Festival Calendar
Curated for independent filmmakers Submit direct · Track deadlines No Hollywood required
For filmmakers & producers

The festival circuit.

Curated for independent film · Submit direct · No gatekeeping
Deadlines shift year to year. Always verify at the official site before submitting.
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Major Festivals
Sundance Film Festival Open Major
Submission Window
Currently Open
Location
Park City, UT
Platform
FilmFreeway
Entry Fee
$75–$95
DramaDocumentaryWorld CinemaShorts
The flagship indie festival. Highly competitive. Strong track record for character-driven drama and films with distinct voices.
Submit on FilmFreeway ↗
via FilmFreeway
SXSW Film & TV Festival Open Major
Submission Window
Currently Open
Location
Austin, TX
Platform
FilmFreeway
Entry Fee
$50–$85
Narrative FeatureSeries PilotComedySci-Fi
Strong platform for genre films, series pilots, and emerging filmmakers. Accepts both features and episodic content — excellent for SOLITAIRE and Truth or Dare.
Submit on FilmFreeway ↗
via FilmFreeway
Tribeca Film Festival Closing Soon Major
Submission Window
Verify at Official Site
Location
New York, NY
Platform
FilmFreeway
Entry Fee
$65–$90
DramaDocumentaryAnimationCrime
New York's premier indie festival. Strong animation and narrative tracks. The Understudy and SOLITAIRE are natural fits.
Submit on FilmFreeway ↗
via FilmFreeway
Diverse & Multicultural Focus
American Black Film Festival (ABFF) Open Diverse Focus
Submission Window
Currently Open
Location
Miami, FL
Platform
FilmFreeway
Entry Fee
$45–$65
DramaComedyDocumentarySeries
Premier showcase for Black cinema and TV. The Long Way Home, Night Freight, Backyard and Family Reunion are strong candidates.
Submit on FilmFreeway ↗
via FilmFreeway
Urban World Film Festival Open Diverse Focus
Submission Window
Currently Open
Location
New York, NY
Platform
FilmFreeway
Entry Fee
$35–$55
DramaComedyCrimeAnimation
Largest multicultural film festival in the US. Celebrates stories from diverse communities globally.
Submit on FilmFreeway ↗
via FilmFreeway
Pan African Film Festival (PAFF) Open Diverse Focus
Submission Window
Currently Open
Location
Los Angeles, CA
Platform
FilmFreeway
Entry Fee
$45–$60
DramaDocumentaryComedy
Presented by NAACP. Largest Black film festival in the US. Screens films from Africa and the diaspora.
Submit on FilmFreeway ↗
via FilmFreeway
Regional & Independent
Atlanta Film Festival Open Regional
Submission Window
Currently Open
Location
Atlanta, GA
Platform
FilmFreeway
Entry Fee
$45–$75
DramaDocumentaryComedyAll Genres
Southeast's largest film festival. Inclusive and accessible. Good for first-time festival submissions.
Submit on FilmFreeway ↗
via FilmFreeway
Chicago International Film Festival Open Regional
Submission Window
Currently Open
Location
Chicago, IL
Platform
FilmFreeway
Entry Fee
$55–$80
DramaCrimeDocumentaryWorld Cinema
Oldest competitive film festival in North America. Night Freight and Food Truck have natural Chicago connections to lean into.
Submit on FilmFreeway ↗
via FilmFreeway
Animation & Genre
Annecy International Animation Festival Open Animation
Submission Window
Currently Open
Location
Annecy, France
Platform
Official Site
Entry Fee
€40–€80
Feature AnimationShortSeriesVR
The world's premier animation festival. The Understudy, Uninvited, Small Talk and Truth or Dare should all be submitted here.
Submit Official Site ↗
via Official Site
Dances With Films Open Independent
Submission Window
Currently Open
Location
Los Angeles, CA
Platform
FilmFreeway
Entry Fee
$45–$65
DramaComedyAll Genres
No-name, no-studio policy. Your film must speak for itself. Ideal for every project on the EVOLUM slate.
Submit on FilmFreeway ↗
via FilmFreeway
Series & Television
SeriesFest Open Series / TV
Submission Window
Currently Open
Location
Denver, CO
Platform
FilmFreeway
Entry Fee
$45–$75
Drama SeriesComedy SeriesLimited SeriesAnimated Series
The only festival exclusively dedicated to episodic content. Backyard, Paper Trail, Vermilion Hour, Clean Sweep, Truth or Dare, Small Talk and Month to Month all belong here.
Submit on FilmFreeway ↗
via FilmFreeway
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