Film Festivals

North Carolina plays host to a bevy of film festivals — large and small — throughout the year.   Click on the individual festival name below to learn more, including how to get tickets and other events.

If your film festival is not listed, please send a news or media release announcing dates of your upcoming festival to info@filmnc.com.    

Cosmic Rays Film Festival
Chapel Hill, NC
March 21-23, 2025
Submissions closed November 15, 2024

UpTILT Film Fest
Wilmington, NC
March 21-23, 2025
Submissions closed December 15, 2024 

Bull City International Film Festival & Screenwriting Competition
Durham, NC
March 22, 2025
Submissions accepted through February 15, 2025 (regular deadline), March 8, 2025 (late deadline)

Reel Teal Film Festival at UNCW
Wilmington, NC
March 29, 2025
Submissions closed December 31, 2024

Spring Lane Film Festival
Sanford, NC
April 5, 2025 
Submissions closed December 31, 2024

NC Black Film Festival
Wilmington, NC
April 10-13, 2025
Submissions accepted through February 20, 2025 (late deadline)

RiverRun International Film Festival
Winston-Salem, NC 
April 11-19, 2025
Submissions closed December 15, 2024

Reel Out Charlotte Film Festival
Charlotte, NC
May 14-18, 2025
Submissions accepted through March 21, 2025 

Charlotte Black Film Festival
Charlotte, NC
June 5-8, 2025 
Submissions accepted through March 10, 2025 (regular deadline), April 1, 2025 (late deadline)

Lumbee Film Festival
Pembroke, NC
June 27-28, 2025  
Submissions accepted through April 5, 2025

Real to Reel Film Festival
Kings Mountain, NC
July 23-26, 2025
Submissions accepted through February 3, 2025 (regular deadline), March 3, 2025 (late deadline)

The North Carolina Film Festival
New Bern, NC
August 2, 2025
Submissions accepted through June 2, 2025 (final deadline)

Micropolitan Film Festival
Marion, NC
August 2, 2025
Submissions accepted through April 1, 2025 (regular deadline), May 1, 2025 (late deadline)

OUTSOUTH Queer Film Festival
Durham, NC
August 14-21, 2025
Submissions opening March 3, 2025, accepted through May 15, 2025 (shorts), June 4, 2025 (features)

Full Bloom Film Festival
Statesville, NC
September 11-13, 2025
Submissions accepted through May 15, 2025 (regular deadline), June 6, 2025 (late deadline) 

BEYOND: The Cary Film Festival
Cary, NC
September 11-14, 2025
Submissions accepted through March 15, 2025 (early deadline), May 17, 2025 (late deadline) 

A Pecan Pickling Short Film Festival
Windsor, NC
September 12-14, 2025
Submissions accepted through May 2, 2025  

Footcandle Film Festival
Hickory, NC
September 19-28, 2025
Submissions accepted through May 1, 2025 (regular deadline), June 1, 2025 (late deadline) 

Foothills Film Festival
Shelby, NC
September 20, 2025
Submissions accepted through July 31, 2025 (regular deadline), August 31, 2025 (late deadline) 

Sick Chick Flicks Film Festival
Chapel Hill, NC
September 20, 2025
Submissions accepted through February 28, 2025 (regular deadline), April 30, 2025 (late deadline)

OUT at the Movies International Film Festival
Winston-Salem, NC 
October 2-5, 2025
Submissions accepted through June 1, 2025 

Raleigh Film & Art Festival
Raleigh, NC 
October 3-5, 2025
Submissions accepted through March 1, 2025 (regular deadline), June 30, 2025 (late deadline) 

1:11 High School Film Festival
Raleigh, NC
October 3-5, 2025
Submissions accepted through March 28, 2025 (regular deadline), June 7, 2025 (late deadline) 

Carolina Film Festival
Charlotte, NC
October 4, 2025
Submissions accepted through July 11, 2025 (regular deadline), September 5, 2025 (late deadline)

The First Cut Horror Film Festival
Wilmington, NC
October 4, 2025
Submissions accepted through July 14, 2025 (regular deadline), August 3, 2025 (late deadline) 

Tryon International Film Festival
Tryon, NC
October 9-12, 2025
Submissions accepted through June 1, 2025 (regular deadline), July 1, 2025 (late deadline)

Indigo Moon Film Festival
Fayetteville, NC 
October 10-12, 2025
Submissions accepted through May 1, 2025 (regular deadline), June 1, 2025 (late deadline)

Charlotte Film Festival
Charlotte, NC 
October 14-19, 2025
Submissions accepted through June 30, 2025 (regular deadline), July 27, 2025 (extended deadline)

Carnival of Darkness Film Festival
Washington, NC
October 17-18, 2025
Submissions opening May 1, 2025, accepted through May 15, 2025 (earlybird-no fee), September 1, 2025 (regular deadline)

Horror Movie Freaks Film Festival
Walnut Coves, NC
October 17-18, 2025
Submissions open February 1, 2025, accepted through July 6, 2025

Beaufort Film Festival
Beaufort, NC
November 1-9, 2025
Submissions open February 1, 2025, accepted through June 1, 2025 

Fuquay Film Fest
Fuquay-Varina, NC
November 14-15, 2025
Submissions accepted through August 15, 2025 (regular deadline), October 13, 2025 (late deadline)

Cucalorus Film Festival
Wilmington, NC
November 19-23, 2025
Submissions accepted through May 27, 2025 (regular deadline), June 30, 2025 (extended deadline)

Stranger Days Independent Film Festival
Charlotte, NC
December 27, 2025
Submissions accepted through July 31, 2025 (regular deadline)

Boone DOCS Festival
Boone, NC
February 27-28, 2026
Submissions opening May 1, 2025, accepted through November 1, 2025 (regular deadline) 

FILM FESTIVALS WHOSE DATES ARE TBD

Visions Film Festival and Conference
Presented by UNC Wilmington Film Studies Department
Wilmington, NC
2024 Dates TBA 
Submissions opening TBA

Charlotte Jewish Film Festival
Charlotte, NC
2024 Dates TBA

Twin Rivers Media Festival
Black Mountain, NC
2024 Dates TBA (typically Summer)
Submissions opening TBA

Whimsical Times Film Festival
Wilmington, NC
2024 Dates TBA
Submissions opening TBA

Golden Hour Film Festival
Hickory, NC
2024 Dates TBA
Submissions opening TBA

Triad Jewish Film Festival
Greensboro, NC
2025 Dates TBA

Full Frame Documentary Film Festival
Durham, NC 
2025 Dates TBA
Submissions opening TBA

Wilmington Jewish Film Festival
Wilmington, NC 
2025 Dates TBA
Submissions opening TBA

North Carolina South & East International Asian Film Festival
Franklin County, NC
2025 Dates TBA
Submissions opening TBA

Longleaf Film Festival
Raleigh, NC
2025 Dates TBA
Submissions opening TBA

Music Video Asheville Fest
Asheville, NC
2025 Dates TBA
Submissions opening TBA 

Surfalorus
Outer Banks, NC
2025 Dates TBA
Submissions opening TBA

Wreak Havoc Film Festival
Winston-Salem, NC
2025 Dates TBA
Submissions opening TBA

Down East Flick Fest
Greenville, NC
2025 Dates TBA
Submissions opening TBA

Queer Fear Film Festival
Winston-Salem, NC
2025 Dates TBA
Submissions opening TBA 

CineOdyssey Film Festival
Charlotte, NC
2025 Dates TBA
Submissions opening TBA

ADF's Movies by Movers
Durham, NC
2025 Dates TBA
Submissions opening TBA

Cat Fly Glitch Fest
Asheville, NC
2025 Dates TBA
Submissions opening TBA

Carrboro Film Festival
Carrboro, NC
2026 Dates TBA
Submissions opening TBA 

The Argyle Film Festival
Durham, NC
2026 Dates TBA
Submissions opening TBA 

Greensboro Dance Film Festival
Greensboro, NC
2026 Dates TBA
Submissions opening TBA

Nevermore Film Festival
Durham, NC
2026 Dates TBA
Submissions opening TBA 

Wake Forest Film Festival
Wake Forest, NC
2026 Dates TBA
Submissions opening TBA

Hayti Heritage Film Festival
Durham, NC
2026 Dates TBA
Submissions opening TBA