Reel Loud is UCSB's largest and most dynamic film festival. It provides a showcase for filmmakers, artists, musicians, and other performers to display their work in front of hundreds of audience members on the big screen at Campbell Hall on campus.

The one-night festival consists primarily of silent short films with live musical accompaniment, however it also exhibits an art show, musical guests, and a variety of acts between film screenings, which range from dance to stand-up comedy to a cappella performances. Refreshments, a raffle and silent auction, an art contest, and photo backdrops are all part of the pre-show experience, so an early arrival time is encouraged.

The Reel Loud Film Festival began in 1991 as a way for students associated with the UCSB Filmmakers' Co-op to publicly showcase their work. Although it began as a silent 16mm film festival, reminiscent of the beginnings of cinema, it has since become fully digital, giving students more flexibility in post-production editing and allowing for budgets to be focused on the countless other aspects of the filmmaking process. Reel Loud is now in its 23^rd year, and on May 23^rd, 2014 the tradition of student filmmaking will continue.