film festivals USA

The Biggest List of Film Festivals in the US (July-Sept)

So…let’s move on to the third instalment of our Biggest List of Film Festivals in the US, shall we? Without further ado, here it is folks! The list of film fests from July to September 2013. If you want to get an Excel file of the full list of film festivals in the USA (Jan-Dec) complete with location, e-mails, fees, and other notes, simply like our Facebook page and send us a PM there with this message “I want the Big List.” It will make your life so much easier!

JULY

15-MINUTES OF FAME FESTIVAL OF SHORTS 
films that are 15-minutes in length or less
FEE: $15-$20

ACTION ON FILM INDEPENDENT FILM FESTIVAL
FEE: $25-$45

ALASKA INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
FEE: $25-$45

AMERICAN BLACK FILM FESTIVAL
films written and produced by or directed by a person of African descent
FEE: $30

ANOTHER HOLE IN THE HEAD
horror, sci-fi, fantasy, Grindhouse
FEE:  $20-50

ASIAN AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL 
produced, written and/or directed by filmmakers with Asian heritage
FEE: $10

CHRISTOPHER COPPOLA'S PAH-FEST
Digital Amnesty
FEE: $7.77

DA VINCI FILM & VIDEO FESTIVAL
FEE: $10-$50

DUKE CITY SHOOTOUT
$50

HIGH MAINTENANCE FILM FESTIVAL
FEE: $25

HYPEFEST
shorts under 25 minutes only
FEE: $35 (early)/$25 (early, student)
/$45 (final)/$35 (final, student)

IFS
FEE: $35 (flf)/$15 (shorts)

INDIEFEST FILM FESTIVAL AND MARKET: CHICAGO

INFACT
documentaries
FEE: $40

ITISNESS CINEMATHON
films 3 minutes or less
FEE: $5

KICKING & SCREENING INTERNATIONAL SOCCER FILM FESTIVAL
soccer-related films

KIDS FIRST! FILM FESTIVAL
children's media
FEE: $40-$75

LOS ANGELES LATINO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
latino cinema

MAINE INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
FEE: $40

MIAMI INDEPENDENT FILM AND MUSIC FESTIVAL
$10-$25

MIDWEST URBAN FILM FESTIVAL
Urban Films, Hip Hop
FREE

NEW YORK INTERNATIONAL INDEPENDENT FILM & VIDEO FESTIVAL
up to $300

NEW YORK INTERNATIONAL LATINO FILM FESTIVAL
Latino
FREE

OUTFEST
gay/lesbian/bisexual/transgendered filmmaking

PHILADELPHIA INTERNATIONAL GAY AND LESBIAN FILM FESTIVAL
gay and lesbian

PLYMOUTH INDEPENDENT FILM FESTIVAL
general submission with special screenings of environmental
and diversity films;
also series on Irish, Brazilian and films from Plymouth,
England
FEE: $12-$40

REAL TO REEL FILM FESTIVAL
FEE: early - $15 (amateurs)/$35 (professionals)
final - $25 (amateurs)/$50 (professionals)

REEL VENUS FILM FESTIVAL
current shorts directed and written by a woman,
all genres accepted

ROXBURY FILM FESTIVAL
films by and/or about people of color

RURAL ROUTE FILM FESTIVAL
rural people and places

SAN FRANCISCO FROZEN FILM FESTIVAL
FEE: $30-65

SAN FRANCISCO JEWISH FILM FESTIVAL
independent Jewish film and video
FEE: $15

SAN FRANCISCO SILENT FILM FESTIVAL
films made in the silent era
FREE

STONY BROOK FILM FESTIVAL
FREE

THROUGH HER EYES: WOMEN OF COLOR FILM FESTIVAL
FREE

TRAVERSE CITY FILM FESTIVAL

WINE COUNTRY FILM FESTIVAL
$35 with SASE

THE WOODS HOLE FILM FESTIVAL
$25 (shorts)/$40 (flf)
____________________________________________________________________

AUGUST

ACE FILM FESTIVAL
films and videos made in the United States only

ACTION/CUT SHORT FILM COMPETITION 
FEE: $40-$85

ANIMATION ATTACK!
FEE: $20 (shorts)/$30 (flf)

ASIAN FILM FESTIVAL OF DALLAS
Asian theme, Asian filmmakers (director, writer, producer)
FEE: $15-$20

ATLANTA INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY FESTIVAL (DOCUFEST ATLANTA) 
FEE: $20 (shorts) , $30 (flf)

ATLANTA UNDERGROUND FILM FESTIVAL
non-mainstream
FEE: $15

COLORADO FILM FESTIVAL
FEE: $30-55

DOCUWEEK

DOWNBEACH FILM FESTIVAL
festival accepts both general subject matter
and those films which deals with the seashore or the ocean
FEE: $30 (shorts)/$35 (doc)/$40 (flf)

DRUID UNDERGROUND FILM FESTIVAL 
Underground, Experimental
FEE: $10

FLAGSTAFF FILM FESTIVAL
FEE: $25 & up

FRIGHT NIGHT FILM FEST
Horror
FEE:  $25 (flf)/$15 (shorts)/$10 (trailers)

GREAT PLAINS FILM FESTIVAL 
FEE: $25 (flf)/$15 (shorts) 

HARDACRE FILM FESTIVAL
FEE: $15 (shorts under 60 mins.)/$25 (flf)

HOLLYSHORTS FILM FESTIVAL
short films 30 min. or less
FEE: $20

HORRIFIC FILM FEST
FEE: $50(flf)/$35 (shorts)

INTERNATIONAL REEL WHEEL FILM FESTIVAL
automobiles and automobile racing

LOISAIDA CORTOS FILM FESTIVAL
short films (20 minutes or less) by Latin filmmakers

LA SHORTS FEST 
shorts, screenplays and commercials under 60 minutes in length
FEE: $36-$69

MALIBU INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
FEE: $55 (early)/$65 (regular)/$75 (late)/$100 (final)

MARTHA'S VINEYARD AFRICAN AMERICAN FILM FESTIVAL
FEE: $45 (shorts)/$50 (doc)/$55 (flf)

MOONDANCE INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL 
international film festival promoting and encouraging women filmmakers
and women screenwriters, playwrights, short story writers, radio dramatists,
TV writers, composers, librettists & young filmmakers 18 or younger

NEW ENGLAND ANIMATION BASH
animated films under 30 minutes in length
FEE: $10

PALOUSE INTERNATIONAL SHORT FILM FESTIVAL
short films under 10 minutes in length
FEE: $15

PHILADELPHIA FRINGE FESTIVAL
experimental films
FREE

REEL BLACK MEN
short films by African American men
FREE

RHODE ISLAND INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
FEE: $40

SACRAMENTO FILM AND MUSIC FESTIVAL
FEE: $25 (shorts)/$35 (flf)

SF SHORTS
all short films under 30 minutes
FEE: $30 (student), $40 (standard), $50 (late)

TELLURIDE FILM FESTIVAL
FEE: $25-$95

THROUGH HER EYES: WOMEN OF COLOR FILM FESTIVAL 
International and American submissions
by or about women of color (African American,
Native American, Asian, Latina, Middle Eastern,
East Indian, Brazilian, African, and Caribbean)
FEE: $50-$65

TUMBLEWEED FILM FESTIVAL 
short films & documentaries
FEE: $40

___________________________________________________________

SEPTEMBER

ALL ROADS FILM FESTIVAL
indigineous and under-represented minority culture filmmakers
FREE

ANGELUS AWARDS STUDENT FILM FESTIVAL
FEE: $25

ASPEN FILMFEST
FEE: $25 (within deadline)/$40 (late fee)

AUSTIN GAY AND LESBIAN INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
gay, lesbian, transgendered, homosexuality
FEE: $25

BIG BEAR LAKE INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL 
FEE: $45/$35 (students)

BLACK EARTH FILM FESTIVAL 
FEE: $40-50 

BOSTON FILM FESTIVAL
FEE: $60(flf)/$30(shorts)

CALIFORNIA INTERNATIONAL ANIMATION FILM FESTIVAL
Science fiction, Fantasy, Horror

CHARLOTTE FILM FESTIVAL
FEE: $20-$35

CHICAGO INTERNATIONAL REEL SHORTS FESTIVAL
all films under 39 minutes
FEE: $20 (early)/$25 (regular)/$35 (late)

CHICAGO UNDERGROUND FILM FESTIVAL
underground, experimental & independent film & video
FEE: $30

CONEY ISLAND FILM FESTIVAL
FEE: $25-45 

DARK CARNIVAL FILM FESTIVAL
Horror, Independent
FEE: $15

DOWNTOWN FILM FESTIVAL - L.A.
"Urban WILDlife"

ELECTRIC CITY FILM FESTIVAL & EXPO
FEE: $25

ELGIN SHORT FILM FESTIVAL
FEE: $40

ESTES PARK FILM FESTIVAL
FEE: $30 (flf)/$20 (shorts)/$15 (students)

ESTROFEST FILM FESTIVAL: LOS ANGELES
any one of the following: female director, female writer, female producer
FEE: $10

GEORGETOWN INDEPENDENT FILM FESTIVAL
FEE: $10/$5 for students

GLOBAL PEACE FILM FESTIVAL
Global Peace, Conflict Resolution, Peace Activism, Environmental Peace,
Providing Safe Environments For Children, Protecting Children,
Community Mediation and Socio-Economic Peace
FREE

GREAT LAKES INDEPENDENT FILM FESTIVAL 
independent

GULF COAST FILM AND VIDEO FESTIVAL
FEE: $25-$60

HAYDENFILMS ONLINE FILM FESTIVAL
all shorts of any genre
FEE: $25-65

IFP: INDEPENDENT FEATURE PROJECT MARKET & CONFERENCE
FEE: $40-$50

ILLINOIS INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL 
FEE: $45 (flf)/$35 (shorts)

KANSAS INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
features and socially conscious documentaries
FEE: $30 (early)/$40 (final)

KEOKUK INDEPENDENT FILM FESTIVAL
FEE: $25

LONG BEACH INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
FEE: $45 (shorts)/$60 (flf)/$50 (screenplays);
20% discount for students, independent filmmakers

MADCAT WOMEN'S INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
women directors only, any theme is accepted
FEE: $15-$40 sliding scale (pay what you can afford)

MAELSTROM INTERNATIONAL FANTASTIC FILM FESTIVAL
action, animation, fantasy, horror, & science fiction

MANHATTAN SHORT FILM FESTIVAL
FEE: $25 (early)/$35 (regular)/$70 (late) 

MARTHA'S VINEYARD INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
independent films, mostly documentaries

MILWAUKEE INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
FEE: $10-$80

NAPERVILLE INDEPENDENT FILM FESTIVAL

NY DISABILITIES FILM FESTIVAL
disabilities

NEW YORK FILM FESTIVAL

"NORTH BY NORTHWEST DIGITAL SHORTS FESTIVAL
(NXNW DV)
"
works must be under 15 minutes in length and originate in digital format
FEE: $10

NYC MIDNIGHT MOVIE MAKING MADNESS 
subject & genre are provided; teams make movies DURING
the festival in short time constraints
FEE: $75

OAKLAND INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL

ORINDA FILM FESTIVAL
FEE: $20; students are free

OXNARD INDEPENDENT FILM FESTIVAL
FEE: $10

PORT OF HUENEME INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
FEE: $60 (U.S.)/$75 (foreign) 

RED WASP FILM FESTIVAL
FEE: $10

ROME INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
FEE: $2.50 - $50

SALENTO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
FEE: $50 (flf)/$40 (doc)/$30 (shorts)

SAN DIEGO FILM FESTIVAL
celebrating the actor and the craft of acting

SANTA MONICA FILM FESTIVAL
FEE: $45 - $95 competitive

INTERNATIONAL SCIENCE FILM FESTIVAL
science-based films
FEE: $35-$55

SEGUIN FILM AND ARTS FESTIVAL
FEE: $15 (independent filmmakers)/$5 (students)

SHOCKERFEST INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
Science fiction, Fantasy, Horror

SIDEWALK MOVING PICTURE FESTIVAL
FEE: $10-$50

SOCAL INDEPENDENT FILM FESTIVAL: HUNTINGTON BEACH
independent films
FEE: $45

SOUTH DAKOTA FILM FESTIVAL
FEE: $30 (flf), $20 (shorts)

TEMECULA VALLEY INTERNATIONAL FILM & MUSIC FESTIVAL
FEE: $25(up to 10 min.)/$35 (10-30 min.)/$50 (30-60)/$60 (60+ min.)

TIE, THE INTERNATIONAL EXPERIMENTAL CINEMA EXPOSITION
experimental
FEE: $35

TOOFY FILM FEST
FEE: $20-$40

TULSA OVERGROUND INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL 

UNIVERSAL FILM FESTIVAL
films at least 25 minutes in length
FEE: $40-$70

VALLEY FILM FESTIVAL
FEE: $10

VAMPIRE FILM SERIES & FESTIVAL
FEE: $25

VERENGO DIGITAL FILM FESTIVAL
Western PA topics or producers - screenplay about PA Oil Boom Days
FEE: $25

VISIONFEST FILM FESTIVAL: THE OTHER FESTIVAL
regional films only
FEE: $30 (shorts) / $40 (flf over 40 min)

VISTAS FILM FESTIVAL
of, by and/or about Latinos or Latino culture across the world
FREE

WESTWOOD INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
Independent Films
FEE: $25-$50

WILD RIVER MUSIC, COMEDY & FILM FESTIVAL
music, comedy, art (filmmaking, painting, etc.)
FEE: $50

WINFEMME FILM FESTIVAL
films that feature a female protagonist
FEE: $50

WOODSTOCK FILM FESTIVAL
music
$20-$50

If you know other film festivals in the US that happen in the months of July- September, please comment below or send us an email.

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James Hill is a veteran of the music industry. He first worked at Warner Reprise Records then later joined Interscope/ Geffen Records where he managed producers and songwriters and got his first platinum record for Keyshia Cole’s The Way It Is. He is now helping indie artists with branding and manufacturing through his company Unified Manufacturing, a CD/DVD/vinyl and merch company in LA.

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