July 11th - July 15th, 2025

HIGHLIGHTING FILMS MADE IN, BY, AND FOR OKLAHOMANS

Thank You To Our 2025 Presenting Sponsors

This Is Oklahoma Film

The Circle Cinema Film Festival returns for our 97th birthday with a bold celebration of film, art, music, and community.

First launched in 2018, the festival showcases powerful storytelling with a focus on independent voices from Oklahoma and beyond. From fresh new features to beloved classics, live events to special guests, experience the best of cinema, only at the Circle.

2025 Walk of Fame Medallion Recipients

Each year during the Circle Cinema Film Festival, we celebrate Oklahomans who have made significant contributions to the entertainment industry by adding a concrete medallion in their honor to our Walk of Fame. Located on the east sidewalk of our building, the Walk of Fame commemorates the achievements of actors, writers, directors, musicians, and more. All of whom have called the Sooner State home at some point in their lives.

Writer, Director

Hank Byrd

Hank Byrd is a screenwriter, producer, director, and author with 15 years of experience bringing collaborative storytelling to life. He created the web series "Blerds" and was a head writer on the 2024 crime thriller "Boneyard" starring Mel Gibson and Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson.

Actor

Vera Miles

Born in Boise City, Oklahoma, Vera Miles rose to fame in the 1950s with standout roles in films by Alfred Hitchcock and John Ford, including "The Searchers," "Psycho," and "The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance." A former Miss Kansas, Miles brought her striking presence and talent to dozens of film and TV roles over a four-decade career.

Actor

Ben Johnson

Born in Oklahoma, Ben Johnson went from rodeo performer to Hollywood stuntman and actor, working with legends like John Wayne and John Ford. After briefly returning to rodeo to win a world roping championship, he came back to film, ultimately appearing in over 300 movies.

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Set Designer

William F. Matthews

William F. Matthews (1942–2023) was a production designer and art director known for his work on "Innerspace" (1987), "Hollywood Homicide" (2003), and "The Karate Kid" (1984). Born in Marietta, Ohio, and later residing in Tulsa, Oklahoma, he was married to Diana Folsom and left a lasting impact on film through his visual storytelling.

2025 Jury Winners

This year we spotlight over 70 unique Oklahoma films and shorts for the 2025, an incredible showcase of local talent and creativity. From that inspiring pool, a select few rose to the top. We're proud to honor this year's winning filmmakers, whose work stood out for its originality, craft, and impact based on our judges criteria.

Documentary Feature

Director: colleen thurston

Deep in the Choctaw Nation of rural Oklahoma rages a fight to preserve the Kiamichi River, reckoning with a cycle of land loss for the Indigenous diaspora and the community at large.

narrative feature

Director: klein haley

In his final year of music school, an aspiring concert pianist goes to extreme lengths that slowly destroy his relationships and end in violence.

Documentary short Film

Director: Loren Waters

Dana Tiger was just five years old when her father, legendary Muscogee Creek artist Jerome Tiger, passed away. She turned to his art as a way to know him, the richness of her culture, and the bounty of her family’s artistic tradition.

student short film

Director: ella janes

The Thrilling Adventure of Amos Waters is the story of a ten-year-old boy, Amos, filled with a childlike curiosity about the world and a craving to understand all aspects of life.

Narrative short film

Director: emma barrow

A Cherokee woman fights to protect her niece from an unlawful adoption by her white grandparents as she reckons with feeling distant from her own culture.