About Cinema On The Bayou Film Festival
Mission Statement
Cinema on the Bayou Film Festival is committed to presenting nationally and internationally acclaimed narrative fiction, documentary, animated and experimental films and filmmakers with truly original voices. The festival is also committed to advancing the understanding of Cajun and Creole cultures through film screenings, film panels and cultural exchanges among French Louisiana, the United States and the Francophone countries of the world.
Cinema on the Bayou presents U.S. and Louisiana premieres of new, cutting edge, fiction and non-fiction films from around the world in a relaxing environment, laced and embellished with Cajun culture's unique identity markers, exquisite cuisine and great music. We screen uncompromising, thought-provoking films that make us laugh and cry; engage in serious discussions about matters important to independent filmmakers; and have a lot of fun and good times with old friends and make important connections with new friends who share our commitment to quality film.
Louisiana's Second Oldest Film Festival
Cinema on the Bayou, Louisiana's second oldest film festival, is an annual eight-day film festival founded in 2006 by filmmaker Pat Mire, who serves as Artistic Director of the Festival. Now in its seventeenth year, the Festival is held beginning in the last week of January at various venues in and around of Lafayette, Louisiana. Cinema on the Bayou has the unique distinction among film festivals of having given the "Audience Award" to a film, "The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore," one year before that film was nominated and received an Academy Award. Cinema on the Bayou also has the distinction of having one of the largest opening night audiences at a Louisiana film festival when 800-plus people attended the Louisiana premiere of "Little Chenier," knocking out "Spiderman" at Celebrity Theaters in Broussard. All of this is presented in a setting that provides the opportunity for plenty of fun and good times with old friends and to make important connections with new friends who share a commitment to quality film.
Cinema on the Bayou Film Society
Cinema on the Bayou Film Festival is presented each year by Cinema on the Bayou Film Society, a Section 501(c)(3) non-profit Louisiana corporation. The Board of Directors includes: Pat Mire, Rebecca Hudsmith, Robert Dafford and David Cheramie. Pat Mire serves as Artistic Director and Rebecca Hudsmith serves as Director of the Festival and head of Programming. Both serve on a volunteer basis. Casey Deshotels and Teamwork Solutions are in charge of the Festival Website and Print Design. Volunteer and supporter Alan Broussard is in charge of Guest and Food Services. Board Member and Volunteer Robert Dafford is in charge of the Festival Design. Advisory Board Members include: Louise Lamarre, Filmmaker, Concordia University, Montreal; Olivier "Bill" Bilodeau, Producer, Quebec City; John Blouin, Filmmaker, Quebec; Marc-Andre Forcier, Filmmaker, Montreal; Helgi Piccinin, Filmmaker, Montreal; Maxime-Claude L'Ecuyer, Filmmaker, Montreal; Andy Cope, Filmmaker, Austin, Texas; Julie Frigualt, Filmmaker, Moncton, New Brunswick; Jean-Pierre Bruneau, Filmmaker and Journalist, Paris; Philippe Vaucher, Animation Filmmaker, Montreal; Wendell Riley, Animation Filmmaker, Shreveport, Louisiana; Bonnie Friedman, Documentary Filmmaker, Breaux Bridge, Louisiana; and Taylor Cooper, Filmmaker, Lafayette.
The Festival depends on a large number of community volunteers and relies on monetary donations from both individuals and corporate sponsors, as well as in-kind donations from our incredibly supportive network of community sponsors as well as ticket sales.
Cinema on the Bayou is committed to using its resources to bring great films to the community along with the independent filmmakers who make the films and present them in state-of-the-art settings along with plenty of good food, music and fun.
How To Submit A Film
Film submissions are now open for the 20th Cinema on the Bayou Film Festival to be held on January 22- January 29, 2025. Films must be submitted through FilmFreeway.
FILM CATEGORIES: Narrative Feature, Narrative Short, Documentary Feature, Documentary Short, Animated Short and Experimental Short.
AWARDS: The "goujon caille" (the spotted catfish -- Cajun culture's most prized catfish) award, made by renowned artists Pat and Andre Juneau, is a juried award in each of the film categories. It is also given for the Director's Choice Award, Le Train Bleu Award, the Inspiration Award and the Audience Award.
ELIGIBILITY: The film must have been completed after January 31, 2023.
PREMIERE REQUIREMENTS: Preference will be given to World, U.S. and Louisiana Premieres. Films that have screened publically in Lafayette, Louisiana or within a 75-mile radiau of Lafayette, as well as films that have been released in theaters or on VOD or other internet outlets in the U.S. are NOT elgible for submission.
DEADLINES AND FEES:
Earlybird Deadline - June 28, 2024 - $30.00
Regular Deadline - September 6, 2024 - $40.00
Late Deadline - October 18, 2024 - $50.00
Extended Deadline - November 15, 2024 - $60.00
Notification of Official Selections - December 13, 2024.
ADDITIONAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS: see Festival listing at FILMFREEWAY.
If you would like to submit a film directly to the Festival, please contact us at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
