QCA Film Office

09/22/2026

The Quad Cities is home to many beautiful, historic, and haunting locations! 🏮🎬

09/21/2026

SHORTS FILM FESTIVAL COMING UP IN ROCKFORD

The fifth annual 815HORTS Film Festival hosted by Plus Seven Company is November 13–14, 2026, at City Stage Studios in Rockford. https://www.plussevencompany.com/815horts

This year's festival will feature:
🎥 Animated, documentary and live-action screening blocks
🎓 Educational sessions
☀️ Screening of the 2026 Sundance Film Festival Shorts Tour
🏆 The Illinois Film Office Shortcuts Student Film Contest
🎓 Special opportunity for Illinois students

Illinois students 22 and under can receive 50% off submissions through October 9 as part of the Illinois Film Office Shortcuts program! Students use code 2026Shortcuts when submitting through FilmFreeway. https://filmfreeway.com/815HORTS

09/18/2026

🎬 20 TEAMS 48 HOURS 1 FILM! 🎬

Calling all Quad Cities filmmakers, storytellers, actors, writers, and creative teams! The Putnam Museum 48-Hour Film Challenge is back for its third year—and this is your chance to make a short film in just 48 hours!

With only 20 teams allowed, you’ll want to get your team registered before all the spots are gone!

And there are some great prizes on the line:

🏆 Critics’ Choice Award
• Trophy
• Free waiver code to submit your short film to Alternating Currents 2027
• Your film screened at The Last Picture House before Members Only Films, 35mm Films and a rooftop showing

🏆 Audience Favorite Award
• Trophy
• Free waiver code to submit your short film to Alternating Currents 2027
• Your film screened at The Last Picture House before Members Only Films, 35mm Films and a rooftop showing

Whether you've made a dozen films or you've always wanted to try making one, this is a great way to jump in and create something with your fellow filmmakers.

And you never know where 48 hours of creativity might lead. 🎥

Grab your team. Register. Make a movie.

👉 Only 20 teams https://www.putnam.org/48-hour-film-challenge/

09/17/2026

Here is a great opportunity for QC Filmmakers! There is also a category for Shortcuts Student Short Film only available to Illinois students under 22 thanks to support from the Illinois Film Office!

09/16/2026

09/09/2026

Congratulations to Fourth Wall Films for their Hero Street: A Documentary Film Series being selected at the Orange County Film Fiesta in Santa Ana, California! Another win for QC Filmmakers!

We are very pleased to announce that "The Last to Fall From Hero Street" is an Official Selection at the upcoming Orange County Film Fiesta in Santa Ana, California! The festival runs October 8-18, 2026 and is described as, "the Premier cinematic celebration of the nation's diversity and multicultural heritage." Congratulations to everyone who played a role in this important historical documentary film!

09/02/2026

What a great series planned by the German American Heritage Center & Museum -!

09/02/2026

Send them your shorts! Snake Alley Festival of Film is now open for submissions!

The festival is scheduled for July 8 - 11, 2027. Final deadline to submit is April 1, 2027 (it will be here before you know it).

Surprise!

Submissions for the 15th Annual Snake Alley Festival of Film open September 1, a little earlier than usual.

There’s another date you’ll want to know: our Final Deadline is April 1, 2027, about month earlier than normal.

So if you’ve got a short film or short screenplay you’ve been working on, consider this your friendly advance warning. Plan accordingly. Procrastinate accordingly.

SNAFF 15 takes place July 8–11, 2027 at The Capitol Theater .

Visit FilmFreeway.com/SnakeAlleyFestivalofFilm for all of the details.