WOODSTOCK, NY – The Woodstock Film Festival (WFF) announced today that the earlybird submission deadline for its 27th edition this fall is fast approaching on March 13th.
As one of the top 50 film festivals worth the entry fee according to Moviemaker Magazine, and an Oscar®-qualifying festival in Live-Action Short, Animated Short, and Documentary Short categories, WFF is among the most prestigious and sought after regional film festivals in the US. As Ethan Hawke once said, WFF is “a festival that isn’t trying to sell you anything, but simply and beautifully celebrating the art & craft of filmmaking.”
Set against the backdrop of the bucolic Catskills, the festival is celebrated for its casual, welcoming atmosphere and impressive industry presence—where past filmmakers have mingled with renowned actors and directors including: Keanu Reeves, Natalie Portman, Paul Rudd, Mark Ruffalo, Amanda Seyfried, Giancarlo Esposito, Awkwafina, Rory Culkin, Walton Goggins, Mark Duplass, Aya Cash, Uma Thurman, Richard Linklater, Kevin Smith, Mariska Hargitay, Debra Granik, Laura Poitras, Steve Buscemi, Matt Dillon, Julie Taymor, and many more.
“Discovering and supporting emerging independent filmmakers and their work is what gives us joy each year,” said Meira Blaustein, WFF Co-founder & Executive Director. “Whether one of Oscar-winning Writer/Director Sean Baker’s early films PRINCE OF BROADWAY in 2008, or indie filmmakers Lucy Powers and Delilah Napier’s directorial debut FLOATING CAROUSEL in 2025, we welcome and support undiscovered gems and their talented filmmakers.”
Submission Deadlines:
- Earlybird: March 13
- Regular: May 8
- Late: June 5
- FilmFreeway Final: June 12
Submission Categories & Awards:
The festival welcomes Narrative Features, Documentary Features, Short Narrative, Short Documentary, Animated Shorts, Student Shorts, and Student Animations. New for this year is a special category titled “Made in the Hudson Valley,” for features and shorts filmed or produced in the region.
Prizes are awarded to outstanding films across juried competitive categories, including Best Narrative Feature*, Best Documentary Feature, the Ultra Indie Award*, the Changemaker Award*, the Laurent Rejto Made in the Hudson Valley Award, the Haskell Wexler Award for Best Cinematography, and more. Winners are announced at the annual Maverick Awards Ceremony on the final day of the festival.*Eligible for cash prizes.
WFF is dedicated to creating memorable experiences for both artists and audiences alike. Filmmakers are encouraged to propose ideas in their submission that will enhance their screenings, such as unique events, Q&As, or performances related to their film. If a film explores art, music, activism, environmentalism, or experimental work, filmmakers are also asked to note this in their submission Cover Letter as “Woodstock Legacy Programming.”
Learn more about the film submission process, pricing, and upcoming deadlines on FilmFreeway: filmfreeway.com/woodstockfilmfestival.
