Festivals.
37 film festivals worldwide currently accepting submissions. Each entry links to the official submission portal.
Karlovy Vary International Film Festival (KVIFF)
KVIFF
No submission fee
QCinema International Film Festival
QCinema
No submission fee
CPH:DOX — Copenhagen International Documentary Film Festival
CPH:DOX
Entry fees apply; reduced fees for filmmakers from low-income countries
Encounters Film Festival
Encounters
Submission fees apply; reductions for student filmmakers
Sheffield DocFest
Sheffield DocFest
Entry fees apply; fee waivers for filmmakers facing barriers
DOC NYC
DOC NYC
Submission fees by deadline tier; need-based fee waivers available
Visions du Réel — Nyon International Film Festival
Visions du Réel
No submission fee
Sundance Film Festival
Sundance Institute
Submission fees apply; fee waiver requests considered
BFI London Film Festival
British Film Institute
Submission fees apply; fee waivers for filmmakers in financial hardship
Tribeca Festival — Documentary Sections
Tribeca Enterprises
Submission fees by deadline tier
Cannes Film Festival
Festival de Cannes
No submission fee
Berlinale — Berlin International Film Festival
Berlinale
Submission fees apply; fee waivers for filmmakers from low-income countries
Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival
Sauve qui peut le court métrage
Submission fees apply; reductions for low-income countries
Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival
Hot Docs
Submission fees vary by category and deadline
Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF)
TIFF
Submission fees by deadline tier
IDFA — International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam
IDFA
Entry fees apply; fee waivers available
True/False Film Fest
True/False
Submission fees apply; FilmFreeway
Busan International Film Festival (BIFF)
Busan International Film Festival
No submission fee
International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR)
IFFR
Submission fees apply; need-based fee waivers
Locarno Film Festival
Locarno Film Festival
Submission fees apply