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.

Wilmington Jewish Film Festival
Wilmington, NC 
May 1-9, 2024
Submissions closed

North Carolina South & East International Asian Film Festival
Franklin County, NC
May 5, 2024
Submissions closed May 6, 2023 (last deadline)

Longleaf Film Festival
Raleigh, NC
May 10-11, 2024
Submissions closed March 1, 2024 (extended deadline)

Bull City International Film Festival
Durham, NC
May 10-11, 2024
Submissions closed March 23, 2024 (regular deadline), April 19, 2024 (late deadline)

Reel Out Charlotte Film Festival
Charlotte, NC
May 15-19, 2024
Submissions closed April 7, 2024 (regular deadline)

NC Black Film Festival
Wilmington, NC
May 16-19, 2024
Submissions closed January 31, 2024 (regular deadline), February 20, 2024 (late deadline)

Cat Fly Film Festival 
Asheville, NC
May 23-26, 2024
Submissions closed March 22, 2024 (regular deadline), April 19, 2024 (extended deadline)

Charlotte Black Film Festival
Charlotte, NC
June 13-16, 2024
Submissions closed April 3, 2024 (late deadline)

Lumbee Film Festival
Pembroke, NC
July 5-6, 2024
Submissions closed April 17, 2024 

Real to Reel Film Festival
Kings Mountain, NC
July 24-27, 2024
Submissions closed May 1, 2024 (extended deadline)

Music Video Asheville Fest
Asheville, NC
July 31, 2024
Submissions accepted through May 31, 2024 (late deadline)

The North Carolina Film Festival
New Bern, NC
August 3, 2024
Submissions accepted through June 2, 2024 (final deadline)

Micropolitan Film Festival
Marion, NC
August 3, 2024
Submissions accepted through June 10, 2024 (regular deadline), July 1, 2024 (late deadline)

OUTSOUTH Queer Film Festival
Durham, NC
August 8-15, 2024
Submissions accepted through May 10, 2024 (shorts deadline), May 31, 2024 (features deadline)

Full Bloom Film Festival
Statesville, NC
September 5-7, 2024
Submissions accepted through May 14, 2024 (regular deadline), June 4, 2024 (late deadline)

BEYOND: The Cary Film Festival
Cary, NC
September 5-8, 2024
Submissions accepted through May 17, 2024 (late deadline) 

A Pecan Pickling Short Film Festival
Windsor, NC
September 13-15, 2024
Submissions accepted through May 7, 2024 (regular deadline), June 14, 2024 (late deadline)

Foothills Film Festival
Shelby, NC
September 14, 2024
Submissions accepted through July 20, 2024 (regular deadline), August 15, 2024 (late deadline)

Surfalorus
Outer Banks, NC
September 16-18, 2024
Submissions accepted through May 14, 2024 (extended deadline)

Wreak Havoc Film Festival
Winston-Salem, NC
September 20-21, 2024
Submissions accepted through June 30, 2024 (Regular Deadline), July 31, 2024 (Last Chance Deadline)

Down East Flick Fest
Greenville, NC
September 20-22, 2024
Submissions closed April 5, 2024 (regular deadline), May 1, 2024 (extended deadline)

Footcandle Film Festival
Hickory, NC
September 20-28, 2024 
Submissions accepted through June 1, 2024 (late deadline)

Charlotte Film Festival
Charlotte, NC 
September 24-29, 2024
Submissions accepted through June 30, 2024 (regular deadline), July 21, 2024 (extended deadline)

OUT at the Movies International Film Festival
Winston-Salem, NC 
October 3-6, 2024
Submissions accepted through June 1, 2024 (regular deadline), July 31, 2024 (late deadline)

Raleigh Film & Art Festival
Raleigh, NC 
October 4-6, 2024
Submissions accepted through June 30, 2024 (late deadline)

1:11 High School Film Festival
Raleigh, NC
October 4-6, 2024
Submissions accepted through July 7, 2024 (late deadline)

Sick Chick Flicks Film Festival
Chapel Hill, NC
October 5, 2024
Submissions accepted through June 30, 2024 (extended deadline)

Tryon International Film Festival
Tryon, NC
October 10-13, 2024 
Submissions accepted through June 1, 2024 (late deadline)

Indigo Moon Film Festival
Fayetteville, NC 
October 11-13, 2024
Submissions accepted through July 31, 2024 (absolutely last minute deadline)

Queer Fear Film Festival
Winston-Salem, NC
October 12, 2024
Submissions accepted through July 15, 2024 (regular deadline), August 5, 2024 (late deadline)

CineOdyssey Film Festival
Charlotte, NC
October 17-19, 2024
Submissions accepted through May 6, 2024 (early deadline), August 19, 2024 (late deadline)

Horror Movie Freaks Film Festival
Walnut Coves, NC
October 18-19, 2024
Submissions accepted through July 1, 2024 (regular deadline), August 4, 2024 (final deadline)

Carnival of Darkness Film Festival
Washington, NC
October 18-19, 2024
Submissions accepted through May 13, 2024 (earlybird deadline), September 1, 2024 (regular deadline)

ADF's Movies by Movers
Durham, NC
November 1-3, 2024
Submissions accepted through August 2, 2024

Beaufort Film Festival
Beaufort, NC
November 2-16, 2024
Submissions accepted through September 1, 2024 (extended deadline)

Cucalorus Film Festival
Wilmington, NC
November 20-24, 2024
Submissions accepted through May 30, 2024 (regular deadline), June 30, 2024 (extended deadline)

Beaufort Film Festival 
Beaufort, NC
November 22-December 7, 2024
Submissions accepted through June 1, 2024 (late deadline), July 1, 2024 (extended deadline)

Stranger Days Independent Film Festival
Charlotte, NC
December 14, 2024
Submissions accepted through July 31, 2024 (regular deadline), September 30, 2024 (late deadline)

Carrboro Film Festival
Carrboro, NC
January 24-26, 2025
Submissions accepted through September 1, 2024 (regular deadline), September 21, 2024 (late deadline)

Boone DOCS Festival
Boone, NC
February 22, 2025
Submissions open June 1, 2024; accepted through November 1, 2024 (regular deadline), December 3, 2024 (late deadline)

FILM FESTIVALS WHOSE DATES ARE TBD

Visions Film Festival and Conference
Presented by UNC Wilmington Film Studies Department
Wilmington, NC
2024 Dates TBA (typically early spring)
Submissions opening TBA

Charlotte Jewish Film Festival
Charlotte, NC
2024 Dates TBA

Chapel Hill Black Film Festival
Durham, NC
2024 Dates TBA

Twin Rivers Media Festival
Black Mountain, NC
2024 Dates TBA (typically Summer)
Submissions opening TBA

Whimsical Times Film Festival
Wilmington, NC
2024 Dates TBA
Submissions opening TBA

Golden Hour Film Festival
Hickory, NC
2024 Dates TBA
Submissions opening TBA

Carolina Film Festival
Charlotte, NC
2024 Dates TBA
Submissions opening TBA

Triad Jewish Film Festival
Greensboro, NC
2025 Dates TBA

Nevermore Film Festival
Durham, NC
2025 Dates TBA
Submissions opening TBA

Greensboro Dance Film Festival
Greensboro, NC
2025 Dates TBA
Submissions opening TBA

Cosmic Rays Film Festival
Chapel Hill, NC
2025 Dates TBA
Submissions opening TBA

Hayti Heritage Film Festival
Durham, NC
2025 Dates TBA
Submissions opening TBA

Reel Teal Film Festival at UNCW
Wilmington, NC
2025 Dates TBA
Submissions opening TBA

UpTILT Film Fest
Wilmington, NC
2025 Dates TBA
Submissions opening TBA

Full Frame Documentary Film Festival
Durham, NC 
2025 Dates TBA
Submissions opening TBA

Spring Lane Film Festival
Sanford, NC
2025 Dates TBA
Submissions opening TBA

RiverRun International Film Festival
Winston-Salem, NC (with events also scheduled in Greensboro)
2025 Dates TBA
Submissions opening TBA