Film submissions OPEN July 1, 2025 for the
2026 Phoenix Film Festival.
Final SUBMISSION DEADLINE: December 5, 2025
FILMMAKERS WILL BE NOTIFIED BY END OF February 2026
Filmmakers LOVE the Phoenix Film Festival and we want you to find out why!
PFF has been named one of The 25 Coolest Film Festivals and a Top 50 Worth the Entry Fee by MovieMaker Magazine and has been called the most filmmaker-friendly festival out there. Most recently, PFF also earned a spot on MovieMaker’s 20 Great Film Festivals for First-Time Moviemakers.
The Phoenix Film Festival annually screens over 250 films, holds amazing parties and provides filmmaking seminars to capacity audiences. Over 20,000 attendees enjoy the festival. The Festival takes place all in one convenient location and is held on 7 screens at the state of the art Harkins Scottsdale 101 Theatre. Parties are held in our Party Pavilion just outside the theatre. Which means everything you need is right on site!
What are you waiting for? Make sure your film fits into one of the categories listed below and enter now!
Have a short screenplay? Check out more info on the Phoenix Film Festival Short Screenplay Search HERE
Have a horror or sci-fi film? Take a look at the International Horror and Sci-Fi Film Festival.
FEATURE CATEGORIES:
*Feature films have a total running time of over 60 minutes
- Feature Films - US Made
- Documentary Feature - US Made
- World Cinema Features - Made Outside US
- Arizona Feature Films - Made in Arizona
- African American Directed Features - US Made
- Asian American Pacific Islander Directed Features - US Made
- Latino American Directed Features - US Made
- Native American Directed Features
- LGBTQIA+ Directed Features - US Made
MEDIUM LENGTH CATEGORy:
*Medium-length films have a total running time between 31 and 50 minutes.
- Medium Length Documentaries - US Made
SHORT CATEGORIES:
*Short films have a total running time of under 30 minutes. “Music Video” category submissions should be under 8 minutes.
- Live Action Short Films - US Made
- College Short Films - US Made
- Animated Shorts
- World Cinema Shorts - Made Outside US
- Short Documentary - US Made
- Arizona Shorts - Made in Arizona
- African American Directed Shorts -US Made
- Asian American Pacific Islander Directed Shots -US Made
- Latinx American Directed Shorts - US Made
- Native American Directed Shorts
- LGBTQIA+ Directed Shorts - US Made
-Deaf Filmmaker Directed Shorts - US Made
- Experimental Shorts - US Made
-Music Video - US Made
““Phoenix Film Festival is the gold standard for a film festival that appreciates and rewards truly independent film. This was our second time in attendance and I can’t wait to make another movie so we can go back! Multiple packed screenings, an engaged and committed local audience, an amazing group of films, and constant opportunities to connect with other filmmakers.””
““Participating in the 25th annual Phoenix Film Festival was the most inspired celebration of the film community we have ever been a part of. The entire PFF staff and volunteers have cultivated something incredibly special. We were honored to have our feature film “An Autumn Summer” play in competition. We’re still reeling!””
Have additional questions about submitting? Email us at submissions@phxfilm.com
