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.    

Carnival of Darkness: The Haunted Pamlico Film Festival
Washington, NC
October 16-17, 2026
Submissions closed as of September 1, 2026 

Horror Movie Freaks Film Festival
Walnut Coves, NC
October 16-17, 2026
Submissions closed as of August 1, 2026 

Cinebay film Festival
Southport, NC
October 18, 2026
Submissions closed as of August 31, 2026

Halloween International Film Festival
Outer Banks, NC
October 23-24, 2026
Submissions closed as of August 13, 2026 

Greensboro Dance Film Festival
Greensboro, NC
October 23-25, 2026
Submissions closed as of May 1, 2026 

Outer Banks Environmental Film Festival
Manteo, NC
November 5-7, 2026
Submissions closed as of July 1, 2026 

Beaufort Film Festival
Beaufort, NC
November 6-8, 2026
Submissions closed as of September 1, 2026 

Nothing To Film Festival
Asheville, NC
November 6-8, 2026
Submissions closed as of August 1, 2026

Five Points Short FilmFest
Raleigh, NC
November 12, 2026
Submissions closed as of September 15, 2026

Fuquay Film Fest
Fuquay-Varina, NC
November 13-14, 2026
Submissions closed as of September 15, 2026 

The Fair Flix Film Club Festival
Durham, NC
November 15, 2026
Submissions closed as of September 10, 2026

Cucalorus Film Festival
Wilmington, NC
November 18-22, 2026
Submissions closed as of July 20, 2026 

CineOdyssey Animation Festival
Charlotte, NC
November 19-21, 2026
Submissions closed as of August 28, 2026

Stranger Days Independent Film Festival
Charlotte, NC
December 5, 2026
Submissions accepted through October 31, 2026

Carrboro Film Festival
Carrboro, NC
January 29-31, 2027
Submissions closed as of September 22, 2026 

Triad Jewish Film Festival
Greensboro, NC
February 4-25, 2027

Queer Fear Film Festival
Winston-Salem, NC
February 20, 2027
Submissions accepted through November 1, 2026

Diaspora Festival of Black and Independent Film
Chapel Hill, NC
February 20-21, 2027
Submissions closed as of September 14. 2026

Hayti Heritage Film Festival
Durham, NC
February 25-28, 2027
Submissions accepted through October 31, 2026

Boone DOCS Festival
Boone, NC
February 26-27, 2027
Submissions accepted through December 1, 2026

Nevermore Film Festival
Durham, NC
February 26-28, 2027
Submissions accepted through November 20, 2026 (short deadline), December 10, 2026 (feature deadline)

Wake Forest Film Festival
Wake Forest, NC
March 5-6, 2027
Submissions closed as of September 7, 2026

Cosmic Rays Film Festival
Chapel Hill, NC
March 19-21, 2027
Submissions accepted through November 16, 2026

UpTILT Film Fest
Wilmington, NC
March 19-21, 2027
Submissions accepted through October 15, 2026 (late deadline), November 30, 2026 (final deadline)

Reel Teal Film Festival
Wilmington, NC
March 20, 2027
Submissions open December 1, 2026 and accepted through January 1, 2027 (general deadline), January 21, 2027 (local deadline)

Full Frame Documentary Film Festival
Durham, NC 
April 1-4, 2027
Submissions accepted through November 15, 2026

Spring Lane Film Festival
Sanford, NC
April 3, 2027
Submissions accepted through December 25, 2026

Single Frame
Durham, NC 
April 4, 2027
Submissions accepted through December 1, 2026 (regular deadline), January 1, 2027 (late deadline)

Teleos Film Festival
Cary, NC
April 16-18, 2027
Submissions accepted through November 15, 2026 (regular deadline), February 21, 2027 (extended deadline)

RiverRun International Film Festival
Winston-Salem, NC 
April 16-24, 2027
Submissions accepted through November 2, 2026 (late deadline), December 7, 2026 (final deadline)

The Argyle Film Festival
Durham, NC
April 17, 2027
Submissions accepted through November 15, 2026 (regular deadline), January 8, 2027 (final deadline)

NCACC's 100 Strong Productions Student Film Festival
Cary, NC 
April 23-24, 2027
Submissions accepted through November 30, 2026 (regular deadline), Febrary 22, 2027 (final deadline)

Charlotte International Dance Film Festival
Charlotte, NC
April 24, 2027
Submissions accepted through November 15, 2026 (regular deadline), February 5, 2027 (extended deadline)

Queen City Culture Film Festival
Charlotte, NC 
April 24-25, 2027
Submissions accepted through November 14, 2026 (late deadline), February 7, 2027 (final deadline)

Home is Distant Shores
Cary, NC
May 1, 2027
Submissions accepted through October 31, 2026 (regular deadline), December 31, 2026 (super late deadline)

Down East Flick Fest
Greenville, NC
May 8, 2027
Submissions accepted through November 15, 2026 (regular deadline), December 15, 2026 (extended deadline)

Reel Out Charlotte Film Festival
Charlotte, NC
May 12-16, 2027
Submissions accepted through February 1, 2027

Charlotte Black Film Festival
Charlotte, NC
May 28 - June 5, 2027
Submissions accepted through February 28, 2027 (regular deadline), March 21, 2027 (late deadline)

ConCarolinas Film Festival
Charlotte, NC
June 4-6, 2027
Submissions accepted through March 31, 2027

ConGregate Film Festival
Greensboro, NC
July 9-11, 2027
Submissions accepted through January 13, 2027 (regular deadline), June 2, 2027 (late deadline)

The North Carolina Film Festival
New Bern, NC
July 31, 2027
Submissions opening October 31, 2026 and accepted through May 31, 2027

Mightier Than The Sword Awards At Sunset Film Festival
Asheboro, NC
August 13-15, 2027
Submissions accepted through March 17, 2027 (regular deadline), July 31, 2027 (extended deadline)

A Pecan Pickling Short Film Festival
Windsor, NC
September 10-11, 2027
Submissions open December 10, 2027 and accepted through May 2, 2027 (regular deadline), May 26, 2027 (late deadline)

Planet Frame: International Youth Film Festival & Anthology
Morganton, NC
September 17-18, 2027
Submissions accepted through February 28, 2027

Footcandle Film Festival
Hickory, NC
September 17-26, 2027
Submissions opening November 1, 2026 and accepted through May 1, 2027 (regular deadline), June 1, 2027 (final deadline)

Charlotte Film Festival
Charlotte, NC 
September 21-26, 2027
Submissions opening November 1, 2026 and accepted through May 31, 2027 (regular deadline), June 20, 2027 (extended deadline)

OUT at the Movies International Film Festival
Winston-Salem, NC 
September 30 - October 3, 2027
Submissions February 1, 2027 and accepted through June 1, 2027 (regular deadline), July 31, 2027 (late deadline)

1:11 High School Film Festival
Raleigh, NC
October 1-3, 2027
Submissions accepted through March 28, 2027 (regular deadline), June 7, 2027 (late deadline)

Raleigh Film & Art Festival
Raleigh, NC 
October 2-4, 2027
Submissions accepted through March 1, 2027 (regular deadline), May 31, 2027 (late deadline)

Tryon International Film Festival
Tryon, NC
October 7-10, 2027
Submissions accepted through May 1, 2027 (regular deadline), June 30, 2027 (final deadline)

Sick Chick Flicks Film Festival
Chapel Hill, NC
October 9-10, 2027
Submissions accepted through November 25, 2026 (regular deadline), June 30, 2027 (extended deadline)

Experimental Film Fest
New Bern, NC
November 13, 2027
Submissions open October 1, 2026 and accepted through August 1, 2027

FILM FESTIVALS WHOSE DATES ARE TBD

UNCC Gold Reel Student Film Festival
Charlotte, NC
2027 Dates TBA 
Submissions opening TBA

Wilmington Jewish Film Festival
Wilmington, NC 
2027 Dates TBA

NC Black Film Festival
Wilmington, NC
2027 Dates TBA
Submissions opening TBA

Controlled Chaos Film Festival
Cullowhee, NC
2027 Dates TBA
Submissions opening TBA

Indian and South East Asian Film Festival
Cary, NC
2027 Dates TBA
Submissions opening TBA

Lumbee Film Festival
Pembroke, NC
2027 Dates TBA 
Submissions opening TBA

Real to Reel Film Festival
Kings Mountain, NC
2027 Dates TBA
Submissions opening TBA

Surfalorus
Wilmington, NC
2027 Dates TBA 
Submissions opening TBA

OUTSOUTH Queer Film Festival
Durham, NC
2027 Dates TBA
Submissions opening TBA

Asheville Film Festival
Asheville, NC
2027 Dates TBA
Submissions opening TBA

Mad Monster Film Festival
Concord, NC
2027 Dates TBA
Submissions opening TBA

Bull City International Film Festival & Screenwriting Competition
Durham, NC
2027 Dates TBA
Submissions opening TBA

Music Video Asheville Fest
Asheville, NC
2027 Dates TBA
Submissions opening TBA

Full Bloom Film Festival
Statesville, NC
2027 Dates TBA
Submissions opening TBA

BEYOND: The Cary Film Festival
Cary, NC
2027 Dates TBA
Submissions opening TBA 

Gutterbliss Film Festival
Wilmington, NC
2027 Dates TBA
Submissions opening TBA

Highlands-Cashiers Film Festival
Highlands, NC
2027 Dates TBA
Submissions opening TBA 

Wreak Havoc Film Festival
Winston-Salem, NC
2027 Dates TBA
Submissions opening TBA

The First Cut Horror Film Festival
Wilmington, NC
2027 Dates TBA
Submissions opening TBA

Marbles Film Festival
Raleigh, NC
2027 Dates TBA
Submissions opening TBA