Film registration now open

Freedom. Family. Film.

F₄ is an annual film festival for narratives grounded in biblical truth, shaped by conviction, & created with the intent to stir hearts to desire good.
We celebrate films that represent substance, craftsmanship, and enduring values.

WhenFriday, November 6ᵗʰ, 2026

WhereColony Cinemas, Atascadero, CA

About F₄

What we value

Films with strong moral character, meaningful storytelling, & clear creative intent.

How it works

Awards recognize films, not individual people.

Anyone may help with any film, and contributors may participate in multiple projects or roles.

Film Categories

Feature Film

Films with a runtime of 30 minutes or more.

Narrative, documentary, or other long-form film projects.

Short Film

Films under 30 minutes.

Narrative, documentary, or experimental short-form work.

Documentary

Non-fiction films that inform, explore, investigate, or preserve meaningful real-world stories.

Awards & Judging

Judged awards are based on film craft and story impact. Audience Choice is based on viewer ratings.

Awards

Best Feature Film, Best Short Film, Best Documentary, and Audience Choice.

Story & Writing

Narrative strength, clarity, and emotional impact.

Story arc (setup, conflict, resolution)
Character development
Dialogue quality
Thematic depth

Cinematography

Visual composition and camera execution.

Framing and composition
Lighting quality
Camera movement
Visual consistency

Editing

Pacing, structure, and continuity.

Pacing and rhythm
Continuity
Transitions
Clarity of sequence

Sound & Music

Audio clarity and enhancement of story.

Dialogue clarity
Sound design
Music integration
Mixing balance

Audience Choice

Recognizes the film that most connects with the room.

Attendees rate films after screening
Ratings use a simple 1–5 scale
The highest qualified audience score receives the Audience Choice Award

Important Dates

April 1, 2026

Registration Opens

Register a Film, even if you haven't dialed in all of the details yet. You'll have an opportunity to update the information later when you submit.

October 1, 2026

Registration Closes / Submissions Open

Standard registration window closes. This gives us time to prepare, & creates a window by which we ensure that all submissions have been worked on for a meaningful period of time. At this point, submissions will be accepted.

November 1, 2026

Submission Deadline

Final day to submit eligible projects.

Learning Resources

Helpful resources for planning, writing, shooting, and improving festival submissions.

Story & Writing

Cinematography

Editing

More resources coming soon.

Sound & Music

More resources coming soon.

Ready to register?

All you need is what you have so far: a title, a description of the concept, and the team so far.
It's ok if details change as you progress.