Films at the 2026 Florida Film Festival highlight Central Florida locations, talent, and creative voices.
Central Florida continues to be represented at the 2026 Florida Film Festival, with a number of films connected to the Orlando region through location, subject matter, and the filmmakers behind them.
Of the 40 films in this year’s lineup that were shot fully or partially in Florida, several were filmed primarily in the greater Orlando area, while others reflect the region’s influence through local talent and institutions.
Below are films with strong ties to Central Florida.
The Call
In this World Premiere, Orlando arts leader Terry Olson travels to Morocco to trace the history of the Green March, connecting an international story to a figure long associated with the region’s cultural community.
Fantasma
Winner of the 2025 Central Florida Film Slam, this Spanish-language film follows a ghost attempting to help a stressed-out student complete their homework, highlighting emerging filmmakers from the region.
First They Came For My College
Featuring Winter Park resident Libby Harrity, this film brings a Central Florida connection through her ties to the local community, including St. Richard’s in Winter Park.
In God’s Hands
Directed by University of Central Florida student Modar Kajo, this World Premiere documentary examines religious legislation impacting schools in Central Florida.
The Man Whom the Trees Loved
Shot in Orlando and along the St. Johns River, this adaptation of Algernon Blackwood’s novella uses local landscapes and experimental techniques to create an atmospheric portrayal of Florida’s natural environment.
My Grandma Still Cleans My Uncle’s Room (Mi Mamita Todavía Mantiene el Cuarto de Mi Tío)
Created by a UCF student filmmaker, this experimental work explores the memories of an undocumented immigrant’s childhood and journey across the border.
Panther Pat
This film revisits a moment in Orlando’s sports history, when the Orlando Panthers became the first professional football team to employ a female player.
Same Water
This film looks back at a segregated riverside recreation space near Silver Springs, connecting Florida history to broader themes of access and memory.
Welcome
This World Premiere highlights Orlando’s first African American poet laureate, Shawn Welcome, offering a portrait of a key local artistic voice.
Wetland Impulse
Created by UCF professor Jimmy Schaus, this experimental film continues a series focused on Florida’s flora, using layered visual techniques to capture the region’s wetlands.
In addition to films shot in the region, this year’s festival also includes work from filmmakers with Central Florida ties. These include Imago, from former Valencia College student Ariel Zengotita, and Return From Tomorrow, the latest film from Full Sail University alum Randy Moore, following his earlier project Escape From Tomorrow.
