Best Film Festivals to Submit To
There isn’t one “best” film festival for everyone.
The best festivals are the ones that fit your film, your goals, and your audience.
This guide breaks festivals down by film type so you can submit with intention instead of guessing.
What “Best” Really Means
A good festival fit usually has a few things in common.
It programs films like yours.
It screens films for real audiences.
It communicates clearly with filmmakers.
It creates space for connection and conversation.
It respects the work and the people who made it.
Bigger isn’t always better.
The right fit matters more than prestige alone.
Best Festivals for Short Films
Short films benefit from festivals that understand pacing, variety, and audience engagement.
These festivals actively program short films across genres:
Atlanta Shortsfest
A long-running short film festival with curated programs and strong audience turnout.
Austin Shortsfest
A short-focused festival emphasizing storytelling, clarity, and audience connection.
Atlanta Underground Film Festival (AUFF)
Ideal for shorts that take risks or push form and tone.
Spotlight Film Festival
An end-of-year showcase for standout short films.
Atlanta Documentary Film Festival
Focused entirely on nonfiction storytelling and filmmaker engagement.
Best Festivals for Documentary Films
Documentaries do best at festivals that value context, discussion, and point of view.
Strong options include:
Atlanta Documentary Film Festival
Focused entirely on nonfiction storytelling and filmmaker engagement.
Atlanta Shortsfest
Programs documentary shorts alongside narrative and experimental work.
Atlanta Experimental Fest
For hybrid or form-breaking documentary films.
Spotlight Film Festival
A showcase setting for documentaries that have already proven themselves.
Best Festivals for Horror Films
Horror thrives with the right audience.
These festivals consistently program genre work:
Atlanta Horror Film Festival
Dedicated to horror, thriller, and dark genre films.
Dead Weird
A home for strange, dark, and unconventional genre work.
Atlanta Underground Film Festival (AUFF)
Welcomes horror that blends genre with experimentation.
Atlanta Micro Short Film Festival
For horror films that deliver impact in very short runtimes.
Best Festivals for Experimental Films
Experimental films need festivals that value risk and intention.
These festivals support boundary-pushing work:
Atlanta Experimental Fest
Dedicated to experimental cinema in all its forms.
Atlanta Underground Film Festival (AUFF)
Programs unconventional and form-breaking films.
Austin Shortsfest
Includes experimental shorts within curated programs.
Dead Weird
Supports experimental work with dark or surreal tone.
Atlanta Micro Short Film Festival
For ultra-short experimental films.
Best Festivals for Micro Shorts
Micro shorts work best at festivals that understand the format.
Strong options include:
Atlanta Micro Short Film Festival
Built specifically for micro shorts and ultra-short storytelling.
Austin Shortsfest
Programs strong short and micro films.
Dead Weird
A good fit for strange or genre-leaning micro work.
Atlanta Horror Film Festival
For horror micro shorts with audience impact.