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.
Carrboro Film Festival
Carrboro, NC
January 23-26, 2026
Submissions closed September 1, 2025
The Argyle Film Festival
Durham, NC
January 30, 2026
Submissions closed November 15, 2025
Queer Fear Film Festival
Winston-Salem, NC
February 21, 2026
Submissions closed November 1, 2025
Triad Jewish Film Festival
Greensboro, NC
February 22-March 7, 2026
Boone DOCS Festival
Boone, NC
February 27-28, 2026
Submissions closed December 1, 2025
Nevermore Film Festival
Durham, NC
February 27-March 1, 2026
Submissions closed December 5, 2025
Hayti Heritage Film Festival
Durham, NC
March 4-7, 2026
Submissions closed November 3, 2025
Wake Forest Film Festival
Wake Forest, NC
March 6-7, 2026
Submissions closed October 24, 2025
UpTILT Film Fest
Wilmington, NC
March 20-22, 2026
Submissions closed December 16, 2025
Cosmic Rays Film Festival
Chapel Hill, NC
March 20-22, 2026
Submissions closed November 12, 2025
Reel Teal Film Festival
Wilmington, NC
March 21, 2026
Submissions accepted through December 19, 2025 (regular deadline), January 9, 2026 (local deadline)
Charlotte International Dance Film Festival
Charlotte, NC
March 27-29, 2026
Submissions accepted through January 10, 2026 (late deadline), February 5, 2026 (extended deadline)
Spring Lane Film Festival
Sanford, NC
April 4, 2026
Submissions accepted through December 25, 2025
Full Frame Documentary Film Festival
Durham, NC
April 16-19, 2026
Submissions closed November 15, 2025
RiverRun International Film Festival
Winston-Salem, NC
April 17-25, 2026
Submissions accepted through September 30, 2025 (deadline), December 15, 2025 (final deadline)
Single Frame
Durham, NC
April 19, 2026
Submissions accepted through January 1, 2026 (late deadline)
NCACC's 100 Strong Productions Student Film Festival
Cary, NC
April 25, 2026
Submissions accepted through January 15, 2026 (regular deadline), March 9, 2026 (last minute deadline)
Wilmington Jewish Film Festival
Wilmington, NC
April 26-May 6, 2026
NC Black Film Festival
Wilmington, NC
May 1-3, 2026
Submissions accepted through January 22, 2026 (regular deadline), February 23, 2026 (late deadline)
Controlled Chaos Film Festival
Cullowhee, NC
May 1-3, 2026
Submissions accepted through March 23, 2026
Home is Distant Shores
Cary, NC
May 9, 2026
Submissions accepted through December 31, 2025 (super late deadline)
Reel Out Charlotte Film Festival
Charlotte, NC
May 29-31, 2026
Submissions accepted through March 31, 2026
ConCarolinas Film Festival
Charlotte, NC
May 15-17, 2026
Submissions accepted through March 1, 2026
NC South & East International Asian Film Festival
Cary, NC
June 1-6, 2026
Submissions accepted through January 31, 2026 (final deadline)
Charlotte Black Film Festival
Charlotte, NC
June 4-7, 2026
Submissions accepted through February 14, 2026 (regular deadline), March 28, 2026 (late deadline)
ConGregate Film Festival
Greensboro, NC
July 17-19, 2026
Submissions accepted through April 17, 2026 (regular deadline), June 19, 2026 (late deadline)
Real to Reel Film Festival
Kings Mountain, NC
July 22-25, 2026
Submissions accepted through February 2, 2026 (regular deadline), March 2, 2026 (late deadline), May 4, 2026 (extended animation deadline)
CineOdyssey Animation Festival
Charlotte, NC
July 23-25, 2026
Submissions accepted through October 27, 2025 (regular deadline),February 27, 2026 (extended late deadline)
The North Carolina Film Festival
New Bern, NC
August 1, 2026
Submissions accepted through December 1, 2025 (regular deadline), June 1, 2026 (final deadline)
BEYOND: The Cary Film Festival
Cary, NC
September 10-13, 2026
Submissions open February 1, 2026 and accepted through March 13, 2026 (early deadline), May 15, 2026 (late deadline)
A Pecan Pickling Short Film Festival
Windsor, NC
September 11-12, 2026
Submissions accepted through May 2, 2026 (regular deadline), May 26, 2026 (late deadline)
Wreak Havoc Film Festival
Winston-Salem, NC
September 12-13, 2026
Submissions accepted through June 8, 2026 (regular deadline), July 20, 2026 (last chance deadline)
Highlands-Cashiers Film Festival
Highlands, NC
September 17-20, 2026
Submissions opening TBA
Footcandle Film Festival
Hickory, NC
September 18-27, 2026
Submissions accepted through May 1, 2026 (regular deadline), June 1, 2026 (late deadline)
Charlotte Film Festival
Charlotte, NC
September 22-27, 2026
Submissions accepted through May 31, 2026 (regular deadline), June 30, 2026 (extended deadline)
OUT at the Movies International Film Festival
Winston-Salem, NC
October 1-4, 2026
Submissions open February 1, 2026 and accepted through June 1, 2026 (regular deadline), July 31, 2026 (late deadline)
1:11 High School Film Festival
Raleigh, NC
October 2-4, 2026
Submissions accepted through March 28, 2026 (regular deadline), June 7, 2026 (late deadline)
Raleigh Film & Art Festival
Raleigh, NC
October 2-4, 2026
Submissions accepted through March 1, 2026 (regular deadline), June 30, 2026 (late deadline)
Sick Chick Flicks Film Festival
Chapel Hill, NC
October 3-4, 2026
Submissions accepted through January 31, 2026 (regular deadline), March 31, 2026 (late deadline)
Tryon International Film Festival
Tryon, NC
October 8-11, 2026
Submissions accepted through January 1, 2026 (regular deadline), July 15, 2026 (final deadline)
The First Cut Horror Film Festival
Wilmington, NC
October 10, 2026
Submissions accepted through July 11, 2026 (regular deadline), August 1, 2026 (late deadline)
Marbles Film Festival
Raleigh, NC
October 10-11, 2026
Submissions accepted through March 1, 2026
Horror Movie Freaks Film Festival
Walnut Coves, NC
October 16-17, 2026
Submissions open February 1, 2026 and accepted through July 4, 2026 (regular deadline), August 1, 2026 (late deadline)
Greensboro Dance Film Festival
Greensboro, NC
October 23-25, 2026
Submissions accepted through May 1, 2026
Outer Banks Environmental Film Festival
Manteo, NC
November 5-7, 2026
Submissions accepted through May 1, 2026 (regular deadline), June 15, 2026 (late deadline)
Beaufort Film Festival
Beaufort, NC
November 5-8, 2026
Submissions open June 1, 2026 and accepted through July 1, 2026 (regular deadline), August 1, 2026 (late deadline)
FILM FESTIVALS WHOSE DATES ARE TBD
Twin Rivers Media Festival
Asheville, NC
2026 Dates TBA
Submissions opening TBA
Lumbee Film Festival
Pembroke, NC
2026 Dates TBA
Submissions opening TBA
Micropolitan Film Festival
Marion, NC
2026 Dates TBA
Submissions opening TBA
Five Points Short FilmFest
Raleigh, NC
2026 Dates TBA
OUTSOUTH Queer Film Festival
Durham, NC
2026 Dates TBA
Submissions opening TBA
1CLT Film Festival
Charlotte, NC
2026 Date(s) TBA
Music Video Asheville Fest
Asheville, NC
2026 Dates TBA
Submissions opening TBA
Full Bloom Film Festival
Statesville, NC
2026 Dates TBA
Submissions opening TBA
Surfalorus
Outer Banks, NC
2026 Dates TBA
Submissions opening TBA
Bull City International Film Festival & Screenwriting Competition
Durham, NC
2026 Dates TBA
Submissions opening TBA
Carolina Film Festival
Charlotte, NC
2026 Dates TBA
Submissions opening TBA
Indigo Moon Film Festival
Fayetteville, NC
2026 Dates TBA
Submissions opening TBA
Carnival of Darkness Film Festival
Washington, NC
2026 Dates TBA
Submissions opening TBA
Teleos Film Festival
Cary, NC
2026 Dates TBA
Submissions opening TBA
Fuquay Film Fest
Fuquay-Varina, NC
2026 Dates TBA
Submissions opening TBA
Cucalorus Film Festival
Wilmington, NC
2026 Dates TBA
Submissions opening TBA
Stranger Days Independent Film Festival
Charlotte, NC
2026 Dates TBA
Submissions opening TBA
Halloween International Film Festival
Outer Banks, NC
2026 Dates TBA
Submissions opening TBA
Gutterbliss Film Festival
Wilmington, NC
2026 Dates TBA
Submissions opening TBA
Surf City International Film Festival
Surf City, NC
2026 Dates TBA
Submissions opening TBA
Asheville Film Festival
Asheville, NC
2026 Dates TBA
Submissions opening TBA
