Vertex Micro Fest today officially launched as the first national vertical film festival in the United States, dedicated entirely to vertical storytelling, micro dramas, and mobile-first filmmaking. The festival will debut in Atlanta in July 2026 before expanding to Los Angeles, Dallas, New York, Miami, and Chicago.
The festival focuses on short-form vertical films between three and eleven minutes long, created specifically in 9:12 and 9:16 formats for smartphone audiences. It invites creators to make films using any device, from smartphones to professional cinema cameras, emphasizing that great storytelling no longer requires traditional gatekeepers.
“The most powerful stories in the world are being told right now by people who were never given permission to tell them. Vertex exists to change that,” said Yvette Moise, Founder, President and Artistic Director of Vertex Micro Fest.
At the center of the festival is the Vertex Micro Fest 30-Day Challenge, a national filmmaking competition where creators have one month to write, shoot, edit, and complete an original vertical short film. The challenge is open to solo creators, students (high school and college), full production teams, animated projects, and AI and hybrid productions.
Selected films will be featured on the official Vertex Micro Fest website, showcased across the festival's creator network, and screened during live events and award ceremonies throughout the national tour. Entries will be reviewed by a panel of filmmakers, producers, directors, editors, and entertainment industry professionals, with awards presented across multiple creative and technical categories.
The national tour officially begins July 17, 2026. Brands, sponsors, speakers, and creative partners interested in participating are encouraged to connect through the official festival website. Filmmakers can register for the Vertex 30-Day Challenge and review official submission guidelines, deadlines, and runtime requirements at www.reelverts.com.
Vertex Micro Fest is America's first national film festival dedicated exclusively to vertical cinema and mobile-first storytelling. Through live screenings, creator showcases, and filmmaker-first competition models, Vertex is building a new cinematic ecosystem designed for the smartphone era and the future of independent film.
