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.
1:11 High School Film Festival
Raleigh, NC
October 2-4, 2026
Submissions closed as of June 7, 2026
Raleigh Film & Art Festival
Raleigh, NC
October 2-4, 2026
Submissions closed as of June 30, 2026
Tryon International Film Festival
Tryon, NC
October 8-11, 2026
Submissions closed as of July 15, 2026
Sick Chick Flicks Film Festival
Chapel Hill, NC
October 9-10, 2026
Submissions closed as of March 31, 2026
The First Cut Horror Film Festival
Wilmington, NC
October 10, 2026
Submissions closed as of August 1, 2026
Marbles Film Festival
Raleigh, NC
October 10-11, 2026
Submissions closed as of June 15, 2026
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 5-8, 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
CineOdyssey Animation Festival
Charlotte, NC
November 12-14, 2026
Submissions closed as of August 28, 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
Stranger Days Independent Film Festival
Charlotte, NC
December 5, 2026
Submissions accepted through September 30, 2026 (late deadline), October 31, 2026 (final deadline)
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 October 1, 2026 (regular deadline), November 1, 2026 (late deadline)
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 September 29, 2026 (regular deadline), October 19, 2026 (late deadline)
Boone DOCS Festival
Boone, NC
February 26-27, 2027
Submissions accepted through November 1, 2026 (regular deadline), December 1, 2026 (late deadline)
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 5, 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 September 30, 2026 (regular deadline), November 15, 2026 (late/student deadline)
Spring Lane Film Festival
Sanford, NC
April 3, 2027
Submissions open October 1, 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 opening TBA
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)
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)
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)
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
Reel Out Charlotte Film Festival
Charlotte, NC
2027 Dates TBA
Submissions opening TBA
Indian and South East Asian Film Festival
Cary, NC
2027 Dates TBA
Submissions opening TBA
Indigo Moon Film Festival
Fayetteville, 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
The North Carolina Film Festival
New Bern, 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
Planet Frame: International Youth Film Festival & Anthology
Morganton, NC
2027 Dates TBA
Submissions opening TBA
Wreak Havoc Film Festival
Winston-Salem, NC
2027 Dates TBA
Submissions opening TBA
Footcandle Film Festival
Hickory, NC
2027 Dates TBA
Submissions opening TBA
Charlotte Film Festival
Charlotte, NC
2027 Dates TBA
Submissions opening TBA
OUT at the Movies International Film Festival
Winston-Salem, NC
2027 Dates TBA
Submissions opening TBA
Twin Rivers Media Festival
Asheville, NC
2027 Dates TBA
Submissions opening TBA
