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.    

Lumbee Film Festival
Pembroke, NC
July 4, 2026 
Submissions closed as of April 21, 2026 

ConGregate Film Festival
Greensboro, NC
July 17-19, 2026
Submissions closed as of June 19, 2026 

Real to Reel Film Festival
Kings Mountain, NC
July 22-25, 2026
Submissions closed as of May 4, 2026

The North Carolina Film Festival
New Bern, NC
August 1, 2026
Submissions closed as of June 1, 2026 

Mightier Than The Sword Awards At Sunset Film Festival
Asheboro, NC
August 7-9, 2026
Submissions accepted through July 4, 2026 (extended deadline)

Surfalorus
Outer Banks, NC
August 7-9, 2026 
Submissions closed as of May 20, 2026 

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 closed as of June 5, 2026 (features deadline)

Asheville Film Festival
Asheville, NC
August 21-23, 2026
Submissions closed as of July 1, 2026 

Mad Monster Film Festival
Concord, NC
August 21-23, 2026
Submissions accepted through July 21, 2026 

Bull City International Film Festival & Screenwriting Competition
Durham, NC
August 29, 2026
Submissions accepted through July 15, 2026 (regular deadline), August 15, 2026 (late deadline)

Music Video Asheville Fest
Asheville, NC
September 9, 2026
Submissions closed as of June 30, 2026 

Full Bloom Film Festival
Statesville, NC
September 10-12, 2026
Submissions closed as of June 6, 2026 

BEYOND: The Cary Film Festival
Cary, NC
September 10-13, 2026
Submissions closed as of May 15, 2026  

A Pecan Pickling Short Film Festival
Windsor, NC
September 11-12, 2026
Submissions closed as of May 26, 2026 

Diaspora Festival of Black and Independent Film
Chapel Hill, NC
September 15 - October 29, 2026
Submissions accepted through July 10, 2026 (early bird deadline), July 31, 2026 (extended deadline)

Highlands-Cashiers Film Festival
Highlands, NC
September 17-20, 2026
Submissions closed as of April 20, 2026 

Wreak Havoc Film Festival
Winston-Salem, NC
September 18-19, 2026
Submissions accepted through July 20, 2026 

Footcandle Film Festival
Hickory, NC
September 18-27, 2026
Submissions closed as of June 1, 2026  

Experimental Film Fest
New Bern, NC
September 19, 2026
Submissions accepted through August 1, 2026 

Charlotte Film Festival
Charlotte, NC 
September 22-27, 2026
Submissions closed as of June 30, 2026 

OUT at the Movies International Film Festival
Winston-Salem, NC 
September 24-27, 2026
Submissions accepted through July 31, 2026 

Gutterbliss Film Festival
Wilmington, NC
September 26, 2026
Submissions accepted through July 25, 2026

Twin Rivers Media Festival
Asheville, NC
September 26-27, 2026
Submissions accepted through August 1, 2026 (regular deadline), September 14, 2026 (last deadline)

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 accepted through 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 accepted through July 11, 2026 (regular deadline), August 1, 2026 (late deadline) 

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 accepted 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)

Cinebay film Festival
Southport, NC
October 18, 2026
Submissions accepted through September 1, 2026

CineOdyssey Animation Festival
Charlotte, NC
October 22-24, 2026
Submissions accepted through October 27, 2025 (regular deadline), July 27, 2026 (extended 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 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 accepted through September 1, 2026 

Nothing To Film Festival
Asheville, NC
November 6-8, 2026
Submissions accepted through August 1, 2026 

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 July 20, 2026 

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 accepted through September 1, 2026 (regular deadline), September 22, 2026 (late deadline)

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

Wake Forest Film Festival
Wake Forest, NC
March 5-6, 2027
Submissions accepted through August 16, 2026 (regular deadline), September 7, 2026 (late deadline)

UpTILT Film Fest
Wilmington, NC
March 19-21, 2027
Submissions accepted through September 15, 2026 (regular deadline), November 5, 2026 (final 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 accepted through September 25, 2026 (regular deadline), January 5, 2027 (extended deadline) 

Full Frame Documentary Film Festival
Durham, NC 
April 1-4, 2027
Submissions opening TBA

Spring Lane Film Festival
Sanford, NC
April 3, 2027
Submissions opening TBA

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

RiverRun International Film Festival
Winston-Salem, NC 
April 16-24, 2027
Submissions opening TBA

Charlotte International Dance Film Festival
Charlotte, NC
April 24, 2027
Submissions open August 15, 2026 and 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)

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

FILM FESTIVALS WHOSE DATES ARE TBD

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

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

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

NCACC's 100 Strong Productions Student Film Festival
Cary, 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 

Charlotte Black 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