
Currently, we are in our film submission phase of the timeline. Tickets for the 2026 BFFF will go on sale starting in December, 2025. So, don’t worry, you’ve not missed out. YET.
WHY DID WE CHOOSE ENVIRONMENTAL RESILIENCE for 2026?
As we, the Portobello Cultural Life & Arts Center and our surrounding Western Pennsylvania community, navigate the complexities of our modern world, it’s impossible to ignore the pressing environmental challenges that confront us daily. Just across the Ohio border, is the 2023 East Palestine train derailment explosion site, and just down river from Beaver Falls, Shell’s ethane cracker plant continues to emit a range of pollutants into the air and water while producing pellets for single use plastics.
However, in the face of these intimidating challenges, there’s also room for hope and action. There are people in our city, region and “east of the Mississippi” states who embrace innovative, creative solutions to environmental challenges that balance the needs of people and the planet. We are seeking to hear, promote and share these stories to our neighbors longing for encouragement in their quest for resilience. As an organization deeply committed to sustainability, conservation and public education, we are excited about the opportunity to implement this Festival and the ripple effects it will have in our community.
The City of Beaver Falls is located along the Beaver River approximately 30 miles northwest of Pittsburgh. At one time, the world’s largest steel production operations were operating in Beaver Falls alongside the Beaver River. We decided to focus our Festival on filmmakers located East of the great Mississippi in homage to the massive environmental impact of our river systems.
All information, submission guidelines/payment/deadlines, awards, and rules can be found at: FilmFreeway
* Participation is open to filmmakers in the following states (located East of the Mississippi River): Alabama, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin.
CAPTIVATE AUDIENCES. SPARK CURIOSITY. FOSTER CONVERSATION.
Join us in celebrating storytelling that inspires action.