HOW TO FEST
Ozark Media Arts Festival is a FREE student festival that provides 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
Graphic design
Print Journalism
Whether in middle school, junior high, or high school, the students bring their best to this exciting display of art.
Ozark Media Arts Festival was founded in 2011 to encourage student artists to seek careers in the arts by providing them a venue for competition and showcasing their work, and continually providing real-life networking opportunities to students.
PLEASE NOTE: This competition is ONLY open to registered students in the region of Arkansas and its bordering states, including Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri, Tennessee, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas. This festival is designed to serve a specified region so that it can excel in uplifting and supporting those students to a successful future in the media arts.
One of the most important aspects of OMAF is the direct connection to industry professionals. Students will have the opportunity to meet and talk to colleges, companies, and mentors to learn how to get their foot in the door and advice to become a new professional.
Media Arts Fair
Workshops
There will be industry-led workshops for teachers and students to attend throughout the day. Workshops focus on Filmmaking, Journalism, Photography, Graphic Design, Entrepreneurship, and much more.
Regional Leadership Advisory Council
The purpose of the Regional Advisory/Leadership Council meeting is to build sustainable relationships between education to industry. In this meeting, teachers and industry leaders will work together to identify industry needs and how education can best serve. Industry will learn about the educational ecosystem and how best to leverage it.
*Teachers, this also counts as one of your required Regional Advisory Councils for the Arkansas Department of Education.
Important Documents
Run of Show
Day One: Competition Day
Tuesday, October 14, 2025
9:00 - 9:50 AM - Check-in - Teachers/Advisors will receive information about their students on-site competition locations and the program.
10:00 - 10:30 AM - Opening Ceremony - Announce winners of the upload competitions winners, provide further event details, and the winners of the Reza tickets with hosts: Sunshine Border & Joshua Pineda
10:30 AM - 2:30 PM - On-Site Competitions - Students go to their respective locations to compete.
11:00 AM - 12:00 PM - Mixer & Networking - Teachers/Advisors/Presenters/Judges go to Mano's on Emma.
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM - Lunch - Teachers/Advisors/Volunteers at Mano's & OMAF is providing lunch.
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM - Regional Advisory Leadership Meeting - Teachers/Advisors/Presenter/Judges at Mano's on Emma.
2:30 PM - 2:50PM - Students turn in their final production to respective locations.
3:00 PM - 4:00 PM - Student Upload Screeners - buses start arriving for pick up.
3:00 PM - 5:00 PM - Judging begins at Mano's on Emma.
Note: FilmFreeWay Permission: Please remember that I need permission from teachers to download and screen their students' upload competition content. Once winners are announced, please grant me access.
Day Two: Workshop & Awards Day
Wednesday, October 15, 2025
8:30 AM - 8:50 AM - Check-In - Please arrive on time to ensure a smooth start to the day. For those of you that is your first day, please check-in at the Medium.
9:00 AM - 9:45 AM - Workshop Block 1 - First session with industry experts. Do not be late!
10:00 AM - 10:45 AM - Workshop Block 2 - Second session with industry experts. Do not be late!
11:00 AM - 11:45 AM - Workshop Block: 3 - Final session with industry experts. Do not be late!
12:00 PM - 1:20 PM - Lunch break.
1:30 PM - 2:30 PM - Closing Ceremony - With hosts: Sunshine Border & Joshua Pineda and Special Guests
Note: The festival program will contain detailed locations for all workshops, on-site competitions, and other activities
Two Day Agenda
Map of Downtown Springdale
Hotels
Home2Suites by Hilton
2 Queen Studio Suite - $162/night +13.75% tax
Includes a queen sofa
2 queens beds
Cutoff Date: 9/23/2025
Booking call: 479-756-1260 and press 0. Takes you straight to the front desk
Check-in: 3:00 PM
Check-out: 11:00 AM
Breakfast included
Up to 6 kids
La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham
Doubles - $109/night +13.75% tax
2 queens beds
Cutoff Date: 9/23/2025
Booking call: 479-265-9750 or Booking Link
Check-in: 3:00 PM
Check-out: 11:00 AM
Breakfast include
Up to 4 kids