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.
Five Points Short FilmFest
Raleigh, NC
August 14-15, 2025
OUTSOUTH Queer Film Festival
Durham, NC
August 14-21, 2025
Submissions closed May 15, 2025 (shorts), June 4, 2025 (features)
1CLT Film Festival
Charlotte, NC
August 20-24, 2025
Music Video Asheville Fest
Asheville, NC
September 10, 2025
Submissions closed July 31, 2025 (late deadline)
Full Bloom Film Festival
Statesville, NC
September 11-13, 2025
Submissions closed June 6, 2025 (late deadline)
BEYOND: The Cary Film Festival
Cary, NC
September 11-14, 2025
Submissions closed May 17, 2025 (late deadline)
A Pecan Pickling Short Film Festival
Windsor, NC
September 12-14, 2025
Submissions closed through May 2, 2025
Surfalorus
Outer Banks, NC
September 15-17, 2025
Submissions closed May 19, 2025 (late deadline)
Footcandle Film Festival
Hickory, NC
September 19-28, 2025
Submissions closed June 1, 2025 (late deadline)
Foothills Film Festival
Shelby, NC
September 20, 2025
Submissions close August 31, 2025 (late deadline)
Sick Chick Flicks Film Festival
Chapel Hill, NC
September 20, 2025
Submissions closed April 30, 2025 (late deadline)
Bull City International Film Festival & Screenwriting Competition
Durham, NC
September 20, 2025
Submissions closed August 8, 2025
Wreak Havoc Film Festival
Winston-Salem, NC
September 20-21
Submissions closed June 30, 2025
OUT at the Movies International Film Festival
Winston-Salem, NC
October 2-5, 2025
Submissions closed June 1, 2025
Raleigh Film & Art Festival
Raleigh, NC
October 3-5, 2025
Submissions closed June 30, 2025 (late deadline)
1:11 High School Film Festival
Raleigh, NC
October 3-5, 2025
Submissions closed 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 closed August 3, 2025 (late deadline)
Tryon International Film Festival
Tryon, NC
October 9-12, 2025
Submissions closed July 1, 2025 (late deadline)
Indigo Moon Film Festival
Fayetteville, NC
October 10-12, 2025
Submissions closed June 1, 2025 (late deadline)
Charlotte Film Festival
Charlotte, NC
October 14-19, 2025
Submissions closed July 27, 2025 (extended deadline)
Carnival of Darkness Film Festival
Washington, NC
October 17-18, 2025
Submissions accepted May 1 through September 1, 2025 (regular deadline)
Horror Movie Freaks Film Festival
Walnut Coves, NC
October 17-18, 2025
Submissions closed July 6, 2025
Beaufort Film Festival
Beaufort, NC
November 1-9, 2025
Submissions closed June 1, 2025
Teleos Film Festival
Cary, NC
November 12-16, 2025
Submissions accepted through September 30, 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 closed June 30, 2025 (extended deadline)
Stranger Days Independent Film Festival
Charlotte, NC
December 27, 2025
Submissions closed July 31, 2025 (regular deadline)
Carrboro Film Festival
Carrboro, NC
January 23-26, 2026
Submissions accepted through September 1, 2025
The Argyle Film Festival
Durham, NC
January 30, 2026
Submissions accepted August 1 through October 15, 2025 (regular deadline), November 15, 2025 (late deadline)
Queer Fear Film Festival
Winston-Salem, NC
February 21, 2026
Submissions accepted through October 1, 2025
Boone DOCS Festival
Boone, NC
February 27-28, 2026
Submissions accepted May 1 through November 1, 2025 (regular deadline)
Nevermore Film Festival
Durham, NC
February 27-March 1, 2026
Submissions accepted September 8 through October 20, 2025 (regular deadline), November 14, 2025 (shorts final deadline), December 5, 2025 (features final deadline)
Hayti Heritage Film Festival
Durham, NC
March 4-7, 2026
Submissions accepted August 18 through November 3, 2025
Wake Forest Film Festival
Wake Forest, NC
March 6-7, 2026
Submissions accepted June 1 through September 26, 2025 (regular deadline), October 24, 2025 (late deadline)
UpTILT Film Fest
Wilmington, NC
March 20-22, 2026
Submissions accepted August 1 through November 15, 2025
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 accepted August 15 through September 30, 2025 (regular deadline), November 15, 2025 (late deadline)
RiverRun International Film Festival
Winston-Salem, NC
April 17-25, 2026
Submissions accepted September 1 through September 30, 2025 (deadline), December 15, 2025 (final deadline)
Wilmington Jewish Film Festival
Wilmington, NC
April 26-May 6, 2026
Charlotte Black Film Festival
Charlotte, NC
June 4-7, 2026
Submissions accepted August 7,2025 through February 14, 2026 (regular deadline), March 28, 2026 (late deadline)
Real to Reel Film Festival
Kings Mountain, NC
July 22-25, 2025
Submissions accepted July 29, 2025-February 2, 2026 (regular deadline), March 2, 2026 (late deadline)
CineOdyssey Animation Festival
Charlotte, NC
July 23-25, 2026
Submissions accepted through October 27, 2025
Greensboro Dance Film Festival
Greensboro, NC
October 23-25, 2026
Submissions accepted July 14, 2025 through May 1, 2026 (deadline)
FILM FESTIVALS WHOSE DATES ARE TBD
Golden Hour Film Festival
Morganton, NC
2025 Dates TBA
Submissions opening TBA
Triad Jewish Film Festival
Greensboro, NC
2026 Dates TBA
Down East Flick Fest
Greenville, 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
Cosmic Rays Film Festival
Chapel Hill, NC
2026 Dates TBA
Submissions opening TBA
NC Black Film Festival
Wilmington, NC
2026 Dates TBA
Submissions opening TBA
Reel Out Charlotte Film Festival
Charlotte, NC
2026 Dates TBA
Submissions opening TBA
Twin Rivers Media Festival
Asheville, NC
2026 Dates TBA
Submissions opening TBA
Lumbee Film Festival
Pembroke, NC
2026 Dates TBA
Submissions opening TBA
The North Carolina Film Festival
New Bern, NC
2026 Dates TBA
Submissions opening TBA
Micropolitan Film Festival
Marion, NC
2026 Dates TBA
Submissions opening TBA
