![A Massive List of Film Festivals with Upcoming Deadlines [Updated Oct 2019]](https://blog.kitsplit.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/samuel-zeller-337825-unsplash.jpg "samuel-zeller-337825-unsplash")
It’s a wrap. Now what? Film festivals are a long-standing part of the life cycle of a film, and a great way to get your project seen. But a quick search for film festivals with upcoming deadlines on Withoutabox shows over 1,400 results. FilmFreeway lists over 6,000 festivals. Even just thinking about looking through all of those festivals to find the best fit for your film is enough to drive one to tears.
We wanted to help break this down for you. So, we’ve assembled below a list of 150 film festivals with final deadlines coming up in 2019. We’ve broken them down by categories as well, like: Big Name Festivals, Shorts Film Festivals, Documentary Festivals, Horror Festivals, Women in Film Festivals, Children’s Film Festivals, Academy Qualifying Festivals, Festivals from MovieMaker’s List of Top 50 Festivals Worth the Entry Fee, and Festivals from the list of FilmFreeway’s Top 100 Best Reviewed Festivals. Finally, we listed even more festivals you can submit to this year.
Big Name & General Festivals
Winter 2019
Los Angeles International Underground Film Festival
Final Deadline: November 15, 2019
Submission Fees: $55 – $60
Festival Dates: December 4 – 5, 2019
Los Angeles, California
What They Say About Themselves: “The LAIUFF is a true independent festival in every sense. Aiming to inspire, motivate and award the true innovative and artistic geniuses of our time. Every independent artist hopes to one day emerge from the underground scene and share their talents with the masses.”
The Infinity Festival
Final Deadline: October 29, 2019
Submission Fees: $39
Festival Dates: November 7 – 9, 2019
Los Angeles, California
What They Say About Themselves: INFINITY FESTIVAL takes place over one weekend where the leading Silicon Valley innovators come together with Hollywood’s leading professional storytellers and take over one city block in the heart of Hollywood.
Indie Visions Film Fest
Final Deadline: October 29, 2019
Submission Fees: $39
Festival Dates: October 31, 2019
Charlottesville, Virginia
What They Say About Themselves: Indie Visions is an international and independent event for all independent filmmakers. The goal of our festival is to support the best up and coming filmmakers from around the world and provide the opportunity to the group of young and vibrant film enthusiasts who are committed to creating spaces for independent cinema and devoted to spreading the knowledge of the modern visual art form to all interested.
Nederland International Film Festival
Final Deadline: October 25, 2019
Submission Fees: $25 – $35
Festival Dates: November 16 – 17, 2019
What They Say About Themselves: “We celebrate the visionaries of film centered around music in this special place, the independent thinkers, creatives, individualists that explore alternative cultures, life styles and visions and all the many ways that can manifest in film. We look forward to seeing you at our 3rd Annual Nederland International Film Festival.”
Spring 2019
HBO New York Latino Film Festival
Final Deadline: April 19
Submission Fees: $50
Festival Dates: August 14 – 18
New York, New York
What They Say About Themselves: “The New York Latino Film Festival is dedicated to producing culturally relevant and entertaining experiences that build audiences for Latino cinema, support the film community with professional development and foster relationships for Latino talent. The festival is committed to showing the best our rich and diverse community has to offer. Over the past 16 years, NYLFF has been the setting for many breakout indie and studio releases, serving as a marketing bridge to this targeted, cross-cultural and influential audience. The result is acquisition and box office success.”
LA Shorts International Film Festival
Final Deadline: June 7
Submission Fees: $70 – $95
Festival Dates: July 17 – 25
Academy Qualifying, BAFTA Qualifying,
Top 100 Best Reviewed Film Festivals – FilmFreeway
Los Angeles, CA
What They Say About Themselves: “LA Shorts International Film Festival ranks among the most prestigious and largest international short film festivals in the world. The festival is accredited by the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts & Sciences, the British Academy of Film and Television Arts and the Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television.”
The Urbanworld Film Festival
Final Deadline: June 7
Submission Fees: $35 – $105
Festival Dates: September 18 – 22
Academy Qualifying
New York, NY
What They Say About Themselves: “The Urbanworld Film Festival, founded in 1997 by Stacy Spikes, is the largest internationally competitive festival of its kind, hosted in New York City. The five-day festival includes narrative features, documentaries, short films, web originals, music videos, spotlight screenings and conversations, live staged screenplay readings, the Urbanworld Digital track focused on digital and social media, and Urbanworld Music highlighting emerging talent in live performances during the festival.”
Chicago International FF
Final Deadline: June 17
Submission Fees: $50 – $100
Festival Dates: October 16 – 27, 2019
Academy Qualifying, BAFTA Qualifying
Chicago, IL
What They Say About Themselves: “The Chicago International Film Festival celebrates the best that cinema has to offer. Showcasing films from established masters and emerging storytellers, the Festival welcomes films from around the world. Offering an impressive selection of competitive and non-competitive programming, the Chicago International Film Festival brings films both domestic and international to silver screens in Chicago.”
Shorts Festivals
Winter 2019
The Best Shorts Competition
Final Deadline:December 10, 2019
Submission Fees: $30 – $40
Festival Dates: December 17, 2019
OLa Jolla, CA
What They Say About Themselves: The Best Shorts Competition is unique in the industry. Attracting both powerhouse companies as well as talented new filmmakers it is an exceptional, truly international awards competition, not a traditional film festival – which allows filmmakers from around the world to enter their films in this prestigious competition. Our talented Best Shorts award winners have gone on to win Oscar, Emmy, Telly and other awards.
Top Shorts
Final Deadline: November 18, 2019
Submission Fees: $60
Festival Dates: November 29, 2019
Online Event
What They Say About Themselves: Known as the world’s leading online film festival, Top Shorts is one of the best-reviewed festivals on FilmFreeway, with over 200 five star reviews. Top Shorts was recently ranked 8th Best Reviewed Festival out of over 4,000 of the world’s best film festivals (and 1st from the online festivals, FilmFreeway May 2016). Top Shorts was also selected by Motion Array as one of the best short film festivals for up-and-coming filmmakers.
Hollywood Just4Shorts Film and Screenplay Competition
Final Deadline: October 26, 2019
Submission Fees: $59
Festival Dates: November 28, 2019
Los Angeles, CA
What They Say About Themselves: Giving short film and screenplay projects by up-and-coming filmmakers and screenwriters increased recognition and industry exposure. Winning short films are considered by Hollywood insiders seeking new talent and feature film adaptation rights.
Houston Greek Film Festival (HGFF)
Final Deadline: October 25, 2019
Submission Fees: $35
Festival Dates: November 15 – 17, 2019
Houston, TX
What They Say About Themselves: The Houston Greek Film Festival (HGFF) showcases new films from Greek filmmakers, producers and actors from Greece and the diaspora. Featuring both feature-length and shorts, the HGFF aims to promote Greek cinema to Houston and all of Texas!
Spring 2019
Boston Short Film Festival
Final Deadline: April 27
Submission Fees: $35
Festival Dates: July 8 – 12
Boston, Massachusetts
What They Say About Themselves: “BSFF believes in short films! Recognizing the important role shorts have in cinema, storytelling, and culture, BSFF wants to help empower the next generation of artists. The Boston Short Film Festival is an annual event showcasing shorts films with an edge. The BSFF focuses on the unconventional, the unusual, the underground, the intuitive, the innovative, the minimalistic and the true artists of our time. Based in Boston/Somerville (MA, US) the festival aims to screen up to 100 short films.”
FilmOneFest
Final Deadline: May 1
Submission Fees: Free
Festival Dates: July 20
Atlantic Highlands, NJ
What They Say About Themselves: “LESS IS MORE! The FilmOneFest is an annual short film festival challenges filmmakers of all kinds to tell their stories in UNDER 2 MINUTES. FOF presents the best short films from around the world against the backdrop of the Atlantic Highlands Marina overlooking majestic New York City.”
Indy Shorts International Film Festival
Final Deadline: May 5
Submission Fees: $85
Festival Dates: July 25 – 28
Academy Qualifying
Indianapolis, IN
What They Say About Themselves: “Nonprofit arts organization Heartland Film, Inc. will host the second annual Indy Shorts International Film Fest (Indy Shorts) to exclusively showcase short films (under 40 minutes in length) from July 25-28, 2019, at Newfields in Indianapolis. All winners will play encore screenings at the Heartland International Film Festival in the following October.”
BEST SHORT FEST
Final Deadline: June 17
Submission Fees: $15 – $43
Festival Dates: October 4 – 5
Ontario, Canada
What They Say About Themselves: “BEST SHORT FEST is seeking the world’s best short films (under 45 minutes) and super-short films (under 5 minutes) to be shown on the big screen at a historic community theatre in Lanark County, Ontario, Canada.”
Milwaukee Short Film Festival
Final Deadline: June 30
Submission Fees: $45
Festival Dates: September 6 – 7
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
What They Say About Themselves: “The Milwaukee Independent Film Society was founded in 1996 by Dan Wilson. Its mission and goals were to provide a grass roots community where local filmmakers can share their ideas, projects, and collaborate on local efforts.”
Documentary Festivals
Winter 2019
Oxford Film Festival
Final Deadline: December 31, 2019
Submission Fees: $65
Festival Dates: March 18 – 22, 2020
Oxford, MS
What They Say About Themselves: Named a Top 50 Film Festival worth the entry fee over several years from MovieMaker magazine, the 17th Oxford Film Festival, to be held March 18-22, 2020, is a five-day event celebrating the art of independent film. The festival will bring filmmakers and filmgoers from across the globe to celebrate films, panels and parties.
DOXA Documentary Film Festival
Final Deadline: December 20, 2019
Submission Fees: $30 – $40
Festival Dates: May 7 – 17, 2020
Vancouver, BC
What They Say About Themselves: DOXA is Western Canada’s largest documentary film festival, presented by The Documentary Media Society, a Vancouver based non-profit, charitable society (incorporated in 1998) devoted to presenting independent and innovative documentaries to Vancouver audiences.
WorldFest-Houston
Final Deadline: December 15, 2019
Submission Fees: $65
Festival Dates: April 17 – 26, 2020
Houston, TX
What They Say About Themselves: The oldest Indie Film Festival in the whole wide world! WorldFest gave first awards to giants of the film industry, including Spielberg, Lucas, Ang Lee, the Coen Brothers, Ridley Scott, John Lee Hancock, Randal Kleiser, Oliver Stone, David Lynch and literally hundreds more!
The Full Frame Documentary Film Festival
Final Deadline: December 15, 2019
Submission Fees: $65
Festival Dates: April 2 – 5, 2020
Durham, NC
What They Say About Themselves: The Full Frame Documentary Film Festival is an annual international event dedicated to the theatrical exhibition of nonfiction cinema. Each spring, Full Frame welcomes filmmakers and film lovers from around the world to historic downtown Durham, North Carolina, for a four-day, morning-to-midnight array of nearly 100 films, as well as discussions, panels, and Southern hospitality. Set within a few city blocks, the intimate festival landscape fosters community and conversation among filmmakers, film professionals, and the public.
Spring 2019
Margaret Mead FF
Final Deadline: May 1
Submission Fees: $25
Festival Dates: October 17 – 20, 2019
NYC, NY
What They Say About Themselves: “The American Museum of Natural History’s Margaret Mead Film Festival, occurring October 17–20, 2019, screens documentaries that increase our understanding of the complexity and diversity of the peoples and cultures that populate our planet. The festival has evolved with the times while maintaining its important history and has grown steadily to reflect the ever-evolving incarnations of storytelling, technology and growing access to communities near and far. The Mead presents the best in documentary, experimental films, animation, hybrid works, and more.”
New York Indie Doc Fest
Final Deadline: May 12
Submission Fees: $15 – $25
Festival Dates: May 26
New York, NY
What They Say About Themselves: “New York IDF is an affordable alternative for independent documentary filmmakers looking to reach audiences in three of the world’s largest film cities. NYIDF accepts short and mid-length documentary and mockumentary films from all over the world.”
Experimental Forum
Final Deadline: June 13
Submission Fees: $33
Festival Dates: August 18
Los Angeles, CA
What They Say About Themselves: “Experimental Forum is an international film and video art festival showcasing experimental film and artists’ moving image from auteur filmmakers and innovative video artists from around the globe. Our aim is to provide a supportive platform for the exciting and challenging work that is outside the scope of mainstream film festivals and art galleries.”
Blackbird Film Festival
Final Deadline: June 14
Submission Fees: $18
Festival Dates: April 24 – 26
Cortland, NY
What They Say About Themselves: “At the Blackbird Film Festival, we strive to curate an inclusive festival atmosphere – an environment where experienced professionals and first time filmmakers can strike up conversation and perhaps take something away from one another. Blackbird was originally founded as a festival for student filmmakers but quickly opened its doors to all types of filmmakers in the spirit of collaboration and the sharing of ideas.”
Angeles Documentaries
Final Deadline: June 18
Submission Fees: $30
Festival Dates: October 30
Los Angeles, California
What They Say About Themselves: “Angeles Documentaries is an international festival that celebrates one of the most difficult genre to produce : documentaries. We are accepting documentaries any length from any country and we screen the winners in Los Angeles. Documentaries request high level quality writing, an exceptional production coordination, and a smart budget management. And we didn’t start talking about talent yet…”
Atlanta Docufest
Final Deadline: June 30
Submission Fees: $35 – $50
Festival Dates: November 7 – 10
Atlanta, Georgia
What They Say About Themselves: “Atlanta Docufest is held during the annual Atlanta Film Series, a four-part celebratioin of independent film packed with four unique film festivals designed to spotlight every genre of cinema imaginable.”
Horror Festivals
Winter 2019
The Rio Grind Film Festival
Final Deadline: October 28, 2019
Submission Fees: $40 – $50
Festival Dates: November 21 – 24, 2019
Vancouver, BC
What They Say About Themselves: The Rio Grind Film Festival is currently accepting for submissions of independent horror, action, grindhouse, erotica, fantasy, documentary, animation, science fiction, thrillers, short films and features from both Canada and around the world.
Breaking Walls Thriller Screenplay Contest
Final Deadline: October 26, 2019
Submission Fees: $55 – $60
Festival Dates: November 29, 2019
Online
What They Say About Themselves: HORROR-RAMA is Toronto’s ONLY convention and fan experience DEADicated to celebrating horror film culture of all kinds. The show is the brainchild of Luis Ceriz, founder and owner of Toronto’s landmark film culture emporium, SUSPECT VIDEO, Chris Alexander, filmmaker (QUEEN OF BLOOD, FEMALE WEREWOLF), synthwave composer (Music for Murder, Blue Eyes of the Broken Doll), former editor of FANGORIA and co-founder/editor of DELIRIUM magazine as well as marketing specialist (FANGORIA, FANTASM) and actress (BLOOD DYNASTY) Cheryl Singleton. Actress, writer, performer and producer Ali Chappell joined the team in 2018. Together, these multiple maniacs bring their broad knowledge of cinema and of the convention landscape to HORROR-RAMA along their enthusiasm and passion for all things bizarre and fantastical.
HORROR-RAMA
Final Deadline: October 25, 2019
Submission Fees: $35
Festival Dates: November 30 – December 1, 2019
Toronto, Ontario
What They Say About Themselves: HORROR-RAMA is Toronto’s ONLY convention and fan experience DEADicated to celebrating horror film culture of all kinds. The show is the brainchild of Luis Ceriz, founder and owner of Toronto’s landmark film culture emporium, SUSPECT VIDEO, Chris Alexander, filmmaker (QUEEN OF BLOOD, FEMALE WEREWOLF), synthwave composer (Music for Murder, Blue Eyes of the Broken Doll), former editor of FANGORIA and co-founder/editor of DELIRIUM magazine as well as marketing specialist (FANGORIA, FANTASM) and actress (BLOOD DYNASTY) Cheryl Singleton. Actress, writer, performer and producer Ali Chappell joined the team in 2018. Together, these multiple maniacs bring their broad knowledge of cinema and of the convention landscape to HORROR-RAMA along their enthusiasm and passion for all things bizarre and fantastical.
Spring 2019
Portland Horror Festival
Final Deadline: April 8
Submission Fees: $25-45
Festival Dates: June 5-8, 2019
Portland, OR
What They Say About Themselves: “Portland Horror Film Festival™ is a 4-day international festival of terror, bringing horror from around the world to creepy Portland, OR, a tree-filled land with a deep and dark history. We’re looking for innovative films in all horror genres, from independent filmmakers, small studios, and students anywhere in the world.”
The Indie Horror Film Festival
Final Deadline: April 19
Submission Fees: $65
Festival Dates: June 13
DeKalb, Illinois
What They Say About Themselves: “The Indie Horror Film Festival is an independent film festival. We strive to support independent film, and work to get the filmmakers more notice, and to get independent films seen. The Indie Horror Film Festival started in 2005 (known then as “Indy Horror Film Festival”) by Gatlin Pictures (Jason Davis – Horror Author / Festival Founder). The festival gain some size but then disappeared for a couple years. In 2010 Breaking Fate Entertainment (Willy Adkins – Producer) joined Davis in an effort to bring the Indy “Back from the Dead”. Since the new effort, Breaking Fate Entertainment has continued to bring the event back annually ever since welcoming visitors and filmmakers from all over the world!”
HOLLYWOOD HORRORFEST
Final Deadline: May 20
Submission Fees: $
Festival Dates: June 7 – 9
Los Angeles, California
What They Say About Themselves: “The inaugural HHF was an amazing success at Quentin Tranatino’s NEW BEVERY CINEMA in Los Angeles. We had 2 cast & crew reunions (The Howling & Return of the Living Dead), a free panel on “How to Finance, Produce and Sell Your Work” (with 11 panelists from the following disciplines – producer, director, agent, financier, sales agent), free screenings of shorts and features, more free giveaways than virtually anywhere, awards and networking events.”
Horrible Imaginings Film Festival
Final Deadline: June 1
Submission Fees: $50 – $60
Festival Dates: August 30 – September 1
Top 100 Best Reviewed Film Festivals – FilmFreeway
San Diego, California
What They Say About Themselves: “Our mission is to spotlight genre cinema, amplify artistic voices, and foster a community of acceptance. We sincerely believe in the sharing and exploring of our deepest fears, desires, and anxieties in a community setting. This festival provides the opportunity to not only explore these emotions but also exorcise them.”
LGBTQ Festivals
Winter 2019
2020 SPE Media Festival
Final Deadline: November 18, 2019
Submission Fees: $35
Festival Dates: June 20 – 27, 2020
Houston, TX
What They Say About Themselves: The SPE (Society for Photographic Education) Media Festival (originally the SPE Women’s Film Festival) has featured innovative and provocative short documentaries, animation and fiction by, for and about women and minorities since 1995. The 2020 festival will be screened in Houston, TX, on Friday and Saturday, March 6&7, at the 2020 SPE National Conference.
Pride Films and Plays Film Festival
Final Deadline: November 15, 2019
Submission Fees: $25 – $40
Festival Dates: December 9 – 11, 2019
Chicago, Illinois
What They Say About Themselves: Hosted in Uptown, Chicago, Pride Films and Plays Film Festival is a quarterly film festival focusing on inclusion in the LGBTQ+ spectrum. Each quarter’s film festival is dedicated to the different members of the LGBTQ+ spectrum and offers queer folks the opportunities to tell their stories in an inclusive and celebratory way.
OutfestFusion Film Festival
Final Deadline: November 8, 2019
Submission Fees: $35 – $40
Festival Dates: March 6 – 11, 2020
Los Angeles, CA
What They Say About Themselves: The Outfest Fusion Film Festival was born in 2004 out of a grassroots movement by Outfest alumni filmmakers to promote social change through the power of film. Since then, Fusion has continued to bring the city’s multicultural communities together to celebrate LGBTQ people of color and provide a platform to amplify our voices. Every year at Fusion the under-represented QPOC community is able to see themselves represented on the big screen.
Spring 2019
OUT HERE NOW: The Kansas City LGBT Film Festival
Final Deadline: April 20
Submission Fees: $35
Festival Dates: June 20 – 27
Kansas City, MO
What They Say About Themselves: “OUT HERE NOW: The Kansas City LGBT Film Festival is one of the Midwest’s most visible and highly-regarded LGBT film festivals and the city’s oldest and best-attended community film program. Our festival spans eight days and, in 2018, we screened 61 films from around the world with record attendance.”
QFest:The Houston International LGBTQ Film Festival
Final Deadline: April 30
Submission Fees: Free
Festival Dates: July 25 – 29
Houston, Texas
What They Say About Themselves: “QFest is dedicated to promoting the arts as a powerful tool for communication and cooperation among diverse communities by presenting programs by, about, and of interest to the gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and queer community.”
Damn These Heels LGBTQ Film Festival
Final Deadline: May 13
Submission Fees: $15 – $25
Festival Dates: July 12 – 14
Salt Lake City, UT
What They Say About Themselves: “Utah Film Center presents the 16th annual Damn These Heels LGBTQ Film Festival July 12-14, 2019 at the Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center in downtown Salt Lake City. Highlighted in The Advocate in 2015 as one of the reasons Salt Lake City is one of the top ten “Queerest Cities in America” and named one of Indiewire’s “10 LGBT Film Festivals To Head To This July” in 2014, Utah’s premier LGBTQ film festival features the best independent, documentary, and foreign feature-length films from around the world that explore LGBTQ issues, ideas, and art.”
FLIQ: Films Lavished In Queerdom
Final Deadline: May 24
Submission Fees: $10
Festival Dates: June 12
Portland, Maine
What They Say About Themselves: “FLIQ: Films Lavished In Queerdom is set to premiere in Portland, Maine the summer of 2019 and travel throughout the state. FLIQ seeks submissions containing LGBTQ+ characters and storylines with the goal of providing a platform for queer filmmakers and allies to celebrate our community and their stories.”
Reeling: The Chicago LGBTQ+ International Film Festival
Final Deadline: June 6
Submission Fees: $40
Festival Dates: September 19 – 29
Chicago, IL
What They Say About Themselves: “Reeling: The Chicago LGBTQ+ International Film Festival is the second longest-running film festival of its kind, and prides itself on showcasing the best LGBTQ+ films and videos each year.”
NewFest: New York’s LGBTQ Film Festival
Final Deadline: June 7
Submission Fees: $50
Festival Dates: October 23 – 29
New York, NY
What They Say About Themselves: “Founded in 1988, NewFest: New York’s LGBTQ Film Festival is an annual celebration of the year’s best queer films from the U.S. and abroad, as well as parties, panels and events bringing together filmmakers, movie lovers, and the LGBTQ community.”
Women in Film Festivals
Spring 2019
Women Behind Television & Film
Final Deadline: May 31
Submission Fees: $45 – $55
Festival Dates: October 3 – 5
Cincinnati, Ohio
What They Say About Themselves: “Women Behind Television & Film (WBTF Fest) believes that media in our society can be reshaped to have a stronger positive impact if we empower more women to work in the medium, take part in ownership of the industry, and educate the consumer on these issues. WBTF Fest wants to shine a light on women being overlooked for jobs with the lack of equal opportunity that is given in the Film and TV industry and create conversations and opportunities for women to develop an industry that has equal opportunity.”
Women Texas Film Festival
Final Deadline: May 31
Submission Fees: $25 – 45
Festival Dates: August 15 – 18
Dallas, TX
What They Say About Themselves: “In Women Texas Film Festival’s four-day August event, we showcase the range and depth of female driven visual stories. Established and emerging female filmmakers will show that girls aren’t just made of sugar and spice. They got some grit and gasoline, too.”
Women Sports Film Festival
Final Deadline: June 3
Submission Fees: $25 – $30
Festival Dates: September 26 – 28
San Francisco, California
What They Say About Themselves: “The Women Sports Film Festival uses the power of film to celebrate female athletes and the filmmakers who bring their stories to the screen. From legendary champions to girls on the local playing field, we promote films and conversations that explore how sport shapes the lives of women and girls around the world.”
WIFTA Short Film Showcase
Final Deadline: June 14
Submission Fees: $40
Festival Dates: July 29
Atlanta, GeorgiaWhat They Say About Themselves: “Each year Women In Film & Television Atlanta (WIFTA), often in conjunction with Women In Film & Television International (WIFTI), hosts a short film showcase that highlights the work of talented filmmakers throughout the Southeast and beyond. There is a focus, of course, on uplifting the works of strong Women filmmakers, crews, and leads. We accept entries from independent filmmakers from all genres – drama, comedy, action, sci-fi animation, spiritual / gospel, documentary and experimental.”
Children & Young Adult Film Festivals
Winter 2019
Official Impromptu Northern Kentucky Film Festival
Final Deadline: October 25, 2019
Submission Fees: Free
Festival Dates: November 9, 2019
Highland Heights, Kentucky
What They Say About Themselves: OINK is a film festival designed to celebrate the work of young filmmakers, connect them to the larger media community, and encourage them to kick start their dreams. Founded in 2016 by NKU students and faculty, OINK is excited to return in 2019!
Spring 2019
Kids With S.T.E.A.M. Film Fest
Final Deadline: June 1
Submission Fees: $8 – $30
Festival Dates: June 24
Atlanta, Georgia
What They Say About Themselves: “This festival of short films will be part of local school and community center programs for S.T.E.M Education. We’re looking for films that target the following categories: Elementary School ages 5 – 10, and Middle School ages 11-13. All films, must be rated G – General Audiences, all ages admitted. Nothing that would offend parents or cause concern. NO Nudity, Sex, Violence or Profanity will be permitted in this festival! The main character(s) should be someone who is underrepresented in the field of S.T.E.A.M. – Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math. (ie, girls and people of color).”
Will Rogers Motion Picture Festival
Final Deadline: June 1
Submission Fees: $20 – $60
Festival Dates: October 30 – November 3
Claremore, OK
What They Say About Themselves: “The Will Rogers Motion Picture Festival will celebrate motion pictures from a number of different genres and age groups and will be held in the historic town of Claremore, Oklahoma on Route 66.”
KIDS FIRST! Film Festival
Final Deadline: June 8
Submission Fees: $55
Festival Dates: July 13, 2019 – March 27
Santa Fe, New Mexico
What They Say About Themselves: “The KIDS FIRST! Film Festival showcases new and classic children’s films, TV programs and DVDs from studios, independent producers and youth producers. KIDS FIRST! partners with more than 50 venues that showcase its selections for their kids and family programming.”
Boston International Kids Film Festival
Final Deadline: June 14
Submission Fees: $35
Festival Dates: November 15 – 17
Melrose, MAWhat They Say About Themselves: “The Boston International Kids Film Festival is a weekend-long event screening family-friendly films, both professionally and student-made, hailing from countries that span the globe.”
Music Video Festivals
Winter 2019
Seattle Hip-Hop Film Festival
Final Deadline: October 28, 2019
Submission Fees: $20 – $25
Festival Dates: November 23, 2019
Seattle, Washington
What They Say About Themselves: We are accepting short films, 15 minutes and under, focused on hip-hop culture. This includes: Narratives, documentary, music videos, experimental, animation, and performance based films with a focus on hip-hop (Djing/Production, Graffiti, Dance, Emceeing).
Spring 2019
Apex Short Film + Music Festival
Final Deadline: May 22
Submission Fees: $7 – $9
Festival Dates: February 22, 2020
Tucson, AZ
What They Say About Themselves: “The 6th annual Apex Short Film + Music Festival will be hosted in sunny downtown Tucson, Arizona in February 2020. An $8 day pass will get you unlimited access to exclusive short films and music videos from around the world, Q&A panels with filmmakers, and live performances from local musicians.”
Brooklyn Music Week 3rd Annual
Final Deadline: May 30
Submission Fees: $25
Festival Dates: August 30
Brooklyn, NY
What They Say About Themselves: “Get ready for Brooklyn Music Week 3rd Annual, 5 days of amazing music experiences from August 30 – September 3, all going down in the best city in the World! Spread love it’s the Brooklyn way!”
Jerome Indie Film & Music Festival
Final Deadline: June 1
Submission Fees: $45
Festival Dates: September 26 – 29
Jerome, AZWhat They Say About Themselves: “Welcome to the 7th Annual Jerome Indie Film & Music Festival. Our fest takes place in America’s largest ghost town that was once coined as one of the Wickedest Towns in the West. We are not afraid to say that we think we host one of the coolest, most unique and original film festivals in the world.”
Academy Qualifying Festivals
Spring 2019
Seattle International Film Festival
Final Deadline: Feb. 1, 2019
Submission Fees: $115 for Feature, $85 for Short
Festival Dates: May 16 – June 9, 2019
Academy Qualifying
Seattle, WA
What They Say About Themselves: “The Seattle International Film Festival is presented each year from mid-May to mid-June. It is the largest film festival in the United States, presenting more than 400 features, documentaries, and short films to an audience of 140,000 each year. SIFF is consistently ranked as one of the top festivals in North America, and is an Academy Award-qualifying festival for short films.”
St. Kilda’s Film Festival
Final Deadline: Feb. 22, 2019
Submission Fees: $29
Festival Dates: June 21 – 30, 2019
Academy Qualifying
St. Kilda, Australia
What They Say About Themselves: “Proudly presented and produced by the City of Port Phillip, the St Kilda Film Festival supports the Australian film industry by turning the spotlight on a wide range of fascinating works that may not otherwise see the light of day. Exceptional short films by both emerging talent and accomplished industry professionals are shown on the big screen, where they look their shiny best.”
In the Palace International Short FIlm Festival
Final Deadline: Mar. 15, 2019
Submission Fees: $23
Festival Dates: Jun. 29 – Jul. 6, 2019
Academy Qualifying
Sofia, Bulgaria
What They Say About Themselves: “The main purpose of the Festival is to present and promote the contemporary film art from Bulgaria, Europe, and the world. In 2017 IN THE PALACE received an EFFE Festival Label from The European Festivals Association and also holds the honor of being approved by the OSCAR® Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to choose a number of eligible films for their consideration in the categories of Best Animation, Best Fiction and Best National Film of the Academy Awards®.”
Odense International FIlm Festival
Final Deadline: Apr. 1, 2019
Submission Fees: $22
Festival Dates: Aug. 26 – Sept. 1, 2019
Academy Qualifying
Odense, Denmark
What They Say About Themselves: “OFF is Denmark’s most courageous and most adventurous short film festival. We always offer a varied and experimenting film programme garnered with thought-provoking off-screen experiences, debates, workshops, concerts and much more.”
Palm Springs International Short Fest
Final Deadline: Feb. 11, 2019
Submission Fees: $60
Festival Dates: June 18 – 24, 2019
Academy Qualifying, FilmFreeway Top 100 Best Reviewed
Palm Springs, CA
What They Say About Themselves: “The Palm Springs International ShortFest is one of the largest showcases of short films in North America. The seven-day competitive festival is Academy Award, BAFTA and Goya-qualifying and screens approximately 330 short films from 60 countries in a series of 90-minute programs.”
Guanajuato International Film Festival
Final Deadline: Apr. 1, 2019
Submission Fees: $25
Festival Dates: Jul. 19-28, 2019
Academy Qualifying
Guanajuato, Mexico
What They Say About Themselves: “The Guanajuato International Film Festival has placed itself as the most important platform for young filmmakers in Latin America. Beginning in 1998 in San Miguel de Allende and Guanajuato City, GIFF offers an extensive selection of screenings, workshops, conferences and concerts that are free of charge for the audience. It’s also an essential destination for international film industry professionals for a wide variety of networking opportunities.”
More Festivals You Can Submit to!
Winter 2019
Los Angeles Film Awards
Final Deadline: Rolling
Submission Fees: $60 – $90
Festival Dates: Monthly
Los Angeles, CA
What They Say About Themselves: Los Angeles Film Awards (LAFA) is a monthly film and screenplay competition for filmmakers worldwide. LAFA is one of the highest-rated festivals on FilmFreeway, with over 400 five-star reviews. Our mission is to promote films, and be another step up in the filmmakers’ careers.
FestigiousLos Angeles
Final Deadline: Rolling
Submission Fees: $85
Festival Dates: Monthly
Los Angeles, CA
What They Say About Themselves: Festigious is a monthly film & screenplay competition. Each month, our Jury will award the best films through private screenings, and make a special interview with the winner of the Best Picture (Film of the Month) award. The Best Picture monthly winners will compete in October 2020 for the Best of Fest award (best film of the year). Festigious’ annual judging team will select the winners in 15 main categories, such as Narrative Film, Documentary and Animation.
Spring 2019
South Texas International Film Festival
Final Deadline: April 28
Submission Fees: Free
Festival Dates: September 4 – 7
Edinburg, TX
What They Say About Themselves: “The STXIFF is an annual event that strives to showcase the work of visionary filmmakers from all over the world. Based in Edinburg, Texas, STXIFF showcases local, regional, and international films that have a unique voice and style. We strive to bring together local filmmakers and artists to help connect the South Texas Film industry with the world.”
Grand Budapest FF
Final Deadline: April 30
Submission Fees: $10-30
Festival Dates: January 20-21, 2020
Budapest, Hungary
What They Say About Themselves: “Welcome to The Grand Budapest Film Festival, a 2-day annual event dedicated to independent filmmakers from all over the world. Every year, we are celebrating independent cinema in the heart of lively Budapest. Puskin Mozi, one of the city’s oldest art cinemas provides a perfect venue for our event, created for the culture-loving, cinephile, international crowd of the city. The festival’s aim is to provide a platform for filmmakers who don’t necessarily have a large budget, but a vision and an important story to tell. Through our careful selection process our goal is to showcase a wide variety of genres and styles to cinema fans and fellow international filmmakers.”
Williamsburg International Film Festival
Final Deadline: June 16
Submission Fees: $40 – $45
Festival Dates: September 14
Online EventWhat They Say About Themselves: “Many of the award-winning films in WILLiFEST have gone on to have theatrical releases, broadcasts on PBS and other media outlets, and to be nominated and awarded at the American Academy Awards.”
Nevada City FF
Final Deadline: May 1
Submission Fees: $30 for Feature, $25 for Short
Festival Dates: August 23 – 30, 2019
Nevada City, CA
What They Say About Themselves: “Since 2001, the Nevada City Film Festival (NCFF) has brought top independent film, music and comedy, along with attracting thousands of attendees, international filmmakers, and industry guests to the historic town of Nevada City, California. Nevada City is known for its sophisticated and supportive arts and cultural scene, and makes screening a film here a positive, encouraging and exciting experience.”
Tallgrass FF
Final Deadline: July 8
Submission Fees: $50 for Feature, $15 for Short
Festival Dates: October 16 – 20, 2019
Witchita, KS
What They Say About Themselves: “Flavorwire calls Tallgrass “one of the foremost regional festivals in the country, showcasing exciting new movies and festival hits that otherwise probably wouldn’t make their way to the heartland…a wonderful festival, and a reminder that New York and L.A. don’t have the market cornered on vibrant film culture.”
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