Overview
The International Christian Film & Music Festival (ICFF) is a competitive festival for faith-based and family-friendly cinema and music, held annually in Orlando, Florida. The 2026 edition is scheduled for April 28 to May 2 at the DoubleTree by Hilton at SeaWorld. The festival has screened over 2,500 submissions from more than 60 countries and drawn over 30,000 attendees across its 14-year history. Submissions are handled exclusively through FilmFreeway.
ICFF is a nonprofit organization founded by executive director Marty Jean-Louis on September 15, 2011. The festival accepts feature films, short films (under 50 minutes), documentaries, TV series, music videos, animation, student films, unproduced scripts, trailers, stage plays, podcasts, and music entries. All submitted content must align with Christian principles and family values. Films containing nudity, sexually explicit scenes, offensive language, strong violence, or horror elements are disqualified. Non-English submissions must include English subtitles.
The festival also operates an ICFF Tour with satellite screenings in select regional locations, including Truth Church in Port St. Lucie, Florida and Citygate Atlanta Kingdom Center in Johns Creek, Georgia. These tour stops feature abbreviated film showcases and networking opportunities for creators outside central Florida.
Key Sections
- Feature Film Competition - full-length narrative films with faith-based themes
- Short Film Competition - films under 50 minutes
- Documentary Competition - nonfiction features addressing Christian or spiritual subjects
- Music Video Competition - faith-based music videos
- Animation Competition - animated films with Christian messaging
- Student Film Competition - films by students in Christian and secular film programs
- Script Competition - unproduced screenplays with faith-based content
- TV Series and Shows - episodic content for festival screening
- Trailers - promotional reels for upcoming faith-based projects
- Stage Plays - recorded theatrical productions
- Podcasts - faith-based audio content
- Music Entries - original Christian music submissions
Submission Details
Submissions are accepted exclusively through FilmFreeway. Fees are non-refundable regardless of selection outcome.
Submission deadlines for the 2026 edition (April 28 to May 2, Orlando, FL):
- Submissions open: March 5, 2025
- Earlybird deadline: August 31, 2025
- Regular deadline: December 15, 2025
- Final deadline: February 1, 2026
Content restrictions:
- No nudity or sexually explicit scenes
- No offensive language
- No strong violence
- No horror elements
- Non-English films must have English subtitles
- Script category entries must be unproduced
Selection process: A selection committee of industry professionals, filmmakers, and ministry leaders evaluates entries on artistic merit, technical quality, storytelling, and adherence to Christian principles. Selected entrants receive notification via email and must supply high-resolution publicity materials (stills, posters, trailers, bios) within 14 days. Nominated works must be made available for screening. Failure to comply may result in forfeiture of selection status.
Contact: info@internationalcff.org or (833) 699-4233. Alternate contact: 407-442-3691.
What Filmmakers Should Know
Market access: ICFF connects filmmakers with Christian distributors and broadcasters that constitute the faith-based distribution ecosystem. Platforms such as Pure Flix, TBN, and Angel Studios have historically acquired content from or partnered with filmmakers in the ICFF network. The festival's industry programming includes classes, seminars, and networking events that connect filmmakers with producers, distributors, and ministry leaders.
Content alignment is non-negotiable: Films that do not clearly align with Christian values will not be selected. The festival evaluates content on both artistic merit and adherence to Christian principles. Filmmakers whose work explores faith critically or ambiguously should consider whether ICFF is the right platform, as the festival's programming philosophy is explicitly affirmational rather than exploratory.
ICFF Tour exposure: Films selected for the main festival may receive additional screening opportunities through the ICFF Tour, which extends to satellite locations in Florida and Georgia. This expands audience reach beyond the Orlando event without requiring additional submissions.
Awards ceremony: ICFF hosts an Oscar-style awards ceremony with a red carpet. A panel of 10 judges selects winners across all categories. The festival has presented lifetime achievement awards to figures including Roma Downey. Past programming has recognized films addressing themes such as human trafficking and humanitarian issues.
Submission volume and scope: With over 2,500 submissions screened across 14 years from 60-plus countries, ICFF is one of the largest faith-based festivals by submission volume. The breadth of categories (film, music, scripts, podcasts, stage plays) means the festival functions as a comprehensive platform for Christian media, not just cinema.
Festival format: The 5-day event includes screenings, workshops, panel discussions, networking sessions, and an awards ceremony. The DoubleTree by Hilton at SeaWorld serves as both the venue and accommodation hub, creating a concentrated environment where filmmakers, industry professionals, and attendees interact throughout the festival.
Major Awards
- Best Feature Film - jury prize for the top narrative feature
- Best Documentary - jury prize for the top nonfiction film
- Best Short Film - jury prize for the top short (under 50 minutes)
- Best Animation - jury prize for animated content
- Best Music Video - jury prize for faith-based music videos
- Best Student Film - jury prize for student work
- Best Script - jury prize for unproduced screenplays
- Lifetime Achievement Award - recognizing contributions to Christian media (past recipients include Roma Downey)
- Audience Award - selected by festival attendees
Festival History
ICFF was founded on September 15, 2011, as a nonprofit organization by Marty Jean-Louis. The founding mission was to "put God first in all that we do and secondly to elevate, educate and promote Christian filmmakers and artists around the world." The festival began with a focus on film and music and has expanded its category offerings over 14 years to include TV series, podcasts, stage plays, and scripts.
The festival has been held primarily in Orlando, Florida, taking advantage of the city's convention infrastructure and proximity to theme park attractions. The location makes it accessible for families and church groups attending the festival. Over its history, ICFF has grown from a modest gathering to an event drawing over 30,000 attendees, with satellite tour locations extending its reach to additional states.
The growth of ICFF parallels the expansion of the faith-based film market in the United States. Films such as War Room (2015), I Can Only Imagine (2018), and Sound of Freedom (2023) demonstrated the commercial viability of faith-based cinema, and ICFF has positioned itself as the primary competitive platform for filmmakers working in this space.
Past Winners
ICFF presents juried awards across feature films, shorts, documentaries, music videos, scripts, and TV categories. A panel of 10 judges selects winners. The festival also hosts an Oscar-style awards ceremony with a red carpet.
- 2024 Best Picture - The Shift, directed by Brock Heasley. A sci-fi retelling of the Book of Job starring Kristoffer Polaha and Neal McDonough. Distributed by Angel Studios with a theatrical release on December 1, 2023. Also won Best Cinematography at ICFF 2024.
- 2024 Best Lead Actor - Sean Patrick Flanery for Nefarious. The film was distributed theatrically in April 2023 and is now streaming on Amazon Prime Video. Co-directed by Cary Solomon and Chuck Konzelman.
- 2023 Best Picture - Grace by Night, directed by Nathan Leon. Starring Antonio Sabato Jr. and Cameron Arnett. Now streaming on Amazon Prime Video. The film follows a man who volunteers at a crisis hotline after a family tragedy.
- 2023 Best Director - Marty Roberts and Jimmy Womble for Running the Bases. A faith-based sports drama about a baseball coach facing opposition for his coaching methods. Now streaming on Amazon Prime Video.
- 2023 Most Inspirational - Running the Bases, also winning Best Director. The film had a theatrical release on September 16, 2022.
- 2022 Best Picture - The Last Champion, starring Cole Hauser. A wrestling drama about a fallen athlete returning to his hometown.
- 2024 Lifetime Achievement Award - Cameron Arnett, recognized for his contributions to Christian media across multiple films.
- Past Lifetime Achievement recipients include Roma Downey, recognized for her work in faith-based television and film production.
Notable Alumni Films and Where They Ended Up
- The Shift (2023) - won Best Picture and Best Cinematography at ICFF 2024. Angel Studios' first original theatrical feature. Released in theaters December 1, 2023. Now streaming on Angel Studios platform, Amazon, and Vudu. The film is a multiverse sci-fi story retelling the Book of Job.
- Nefarious (2023) - Sean Patrick Flanery won Best Lead Actor at ICFF 2024. Released theatrically April 14, 2023 by Believe Entertainment. Now streaming on Amazon Prime Video. The film is a psychological thriller about a convicted killer who claims to be a demon.
- Grace by Night (2024) - won Best Picture at ICFF 2023. Now streaming on Amazon Prime Video. Directed by Nathan Leon and starring Antonio Sabato Jr. and Cameron Arnett. The film explores grief and faith through a crisis hotline story.
- Running the Bases (2022) - won Best Director and Most Inspirational at ICFF 2023. Theatrical release September 16, 2022. Now streaming on Amazon Prime Video and UP Faith and Family. A sports drama about faith and coaching.
- The Last Champion (2022) - won Best Picture at ICFF 2022. Starring Cole Hauser. A wrestling drama distributed in the faith-based and family film market.
Submission Tips Specific to This Festival
Content alignment is the single most important factor. Films must clearly align with Christian principles and family values. The festival explicitly disqualifies films containing nudity, sexually explicit scenes, offensive language, strong violence, or horror elements. Read the content restrictions carefully before submitting.
The festival accepts an unusually wide range of categories. Beyond feature films and shorts, you can submit documentaries, music videos, animation, student films, unproduced scripts, trailers, stage plays, podcasts, and music entries. If your project spans multiple categories, consider entering in more than one.
Submit early through FilmFreeway to take advantage of lower fees. The earlybird deadline (August 31) offers the best pricing. The final deadline is February 1, 2026. Fees are non-refundable regardless of selection outcome.
The festival evaluates content on both artistic merit and adherence to Christian principles. Films that explore faith critically or ambiguously may not fit. The programming philosophy is affirmational rather than exploratory. Ensure your film's messaging is consistent with this approach.
Selected films may receive additional exposure through the ICFF Tour, which extends to satellite locations in Florida and Georgia. This expands audience reach without requiring additional submissions.
Industry Reputation Notes
ICFF is one of the largest faith-based film festivals by submission volume, with over 2,500 submissions screened across 14 years from 60-plus countries. It functions as the primary competitive platform for filmmakers working in the faith-based space.
Compared to the Red Rock Film Festival (Utah), which also programs faith-based content, ICFF is larger and more comprehensive. Red Rock focuses on a narrower slate with a festival-circuit orientation. ICFF operates as a full media platform spanning film, music, scripts, podcasts, and stage plays.
Compared to the Heartland International Film Festival (Indianapolis), which programs family-friendly and faith-adjacent cinema, ICFF is more explicitly denominational. Heartland takes a broader approach to "uplifting" content. ICFF requires explicit Christian alignment.
The festival's industry value lies in its connections to Christian distributors and broadcasters. Platforms like Pure Flix, TBN, and Angel Studios have historically acquired content from or partnered with filmmakers in the ICFF network. The awards ceremony and networking events create direct access to these distribution channels.
The Oscar-style awards ceremony with a red carpet gives the festival a professional industry event feel. This attracts filmmakers who want their faith-based work recognized in a competitive context. The 10-judge panel includes industry professionals, filmmakers, and ministry leaders.
Watch
See Also
Use the Festival ROI Calculator to model the total cost of submitting to and attending ICFF, including FilmFreeway submission fees, travel to Orlando, and accommodation at the DoubleTree by Hilton at SeaWorld. For faith-based distribution strategies, read Distribution Deals Explained. For broader festival circuit planning, read Film Festival Strategy.
