SCHEDULE
THE OCALA FILM DERBY
2026 Dates: September 23-27
2025 Schedule:
Wednesday, September 24 @ IHMC, 5:30pm-8:30pm- Opening Reception
● Introduction of sponsors, mentors, teachers, guests
● Team selections
● Announce scholarship opportunities
Thursday, September 25 @ IHMC, 7:30am to 5:00pm (ish)
● 7:30am – Doors open
● 7:45am – Continental Breakfast
● 8:15am – Opening Session with the OFD Committee
● 8:30am – 9:30am — Keynote speaker: R.J. Jenkins — Things | Wish I Knew: How to Transform Fear Into Fuel
● 9:35am – 12:00pm — WORKSHOPS
● 12:00pm – 12:45pm – Lunch — Greg Thompson — Strategies for Competition Filming
● 12:45pm – 3:00pm – 3-2-1-Challenge
● 3:00pm — Ocala Main Street location visits
● 3:45pm — 3-2-1 Viewing
● 4:15pm – 5:00pm — Nola D. Oracle — Closing Session: Chasing Change
Friday, September 26 — DERBY DAY!
● 6:45am – 7:15 — Continental breakfast at IHMC
● 7:15am – 8:00am – Assignment of prompts and props
● 8:00am – 5:00pm – Derby filming throughout downtown
● 5:30 — Participant Pizza Party
Sunday, September 28
● 12:00pm – 1:45pm — @ IHMC— Kevin O’Neill, The Storyteller’s Path: a student writing workshop Signed copies of Kevin’s book, Art Imitating My Life will be available for purchase
● 2:00pm – 5:00pm — @ Marion Theatre— Ocala Film Derby Screening, Awards & Scholarship Ceremony $5 donation at the door door for general public (proceeds benefit OFD)
● Drinks and snacks provided for teams
Downtown Locations
1. Agapanthus 10am – 4pm
2. Big Hammock Brewery and Bites 9am – 12:15pm
3. Black Sheep on Broadway 10am – 4pm
4. Brown Dog Coffee House 8:30am – 4pm
5. Ivy on the Square Boutique 10am – 3pm
6. La Cuisine 10am – 3pm
7. Mutiny 10am – 2pm
8. O’Malley’s Alley 11am – 3pm
9. Pink Hanger 11am – 6pm
10. RHN Wagyu Meat Market 10am – 4pm
11. Stella’s Modern Pantry 9:30am – 11am, and after 3pm
12. The Brick City Center for the Arts 9am – 4pm
13. Magnolia Room 10am – 2pm
14. The Thirsty Cobbler 10am – 3pm
ALL LOCATION TIMES ARE FINAL AND MUST BE FOLLOWED.
