This initiative included the North Texas Pioneer Film Grant of $30,000, specifically aimed at promoting filmmakers from the Dallas-Fort Worth area with underrepresented perspectives.

The shorts juries included Daniel Laabs, Steve Norwood, Eric Jewel, Cynthia Mulcahy, Mike Mazurek, Frank Mosley, and Ya’Ke Smith.

2015 jury members were Augustine Frizzell, Christine Gaines, Norry Nivens, Liz Franke, Laure Neitzel, Joe Dishner, Casey Gooden, Cameron Bruce Nelson, Blair Rowan, and Barton Weiss.

Jurors in 2016 were Aaron Hillis, David Lowery, Michael Tully, Holly Herrick, Richard Matson, Matt Grady, James Johnston, Joe Dishner, Geoff Marslet, Bart Weiss, Derek Kompare, Chase Whale, Jerry White, and Kerry Navarro.

Jurors for the 2017 Oak Cliff Film Festival awards were Eric Allen Hatch, Michael Tully, Kyle Greenberg, Sai Selvarajan, Don Lewis, David Sedman, Zach Clark, Aaron Hillis, Joe Dishner, Joe Butler, Jeff Walker, Bart Weiss, and Glenys Quick.

Festival jurors in 2023 were Neal Creque Williams, Bradford Thomason, Merced Eliondo, Kelly Williams, Leigh Steglitz, Linda Eaddy, Amber Ekleberry, Bart Weiss, Claire Dejarnett, Gina Cuomo, Ardis Campbell, Rebekah Louisa Smith, Craig Miller, Marielena Resendiz, and Randall Kramen.