The Thunderbird Drone Festival offers drone filmmakers and photographers from all over the globe the opportunity to submit their drone content for a chance at awards, prizes, and industry recognition.
Submissions for 2023 have closed and nominees can be found below. Make sure to follow us on social media and sign up for our email list for reminders to submit next year! Also, set a reminder on our Film Freeway page. Check out all the winners from 2021 and 2022 on our Recap pages!
Nominees and winners for 2023 have been selected by a panel of award-winning judges spanning multiple film-related industries. The films and photos will be showcased LIVE at the Woodward Conference Center in Woodward, OK on August 25th.
2023 Official Nominees
Landscape, Architecture, & Sports
Chris Tangey - My Australia
Bashir Abu Shakra - Why I Travel The World Alone
Sandrine Hecq - The World Through My Lens
First-Time Filmmaker & Under 18
Mark & Louisa Royer - Dangerous Plants
Zorian Passmore - Taking drones to the next level - FPV Showreel
Narrative, Dronie, & More
Guillermo García Castell - LIFE - FOREVER IN OUR HEARTS
Goncalo Franco - Ísland - Floating in Awe
Mikhail Parkhomenko - Transmission
Made in Oklahoma - Still Photography
David Billen - Capitol Beams
James Simpson - Rain or Shine
Mike Creef - Early Morning Tulsa Fog
Gregory Wilson - Medicine Park - Frozen in Time
James Simpson - The Sinking Sun
Made in Oklahoma - Drone Film
Christopher C. Clark - Time Flies
Ralph Bernhardt - Beautiful Earth: Cities & Landscapes of the World
Steven Pemberton - The Spirit of the Wichitas
Daren Clodio - Tulsa Tough 2023 FPV Drone
Showreel & Commercial
Tomasz Grzywiński - SHOWREEL 2023
Ruben Caser - Showreel
Vitaly Golovatyuk - A Year Full Of Heat
Alen Tkalčec - My Year 2021
Brett Langolf - Seed to Shelf: A Green Chili Advertisement
Still Photography - Nature
Peter Nagy - EIRE
Joanna Steidle - Another World
Todd Skirvin - Fall Fairtales
James Simpson - The Highlands
Nick Smith - Colorful Rural Morning
Mark Bellncula - Marbled Sphere
Goncalo Franco - Mixed Feelings IS
Joanna Steidle - Streaming
Still Photography - Architecture
Nick Smith - Yellow Urban Sunset
Brian S - Drone Still Photography: Architecture
Zach Lucero - Pastel OKC
James Simpson - Hidden Nature
Amy Mains - Walk This Way
FPV
Erik Nelson - Jawny "Adios" GTA Edition x JayByrd Films FPV
Andrey Efimov - Indonesia FPV: Bali & Java
Manuel Michel Bassil - A flight through DRVN by Porsche
JR Catipon & Brandon B. - Spiderman Swinging
Joshua Turner - Volcanos of Sicily | Cinematic FPV
Congratulations to all our nominees!
We invite you to join us live and in person at the festival. Oklahoma is a wonderful place to visit! Mark your calendars, and join us on August 25th and 26th in Woodward Oklahoma.
The third annual Thunderbird Drone Festival is Oklahoma's first and only drone film/photo festival and drone technology event. Taking place August 25th & 26th, 2023 in Woodward Oklahoma, the in-person event offers a film festival for drone filmmakers and photographers from all over the world to showcase their work across various categories. The films and photos featured in the festival will be hand-selected by a professional jury, including Emmy award winners. Cash prizes and medals will be awarded and attendees will celebrate together at a VIP after-party.
Thunderbird Drone Festival will kick off the festivities on August 25th with a film/photo awards show at the Woodward Conference Center. The event will showcase the world's best drone films and photos across various categories. The films and photos featured in the festival will be hand-selected by a professional jury, including Emmy award winners. Prizes will be awarded and attendees can celebrate together at a VIP after-party. ***Purchase a VIP ticket to attend the after-party.*** Watch a fleet of 50 synchronized drones light up the night sky over the Conference Center immediately following the film and photo award show in the 2nd Annual Thunderbird Drone Light Show by our friends at Dynamic Skies Drone Light Shows!
VIP Afterparty catering provided by Gusto’s
