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.

UNCC Gold Reel Student Film Festival
Charlotte, NC
April 12, 2026
Submissions closed 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 closed 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 accepted through April 30, 2026 (late deadline)

Reel Out Charlotte Film Festival
Charlotte, NC
May 29-31, 2026
Submissions closed 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 21, 2026 (extended deadline)

Charlotte Black Film Festival
Charlotte, NC
June 4-7, 2026
Submissions closed March 28, 2026 )

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)

Five Points Short FilmFest
Raleigh, NC
August 8-9, 2026
Submissions opened February 23, 2026 through TBA

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)

Halloween International Film Festival
Outer Banks, NC
October 23-24, 2026
Submissions accepted through July 13, 2026 (Summer deadline), August 13, 2026 (final 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)

Fuquay Film Fest
Fuquay-Varina, NC
November 13-14, 2026
Submissions open through August 15, 2026 (regular deadline), October 15, 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)

Carrboro Film Festival
Carrboro, NC
January 29-31, 2027
Submissions opening TBA

Queer Fear Film Festival
Winston-Salem, NC
February 20, 2027
Submissions open May 1, 2026 through October 1, 2026 (regular deadline), November 1, 2026 (late deadline)

Boone DOCS Festival
Boone, NC
February 26-27, 2027
Submissions open May 1, 2026 through November 1, 2026 (regular deadline), December 1, 2026 (late deadline)

Wake Forest Film Festival
Wake Forest, NC
March 5-6, 2027
Submissions open May 1, 2026 through September 1, 2026 (regular deadline), October 1, 2026 (late deadline)

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

Teleos Film Festival
Cary, NC
March 26-28, 2027
Submissions open June 1, 2026 through September 25, 2026 (regular deadline), January 5, 2027 (extended 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

Carolina Film Festival
Charlotte, 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
2027 Dates TBA
Submissions opening TBA

Triad Jewish Film Festival
Greensboro, NC
2027 Dates TBA

Nevermore Film Festival
Durham, NC
2027 Dates TBA
Submissions opening TBA

Hayti Heritage Film Festival
Durham, NC
2027 Dates TBA
Submissions opening TBA

UpTILT Film Fest
Wilmington, NC
2027 Dates TBA
Submissions opening TBA

Cosmic Rays Film Festival
Chapel Hill, NC
2027 Dates TBA
Submissions opening TBA

Charlotte International Dance Film Festival
Charlotte, NC
2027 Dates TBA
Submissions opening TBA