About the Festival
The Meridian Dance Film Festival showcases an outstanding selection of works chosen from submissions by filmmakers around the globe. Dedicated to celebrating excellence in dance on screen, the festival highlights the unique artistic possibilities that emerge when movement and cinema converge. Audiences will experience diverse and compelling visions of dance that extend beyond the boundaries of the stage.
The inaugural international dance film showcase hosted by Florida State University School of Dance on will be held on February 6, 2027. The Meridian Dance Film Festival is an adjudicated festival which screens, awards, and showcases an outstanding selection of works chosen from submissions by filmmakers around the globe.
Dedicated to celebrating excellence in dance on screen, the festival highlights the unique artistic possibilities that emerge when movement and cinema converge. Submissions are open from September to November, with a screening in early February in the Nancy Smith Fichter Dance Theatre, located within the FSU School of Dance. Filmmakers who have submitted work to the festival can expect to receive notifications in early January. Audiences will experience diverse and compelling visions of dance that extend beyond the boundaries of the stage.
Awards & Prizes
Five distinct awards will be presented on the evening of showings. They are as follows:
Jury’s Choice: First, Second, & Third
Jury’s Choice: Student Selection
Audience ChoiceAwards will also include a corresponding prize which will be announced at the event.
Rules & Terms:
Applicants must have all necessary rights and releases for all creative IP, people featured, audio and visual media presented in the film for both screening at the festival.
By submitting your film to MDFF you grant MDFF and the Florida State University School of Dance the rights to program your film for the festival and to use images/excerpts of the film in trailers, programs and online information about the event.
By submitting your film to MDFF you grant MDFF and the Florida State University School of Dance the rights to screen your film for a limited time during our 2027 event.
By submitting your film to MDFF you grant MDFF, our directors, and the Florida State University School of Dance the rights to utilize your work to promote our event as well as the use of films for academic purposes.
We welcome applications from international projects as well as those based in the United States
If selected, you agree to abide by deadlines for submitting other required materials (including pictures, biographies, description of the film, etc.).
If selected, you agree that short extracts of the film (up to 1 minute) can be used across our social media and marketing platforms to promote your film work and to promote the festival event.
Artists can apply either individually, as a group, or as a company, but the total fee will remain the same for each film, regardless of the number of individuals involved.
MDFF is supported and presented by Florida State University School of Dance
Please note that MDFF has a limited screening time (1.5hrs total) so not all films submitted can be selected. Please plan your submission accordingly.
Selections from the Student Category of Films may be chosen for our featured preshow event which will be screened prior to the main showcase.
MDFF retains the right to request verification of student status
Films which do not feature dance, choreography, or movement are not eligible and will not be considered for the festival.
Submission Deadlines
All films submitted will be reviewed and selected by a diverse group of filmmakers and official selections will be announced by January 4, 2027
October 1: Early Bird | $20
November 1: Standard Deadline | $25
November 20: Late Entry | $30
Student Submissions: September 1–November 20 | Free!
All submissions are due by 11:59PM ET on their respective dates
Categories & Entry Fees:
Student:
The student category is for filmmakers immersed in the early stages of their career. Aimed at filmmakers actively pursuing a degree or up to one year after university graduation.
In addition to the main showcase all films submitted in this category will automatically be considered for our pre-show event.
Festival retains the right to request student status verification.
Entry Free: FREE
General:
All other submissions.Early Bird Entry Fee (By October 1): $20
Standard Entry Fee (By November 1): $25
Late Entry Fee (By November 20): $30