Film Festivals
|
Below is a list of 2008 film festivals throughout the state. All information provided has been reprinted from the Texas Production Manual. Upcoming "Call for Entries" to these festivals and more can be found on our Job Hotline. |
|
|
AFI Dallas International Film Festival Festival date: March 27 - April 6, 2008 Spanning 10 days and nights with 150 feature films and shorts, its more than 200 screenings will make it one of the largest film festivals in the Southwest. The comprehensive programming will include the very best of contemporary international features, documentaries and short films. |
|
|
Asian Film Festival of Dallas Festival date: August 2008 The Asian Film Festival of Dallas is a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting an understanding of Asian culture, supporting and advancing the work of Asian-American artists. We have a shorts festival that normally takes place in May and a separate features festival at the Dallas Museum of Arts and the Magnolia Theater. AFFD has premiered many Asian films in Dallas such as: GREEN DRAGON, JU-ON, TALE OF TWO SISTERS, WEEPING CAMEL and many more. AFFD was created in 2001 by local film enthusiasts, SMU alumni Mye Hoang and International Movies in Dallas' Stephen Carlton. The organization is operated by nonpaid volunteers and has 501(c)3 nonprofit status. |
|
|
Austin Asian Film Festival Festival date: November 2008 The Asian Film Festival of Dallas is a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting an understanding of Asian culture, supporting and advancing the work of Asian-American artists. We have a shorts festival that normally takes place in May and a separate features festival at the Dallas Museum of Arts and the Magnolia Theater. AFFD has premiered many Asian films in Dallas such as: GREEN DRAGON, JU-ON, TALE OF TWO SISTERS, WEEPING CAMEL and many more. AFFD was created in 2001 by local film enthusiasts, SMU alumni Mye Hoang and International Movies in Dallas' Stephen Carlton. The organization is operated by nonpaid volunteers and has 501(c)3 nonprofit status. |
|
|
Austin Film Festival Festival date: October 16 - 23, 2008 The Austin Film Festival hosts more than 100 film screenings in eight days and a four-day conference with more than 60 panels on various topics with a focus on screenwriting. Past panelists include: John Lee Hancock, Darren Star, Lawrence Kasdan, Paul Schrader, Buck Henry and Lem Dobbs. Competition categories include Screenplay: adult/family and comedy, Teleplay: sitcom and drama, Film: feature, short and documentary. Also, the Young Filmmakers Program sponsors a filmmaking summer camp with UT and other year-round opportunities. |
|
|
Austin Gay and Lesbian International Film Festival Festival date: September 3 - 7, 2008 The Austin Gay and Lesbian International Film Festival is the oldest and largest festival of its kind in the Southwest. aGLIFF is a Texas 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation whose primary mission is to educate all of our community by showing the best in gay and lesbian international and regional films and videos and to promote positive awareness among both straight and gay/lesbian communities about gay and lesbian lives. |
|
|
Binational Independent Film Festival Festival Date: January 5 - 12, 2008 This is the only Film Festival in the world that happens in two Countries, at the same time, and with the same importance (El Paso, Texas, and Juarez, Mexico). It is a juried competition of Features, Documentaries, Shorts, and Short Screenplays from both sides of the border. All the competitions are for both English and Spanish language entries, and have Student and Professional competitions. Additionally, we have a Lifetime Achievement Award given every year to Filmmakers from both sides of the border. Past recipients: Cliff Robertson, Marga Lopez, David Carradine, Ignacio Lopez Tarso, Jane Fonda, Carmen Montejo, Chris Penn, María Rojo, Udo Kier, Héctor Bonilla, Anthony Quinn, and Alfonso Arau. |
|
|
Boomtown Film and Music Festival Festival date: May 17, 2008 The Boomtown Film and Music Festival is a new event held annually in Beaumont, Texas. It includes film screenings, live music performances, and special guests. Film contest categories include screenplay, short and feature-length narrative film, documentary, experimental, animation, trailer, music video and more. Entries may be shot on 35mm, 16mm, Super 8, Beta SP, DV, Hi8, VHS, or any other format. Special categories have been set aside for students. A large percentage of film entrants are screened during the festival. |
|
|
Cine Las Americas Festival date: April 16 - 24, 2008 Cine Las Americas celebrated its tenth year in 2007 and will again showcase contemporary films from diverse Latino cultures from all of the Americas. The works selected for inclusion in the festival feature Latino filmmakers, producers, writers and actors, or works with subject matters which depict Latino culture. The festival will continue to give voice to cultures which may not be adequately represented within mainstream cinematic discourse. |
|
|
CineSol Film Festival Festival date: September 2008 The CineSol Film Festival is an event that showcases the very best film and video with a connection to the Latino Culture and people. The traveling festival makes its way across the Rio Grande Valley, celebrating achievement in the art of filmmaking. CineSol is dedicated to furthering the art, craft and business of screenwriters and filmmakers and recognizing their artistic contributions in the Latino community. CineSol supports the work of aspiring and established filmmakers by enhancing public awareness of their artistic endeavors and by encouraging dynamic and long-lasting community alliances. |
|
|
Dallas Video Festival Festival date: July 31 - August 5, 2008 The Dallas Video Festival is one of the largest and most diversified video festivals in the US and provides a showcase for new works by national, international and regional independent video artists. More than 200 screenings, plus installations, computer-based applications, exhibits, panel discussions, and workshops for adults and children are presented simultaneously in multiple areas. Emphasis on documentaries, experimental video, animation and technology. For more information visit www.videofest.org. |
|
|
Fantastic Fest Festival date: September 18 - 25, 2008 The Fantastic Fest is an eight day festival of the best new Sci-Fi, Horror, Fantasy and genre films, as well as choice classic and obscure cult titles from all over the world. |
|
|
Film Expo Texas Expo date: October 18 - 19, 2008 Film Expo Texas: is an annual motion picture industry event held in October in Houston, Texas, designed to highlight film, TV, animation and other related resources. The mission of the expo is to raise industry standards by offering a highly affordable, informative, resource filled event which boasts a tradeshow, hard-hitting workshop panels, product demonstrations and a screenings program. Film Expo Texas seeks to make the motion picture industry, in all of its forms, accessible to all. The expo annually provides nonprofit organizations who so desire, with a scholarship they can use to give to a deserving person who wants to attend. |
|
|
Flatland Film Festival Festival date: September 26 - 27, 2008 The Flatland Film Festival cultivates an appreciation for independent film, video and digital moving-image expression. Based in Lubbock, Texas, Flatland Film Festival serves the citizens of this community and encourages artists working in this mode of expression. |
|
|
Gulf Coast Film and Video Festival Festival date: September 19 - 21, 2008 The Gulf Coast Film Festival wants to encourage the concept of film as art and offer awards as a means of education and expanded awareness of independent film. |
|
|
Horrific Film Fest Festival date: August 29 - 30, 2008 The horrific film fest was established in order to give more opportunities for filmmakers around the world. Working with horror, horror comedy, thriller, and suspense, filmmaker George L. Ortiz (Ortiz Entertainment; THE HOUSE OF THE DEMON), and Jaime Becerril from Bec Sky Creation joined forces in 2007 to bring this event to San Antonio, TX. |
|
|
Houston Film Commission's Texas Filmmaker's Showcase Festival date: June 2008 The Texas Filmmaker's Showcase is a special screening event each June of Texas short films and videos under 45 minutes in length, presented to a select group of studio executives, agents and producers in the Hollywood film community. Filmmakers whose projects are selected to participate will be flown from Houston to Los Angeles and provided with an evening's accommodation and transportation to and from the screening which takes place at the Directors Guild of America Theater. The event is accompanied by a post-screening reception where filmmakers and industry professionals can visit with each other to discuss filmmaking, financing, distribution and other aspects of the movie business. No fee to enter! |
|
|
Independent Exposure Festival date: September 2008 Microcinema distributes culturally relevant films, video and digital art from more than 43 countries that are typically marginalized by the mainstream entertainment industry. Their festival program, Independent Exposure has been held continuously since 1996 and has presented the short moving image works of more than 1,500 artists from all over the world. Beyond the San Francisco and Houston screenings, Independent Exposure tours many worldwide venues, in many places where independent films are rarely screened. |
|
|
Juneteenth Film Festival Festival date: June 2008 The mission of the Juneteenth Film Festival Foundation is to organize and implement film festivals and cultural events in celebration of diversity; encourage and promote artistic expression through original works of film and new media; promote awareness and appreciation of the history and experience of Juneteenth and the cause of freedom and human dignity throughout Texas and the United States; and provide educational scholarships and grants in furtherance of the mission and goals of the foundation. |
|
|
KidFilm / USA Film Festival, Dallas Festival date: January 19 - 20, 2008 Oldest and largest children's film festival in the world. The 12-day Program features the best new and classic children's films from around the world, guest filmmakers, and extensive community outreach screenings for 20,000 local students, educators and adults. Noncompetitive. No entry fee. |
|
|
Lone Star International Film Festival Festival dates: November 2008 The Lone Star International Film Festival will promote the work of emerging international filmmakers by providing resources to distribution and cutting edge technology. Through both competition and showcases, the Lone Star International Film Festival aims to cultivate global cultural awareness of the art of the moving image by selecting quality independent films, and showcasing Fort Worth, Texas, as an international destination, highlighting both cultural and professional resources. |
|
|
Marfa Film Festival Festival date: May 1 - 5, 2008 The Marfa Film Festival will be held May 1-5, 2008, screening 30 hours of features, shorts and experimental works. Because Marfa's wide-open plain, distant mountains and incomparably starry sky are part of the draw, Marfa Film Festival is dedicated to outdoor screenings during the festival. |
|
|
Out Takes Dallas Film Festival Festival date: November 2008 The mission of Out Takes Dallas is to enlighten, enrich and entertain diverse communities about gays and lesbians through the medium of film and video and to contribute funds to organizations seeking to foster similar goals. We are a volunteer, nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization. Our first festival was held in November of 1999, and we've since expanded our programming to a 10-day period and grown our audience to nearly 5,000 annually. Throughout the year, the festival hosts One Night Engagement events, which will include premieres and other special screenings. |
|
|
OUTer Gay and Lesbian Science Fiction / Fantasy Film Festival Festival date: November 2008 The mission of The OUTer Gay and Lesbian Science Fiction/Fantasy Film Festival in Austin is to expose, enlighten, educate, enrich and entertain diverse communities about gays, lesbians, bisexuals and/or transgender in the genres of Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror through the medium of film and video. We also hope to encourage and contribute funds to gay and lesbian filmmakers or organizations seeking to foster similar goals through our competitive portion of the festival. |
|
|
Prairie Lands and Water Regional Film Festival Festival date: February 28 - 29, 2008 A new film festival focusing on regional environmental issues is seeking submissions from amateur filmmakers, including high school and college students. The festival is jointly organized and presented by STAND-an environmental organization for the Panhandle-and Amarillo College Mass Communication Department. Co-sponsors for the event are Amarillo League of Women Voters; Panhandle Groundwater Conservation District; Wildcat Bluff Nature Center; and Ogallala Commons. They invite individuals or teams to create a documentary, feature, animated film, or video no longer than 15 minutes in length. The Festival is designed to showcase regional talent, while creating a venue for environmental appreciation, awareness and discussion in the Texas Panhandle and surrounding areas. The filmmakers should highlight the beauty, connections, and challenges that everyone must understand in order to create a sustainable future for the region. |
|
|
Q Cinema Fort Worth's Gay and Lesbian International Film Festival Festival date: May 29 - June 7, 2008 Q Cinema is gearing up for its ninth annual festival in various locations throughout Fort Worth. Showcasing Texas-made, national and international releases aimed at the gay and lesbian community, the festival's mission is to provide a voice for gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgendered persons by presenting films, videos and live programs that not only represent the diversity of our community but educate, enlighten and entertain us all. Q Cinema is produced by Q Cinema, Inc., a nonprofit organization under IRS code 501(c)(3). |
|
|
QFest 2008: The 12th Annual Houston Gay and Lesbian International
Film Festival Festival date: September 2008 The Houston Gay and Lesbian International Film Festival is a non-profit organization that exists to promote the media arts as a powerful tool for communication and cooperation among diverse communities by presenting films, videos and programs by, about, or of interest to the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community. |
|
|
Rockport Film Festival Festival date: November 2008 Films, films and more films is what you will see at the Rockport Film Festival and Art Walk. Viewing will be held at Main Street Arts, located at 902 E. Main in Downtown Rockport. The festival will provide a charming and relaxing venue for independent filmmakers to share their creative vision with an enthusiastic and welcoming audience of the Texas Coastal Bend. More than 50 films from around the world will be shown during the four day event. For further information - www.rockportfilmfest.com. |
|
|
San Antonio CineFestival Festival date: April 10 - 13, 2008 In 2007 the San Antonio CineFestival celebrated its 30th year as the longest-running international Latino film and video exhibitor in the US. Presented by the Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center, one of the nation's premier Latino arts organizations, CineFestival continues to provide an important forum for viewing cutting-edge works produced by, for, and about Chicanos, and the international Latino experience. CineFestival encourages the discussion and critique of timely issues in the media arts and, in particular, the work of Latino media artists. CineFestival will include panel discussions, guest speakers and media workshops. |
|
|
San Antonio Local Film Festival Festival date: October 10, 2008 San Antonio Film Institute ("SAFI") is a 501 (c) 3 organization dedicated to serving San Antonio filmmakers and their audiences. SAFI was granted nonprofit status in 2007 and is governed by a board of directors and operates through these and other volunteers. For its first two years, the primary function of SAFI has been to produce the San Antonio Local Film Festival ("SAL"). SAL is a yearly film showcase that provides an opportunity to support local filmmakers by providing cash awards, educational opportunities, and a screening for the city of San Antonio and supporters of independent film. |
|
|
San Antonio Underground Film Festival Festival date: June 19 - 22, 2008 The San Antonio Underground Film Festival is accepting short and feature films for its upcoming June event. Grand Prize: Lowrider Bicycle or $200 cash. This "boutique festival" has a light-hearted approach and is looking for films of all genres. Entry forms available at www.safilm.com. |
|
|
Silver Screams Film Festival Festival date: October 2008 Silver Screams Film Festival is a nonprofit showcase of treasured horror films for the enjoyment of fans that love them and new generations that surely will. The festival also includes the winner of the Festival's "Little Shorts of Horror" film competition. |
|
|
South by Southwest Film Conference and Festival (SXSW) Festival date: March 7 - 15, 2008 South by Southwest Film is a nine-day film festival and four-day independent film conference occurring every March. Past participants include Quentin Tarantino, John Carpenter, Janeane Garofalo, D.A. Pennebaker, John Sayles, Liz Smith, John Pierson, Steven Soderbergh, Rick Linklater, Dennis Hopper, Russell Crowe, Ethan Hawke and Kevin Smith. The Festival has premiered such favorites as HIGH FIDELITY, JOURNEYS WITH GEORGE, IN THE COMPANY OF MEN, DARK DAYS and SPELLBOUND. For more information or for registration and submission information, please call our office or visit our Web site. |
|
|
South Padre Island Film Festival Festival date: December 2008 A spirited celebration of independent filmmaking on the "Texas Riviera," presenting a variety of short and feature-length films, including documentaries, animation film, dramas, comedies and thrillers. |
|
|
Texas Black Film Festival Festival date: January 31 - February 2, 2008. The Texas Black Film Festival will host three (3) full days of entertaining and insightful films, workshops, and events. Programmed for family entertainment and inspired by the African-American experience, this festival will provide film makers an opportunity to reach audiences with films seldom recognized through major theatrical release. |
|
|
Thin Line Film Fest Festival date: Late September 2008 Thin Line Film Fest is an international, documentary-inspired film festival embracing the fluid nature of the documentary and celebrating the films and filmmakers redefining the genre. The festival revolves around the "Thin Line" concept that all documentaries are both fact and fiction. Although based in reality, documentaries transform the truth through the biased process of the filmmaker. Thin Line Film Fest explores this "gray area" between fact and fiction by screening any film that adheres to the "style" of documentary filmmaking. The "Thin Line" concept is broadly stated as the sensitive relationship between two extremes. Although one example is the relationship between fact/fiction, it may also apply to life/death, love/hate, security/freedom, happiness/sorrow, and many more. Thin Line Film Fest takes place in Denton, TX which is located north of the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex. Denton is increasingly becoming known for its cutting edge and unique art scene making this the perfect location for Thin Line Film Fest. |
|
|
24fps International Short Film Festival Festival date: October 24 - 25, 2008 The 24fps International Short Film Festival is a juried competition for student and independent filmmakers, worldwide. Eligible projects must be 20 minutes or less in running time, and must have been completed after January 1, 2005. There is no entry fee. Films named as Official Selections receive public exhibition on two programs during the festival weekend. The festival also has a separate competition for young artists, the Young Filmmaker's Showcase, which is open to student filmmakers ages 13 to 18. All films are screened in the landmark Paramount Theatre in Abilene, Texas, a restored 1930s movie palace now on the national Register of Historic Places. |
|
|
USA Film Festival, Dallas Festival date: April 24 - May 1, 2008 Year-round programs include an eight-day Spring Festival (now in its 38th year), annual children's festival, monthly series, special tributes, etc. Annual Spring Festival showcases best new US and international features and shorts and also includes Academy-qualified national competition for short films with multiple cash awards. Overall Festival is non-competitive. Visit the Web site, call or fax to receive an entry form for short film competition (US shorts only). |
|
|
Vistas Film Festival Festival date: September 17 - 21, 2008 The Vistas Film Festival is dedicated to highlighting Latino culture and involvement in the film arts by providing public exposure for Latino artists and their work. Since its inception in 1999, the festival has presented more than 250 films from across the world. The festival has grown into a five-day international festival. In addition to the more than 40 screenings that take place each year, the festival also presents one or more retrospectives on Latino filmmakers. |
|
|
WestFest Video Festival Festival date: November 2008 WestFest Video Festival: Short-Form Festival for Students. The mission of the WestFest Short-Form Video Festival is to provide a venue for all student filmmakers and to also encourage filmmakers in the Big Bend region to chronicle their culture, stories and lives. WestFest is intended to provide a platform for young videomakers and to give them the experience and exposure they need in their careers. Festival categories include Narrative, Animation, Documentary and Alternative. Successful filmmakers, from around the state, participate in panels and workshops to teach students the tools and techniques of modern multimedia development. |
|
|
WorldFest Houston International Film and Video Festival Festival date: April 11 - 20, 2008 The 41st Annual WorldFest Houston is the only totally dedicated independent film festival in North America. We screen only indie films, shorts and features - no films from major studios or distributors. WorldFest offers competition in indie features, shorts, documentaries, experimental, student, scripts, music videos, new media, interactive, TV production and commercials. More than 50 feature films are premiered and 100 new shorts are shown. More than 450 international filmmakers attend this annual event. Nine professional production seminars, $25,000 in awards, awards gala, regatta and Texas BBQ. Festival club open every night of festival. The third oldest international film and video festival in North America. |