Welcome to the 1930s!
The BYU Copyright Licensing Office is proud to host the 7th annual BYU Public Domain Film Festival! This film festival celebrates creative works that have recently lost their copyright status by challenging student filmmaking teams to transform old books, films, and music into original short films.
This year, as of January 1st, 2026, creative works published in 1930 entered the public domain. We invite all students from BYU, BYU Hawaii, and BYU Idaho, to compete for a chance to have their film played in front of a packed crowd at our Finalist Screening and win a coveted PDFF Cosmo Trophy.
Attend our upcoming Public Screening Awards Show, on March 27th at 7PM MDT in the Varsity Theater, of the top finalists from the competition! Tickets are free but required for entry.
Our 2026 Public Domain Film Festival Finalists:
CONSEQUENCE by ADG
Hot Garbage by CGI Dinosaurs
Deadhead by Eterna Pictures
Revelations 8:1 by Golden Touch Media
Out There by Hogwild Studios
Where the River Leaves the Road by Legacy Cinema
Where There's a Will, There's a Way by Luso/Stadium Pictures
The Flowers You Left by Phil Creates
Stare by Team TwoMorrow
Linger On by The 185ers
Prizes
