Overview
The MetroWest Student Film Festival, presented by TCAN, celebrates the creativity and voices of young filmmakers across the region by providing a professional platform for students to tell their stories through film.
Now in its eighth year, the festival has received more than 1000 film submissions from students across 32 MetroWest communities, highlighting the extraordinary talent and imagination of the region’s youth .
By keeping the festival free and accessible to all participants, TCAN ensures that every student with a story to tell has the opportunity to participate, regardless of financial barriers.
Finalists among these student-created films will be shared with friends, families and the community in TCAN’s state-of-the-art screening room.
We envision the MWSFF as the largest student film festival of its kind in the region. Being part of this festival provides entrants the opportunity to:
- Share films with the regional community
- Screen films in an independent, state-of-the-art cinema
- Network with a jury of judges from the industry, and other filmmakers in the region
- Attend the festival premiere showcase
Additional Information
- Being part of this festival provides entrants the opportunity to:
- Share films with the regional community
- Screen films in an independent, state-of-the-art cinema
- Network with a jury of judges from the industry, and other filmmakers in the region
- Attend the festival premiere showcase
- Submissions for the 2026 MetroWest Student Film Festival are open until April 18th.
- This year’s festival event date with finalist screenings will take place on Sunday, May 17th.
Submission Categories
- Outstanding Live Action Short
- Outstanding Documentary Short
- Outstanding Animated Short
2026 Sponsors
Jay Harrington – Industry Partner
Movie and TV Actor
Wellesley, MA | Los Angeles, CA
MetroWest Subaru – Corporate Partner
2026 Judges
Colin Cosack
Documentary Editor| Animator
New York, NY
Spencer Cohen
Director | Photographer
Natick, MA
Courtney Ford
Photographer | Artist | Community Partner
Natick, MA
John F Hudson
Published Author | Teen advocate | Film educator
Sherborn, MA
Ben Kammer
Audio Engineer | Sound Designer
Chicago, IL
Rick Manoogian
Documentary Video Editor
Boston, MA
Kristy Pace
Theatre Producer
Los Angeles, LA
Scott Pressler
Documentarian | Emmy Award Winner
Natick, MA
Kristen Scannell
Actor | Producer
Natick, MA
Oliver Thom
Producer | Photographer
Natick, MA
Kaj Wilson
Film Professor | Editor
Newton, MA
Festival Winners
- MWSFF 2019
- Outstanding Animated Short: Race for the Breakfast Sandwich by Max Ludwig, Liam Caldicott and Tommy Smith of Maynard, MA
- Outstanding Documentary Short: 80 Pounds by Hadley McPhee of Millis, MA
- Outstanding Live Action Short: How to: Be a Man by Ella Friedman, Ben Senior, Aaron Razi, Emma Fallon, Alexander Crocker and Simon Templar of Needham, MA
- MWSFF 2020
- Outstanding Animated Short: Get Your Ducks in a Row by Jordan Mullen, Lindsey Campbell and Mykenzi Billings of Maynard, MA
- Outstanding Documentary Short: Dama-Nation, A Millis High School Kendama Story by Brian Weloth, Cole Sull, Dylan Sumner and Josh Vaz of Millis, MA
- Outstanding Live Action Short: Almost Will by Yunqi (Richard) Li and Will Jevon of Concord, MA
- MWSFF 2021
- Outstanding Animated Short: Mirror: Theseus’ Paradox by Kiha Ahn of Natick, MA
- Outstanding Documentary Short: FOR ME by Alessa Maiuri of Millis, MA
- Outstanding Live Action Short: A Day with Payne by Alex Colocousis of Marlborough, MA
- MWSFF 2022
- Outstanding Animated Short: Unspoken Waves by Kiha Ahn of Natick, MA
- Outstanding Documentary Short: Community by Jaden Adams and Cole Blumenau of Millis, MA
- Outstanding Live Action Short: White Js by Zhangyuan Zhao of Natick, MA
- MWSFF 2023
- Outstanding Animated Short: Villain in a Flower Shop by Juju Rosario of Framingham, MA
- Outstanding Documentary Short: Annie Weatherwax by Milo Giordano of Natick, MA
- Outstanding Live Action Short: A Long Walk Home by Shane Lawrence Ynger of Medfield, MA
- MWSFF 2024
- Outstanding Animated Short: Trip to the Moon by Carl Kirchhoff of Medfield, MA
- Outstanding Documentary Short: I Can Shine by Sean Leahy of Maynard, MA
- Outstanding Live Action Short: The Agreement by Cecilia Li and Caden Krauter of Natick, MA
- MWSFF 2025
- Outstanding Animated Short: The Solo by Alden Jane Purtell of Natick, MA
- Outstanding Documentary Short: Budget Issues at NPS by Raven McBride, Isabella Dugan and Ruby Metcalf of Newton, MA
- Outstanding Live Action Short: The Sun’s Omen by Zeke Braman of Acton, MA
