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.
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
Charlotte International Dance Film Festival
Charlotte, NC
March 20-22, 2026
Submissions closed February 5, 2026
Reel Teal Film Festival
Wilmington, NC
March 21, 2026
Submissions closed January 9, 2026
Teleos Film Festival
Cary, NC
March 27-29, 2026
Submissions closed September 30, 2025
Spring Lane Film Festival
Sanford, NC
April 4, 2026
Submissions closed December 25, 2025
UNCC Gold Reel Student Film Festival
Charlotte, NC
April 12, 2026
Submissions accepted through March 31, 2026
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 closed December 15, 2025
Single Frame
Durham, NC
April 19, 2026
Submissions closed January 1, 2026
NCACC's 100 Strong Productions Student Film Festival
Cary, NC
April 25, 2026
Submissions closed March 9, 2026
Wilmington Jewish Film Festival
Wilmington, NC
April 26-May 6, 2026
NC Black Film Festival
Wilmington, NC
May 1-3, 2026
Submissions closed February 23, 2026
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 closed December 31, 2025
ConCarolinas Film Festival
Charlotte, NC
May 15-17, 2026
Submissions closed March 1, 2026
Bull City International Film Festival & Screenwriting Competition
Durham, NC
May 17, 2026
Submissions open through March 15, 2026 (regular deadline), April 30, 2026 (late deadline)
Reel Out Charlotte Film Festival
Charlotte, NC
May 29-31, 2026
Submissions accepted through March 31, 2026
NC South & East International Asian Film Festival
Cary, NC
June 1-6, 2026
Submissions closed January 31, 2026
Lumbee Film Festival
Pembroke, NC
July 4, 2026
Submissions accepted through April 1, 2026 (regular deadline), April 21, 2026 (extended deadline)
Charlotte Black Film Festival
Charlotte, NC
June 4-7, 2026
Submissions accepted through 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 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 June 1, 2026 (final deadline)
Mightier Than The Sword Awards At Sunset Film Festival
Asheboro, NC
August 7-9, 2026
Submissions accepted through April 30, 2026 (late deadline)
OUTSOUTH Queer Film Festival
Durham, NC
August 13-20, 2026
Submissions accepted through May 15, 2026 (shorts deadline), June 5, 2026 (features deadline)
Surfalorus
Outer Banks, NC
August 14-16, 2026
Submissions accepted through April 24, 2026 (regular deadline), May 20, 2026 (extended deadline)
Asheville Film Festival
Asheville, NC
August 21-23, 2026
Submissions accepted through June 10, 2026 (official deadline), July 1, 2026 (late deadline)
Music Video Asheville Fest
Asheville, NC
September 9, 2026
Submissions open March 16, 2026 through May 31, 2026 (regular deadline), June 30, 2026 (late deadline)
Full Bloom Film Festival
Statesville, NC
September 10-12, 2026
Submissions accepted through May 15, 2026 (regular deadline), June 6, 2026 (extended deadline)
BEYOND: The Cary Film Festival
Cary, NC
September 10-13, 2026
Submissions 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 accepted through March 16, 2026 (regular deadline), April 20, 2026 (final deadline)
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)
Gutterbliss Film Festival
Wilmington, NC
September 26, 2026
Submissions accepted through July 25, 2026
OUT at the Movies International Film Festival
Winston-Salem, NC
October 1-4, 2026
Submissions 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 June 30, 2026 (late deadline)
Sick Chick Flicks Film Festival
Chapel Hill, NC
October 3-4, 2026
Submissions accepted through March 31, 2026 (late deadline)
Tryon International Film Festival
Tryon, NC
October 8-11, 2026
Submissions accepted through July 15, 2026 (final deadline)
Indigo Moon Film Festival
Fayetteville, NC
October 9-11, 2026
Submissions accepted through May 1, 2026 (regular deadline), July 31, 2026 (last minute 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 June 15, 2026 (extended deadline)
Carnival of Darkness: The Haunted Pamlico Film Festival
Washington, NC
October 16-17, 2026
Submissions open April 30, 2026 through September 1, 2026
Horror Movie Freaks Film Festival
Walnut Coves, NC
October 16-17, 2026
Submissions 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)
Cucalorus Film Festival
Wilmington, NC
November 18-22, 2026
Submissions accepted through June 1, 2026 (regular deadline), June 29, 2026 (extended deadline)
Stranger Days Independent Film Festival
Charlotte, NC
December 5, 2026
Submissions accepted through July 31, 2026 (regular deadline), October 31, 2026 (final deadline)
FILM FESTIVALS WHOSE DATES ARE TBD
Twin Rivers Media Festival
Asheville, 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
Carolina Film Festival
Charlotte, NC
2026 Dates TBA
Submissions opening TBA
Fuquay Film Fest
Fuquay-Varina, NC
2026 Dates TBA
Submissions opening TBA
Halloween International Film Festival
Outer Banks, NC
2026 Dates TBA
Submissions opening TBA
Surf City International Film Festival
Surf City, NC
2026 Dates TBA
Submissions opening TBA
The Argyle Film Festival
Durham, NC
2026 Dates TBA
Submissions opening TBA
Queer Fear Film Festival
Winston-Salem, NC
2026 Dates TBA
Submissions opening TBA
Triad Jewish Film Festival
Greensboro, NC
2026 Dates TBA
Boone DOCS Festival
Boone, NC
2026 Dates TBA
Submissions opening TBA
Nevermore Film Festival
Durham, NC
2026 Dates TBA
Submissions opening TBA
Carrboro Film Festival
Carrboro, NC
2026 Dates TBA
Submissions opening TBA
Hayti Heritage Film Festival
Durham, NC
2026 Dates TBA
Submissions opening TBA
Wake Forest Film Festival
Wake Forest, NC
2026 Dates TBA
Submissions opening TBA
