Love Notes 2026 Invites Filmmakers to Fall in Love With a Two-Week Creative Challenge

Registration is now open for Love Notes 2026, Carson City Shorts’ annual Short Romance Film Competition, challenging filmmakers to write, shoot, and edit a complete romance film in just two weeks.

Beginning Wednesday, January 21, 2026, participating teams will receive a set of surprise creative prompts — including a prop, a line of dialogue, and a sound effect — and will have 14 days to create a 5–9 minute short film inspired by the theme of love in all its forms. Finished films are due Wednesday, February 4, 2026, and will premiere on the big screen during a special Valentine’s Day Screening & Awards Ceremony on Saturday, February 14, 2026, at the Brewery Arts Center.

Now in its latest edition, Love Notes has become a beloved creative sprint for filmmakers across Northern Nevada and beyond — welcoming seasoned professionals, first-time directors, students, and anyone ready to take on the thrill of fast-paced storytelling.

Love Notes is about momentum, creativity, and finishing a film. You don’t have months to overthink it — you just have to tell a story from the heart. That’s where the magic happens.

From romantic comedies and sweeping dramas to unexpected love stories that break the mold, Love Notes celebrates romance in all its beautifully complicated expressions. Films will compete for jury-selected awards as well as audience favorites during the Valentine’s Day screenings.

Key Dates:

Competition Kickoff: Wednesday, January 21, 2026

Films Due: Wednesday, February 4, 2026 (by noon)

Screening & Awards: Saturday, February 14, 2026

Location: Brewery Arts Center, Carson City

Film Length: 5–9 minutes

Registration is now open, and filmmakers are encouraged to sign up early. Teams can register online at nvstorytellers.org.

Love Notes 2026 is presented by Silver State Storytellers as part of the Carson City Shorts film competition series, dedicated to fostering creativity, community, and accessible filmmaking opportunities throughout Nevada.