The Future of Film Association and Optix is ready to crown Nevada’s best 9:16 storytellers at the Vertical Vision Awards Night. On December 18 in Las Vegas, the Future of Film Association’s Vertical Vision Micro Filmmaking Challenge, presented by OPTIX, will announce winners live and award $10,000 in prizes, including the OPTIX Visionary Award. Expect finalist screenings, on-stage reveals, and a packed house for a format built for the way audiences watch now.
What to Expect at the Vertical Vision Awards Night
The ceremony celebrates craft and creativity across Nevada’s vertical film scene. One filmmaker will receive the OPTIX Visionary Award and a $5,000 grand prize, with additional honors recognizing audience favorite and standout achievements across performance and cinematography.
The judging panel includes FOFA leadership and film and media pros who value authentic voice, smart composition, and stories that land on a phone screen as powerfully as they do on a theater wall.
How the Challenge Worked
Entrants created original micro films designed for mobile viewing in a vertical 9:16 frame, keeping their stories tight at roughly ninety seconds. The brief emphasized live-action craft, clear visual storytelling, and originality, with no reliance on AI tools. The result is a finalist slate that proves small screens can deliver big impact.
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As the final envelopes open on December 18 at FOFA’s Las Vegas headquarters, Vertical Vision will highlight a new wave of Nevada filmmakers who are shaping the next era of cinematic storytelling, one portrait-mode frame at a time
Which award are you most eager to see announced, the OPTIX Visionary Award or a craft standout? What makes a vertical micro film truly hit on a phone screen? Who is your pick to take the night? Share your thoughts in the comments or @me.
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