Local competition listed as one of “25 Coolest Film Festivals”

The Prize Foundation recently announced that the Louisiana Film Prize/Prize Fest has been named one of MovieMaker Magazine’s “25 Coolest Film Festivals in the World.”

The achievement highlights the creativity, community and talent that Prize Fest has developed over its 14 years. The list is published each year by the magazine’s “Panel of Cool,” described as a group of acclaimed filmmakers, festival veterans and industry experts who select festivals they find exciting, welcoming and unforgettable.

That description synthesizes the goal for which Prize Foundation Executive Director Gregory Kallenberg and his staff have been striving.

“It’s been a list I’ve had my eye on for a long time,” he said. “More than anything, it’s national recognition of this festival in Shreveport, Louisiana, which has learned to punch way above its weight. It’s something I’m ecstatic about. This community needs to have pride in the fact, especially for a community that beats itself up all the time, pride in the fact that local people have built something that the world of MovieMaker Magazine has shone the light on. That’s a big deal.”

The Louisiana Film Prize took its place among festivals like SXSW (Austin), Telluride and the Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival in France, a position which the Foundation says highlights the festival’s impact on filmmakers and its unique place in the national festival landscape.

Kallenberg said that for the Louisiana Film Festival to have the same recognition as Venice, Italy, or Aspen, Colo., is huge.

“The light certainly shines brighter on us.

There are more people in the film industry and filmmakers who are focused on us. People look at this list. There are people in the film industry in Los Angeles and New York who really want to come to Shreveport, La. [The festivals on the list] are film festivals that people like Sundance look at. They’re like, huh? What’s going on in Shreveport, La.?

“People are now looking to our city as a place where they can do their work. That means a lot to Film Prize and where Film Prize has lifted itself,” Kallenberger continued, “but it also has a lot to say about Shreveport and Bossier and how we are welcoming creatives and building something here that really is part of our economy, which is a super important part of the equation.”

Registration for the 2026 Louisiana Film Prize is now officially open, with a special kickoff event planned for January featuring a final showcase of the Golden Lens nominees and the announcement of this year’s Golden Lens winner. Filmmakers from across the country are being encouraged to begin developing their Louisiana-based projects to enter the festival.

To learn more about Film Prize and for official rules, visit www.prizefest.com/film.

“We have a saying here at the Prize Foundation that we celebrate all our accomplishments … briefly. The idea is to congratulate ourselves and pat ourselves on the back but also know that there is a hill to climb. We are constantly thinking about how to improve ourselves, how to grow our foot-print, to have a greater impact, not only in our community but in our world.”