About
The Ozark Media Arts Festival is a student-focused event providing an opportunity for local and regional students to showcase their work, compete, and gain exposure to the professional worlds of digital film and video, broadcast television, podcasting, photography, media marketing, and graphic design. Whether in middle school, junior high, or high school, students bring their best to this exciting display of art.
DISCOVER WHAT OMAF HAS TO OFFER
ABOUT OMAF
Ozark Media Arts Festival is the premiere festival in the Midwest showcasing video, photography graphic design, and print journalism from middle, junior, and high school students. Students can:
Compete in upload + onsite competitions
Attend a college, career, and tech expo
Attend industry-led workshops in broadcast, film, production, photography, graphic design, and business
Build strong connections and networks to enable a sustainable pathway from education to industry
16 Year Impact
ATTENDEES IN DOWNTOWN SPRINGDALE
11,000 +
VENDORS FROM INDUSTRY AND EDUCATION
100 +
DONAED IN MONEY AND PRIZES TO OMAF WINNERS
$70,000
VISION AND MISSON
The Ozark Media Arts Festival will focus on the youth in the Midwest, encouraging the digital mediums and arts to flourish in the hearts and minds of students by providing pathways to employment and a means of funding for after school and summer programs, a mentoring program and venue for young artists to show and perform their work
Invest in programs through funding and equipment donation
Develop pathways to employment after graduation
Ozark Media Arts Festival is free to enter and free to attend
Arkansas Career and Technical Education (CTE) Success Ready Pathways
We are proud to announce that our competitions are fully cross-walked with the 2026-2027 Arkansas Career and Technical Education (CTE) Success Ready Pathways. This alignment ensures that student participation directly supports the "Demonstration of Readiness" required for the Arkansas Diploma with Merit.
Our categories are intentionally tiered to match the ADE’s three-level pathway structure:
Level 1 (Foundational): Competitions focusing on technical safety, equipment mastery, and fundamental ethics.
Level 2 (Concentrator): Competitions requiring specialized storytelling, complex workflows, and narrative structure.
Level 3 (Completer): High-level capstone categories focusing on leadership, project management, and industry-ready portfolios.
OMAF categories specifically align with the following leveled pathways within the Arts, Entertainment, & Design cluster:
A/V Tech & Film (Levels 1-3): Focus on Broadcast Journalism, News Gathering, and Live Production.
Digital Cinema (Levels 1-3): Focus on Narrative Storytelling, Cinematic Arts, and Creative Direction.
Radio Broadcasting (Levels 1-3): Focus on Audio Production, Podcasting, and Oral Communication.
Commercial Photography (Levels 1-3): Focus on Technical Exposure, Subject Storytelling, and Professional Composition.
Advertising & Graphic Design (Levels 1-3): Focus on Branding, Layout Design, and Commercial Visual Communication.
Visual Arts & Fashion (Levels 1-3): Focus on Fashion Photography, Apparel Aesthetics, and Visual Merchandising.
Festival Leadership
Festival Director
Leah Garrett brings a strong background in running political campaigns, combining strategic insight with hands-on experience. Outside of her professional work, Leah enjoys hiking and exploring the outdoors, where she finds inspiration and balance.
Festival Founder
Trent Jones is the proud husband to Bayleigh, and father of two wonderful children, Ramey and Ross. Trent is the Communications Director for Springdale Public Schools. He oversees one of the largest civic communication departments in Arkansas.
2026 National School Board Public Relations Association Communication Awards Application
CONNECTION
Filmmakers, photographers, colleges and companies attend OMAF to meet and talk to students in WORKSHOPS and one-on-one in the MEDIA ARTS FAIR
EDUCATION
Student centered workshops from industry professionals with in depth lessons and tips through FESTIVAL WORKSHOPS
Teachers, Colleges, and Businesses have in depth discussions to connect and share in the LEADERSHIP COUNCIL and a specialized ADVISOR WORKSHOP geared towards industry professionals
COMPETITION
Students and programs can submit content from the past school year for awards in the UPLOAD COMPETITION and see their work on the big screen or take on the challenge to create from concept to content in 5 hours at the festival during ONSITE COMPETITION
INDUSTRY
Win awards and prizes at OPENING AND CLOSING CEREMONIES from competitions and OF THE YEAR AWARDS that acknowledge a stand out Photographer, Filmmaker, Broadcast Journalist and Teacher of the Year
