2026 OIF X Challenge - ORLANDO
Welcome to the OIF Orlando “X” Challenge as we celebrate OIF’s 10th Year Anniversary with yet another memorable event production.
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Genres: Psychological Thriller / Drama, Rom-Com, and Superhero
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Scripts Due: December 8, 2025
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Films Due: March 9, 2026
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Premiere: TBD – End of April 2026
Orlando X challenge - Official Script Selection!
Super Hero
Prescience – Dale Metz
A young woman doubts everything she sees and feels until something happens which will change her forever. [ PG ]
Shadowman – Jacob Schwartz
When a young boy’s careless wish for his sister to vanish is granted, it unleashes a dark entity, the Shadowman, who seeks to erase all siblings from existence. Now, the boy must confront his own guilt to stop the monster he created. [ PG-13 ]
Soundspire – Nick Marinucci
A reluctant guardian and her best friend take on a monster feeding on culture itself, guided only by the music of a dying city. [ PG-13 ]
True North – Luke Riether
A grieving 13-year-old boy rejects his stepfather until a warehouse accident forces him to accept that real heroes don’t wear capes, they just show up. [ PG ]
SuperZero – Ashleigh Ann Wood
An aspiring superhero goes in for an audition to be a hero or a sidekick… super big difference! [ PG-13 ]
Job Hunt – Noah Camenker
Thor, God of Thunder, faces his greatest enemy yet: unemployment in America. [ PG-13 ]
Three Minutes – Andrea Howard
A kind theater tech and devoted grandson with the secret ability to influence someone for exactly three minutes tries to engineer the perfect first date, but when his “small” manipulations almost cost him a real connection, he must choose vulnerable honesty over control. [ G ]
Captain Courageous – Larry Elavsky
An out-of-shape mid-50s man hits his head at the Halloween party and thinks he’s the superhero that he dressed up as. He tries to save his small town from petty crime if only he could catch his breath long enough to do it [ PG-13 ]
World’s Collide: Rise Of El Fenix Dorado – Doc Anthony Bravo
After being slain while trying to rescue his kidnapped sister from a corrupt organization, a young man of Aztec descent is resurrected in the ancestral spirit realm and reborn as El Fénix Dorado (the Golden Phoenix) a supernatural hero who must rise from the ashes of vengeance to defend his people and confront the evil empire that destroyed his family. [ PG-13 ]
The Real Hero – Dagniel Mantilla Sanchez
A young nurse secretly becomes a sick child’s favorite superhero, only to discover that the child is the one who teaches him what it truly means to be a hero. [ G ]
PSION – Valerie Jones Rash
A woman who has broken away from a group of powerful female telepaths is forced into a confrontation by their manipulative leader, prompting a battle of psychic powers that will determine the fates of everyone involved. [ PG-13 ]
Impact – Jennifer Coe
One man learns what it truly costs to save the world. [ PG-13 ]
A Mystery At Midnight – J. Anthony D’Aguiar
David and Dana, fraternal twins, have been living their best lives with their adoptive parents until their biological parents crime fighting vigilante past catches up with them. [ PG-13 ]
Quantum Shark – Danny Day
Quantum Shark. A science experiment gone wrong has unleashed a time and space traveling quantum shark. You thought spontaneous combustion was bad!!! [ G ]
Becoming Marsden – Raines McMichael
Raines and Harvey are trying to film a superhero short film for a class; however, Harvey discovers Raines’s insane obsession with James Marsden [ PG-13 ]
Villainess – Dominique Gomez
” Set in a dystopian America of 2094, this film follows the origin story of a rebellion of the forgotten homeless also known as drifters led by a mysterious woman known as the Villainess, who dares to challenge a corrupt government and corporate elite that have criminalized poverty itself. Through her uprising, the film explores resilience, unity, and the human right to exist in a world that has traded compassion for control.” [ PG-13 ]
My Mom The SuperHero – Angel Guekdjian
“A child narrates the epic, imaginary adventures of his overworked mother — a woman who, in his eyes, is a full-fledged superhero — revealing that the greatest superpower of all is love.” [ G ]
SUBPOENA KNIGHT – Brian Brijbag
A notorious vigilante’s “heroic” misfire triggers a legal war as a razor-sharp attorney sends a near-mythical child process server to bring him in, leading to an explosive clash of capes, subpoenas, and egos. [ PG ]
Rom-Com
Couples Therapy – TL Westgtae
Chloe and Luke hate each other at work. But they’re up for a promotion and have to find some middle ground. [ PG ]
Backstabbed: A Love Story – Joe Boi
In a world where everyone literally wears the knives left in their backs from past relationships, two charmingly over-stabbed romantics meet over oat milk lattes and must figure out if they’re brave enough to risk adding a few more blades for a shot at something real. [ PG-13 ]
Sleeping Brittany – Sky Belluomini
What happens when a fairytale goes wrong? Phil is prepared to sweep his princess off of her feet but he must fend off the evil witch but not all is as it seems. [ PG ]
Drifting – Jeffrey Fowler
When a guarded drifter asks an aimless newcomer for a ride, the two men set off on a journey through the dangerous swamps and empty backroads of Central Florida. [ PG-13 ]
THE LOUNGE SINGER – Jay Bogdanowitsch
A down on his luck Lounge Singer seeks glory, but instead finds so much more. [ PG ]
Vows for Cash – Aline Lucas
To save his company, Bob would do anything including giving his daughter hand to get married with a guy she doesn’t know. [ G ]
They Don’t Get Me Like You Do – Joshua Shaffer
A timid husband must win back his wife after the world’s clingiest dictator decides he’s the only man for him. [ PG ]
Two If By Wonderland – Brandon Miles
When a free spirited barista named Alice starts working at a coffee shop, she meets a chaotic, eccentric lyricist named Mad Hatter. What starts off as a clash of quirks. Slowly brews into a whimsical, awkward and oddly heartfelt romance. [ PG-13 ]
Taking it over Too – Tiffany Cribbs
After crashing and burning while trying to take over Dad’s lawn business, Avery’s newest takeover attempt — his aunt’s dive bar — ends with bruises, bikers, Thanksgiving fistfights, and a failed proposal. But hey… second time’s the charm? [ PG-13 ]
The Mailbox – Matthew Komorowski
A young man and young woman has an encounter at their mailbox which turns into a budding romance [ PG-13 ]
Rope – Hugo Rivera
On his way to “end” the pain of his broken heart, Charles “Chip” Jensen meets a woman with a different outlook of life. [ PG-13 ]
Thanks For Waiting – Sebastian Rose
A shy romantic tries all night to talk to a girl, but fate keeps getting in the way; until the moment he stops trying. [ PG-13 ]
No Leash On Love – Alirio Gonzalez
When a woman leaves for work, her pets magically transform into their human forms, sparking jealousy, romance, and chaos as they struggle to keep order — and their secret — before she returns home. [ G ]
Edge Of The Universe – PhoeNyx Rising
During one quiet night under the stars, a playful game between two lovers turns into an emotional revelation as they confront the reality of distance and promise that even at the edge of the universe, love will find a way. [ PG-13 ]
Psych-Thriller
The Prisoner – David Kashner
A cat burglar’s attempt to steal from a cult leads to her being tasked by them to break their leader out from a rival cult, who has him prisoner. [ PG-13 ]
Where the Light Stays – Stephanie Kirves
When a woman awakens in a familiar yet distorted version of her past, she must navigate haunting visions and fragmented memories to uncover what’s real before the light around her fades completely. [ PG ]
Divided We Fall – David Powers
A couple in therapy uncovers the truth behind the political walls destroying their marriage. [ PG-13 ]
Bloomdale Survivor – Ayanna Jackson
Ten years after surviving a brutal attack, a therapist’s fragile healing unravels when a teen patient who seems like a mirror of her childhood self forces her to face the truth she’s fought to forget. [ PG-13 ]
catfished – vidal ramos
two friends one handsome one jealous. the handsome friend is a good friend and the jealous one is not so friendly [ G ]
Grief – Mason Vaughn
After witnessing the violent death of his mother, a grieving man spirals into a delusion filled quest for vengeance ; unaware the family he’s fighting for has only ever existed in his mind. [ G ]
The Return – Matty Murillo
THE RETURN. After a tragic accident claims his wife and daughter, a grieving man encounters a mysterious alien entity that reveals the interconnectedness of all life, guiding him on a surreal journey to reunite with his family in another dimension. [ PG ]
The Bag – RYAN Sylvester
[ PG-13 ]
3 Way Drama – Malvin Delgado
When a guarded woman becomes entangled in a volatile triangle of love, loyalty & obsession, the three of them are forced into a dangerous emotional showdown where one truth shatters everything. [ G ]
Struggle – Jason Rebholz
“A man, struggling with addiction, attempts to balance his life with his three strains of consciousness: EGO; SUPER-EGO; and ID.” [ PG ]
Murder Avenue – Joseph Torres
Under house arrest and battling his own paranoia, a young man becomes convinced his neighbors across the street have committed a murder but when his friends dismiss him, his obsession turns deadly as he uncovers a truth more personal than he ever imagined. [ PG-13 ]
Darvocet – Brandon Blackburn
After taking too much pain medication, a father spirals into a hallucination where he believes he murdered his family — until a furious confrontation with a hallucinated older version of his son forces him to wake up before he loses them for real. [ PG-13 ]
Saturn’s Diner – Hanna Moore
SATURN’S DINER. A cold-hearted businessman invites his runaway son to their go-to family diner in hopes of inducting him into the family business. [ PG-13 ]
En Passant – Brody Woolley
An older man teaches a young man a very valuable life lesson through a game of chess. This is a multi-layered story with multiple parallels. This film teaches the value in making good decisions and how these decisions will impact the future. [ PG ]
WHEN WE AWOKE – Justin Bansraj
WHEN WE AWOKE. After a violent crash leaves two strangers trapped between life and death, their nightly phone calls turn into a race against time as they uncover the terrifying truth of where they really are, and why they may not survive awakening. [ PG ]
Bayside Invasion – Axel Aponte
After a chaotic New Year’s Eve fight erupts at Bayside Mall, a group of friends and a lost influencer discover they’re being hunted by a mimicry using, shadow shifting extraterrestrial as their footage, livestreams, and even their own voices turn against them in a desperate fight to escape the mall alive. [ PG-13 ]
Exhale – Jonna Volz
Seeking peace in a secluded beachside condo, a haunted government agent is drawn in by a magnetic young couple—only to discover that the past he’s been running from isn’t done with him yet. [ PG-13 ]
Moontext – Geoff Scott
A controlling father comes to terms with his past while the family deals with something ominous happening to the moon. [ PG-13 ]
SHIFT – Rob Herrera
A young night-shift security guard finds herself trapped inside a massive warehouse with a disturbed stranger searching for something. [ PG-13 ]
Bad Flower – Kristel Estephania
After rescuing his teenage sister from a flower obsessed cult, a hot-headed older brother teams up with a runaway cult boy and the girl’s dubious best friend to rescue missing kids and escape a small town conspiracy that reaches all the way to the governor’s office and quickly spreading statewide [ PG-13 ]
25 to Life – Jelani Aurelus & Christina Konieczka
A humble gas-station employee named Daniel becomes trapped in a disturbing countdown that no one else can perceive, forcing him to piece together its meaning before the clock hits zero. [ PG-13 ]
Detective To – Hugh DiMauro
After Detective Wes Wallingford’s undercover drug investigation goes horribly wrong, almost killing a rookie colleague, he must navigate his uncertain future reassigned to the Report Review Unit under the supervision of his new and strange sergeant who attempts to help him reconcile his guilt. [ PG-13 ]
Side Effects – Harvey Wood
An agent takes a pill before being tortured that causes uncontrollable laughter in response to pain. [ PG-13 ]
Bound by Blood – Nicole Wulf Maldonado
After discovering his great-grandmother’s enigmatic diary while clearing out her estate, a man unwittingly breaks it’s ancient seal, thrusting himself into a mysterious and supernatural ordeal. [ PG-13 ]
Overtime – Kevin Walker
Virgil a hard working Family Man gets the Overtime for the first time and ends up risking more than he bargained for. [ PG-13 ]
Hidden Desires – Adriana Cabrera
In a futuristic psychiatric facility, a brilliant but traumatized doctor uses a mind-link device to probe the memories of a death row inmate, only to awaken her own buried abuse and unleash a shared darkness that drives her toward becoming the very monster she seeks to understand. [ PG-13 ]
The Breakdown – Lonnie Jackson
It follows Amanda, a young mother, and her daughter Jenni as they experience a terrifying encounter after their truck starts smoking in a dark, empty parking lot. [ PG ]
Don’t Fear Shadows – Coco Gutierrez
A trans woman preparing for a first date battles relentless anxiety manifested as a shadowy figure stalking her through her day, until a moment of truth forces her to confront both her fear and her hope for real connection. [ PG-13 ]
Reflected Sin – Jonathan Wright
When a soft-spoken stranger meets with a celebrated serial killer for “research,” their conversation spirals into a battle of control, ending with a brutal revelation that marks the beginning of a predator’s rise. [ PG-13 ]
Cross to Bear – Lewis Leslie
When two teen boys summon a demonic presence, they find themselves in a vicious fight for their lives. [ PG-13 ]
A BEAUTIFUL FAMILY – Aris Ramos
A lonely woman obsessed with the idea of a perfect family shelters an imaginary household inside her mind—until the truth of what she’s done behind a locked door unravels, forcing her to seek a new “perfect” family to keep forever. [ PG-13 ]
CHALLENGE RULES
In order to be eligible for an award, entrants must follow all general rules and guidelines, which are found on our main site. Visit the link, be sure to read the terms CAREFULLY AND ENTIRELY. Share these rules with your crew. Any additional Challenge-specific considerations for this Challenge will be posted below.
Additional Considerations:
Your film project must be in one of these genres: Psychological Thriller / Drama, Rom-Com, and Superhero – max runtime 9 minutes.
Award Categories for this Challenge
Best Picture, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actor, Best Supporting Actress, Best Music, Best Director, Best Cinematographer, Best Editor, Best Original Story, Best Sound, Best Set Design, Best Hair/MUA.
This OIF Script-To-Screen Short Film Challenge is to write and produce a short film, with a total run-time of 9 minutes or less.
Your goal is to push the envelope of your imagination and efforts to create something the judges will be wowed by and the audience will remember for some time! Here you can make a name for yourself and step up to the next level of recognition.
Films are judged for originality, story, audio, cinematography, and other technicals. Talent is judged on performance. Once tabulated, the winners in each of the award categories up for grabs are announced at the Awards Ceremony, where the iconic OIF Crystal Awards are presented for 13 categories.
OIF produces a celebratory networking event for members to meet with other collaborative individuals that may help your careers and aspirations grow.
You may post casting calls in our Facebook group. Be sure to use the hashtag #OIFXChallenge so the moderators can quickly identify your post entry.
NO filming prior to script selections being posted on this page.
Pg-13 no nudity. Look for the participant POLL in the fb group to help you find your cast and crew…and remember…if you need help, it is always easier to find it if you’ve already helped others in this collaborative community. Good luck all!