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.

Beaufort Film Festival
Beaufort, NC
November 1-20, 2023
Submissions closed September 1, 2023 (extended deadline)

BeauShow Disco (the Beaufort FIlm & Music Festival)
Beaufort, NC
November 2-12, 2023
Submissions closed

Cucalorus Film Festival
Wilmington, NC
November 15-19, 2023
Submissions closed June 23, 2023 (extended deadline)

Down East Flick Fest
Greenville, NC
November 16-19, 2023
Submissions closed August 26, 2023 (extended deadline)

Carrboro Film Festival
Carrboro, NC
November 17-19, 2023
Submissions closed September 21, 2023 (late deadline)

Stranger Days Independent Film Festival
Charlotte, NC
December 9, 2023
Submissions accepted December 13, 2022-July 31, 2023 (regular deadline), October 31, 2023 (final deadline)

Nevermore Film Festival
Durham, NC
February 23-25, 2024
Submissions accepted September 22-November 30, 2023 (Short Film Deadline) & December 20, 2023 (Feature Film Deadline)

Greensboro Dance Film Festival
Greensboro, NC
February 24, 2024
Submissions accepted April 1-November 30, 2023 (regular deadline)

Boone DOCS Festival
Boone, NC
February 24, 2024
Submissions accepted June 1-October 31, 2023 (regular deadline), December 3, 2023 (late deadline)

Cosmic Rays Film Festival
Chapel Hill, NC
March 1-2, 2024
Submissions accepted through December 1, 2023

Hayti Heritage Film Festival
Durham, NC
March 7-9, 2024
Submissions accepted August 1-November 1, 2023 (regular deadline), November 20, 2023 (late deadline)

Reel Teal Film Festival at UNCW
Wilmington, NC
March 16, 2024
Submissions accepted through December 1, 2023 (regular deadline), January 7, 2024 (extended deadline)

UpTILT Film Fest
Wilmington, NC
March 22-24, 2024
Submissions accepted August 1-November 1, 2023 (regular deadline), December 1, 2023 (late deadline)

Full Frame Documentary Film Festival
Durham, NC 
April 4-7, 2024
Submissions opening TBA

Spring Lane Film Festival
Sanford, NC
April 6, 2024
Submissions accepted April 7, 2023-January 31, 2024 (final deadline)

RiverRun International Film Festival
Winston-Salem, NC (with events also scheduled in Greensboro)
April 18-27, 2024
Submissions accepted August 15 - November 1, 2023 (first deadline), December 15, 2023 (second deadline)

North Carolina South & East International Asian Film Festival
Franklin County, NC
May 4, 2024
Submissions closed May 6, 2023 (last deadline)

Longleaf Film Festival
Raleigh, NC
May 10-11, 2024
Submissions accepted August 14 - December 1, 2023 (regular deadline), February 1, 2024 (late deadline), March 1, 2024 (extended deadline)

Charlotte Black Film Festival
June 13 - 16, 2024
Submissions accepted through January 8, 2024 (regular deadline), April 3, 2024 (late deadline)

Real to Reel Film Festival
Kings Mountain, NC
July 24-27, 2024
Submissions accepted September 14 - Feburary 2, 2024 (regular deadline), May 1, 2024 (extended deadline)

The North Carolina Film Festival
New Bern, NC
August 2-3, 2024
Submissions accepted through June 2, 2024 (final deadline)

A Pecan Pickling Short Film Festival
Windsor, NC
September 13-15, 2024
Submissions opening January 18, 2024

Wreak Havoc Film Festival
Winston-Salem, NC
September 20-21, 2024
Submissions accepted January 1 - June 30, 2024 (Regular Deadline), July 31, 2024 (Last Chance Deadline)

Footcandle Film Festival
Hickory, NC
September 20-28, 2024 
Submissions accepted through May 1, 2024 (regular deadline), June 1, 2024 (late deadline)

Raleigh Film & Art Festival
Raleigh, NC 
October 4-6, 2024
Submissions accepted through February 29, 2024 (regular deadline), June 30, 2024 (late deadline)

1:11 High School Film Festival
Raleigh, NC
October 4-6, 2024
Submissions accepted through May 1, 2024 (regular deadline), July 7, 2024 (late deadline)

Sick Chick Flicks Film Festival
Chapel Hill, NC
October 5, 2024
Submissions accepted through February 28, 2024 (regular deadline), June 30, 2024 (extended deadline)

Tryon International Film Festival
Tryon, NC
October 10-13, 2024 
Submissions accepted through May 1, 2024 (regular deadline), June 1, (late deadline)

Indigo Moon Film Festival
Fayetteville, NC 
October 11-13, 2024
Submissions accepted through May 1, 2024 (regular deadline), July 31, 2024 (absolutely last minute deadline)

Horror Movie Freaks Film Festival
Walnut Coves, NC
October 18-19, 2024
Submissions accepted February 1, 2024 through July 1, 2024 (regular deadline), August 4, 2024 (final deadline)

FILM FESTIVALS WHOSE DATES ARE TBD

Full Bloom Film Festival
Statesville, NC
September 5-7, 2024
Submissions opening TBA

Visions Film Festival and Conference
Presented by UNC Wilmington Film Studies Department
Wilmington, NC
2024 Dates TBA (typically early spring)
Submissions opening TBA

CineOdyssey Film Festival
Charlotte, NC
2024 Dates TBA
Submissions opening TBA

Charlotte Jewish Film Festival
Charlotte, NC
2024 Dates TBA

Chapel Hill Black Film Festival
Durham, NC
2024 Dates TBA

Triad Jewish Film Festival
Greensboro, NC
2024 Dates TBA (typically January-February)

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

Lumbee Film Festival
Pembroke, NC
2024 Dates TBA
Submissions opening TBA

Wilmington Jewish Film Festival
Wilmington, NC 
2024 Dates TBA

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

Bull City International Film Festival
Durham, NC
2024 Dates TBA
Submissions opening TBA

Reel Out Charlotte Film Festival
Charlotte, NC
2024 Dates TBA (typically late Spring)
Submissions opening TBA

NC Black Film Festival
Wilmington, NC
2024 Dates TBA
Submissions opening TBA

Micropolitan Film Festival
Marion, NC
2024 Dates TBA
Submissions opening TBA

OUTSOUTH Queer Film Festival
Durham, NC
2024 Dates TBA
Submissions opening TBA

Foothills Film Festival
Shelby, NC
2024 Dates TBA
Submissions opening TBA

ADF's Movies by Movers
Durham, NC
2024 Dates TBA
Submissions opening TBA

Music Video Asheville Fest
Asheville, NC
2024 Dates TBA
Submissions opening TBA

Surfalorus
Outer Banks, NC
2024 Dates TBA
Submissions opening TBA

BEYOND: The Cary Film Festival
Cary, NC
2024 Dates TBA
Submissions opening TBA

Carnival of Darkness Film Festival
Chocowinity, NC
2024 Dates TBA
Submissions opening TBA

Charlotte Film Festival
Charlotte, NC 
2024 Dates TBA
Submissions opening TBA

OUT at the Movies International Film Festival
Winston-Salem, NC 
2024 Dates TBA
Submissions opening TBA

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

Cat Fly Film Festival 
Asheville, NC
2024 Dates TBA
Submissions opening TBA

Queer Fear Film Festival
Winston-Salem, NC
2024 Dates TBA
Submissions opening TBA

Carolina Film Festival
Charlotte, NC
2024 Dates TBA
Submissions opening TBA