Call for Entries: July 1–September 30, 2026
- Ann Arbor Film Festival
- 4 hours ago
- 2 min read
June 11, 2026
Starting July 1, Ann Arbor Film Festival (AAFF) will be accepting submissions for its 65th festival, taking place March 23–28, 2027 (with details regarding the online programming to be announced at a later time). As one of the longest-running and most influential festivals dedicated to experimental film, AAFF welcomes visionary work from filmmakers who push the boundaries of cinematic expression.
Artists from around the world are encouraged to submit films of any length and genre that challenge traditional storytelling and expand the possibilities of the moving image. Whether your work is experimental animation, documentary, narrative, music video, or something entirely unique, AAFF seeks films that explore new creative territory.
Submission Categories
Short Films - 59 minutes or less
Feature Films - 60 minutes or longer
Both categories are open to experimental animation, documentary, narrative, music video, and other forms of experimental cinema, as defined by the filmmaker.
Off The Screen - Expanded Cinema & Installation Works
AAFF will continue accepting submissions for expanded cinema performances and installation-based projects through FilmFreeway for consideration as part of its “Off the Screen” (OTS) program.
While these works have long been featured throughout the festival, the OTS category provides a dedicated pathway for artists working beyond the traditional screen. Eligible projects include live cinema performances, multimedia presentations, and moving image installation works. Selected projects may be presented at the historic Michigan Theater and/or throughout supplemental festival exhibition spaces.
Submission Deadlines & Fees
Early DeadlineJuly 1–31, 2026
$45 — Short Film or OTS
$65 — Feature Film or OTS
Regular DeadlineAugust 1–31, 2026
$60 — Short Film or OTS
$80 — Feature Film or OTS
Late DeadlineSeptember 1–30, 2026
$80 — Short Film
$100 — Feature Film
Why Submit to AAFF?
Each year, AAFF presents a curated selection of more than 100 short and feature-length films chosen for their originality, artistic vision, and technical achievement. Accepted works will screen during the 65th Ann Arbor Film Festival, March 23–28, 2027. Information regarding any online programming will be announced at a later date.
Through AAFF’s Pay Artists initiative, launched in 2021, all accepted filmmakers receive a screening fee in recognition of their work. In addition, nearly $40,000 in cash and in-kind awards are presented annually, including several Academy Award®-qualifying prizes judged by a distinguished panel of guest jurors.
Festival Director Leslie Raymond reflected on the significance of the submissions season:
“The submissions period is one of my favorite times of the year. Each season, we get a glimpse into the zeitgeist as reflected through the ways filmmakers around the world are wrestling with it, questioning the state of things, and exercising their creative muscles to bring their visions to the screen. I’m always excited to see such a variety of approaches and voices each year. It’s an honor to carry the Ann Arbor Film Festival forward and to hold space to celebrate artists and their work, where they can connect with audience and each another, and have their creative efforts validated, and elevated”
For the last festival season, AAFF received nearly 2,800 submissions representing more than 100 countries and welcomed nearly 6,200 attendees across its in-person and online programs.
Filmmakers interested in submitting can review eligibility requirements and complete their entries at aafilmfest.org/call-for-entries.
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