The 2023 Maryland Children’s Environmental Film Festival (MCEFF) is now open for short film entries (under 5 minutes)! Films will be accepted by filmmakers from the USA who fit one of the following age levels: 8 to 10 years, 11 to 13 years, and 14 to 17 years. An award will also be given to a Maryland filmmaker between the ages of 8 and 17.

Visit Film Freeway to submit your film.

Films need to be made on an environmental topic that benefits the earth, people, or animals. Topics could include sustainability, recycling, and wildlife.

Attending the Festival

MCEFF will take place with an in-person screening in August 2023. The location is to be determined in the Howard County, Maryland, area. More information to follow.

You can contact us at [email protected].

Make sure to follow MCEFF on Facebook and Instagram.

Jane Goodall Partnership

MCEFF is made possible with a grant provided by Jane Goodall Institute’s Roots and Shoots programs. The grant committee was impressed with our commitment to building a better world for animals, people, and the environment. We challenge children to make films about environmental issues to encourage a wider audience to care about and understand them.

Rules & Terms

1. Films will be shown to an audience of children and may not contain any of the following: violence, excessive anger, profanity, hate speech, praise for a specific religious, or suggestive behavior. MCEFF reserves the right not to select your film it it contains content from these categories. MCEFF promotes a safe, friendly movie-watching experience for student audiences of all ages.
2. If your film is selected, you will not receive a screening fee.
3. All films must be in English or have English subtitles.
4. Limit one entry per person/group.
5. Soundtrack music must be royalty-free. By entering, you agree that you have the rights to all content, and that any liability falls to you, not the film festival.
6. If you enter, you agree to have segments of your film, publicity films, summary, and/or director biography shared on our website and/or social media.
7. Student ID must be included in application. The film director and/or producer must be in the age category listed. The entry will be disqualified if the age cannot be verified.