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.

*NOTE:  Due to COVID-19, many festivals are continuing to be adjusted.  While this site is trying to stay up to date on any schedule changes, you are encouraged to reach out to the individual festival itself to see if the event is still taking place at the time indicated below.

Reel Teal Film Festival at UNCW
Wilmington, NC
March 17, 2023
Submissions closed December 31, 2022

Cosmic Rays Film Festival
Chapel Hill, NC
March 30-April 1, 2023
Submissions closed January 1, 2023 (regular deadline)

UpTILT Film Fest
Wilmington, NC
March 31-April 2, 2023
Submissions closed December 1, 2022 (late deadline)

Spring Lane Film Festival
Sanford, NC
April 1, 2023
Submissions closed January 31, 2023 (final deadline)

RiverRun International Film Festival
Winston-Salem, NC (with events also scheduled in Greensboro)
April 13-22, 2023
Submissions closed December 15, 2022 (late deadline)

ADF's Movies by Movers
Durham, NC
April 15 - September 30, 2023
Submissions closed March 1, 2023 (regular deadline)

Wilmington Jewish Film Festival
Wilmington, NC 
April 23 - May 3, 2023

Greensboro Dance Film Festival
Greensboro, NC
April 29, 2023
Submissions closed January 1, 2023

BeauShow Disco
Beaufort, NC
May 5, 2023
Submissions accepted January 6, 2023-March 1, 2023 (regular deadline), May 1, 2023 (extended deadline)

Whimsical Times Film Festival
Wilmington, NC
May 7, 2023
Submissions accepted January 26, 2023-March 31, 2023 (regular deadline)

Bull City International Film Festival
Durham, NC
May 12-13, 2023
Submissions accepted January 1, 2023-March 13, 2023 (regular deadline), April 2, 2023 (late deadline)

Longleaf Film Festival
Raleigh, NC
May 12-13, 2023
Submissions closed March 1, 2023 (extended deadline)

Reel Out Charlotte Film Festival
Charlotte, NC
May 17-21, 2023
Submissions accepted December 13, 2022-April 4, 2023 (regular deadline)

NC Black Film Festival
Wilmington, NC
May 18-21, 2023
Submissions closed January 25, 2023 (late deadline)

Twin Rivers Media Festival
Black Mountain, NC
June 17, 2023
Submissions accepted March 20, 2023-April 14, 2023 (regular deadline), June 10, 2023 (last deadline)

Lumbee Film Festival
Pembroke, NC
June 29-July 1, 2023
Submissions accepted February 17, 2023-April 20, 2023 (regular deadline)

Charlotte Black Film Festival
July 6-9, 2023
Submissions accepted August 10, 2022-March 11, 2023 (regular deadline), April 25, 2023 (late deadline)

Real to Reel Film Festival
Kings Mountain, NC
July 26-29, 2023
Submissions accepted August 2, 2022-March 3, 2023 (regular deadline), May 12, 2023 (extended deadline)

The North Carolina Film Festival
New Bern, NC
July 29, 2023
Submissions accepted September 5, 2022-June 5, 2023 (final deadline)

Micropolitan Film Festival
Marion, NC
August 5, 2023
Submissions accepted February 21, 2023-May 1, 2023 (regular deadline), June 1, 2023 (late deadline)

OUTSOUTH Queer Film Festival
Durham, NC
August 10-17, 2023
Submissions accepted March 1, 2023-May 12, 2023 (shorts deadline), June 2, 2023 (feature deadline)

North Carolina South & East International Asian Film Festival
Franklin County, NC
August 19 - September 10, 2023
Submissions accepted November 17, 2022-February 4, 2023 (regular deadline), May 6, 2023 (extended deadline)

Foothills Film Festival
Shelby, NC
September 2, 2023
Submissions accepted December 11, 2022-July 1, 2023 (regular deadline), August 15, 2023 (late deadline)

Full Bloom Film Festival
Statesville, NC
September 7-9, 2023
Submissions accepted January 16, 2023-May 14, 2023 (regular deadline), June 4, 2023 (late deadline)

A Pecan Pickling Short Film Festival
Windsor, NC
September 8-10, 2023
Submissions accepted January 8, 2023-May 8, 2023 (regular deadline), June 8, 2023 (late deadline)

Surfalorus
Outer Banks, NC
September 18-20, 2023
Submissions accepted January 18, 2023-April 28, 2023 (regular deadline), May 26, 2023 (extended deadline)

Footcandle Film Festival
Hickory, NC
September 18-24, 2023
Submissions accepted November 1, 2022-May 1, 2023 (regular deadline), June 1, 2023 (late deadline)

BEYOND: The Cary Film Festival
Cary, NC
September 21-24, 2023
Submissions accepted February 1, 2023-May 31, 2023 (final deadline)

Carnival of Darkness Film Festival
Chocowinity, NC
September 22-23, 2023
Submissions opening May 1, 2023

Charlotte Film Festival
Charlotte, NC 
September 27 - October 1, 2023
Submissions accepted January 2, 2023-June 30, 2023 (regular deadline), July 21, 2023 (extended deadline)

OUT at the Movies International Film Festival
Winston-Salem, NC 
September 28 - October 1, 2023
Submissions accepted February 1, 2023-June 1, 2023 (regular deadline), July 31, 2023 (late deadline)

Wreak Havoc Film Festival
Winston-Salem, NC
September 29-30, 2023
Submissions accepted January 6, 2023-June 30, 2023 (regular deadline), July 31, 2023 (last chance deadline)

Golden Hour Film Festival
Hickory, NC
September 30, 2023
Submissions accepted September 1, 2022-May 31, 2023 (regular deadline), June 30, 2023 (late deadline)

Raleigh Film & Art Festival
Raleigh, NC 
October 6-8, 2023
Submissions closed February 28, 2023 (regular deadline)

1:11 High School Film Festival
Raleigh, NC
October 6-8, 2023
Submissions accepted October 15, 2022-May 1, 2023 (regular deadline), July 7, 2023 (late deadline)

Tryon International Film Festival
Tryon, NC
October 6-8, 2023 
Submissions accepted January 1, 2023-August 1, 2023 (regular deadline), August 21, 2023 (late deadline)

Sick Chick Flicks Film Festival
Chapel Hill, NC
October 7-8, 2023
Submissions accepted May 1, 2022-December 1, 2022 (regular deadline), May 1, 2023 (late deadline)

Horror Movie Freaks Film Festival
Walnut Coves, NC
October 13-14, 2023
Submissions accepted February 1, 2023-July 1, 2023 (regular deadline), August 6, 2023 (final deadline)

Queer Fear Film Festival
Winston-Salem, NC
October 13-15, 2023
Submissions accepted January 1, 2023-July 24, 2023 (regular deadline), August 13, 2023 (late deadline)

Indigo Moon Film Festival
Fayetteville, NC 
October 13-15, 2023
Submissions accepted October 22, 2022-May 1, 2023 (regular deadline), July 31, 2023 (absolutely last minute deadline)

Carolina Film Festival
Charlotte, NC
October 14, 2023
Submissions accepted January 1, 2023-July 7, 2023 (regular deadline), August 25, 2023 (extended deadline)

Beaufort Film Festival
Beaufort, NC
November 1-20, 2023
Submissions accepted January 2, 2023-May 1, 2023 (regular deadline), September 1, 2023 (extended deadline)

Cucalorus Film Festival
Wilmington, NC
November 15-19, 2023
Submissions accepted January 18, 2023-May 26, 2023 (regular deadline), June 23, 2023 (extended deadline)

Carrboro Film Festival
Carrboro, NC
November 17-19, 2023
Submissions accepted February 1, 2023-August 31, 2023 (regular deadline), 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)

Boone DOCS Festival
Boone, NC
February 24, 2024
Submissions opening June 1, 2023

FILM FESTIVALS WHOSE DATES ARE TBD

Visions Film Festival and Conference
Presented by UNC Wilmington Film Studies Department
Wilmington, NC
Typically early Spring
Submissions TBA

Reel 2 Reel Student Film Festival
Burlington, NC
Typically Fall
Submissions TBA

CineOdyssey Film Festival
Charlotte, NC
Dates TBA
Submissions TBA

Outer Banks Film Festival
Kill Devil Hills, NC 
2023 Dates TBA
Submissions opening TBA

Dirty Dancing Festival
Lake Lure, NC
2023 Dates TBA

Youth International Film Festival (YIFF)
Hickory, NC
2023 Dates TBA

Music Video Asheville Fest
Asheville, NC
2023 Dates TBA
Submissions opening TBA

Cat Fly Film Festival
Asheville, NC
2023 Dates TBA
Submissions opening TBA

Film Fest 919
Chapel Hill, NC
2023 Dates TBA

Down East Flick Fest
Greenville, NC
2023 Dates TBA
Submissions TBA

Charlotte Jewish Film Festival
Charlotte, NC
2024 Dates TBA

Hayti Heritage Film Festival
Durham, NC
2024 Dates TBA
Submissions opening August 2023

Nevermore Film Festival
Durham, NC
2024 Dates TBA
Submissions TBA

Chapel Hill Black Film Festival 2
Durham, NC
2024 Dates TBA

Triad Jewish Film Festival
Greensboro, NC
2024 Dates TBA

Full Frame Documentary Film Festival
Durham, NC 
Returning 2024 - Dates TBA
Submissions opening TBA