Film Festivals

Since 2015, Blue Forge Films has hosted or sponsored international film festivals for both emerging and established filmmakers. Discover a current festival or scroll down to explore past winners. Looking for an acting troupe or creative club instead of a competition? Explore the Blue Village Acting Troupe for actors and filmmakers.

Current Competitions & Festivals

The Ars ex Meritus Awards. Ars ex Meritus was founded in 2020 by a collective actors, directors, screenwriters and producers to provide a showcase for independent film. After five years of development and recruiting judges with decades of experience in the film industry, the AEM Awards launched in December 2025. Dedicated to accessibility, AEM keeps submissions fees low; judging cycles are monthly, and every film is evaluated on established criteria—films never compete against each other. Submit here or download a FAQ.

Pop Up Film Fellowship. PUFF is a monthly creative club for filmmakers and actors. Each and every month, PUFF meets to make a different short film and at the end of each year, those films are compiled into a single festival that premieres internationally. Viewers vote on their favorite short and awards are granted. New member information will be made available here in the near future or use the contact form to request a notification.

Past Competitions & Festivals

Cracked Mirror Film Festival
Best Film: The Harvest
Writing: Lauren Patzer
Acting: Gregor Fjellrev, Alex Dunn
Editing, Music and Effects: Maxwell DiMarco

Midnight Film Festival
Best Film: The Harvest
Best Actress: Jessica Noel Thompson
Best Actor: Tyler Tanqueray
Best Original Score: The Harvest

Leap Film Festival
Best Film: Thoughts Past Three
Best Actress: Lisa Rempel
Best Actor: Maxwell DiMarco
Best Original Score: The Fairy Garden
Audience Favorite: Sands of Time

One Room Film Festival
Best Film: Capitulate
Best Actress: Amber Rainey
Best Actor: Greg Laurel
Best Original Score: Capitulate
Audience Favorite: The Scavenger Hunt

Perspective Film Festival
Best Film: Hills Like White Elephants
Best Actress: Faith DiMarco
Best Actor (tied): Emmanuel Atkinson, Maxwell DiMarco
Best Original Score: Hills Like White Elephants
Audience Favorite: Hills Like White Elephants

Take 8 Film Festival 2015
Best Film: Vindicta*
Best Actress: Faith DiMarco
Best Actor: Gregory Marks
Studio Choice: In the Pudding*

Take 8 Film Festival Forest
Best Film: The Niobe Strain**
Best Actress: Angela DiMarco
Best Actor: Nathaniel Devish
Studio Choice: Caught on Film***

Take 8 Film Festival White Room
Best Film: Talking to Angels**
Best Actress: Stacey Venzel, Angela Faro
Best Actor: Ed Stone
Studio Choice: Eat****

Take 8 Film Festival Catacombs
Best Trailer: Park Dead****

Blackwood Film Anthology
Best Film: For the Birds
Best Actor: Bill Read
Best Actress: Faith DiMarco

Saint August Chapel Film Anthology
No award were granted for this showcase anthology.

Wonderland Film Anthology
Best Film: Promise of Paradise
Best Actor: Erik Rainey
Best Actress: Lisa Rempel

Spark Forge Film Festival
Best of Show: Tradewind*

Forge Flashpoint Film Festival 1
Best Film: Gender Studies 101
Best Actress: Faith DiMarco

Forge Flashpoint Film Festival 2
Best Film: Tears, Home is Where His Heart Is, Within the Study (three-way tie)
Best Actor: Maxwell DiMarco

Forge Flashpoint Film Festival 3
Best Film: Buyer's Remorse
Best Actress: Stacey Venzel

Forge Flashpoint Film Festival 4
Best Film: Sands of Time
Best Actress: Brianne DiMarco

Forge Flashpoint Film Festival 5
Best Film: Nothing Less
Best Actress: Amber Rainey
Best Actor: Maxwell DiMarco

* Winner made into a feature film. Available on BlueFlix.

** Winner to be adapted into a graphic novel.

*** Winner made into a short film. Available on BlueFlix.

**** Winner made into a feature film by another film studio.

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