JANUARY
Sundance Film Festival
Park City, Utah
Regular deadline: September 7, 2021
www.sundance.org
Event date: January 28-February 3
Notes: hybrid event with limited physical screenings
Göteborg Film Festival
Sweden
Regular deadline: October 31, 2021
www.goteborgfilmfestival.se
Event date: January 29 - February 8
Notes: online
FEBRUARY
Pan African Film and Arts Festival
Los Angeles, CA
Academy Award ® Qualifying
Regular deadline: September 20, 2020
www.paff.org
Event date: February 28-March 14, 2021
Notes: online
Austin Revolution Film Festival
Austin, TX
Regular deadline: August 15, 2021
www.austinrevolution.com
Event date: February 15-19, 2022
Oaxaca FilmFest
Oaxaca, Mexico
Final Pitching Regular deadline: October 30, 2020
www.oaxacafilmfest.com
Event date: February 8-26, 2021
San Diego Black Film Festival
San Diego, CA
Regular deadline: April 2021 TBA
www.sdbff.com
Event date: 2021 TBA
International Film Festival Rotterdam
Netherlands
Next Regular deadline: September 21, 2020
Website: www.iffr.com
Event date: February 1-7, 2021
Notes: 50th anniversary celebration. A hybrid with second event June 2-6, 2021
Glasgow Film Festival
UK
Regular deadline: September 11, 2020
Website: www.glasgowfilm.org
Event date: February 24-March 7, 2021
Notes: hybrid event
MARCH
Thessaloniki Documentary Festival
Thessaloniki, Greece
Regular deadline: November 30, 2020
Website: www.filmfestival.gr
Event date: March 4-14, 2021
Notes: online; June 24-July 4, 2021, a hybrid event
New York International Children’s Film Festival
New York, NY
Regular deadline: October 5, 2020
Website: www.nycff.org
Event date: March 4-15, 2021
Notes: online event
Miami Film Festival
Miami, FL
Regular deadline: July 31, 2020
Website: www.miamifilmfestival.com
Event date: March 5-14, 2021
Notes: a hybrid event
Sofia International Film Festival
Sofia, Bulgaria
Regular deadline:
Website: www.siff.bg
Event date: March 11-31, 2021
Notes: online
Hong Kong Asia Film Financing Forum
Hong Kong
Website: www.haf.or.hk
Event date: March 15-17, 2021
SXSW/South by Southwest
Austin, TX
Regular deadline:
Website: www.sxsw.com
Event date: March 16-20, 2021
Notes: online
CPH:DOX Copenhagen International Documentary Film Festival
Copenhagen, Denmark
Regular deadline: September 1, 2021, December 1, 2021
Website: www.cphdox.dk
Event date: March 17-28, 2021
APRIL
Hong Kong International Film Festival
Hong Kong
Regular deadline: December 31, 2020
Website: www.hkiff.org.hk
Event date: April 1-12, 2021
Seattle International Film Festival
Seattle, WA
Academy Award ® Qualifying
Regular deadline: January 8, 2021
www.siff.net
Event date: April 8-18, 2021
Istanbul International Film Festival
Turkey
Regular deadline: March 26, 2021
Website: www.istanbulfilmfestival.com
Event date: April 9-20, 2021
Shriekfest Horror/Sci-Fi Film Festival & Screenplay competition
Los Angeles, CA
Regular deadline: March 1, 2021
www.shriekfest.com
Event date: April 15-18, 2021
Julien Dubuque International Film Festival
Dubuque, IA
Regular deadline: January 15, 2021
www.julienfilmfest.com
Event date: April 18-25, 2021
Twister Alley Film Festival
Woodward, OK
Regular deadline: January 21, 2021
www.twisteralleyfilmfestival.com
Event date: April 29-May 1, 2021
Jeonju International Film Festival
South Korea
Regular deadline: January 18, 2021
Website: www.jeonjufest.kr
Event date: April 29-May 8
Notes: online
Hot Docs
Canada
Next Regular deadline:
Website: www.hotdocs.ca
Event date: April 29-May 9, 2021
Notes: hybrid event
IndieLisboa
Lisboa, Portugal
Regular deadline: December 23, 2020
Website: www.indielisboa.com
Event date: April 29-May 9, 2021
MAY
True/False Film Fest
Columbia, MO
Extended Regular deadline: January 3, 2021
Website: www.truefalse.org
Event date: May 5-9, 2021
Notes: in-person with online component
Harlem International Film Festival
Harlem, NY
Regular deadline: December 5, 2020
www.harlemfilmfestival.org
Event date: May 6-9, 2021
Cheltenham International Film Festival
Cheltenham, UK
Regular deadline: March 5, 2021
Website: www.cheltfilm.com
Event date: May 25-June 5, 2021
Inside Out Toronto LGBT Film Festival
Toronto, Canada
Regular deadline: January 8, 2021
Website: www.insideout.ca
Event date: May 27-June 6, 2021
Notes: online exhibition
Molodist Kyiv International Film Festival
Ukraine
Regular deadline: February 15, 2021
Website: www.molodist.com
Event date: May 29-June 6, 2021
Notes: hybrid event
Krakow Film Festival
Krakow, Poland
International Regular deadline: January 31, 2021
Website: www.krakowfilmfestival.pl
Event date: May 30-June 6, 2021
JUNE
Nippon Connection Film Festival
Frankfurt, Germany
Regular deadline: February 15, 2021
Website: www.nipponconnection.com
Event date: June 1-6, 2021
Notes: online
Malaga Film Festival
Malaga, Spain
Regular deadline: TBA
Website: www.festivaldemalaga.com
Event date: June 4-13, 2021
Oak Cliff Film Festival
Dallas, TX
Regular deadline: March 19, 2021
www.oakclifffilmfestival.com
Event date: June 3-6, 2021
Brooklyn Film Festival
Brooklyn, NY
Canadian Screen Award Qualifying
Regular deadline: January 27, 2021
www.brooklynfilmfestival.org
Event date: June 4-13, 2021
Diagonale Festival of Austrian Film
Graz, Austria
Regular deadline: November 30, 2020
Website: www.diagonale.at
Event date: June 8-13, 2021
Tribeca Film Festival
NY, NY
Official Regular deadline: December 2, 2020
Website: www.tribecafilm.com
Event date: June 9-20, 2021
Annecy International Animation Festival
France
Regular deadline: April 6, 2021
Website: www.annecy.org
Event date: June 14-19, 2021
deadCenter Film Festival
Oklahoma City, OK
Regular deadline: January 31, 2021
www.deadcenterfilm.org
Event date: June 10-13, 2021
Notes: online
Crossroads Film Festival
Jackson, Mississippi
Regular deadline: TBA
Website: www.crossroadsfilmfestival.com
Event date: TBA
Notes: no future Event date: listed
Palm Springs International ShortFest
Palm Springs, CA
Academy Award ® Qualifying
Regular deadline: 2022 TBA
www.psfilmfest.org
Event date: 2022 TBA
Notes: will skip the 2021 edition
Berlin International Film Festival -
Germany
Regular deadline: November 2, 2020
Website: www.berlinale.de
Event date: March 1-5, 2021. 71st Berlinale online
Notes: June 9-20, 2021. Summer Special, a hybrid event in -person event
San Francisco Black Film Festival
San Francisco, CA
Regular deadline: March 1, 2021
Website: www.sfbff.org
Event date: June 17-20, 2021
Monte Carlo Television Festival
Monaco
Regular deadline: March 19, 2021
Website: www.tvfestival.com
Event date: June 18-22, 2021
Edinburgh International Film Festival
Edinburgh, UK
Regular deadline: TBA
Website: www.edfilmfest.org.uk
Event date: June 23-July 4, 2021
Brussels International Film Festival
Brussels, Belgium
Regular deadline: March 29, 2021
Website: www.briff.be
Event date: June 24-July 4, 2021
JULY
Docaviv – Tel Aviv International Documentary Film Festival
Tel Aviv, Israel
Regular deadline: February 4, 2021
Website: www.docaviv.co.il
Event date: July 1-10, 2021
Karlovy Vary International Film Festival
Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic
Regular deadline: February 28, 2021
Website: www.kviff.com
Event date: July 2-10, 2021
Cannes Film Festival
Cannes, France
Feature Regular deadline: April 26, 2021
Website: https://m.festival-cannes.com
Event date: July 6-17, 2021
American Black Film Festival
Miami Beach, FL
Regular deadline: 2021 TBA
Website: www.abff.com
Event date: 2021 TBA
Stony Brook Film Festval
Stony Brook, New York
Regular deadline: March 15, 2021
Website: www.stonybrookfilmfestival.com
Event date: July 22-31, 2021
Comic-Con International
San Diego, CA
Website: www.comic-con.org
Event date: July 22-25, 2021
Transilvania International Film Festival
Transilvania, Romania
Regular deadline: March 1, 2021
Website: www.tiff.ro
Event date: July 23-August 1, 2021
Woods Hole Film Festival
Woods Hole, MA
Regular deadline: April 1, 2021
www.woodsholefilmfestival.com
Event date: July 31-August 7, 2021
AUGUST
Locarno Film Festival
Locarno, Switzerland
Regular deadline: May 5, 2021
Website: www.locarnofestival.ch
Event date: August 4-14, 2021
Melbourne International Film Festival
Melbourne, Australia
Next Regular deadline: February 28, 2021
Website: www.miff.com.au
Event date: August 5-22, 2021
Fantasia Film Festival
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Canadian Screen Award Qualifying
Regular deadline: March 28, 2021
www.fantasiafestival.com
Event date: August 5-25, 2021
HollyShorts Film Festival
Sherman Oaks, CA
Next Regular deadline: April 2, 2021
www.hollyshorts.com
Event date: August 12-21, 2021
Sarajevo Film Festival
Bosnia & Herzegovina
Next Regular deadline: TBA
Website: www.sff.ba
Event date: August 13-20, 2021
Nevada City Film Festival
Nevada City, CA
Regular deadline: March 1, 2021
www.nevadacitychamber.com
Event date: August 20-September 3, 2021
CinemaCon
Las Vegas, NV
Website: www.cinemacon.com
Event date: August 23-26, 2021
Sidewalk Film Festival
Birmingham, Alabama
Regular deadline: February 1, 2021
www.sidewalkfest.com
Event date: August 23-19, 2021
Filmfestival Kitzbuehel
Vienna, Austria
Regular deadline: March 29, 2021
www.ffkb.at
Event date: August 23-29, 2021
American Black Film Festival
Miami Beach, FL
Regular deadline: 2021 TBA
www.abff.com
Event date: 2021 TBA
San Diego Black Film Festival
San Diego, CA
Regular deadline: April 2021 TBA
www.sdbff.com
Event date: 2021 TBA
Series Mania
Lillie, France
Regular deadline: May 10, 2021
Website: www.seriesmania.com
Event date: August 26-September 2, 2021
SEPTEMBER
Venice International Film Festival
Venice, Italy
Regular deadline: March 2021
Website: www.labiennale.org
Event date: September 1-11, 2021
DC Shorts International Film Festival
Washington, DC
Regular deadline: February 28, 2021
Website: www.dcshorts.com
Event date: September 9-19, 2021
Camden International Film Festival
Camden, ME
Academy Award ® Qualifying
Regular deadline: April 12, 2021
Website: www.pointsnorthinstitute.org
Event date: September 16-26, 2021
Coney Island Film Festival
Brooklyn, NY
Regular deadline: March 12, 2021
Website: www.coneyislandfilmfestival.com
Event date: September 17-19, 2021
Calgary International Film Festival
Calgary, AB, Canada
Academy Award ® Qualifying
Regular deadline: May 28, 2021
Website: www.calgaryfilm.com
Event date: September 23-October 3, 2021
Zurich Film Festival
Zurich, Switzerland
Regular deadline: June 30, 2021
Website: www.zff.com
Event date: September 23-October 3, 2021
Golden Door International Film Festival
Jersey City, New Jersey-New York
Official Regular deadline: February 19, 2021
Website: www.goldendoorfilmfestival.org
Event date: September 23-26, 2021
Toronto International Film Festival
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Regular deadline: TBA
Website: www.tiff.net
Event date: September 2021 TBA
International Black Movie Festival
Nashville, TN
Regular deadline: March 31, 2021
Website: www.ibffevents.com
Event date: September 30-October 3, 2021
Notes: online
Nashville Film Festival
Nashville, Tennessee
Academy Award ® Qualifying
Regular deadline: May 27, 2021
Website: www.nashvillefilmfestival.org
Event date: September 30-October 6, 2021
OCTOBER
34th Edmonton International Film Festival
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Academy Award ® Qualifying
Regular deadline: April 15, 2021
Website: www.edmontonfilmfest.com
Event date: October 1-10, 2021
Chagrin Documentary Film Festival
Chagrin Falls, Ohio
Regular deadline: May 24, 2021
Website: www.chagrinfilmfest.org
Event date: October 5-10, 2021
Iris Prize LGBT+ Film Festival
CARDIFF, United Kingdom
BAFTA Qualifying
Regular deadline: June 1, 2021
Website: www.irisprize.org
Event date: October 5-10, 2021
Tacoma Film Festival
Tacoma, Washington
Regular deadline: May 1, 2021
Website: www.tacomafilmfestival.com
Event date: October 7-14, 2021
Heartland International Film Festival
Indianapolis, IN
Academy Award ® Qualifying
Regular deadline: May 23, 2021
Website: www.heartlandfilm.org
Event date: October 7—17, 2021
BendFilm Festival
Bend, Oregon
Regular deadline: April 28, 2021
Website: www.bendfilm.org
Event date: October 7-17, 2021
Notes: drive-in and virtual screenings
Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival
Hot Springs National Park, AR
Academy Award ® Qualifying
Regular deadline: February 12, 2021
Website: www.hsdfi.org
Event date: October 8-16, 2021
Notes: drive-in screenings and virtual platforms
Canneseries
France
Website: www.canneseries.com
Event date: October 8-13, 2021
Notes: hybrid format
Portland Film Festival
Portland, OR
Regular deadline: February 12, 2020
www.portlandfilmfestival.com
Event date: October 10-16, 2021
Film Fest Gent
Ghent, Belgium
Regular deadline: August 1, 20221
Website: www.filmfestival.be
Event date: October 12-23, 2021
Santa Fe Independent Film Festival
Santa Fe, NM
Regular deadline: May 5, 2021
Website: www.santafeindependentfilmfestival.com
Event date: October 13-17, 2021
Mammoth Lakes Film Festival
Mammoth Lakes, CA
Regular deadline: 2022 TBA
Website: www.mammothlakesfilmfestival.com
Event date: 2022 TBA
Notes: all submissions will be honored and carry-over into the 2022 season
FilmQuest
Provo, Utah
Regular deadline: June 21, 2021
Website: www.filmquestfest.com
Event date: October 15-23, 2021
San Jose International Short Film Festival
San Jose, CA
Regular deadline: May 14, 2021
Website: www.sjsff.com
Event date: October 21-24, 2021
Washington West International Film Festival
Reston, VA
Regular deadline: April 30, 2021
Website: www.wwfilmfest.com
Event date: October 21-25, 2021
Abuja International Film Festival
Lagos, Nigeria
Regular deadline: 2021 TBA
Website: www.abujafilmfestival.org
Event date: October 2021 TBA
Outfest Los Angeles LGBTQ Film Festival
Los Angeles, CA
Academy Award ® Qualifying
Regular deadline: 2021 TBA
Website: www.outfest.org
Event date: 2021 TBA
SCAD Savannah Film Festival
Savannah, Georgia
Regular deadline: June 1, 2021
Website: www.filmfest.scad.edu/festival
Event date: October 23-30, 2021
Ji.hlava International Documentary Festival
Ji.hlava, Czech Republic
Regular deadline: May 31, 2021
Website: www.ji-hlava.com
Event date: October 26-31
Notes: physical event
Raindance Film Festival
London, UK
Regular deadline: May 10, 2021
Website: www.raindance.org
Event date: October 27-November 6
Evolution! Mallorca International Film Festival
Palma de Mallorca, Spain
Next Regular deadline: May 9, 2021
Website: www.evolutionfilmfestival.org
Event date: October 27-November 2, 2021
American Black Film Festival
Miami Beach, FL
Regular deadline: 2021 TBA
Website: www.abff.com
Event date: 2021 TBA
San Diego Black Film Festival
San Diego, CA
Regular deadline: April 2021 TBA
Website: www.sdbff.com
Event date: 2021 TBA
NOVEMBER
Denver Film Festival
Denver, Colorado
Regular deadline: May 3, 2021
Website: www.denverfilmfestival.org
Event date: November 3-14, 2021
Hawaii International Film Festival
Honolulu, Hawaii
Regular deadline: May 21, 2021
Website: www.hiff.org
Event date: November 4-21, 2021
Lone Star Film Festival
Fort Worth, Texas
Regular deadline: July 29, 2021
Website: www.lonestarfilmfestival.com
Event date: November 4-7, 2021
New Orleans Film Festival
New Orleans, LA
Academy Award ® Qualifying
Regular deadline: March 17, 2021
Website: www.neworleansfilmsociety.org
Event date: November 5-21, 2021
Napa Valley Film Festival
Napa, CA
Regular deadline: February 18, 2021
Website: www.napavalleyfilmfest.org
Event date: November 10-14, 2021
Mammoth Lakes Film Festival
Mammoth Lakes, CA
Regular deadline: 2022 TBA
Website: www.mammothlakesfilmfestival.com
Event date: 2022 TBA
Notes: all submissions will be honored and carry-over into the 2022 season
Crossroads Film Festival
Jackson, Mississippi
Regular deadline: TBA
Website: www.crossroadsfilmfestival.com
Event date: TBA
Notes: no future Event date: listed
Palm Springs International ShortFest
Palm Springs, CA
Academy Award ® Qualifying
Regular deadline: 2022 TBA
Website: www.psfilmfest.org
Event date: 2022 TBA
Notes: will skip the 2021 edition
Stockholm International Film Festival
Stockholm, Sweden
Regular deadline: July 15, 2021
Website: www.stockholmfilmfestival.se
Event date: November 10-21, 2021
DECEMBER
San Diego Underground Film Festival
San Diego, CA
Regular deadline: May 31, 2021
Website: www.sdundergroundarts.org
Event date: December 3-5, 2021