50 Film Festivals That Justify the Entry Fee for 2025

      Nearly everything about film is subjective, yet our yearly compilation of 50 Film Festivals Worth the Entry Fee strives for objectivity.

      It's primarily based on quantifiable factors: How many submissions does a festival receive? Is there financial assistance for travel expenses? What are the prize offerings? How many industry representatives, distributors, and media outlets are present?

      Details matter too: Who are those distributors? Is the festival Oscar qualifying? Does it have a screenwriting competition? Engaging panels? Noteworthy guests? Airport shuttles? Food?

      We particularly focus on ratios: We believe that filmmakers get the best return on investment at high-quality festivals with a favorable submission-to-acceptance ratio, where there's a genuine opportunity to network and cultivate relationships, as opposed to events filled with grandeur but lacking real connections.

      Thus, we have a fondness for lesser-known festivals that not only excel on paper but also have genuine warmth in-person interactions.

      Annually, we compile our list of 50 Film Festivals Worth the Entry Fee based on surveys from festivals, corroborating information with attending filmmakers, and whenever plausible, our own attendance. We intentionally exclude the largest festivals from this compilation since if you're knowledgeable enough to read MovieMaker, you're likely already aware of Berlinale, Cannes, Sundance, SXSW, Toronto, Tribeca, and Venice.

      Additionally, we have omitted numerous prestigious festivals that receive an overwhelming number of submissions and have extremely low acceptance rates, making them long shots for filmmakers. Festivals that qualify for the Academy Awards in at least one category are marked with an “A,” and those hosting screenwriting competitions are marked with an “S.” Not every festival on this list will be the perfect fit for everyone, but we are confident at least one will resonate with you.

      So, without further ado, here is our list of…

      Denzel Washington at the American Black Film Festival. Photo by Bobbi Broome /ABFF

      **AMERICAN BLACK FILM FESTIVAL (A)**

      Miami Beach, Florida / June 11-15 / abff.com

      A staple on this list, the ABFF is highly regarded for its focus on Black artists, attracting A-list personalities like Issa Rae (the creative director for the 2024 festival), Halle Berry, Ryan Coogler, Kevin Hart, Will Packer, Anthony Anderson, among others. This year’s agenda will feature Nia Long and Larenz Tate reflecting on Love Jones, which debuted in 1997, coinciding with the festival's launch by founder Jeff Friday. Annually, ABFF attracts approximately 5,000 attendees and has support from major studios like Warner Bros. Discovery, NBCUniversal, and Sony. Filmmakers may receive assistance with travel through the HBO Short Film Award Competition and the Black & Unlimited Fatherhood Project Director’s Showcase, the latter offering a $10,000 cash prize, the festival's largest. Known distributors attending include Warner Bros, HBO, TV One, Starz, Onyx Collective, and Netflix.

      **AMERICAN DOCUMENTARY AND ANIMATION FILM FESTIVAL (A)**

      Palm Springs, California / March and/or April 2026 / amdocfilmfest.com

      AmDocs features significant films — Sean Penn’s Ukraine documentary Superpower was presented at the 2024 event — all while maintaining a welcoming submission-to-admission ratio, ideal for filmmakers traveling 90 minutes from Los Angeles to Palm Springs. The festival collaborates with filmmakers on travel arrangements, offering discounted lodging or taking part in its popular Homestay Host Program. Although numerous industry representatives visit, they usually prefer to fly under the radar, discreetly seeking out filmmakers of interest. Jockeying for attention is generally frowned upon; the festival promotes mutual support among filmmakers to attend each other's screenings instead of viewing them as competitors. There is also a Film Fund Pitch Competition that has successfully assisted filmmakers in securing funding and gaining access to industry insiders, with previous AmDocs films attracting representation from HBO, Showtime, MTV Films, and PBS.

      **ATLANTA FILM FESTIVAL (A, S)**

      Atlanta, Georgia / April-May 2026 / atlantafilmfestival.com

      Now in its 49th year, this festival is featured largely due to its Oscar qualifying status, dedicated screenwriting contest, and generous support for filmmakers, which includes covering travel expenses and providing a travel stipend for other works. Distributors like Oscilloscope Laboratories, A24, and Tubi have been present in the past, alongside additional industry representatives including 3 Arts Entertainment, Big Picture Casting, Rose Locke Casting, Vanishing Angle, Seed & Spark, and Buffalo 8. Known for its promotion of Southern talent, especially women and people of color, the festival has also been recognized for its adventurous programming, such as the dialogue-free Finnish feature Giant's Kettle, screened at the latest edition. It also offers numerous parties.

      **AUSTIN FILM FESTIVAL (A, S)**

      Austin, Texas / October 23