FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Whether you are submitting a film or coming to watch one, the answers are here.
For Filmmakers
Submissions to the 19th Charlotte Film Festival open November 1, 2026 on FilmFreeway. The full General Rules and Terms & Conditions live there; this is the short version.
Dates
| Submissions open | November 1, 2026 |
| Early Deadline | January 31, 2027 |
| Ahead of the Curve Deadline | March 31, 2027 (last day to submit a work in progress) |
| Regular Deadline | May 31, 2027 (final cuts due for works in progress) |
| Extended Deadline | June 20, 2027 |
| Notification | July 18, 2027 |
| Festival | September 21 – 26, 2027, Independent Picture House |
All deadlines are received-by deadlines: your film must be uploaded by that date. Entry fees are non-refundable.
Categories, runtimes & fees
Fees are the standard FilmFreeway price at each deadline: Early / Ahead of the Curve / Regular / Extended.
| Narrative Feature | Fiction, any genre, 30 – 150 minutes. Must be a Charlotte, NC premiere. $40 / $50 / $75 / $100 |
| Documentary Feature | Non-fiction, 30 – 150 minutes. Must be a Charlotte, NC premiere. $40 / $50 / $75 / $100 |
| Narrative Short Film | Fiction, any genre, 29 minutes or shorter. $30 / $40 / $50 / $70 |
| Documentary Short Film | Non-fiction, 29 minutes or shorter. $30 / $40 / $50 / $70 |
| Animated Short Film | 15 minutes or shorter and at least 75% animated (any technique). Longer animated work goes in the matching feature or short category. $20 / $25 / $30 / $40 |
| Student Short Film | Fiction or non-fiction, 15 minutes or shorter. The credited writer or director must be a current student, or have made the film while a student. Email proof of enrollment to taylor@charlottefilmfestival.org with the subject line “Student Short Film Submission” and your submission number. $20 / $25 / $40 / $50 |
| Social Justice Film | A film addressing a specific social justice issue — for example Indigenous land and cultural rights, #MeToo, Black Lives Matter, DACA and the immigrant experience, prison reform and incarceration, LGBTQ+ stories, and others. Free to enter: email taylor@charlottefilmfestival.org describing your film and you will receive a code that waives the fee. Must be a Charlotte, NC premiere. |
Eligibility
When does my film need to have been completed?
After May 2026.
Do you require a premiere?
Features must be Charlotte, NC premieres: a feature that has already screened publicly in Charlotte will not be accepted unless agreed with the programming team in advance. Shorts may have screened in Charlotte before. Once accepted, no film may screen anywhere in North Carolina between acceptance and its festival screening unless the programming team or festival directors OK it.
My film is online. Can I still submit?
A film that is publicly viewable online (YouTube, Vimeo, or any other service) counts as a public screening and may not be selected or screened.
Is there a discount for local filmmakers?
Yes. Filmmakers from VA, NC, SC, GA, FL, and AL can receive a discount on the entry fee — contact Lead Programmer Taylor Montalto at taylor@charlottefilmfestival.org before you submit.
Can I submit a work in progress?
Only by the Ahead of the Curve deadline (March 31, 2027), and it must be at least 80% complete. Mark it “Work in Progress” or “Rough Cut” on the submission, and upload the final cut by May 31, 2027. Fees are not refunded if a final cut doesn’t arrive.
My film isn’t in English.
It must have English subtitles before you submit.
Will you give feedback on my film?
We can’t offer comments on individual films until after the festival.
If you’re selected
How will I hear?
The notification date is July 18, 2027.
What format do you screen?
DCP only. DCPs must be DCI compliant, delivered on an external drive with a CRU enclosure or USB interface, by the deadline we send you. We don’t screen Blu-ray, DVD, ProRes, MP4, or other digital files. Drives are returned only with prepaid return shipping.
What does the festival do with my film?
Screen it up to three times during the festival (or at a “best of” encore), and use your stills, trailer, title, and logline to promote it, before and after the festival.
Awards
Jury Awards in each competitive section carry cash prizes: $500 for Narrative Feature, Documentary Feature, and Social Justice Film; $250 for Narrative Short, Documentary Short, Student Short, and Animated Short. The Champa & Vasant Patel Carolina Filmmaker Award is $1,000. Audience Awards go to the highest-rated film in each category. See Awards & Past Winners.
Questions?
Email Taylor Montalto, Lead Programmer, at taylor@charlottefilmfestival.org.
For Attendees
Getting there
Where is the festival?
Every screening is at the Independent Picture House, 4237 Raleigh St, Charlotte, NC 28213 — Charlotte’s nonprofit home for independent and arthouse cinema. Google Maps
Is there parking?
Yes, and it’s free. There is a main lot in front of the building with overflow alongside it, plus street parking nearby. Arrive at least 15 minutes before your screening. Do not park in the Blackbox Theater lot next door — they tow.
Can I take the light rail?
Yes. Take the Lynx Blue Line to Sugar Creek Station; it’s a 5 to 8 minute walk to the theater. Walking directions
What about JUMP Transit?
JUMP is an all-electric on-demand shuttle that stops right at IPH, serving NoDa, Belmont, and Plaza Midwood. Fares and hours are in the app.
Coming with a group?
Charter Bus Charlotte can bring schools, businesses, and big friend crews to and from the festival.
Tickets & passes
When do tickets go on sale?
September 2027. Join our mailing list or follow us on social media to hear the moment they do.
What are the options?
Single tickets for individual screenings, bought straight from the schedule; multi-film packs you can share with friends and redeem at any festival screening; and the Discover Different Pass for access to every film plus perks like the Filmmaker Lounge, festival merch, and transit passes. Last year a single ticket was $15 and the pass was $250; 2027 pricing will be posted on the Tickets page.
Can I get a refund or exchange?
Per the Independent Picture House’s terms and conditions, refund and exchange requests can be made but are not guaranteed to be honored, and tickets may not be resold.
Are films rated? Can I bring kids?
Festival films are generally unrated. Each film’s synopsis, stills, and trailer are the best guide to its content, so please review them before buying. Under the Independent Picture House’s policy, no one under 17 may purchase tickets to R-rated or unrated films, and children 13 and under must be accompanied by an adult.
What if a screening sells out?
We may run a standby line at sold-out screenings, but it isn’t available for every screening and standby admission is never guaranteed. If there’s a film you want to see, secure a ticket as early as you can.
At the festival
Are there Q&As?
Most screenings with a filmmaker in attendance are followed by a moderated Q&A, and Daily Talks bring filmmakers together for longer conversations during the week.
What is Flicks & Bites?
Our partnership with neighborhood restaurants and bars: show your festival ticket at a participating spot and get an exclusive discount during the festival. See the program.
Is the theater accessible?
Yes. The entrance, all auditoriums, and all public areas and restrooms are fully accessible. Every auditorium has designated wheelchair seating with companion seats; assisted listening and closed-captioning devices are available on request; the lot has multiple accessible spaces and ramps; and all restrooms are gender neutral. Questions: info@independentpicturehouse.org. Accessibility
Can I volunteer?
Yes, and we’d love to have you — see Volunteers. Sign-ups for 2027 open closer to the festival.
How do I become a sponsor?
Start at Become a Sponsor or email ivana@charlottefilmfestival.org.
