Books
FirstGlance Philadelphia Film Festival Announces Call for Entries for 29th Annual Event New Submission Categories for 2026 Include AI, Animation, and International
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Entering its 29th year, FirstGlance continues its mission to spotlight original storytelling; connect filmmakers with audiences and fellow filmmakers; and support students, first-time, and professional independent filmmakers through their social media channels using the supportindiefilm hashtag.
Starting November 1, 2025, categories open for submission include live-action and animated films in all genres including horror, sci-fi, fantasy, drama, and comedy in every category.
Feature Film (over 45 min.)
Feature Documentary (over 45 min.)
Short Documentary (under 45 min.)
Short Film (under 45 min.)
Animated Shorts (under 30 min.)
Artificial Intelligence (AI) Shorts (under 30 min.)
Shorts Too (under 10 min.)
Student Shorts (under 25 min.)
Music Videos (under 7 min.)
Web Series Pilots (under 15 min.)
Trailers (under 5 min.)
International (under 30 min.)
Selected films will be showcased during the festival and will be eligible for a variety of awards in 25 nominating categories for Official Selections, plus Audience Choice in each category, BEST OF FEST awards, and a Special Shot in Philly Category that welcomes submissions produced and shot in the Philadelphia and Pennsylvania regions. Winners are announced at a live awards ceremony on closing night.
FirstGlance awards over $25,000 in prizes and giveaways annually. And, as a celebration of Philadelphia’s 250th Anniversary in 2026, FirstGlance will award a $250 cash prize to the Best of Fest winner. Additionally, for any category that reaches 250 entries, the winner will be awarded $250 cash prize.
Submissions open on November 1st exclusively via FilmFreeway at https://filmfreeway.com/FirstGlanceFilmFestivals.
FirstGlance Founder and Director Bill Ostroff said, “With more filmmakers using AI tools, we felt it was time to open up a call for entries for shorts in that category for our 2026 Philadelphia festival. We are also adding animation and international shorts to our growing list of submission categories to recognize world cinema directors who excel in filmmaking.”
Call for entries runs through February 2026. For rules, submission details, and prize packages, visit https://filmfreeway.com/FirstGlanceFilmFestivals.
Celebrating everything indie, FirstGlance Film Festival has grown and expanded to both coasts since its founding in 1996. To find out more about the FirstGlance Film Festival, please visit https://firstglancefilms.com/.
About FirstGlance Films
FirstGlance Films began in 1996 as an indie film festival in the basement of a small theater in Center City Philadelphia. FirstGlance Films has produced more than fifty festivals in Philadelphia and Los Angeles. In addition to producing its award-winning bi-coastal film festivals, FirstGlance promotes and champions indie filmmakers year-round using the supportindiefilm hashtag on social media. For more information, please visit firstglancefilms.com.
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Books
New Children’s Book ‘Mocha, the Ground Fairy’ Follows a Guinea Pig Determined to Fly
Balle Balle Radio™ Entertainment Desk
Dr. Leslie Merida-Gonzalez has published a new children’s book, "Mocha, the Ground Fairy," through Fulton Books. The story follows Mocha, a brown, fluffy guinea pig who attempts to fly using wings built from leaves and twigs, only to land, each time, skidding on her bottom, which earns her the teasing nickname from her fellow guinea pigs.
Merida-Gonzalez is a music teacher in Port St. Lucie, Florida, where she works with children with varying needs. She holds a doctorate in education with a focus on exceptional student education, a background she says shapes how she thinks about reaching different kinds of young readers. According to the announcement, the guinea pig characters in the book are drawn from pets her own children had growing up.
The book centers on Mocha’s refusal to quit despite ridicule from her peers, drawing courage, in the story, from her grandmother’s fairy tales. "Through Mocha’s journey, I wanted to remind children that falling doesn’t mean failing," Merida-Gonzalez said in the announcement. "Every stumble is simply another step toward finding the magic that’s been inside them all along." The publisher describes the book as aimed at encouraging children to keep trying after setbacks and to embrace what makes them different.
"Mocha, the Ground Fairy" is available in bookstores and through major online retailers including Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Google Play, and the Apple iTunes Store, as well as directly through Fulton Books’ website.
Studio CarryOnHarry sees stories like Mocha’s as part of a steady stream of small-press children’s books built around a simple, repeatable idea: a animal protagonist, a visible flaw, and a lesson about persistence. The appeal isn’t novelty, it’s execution, and that’s worth watching for in any read-aloud picture book pitched this way.
Read more People’s Choice stories on Studio CarryOnHarry. Reporting via Live News Vault.
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Books
Fulton Books Author Abagail Lynn Releases Fantasy Adventure “The Rebel”
Balle Balle Radio™ Entertainment Desk
Abagail Lynn has released a new novel, "The Rebel," a fantasy adventure centered on an unsuspecting character drawn into a clash between two worlds where the kingdom’s fate hangs in the balance. The book is published through Fulton Books.
According to the announcement, the story follows an unsuspecting hero thrust into extraordinary circumstances as tensions between the two realms escalate. The publisher describes the novel as blending adventure, romance, and themes of hope, with the protagonist discovering hidden strength while confronting questions about sacrifice, belonging, and what it means to stand against long odds.
The paperback edition runs 846 pages and was published in April 2026, according to retail listings for the title. Lynn’s narrative approach, per the announcement, pairs action sequences with emotional character work, aiming for a story that moves between danger and quieter, more personal moments.
"The Rebel" is available in bookstores and through major online retailers, including Amazon, Apple Books, Google Play, and Barnes & Noble.
For Studio CarryOnHarry, the appeal of this one will come down to execution: epic-fantasy premises built on a "two worlds collide" setup are common, and the 846-page length suggests Lynn is aiming for a fuller immersion in her world rather than a quick read.
Read more People’s Choice stories on Studio CarryOnHarry. Reporting via Live News Vault.
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