Submit a Feature Film
Feature films require a different approach.
They take more time to watch, program, and schedule, and festivals are selective about where they place them.
Submitting a feature isn’t about volume.
It’s about fit, readiness, and understanding how festivals work.
This page helps you understand what festivals look for in feature films and where they are most likely to be programmed.
What Counts as a Feature Film
Most festivals consider a feature to be 60 minutes or longer.
Some accept films slightly under that threshold.
Features can be:
Narrative
Documentary
Horror
Experimental or hybrid
What matters most is whether the film sustains its runtime and justifies its length.
What Festivals Look for in Feature Films
Feature programmers have limited slots.
Strong feature submissions usually:
Have a clear audience
Sustain engagement across the full runtime
Are technically and creatively finished
Fit the festival’s programming identity
Features are not programmed as experiments.
They need to feel complete.
Common Feature Submission Mistakes
Many feature films struggle for similar reasons.
They run too long without purpose.
They submit before the film is truly finished.
They ignore the festival’s audience or tone.
They submit to festivals that don’t program features regularly.
A feature submission should be deliberate.
Choosing the Right Festivals for Feature Films
Not every festival programs features, and fewer do it well.
Feature films benefit from festivals that:
Have dedicated feature slots
Provide proper screening environments
Allow time for audience engagement
Submitting a feature is about choosing fewer festivals and choosing them carefully.
Where to Submit Your Feature Film
These festivals actively program feature films and screen them for real audiences.
Atlanta Documentary Film Festival
Programs documentary features with an emphasis on discussion and audience engagement.
Atlanta Underground Film Festival (AUFF)
Screens narrative, documentary, and experimental feature films.
Atlanta Horror Film Festival
Programs horror features for dedicated genre audiences.
Each of these festivals programs features differently.
Understanding that context matters.
Final Thought
Feature films ask more of audiences and programmers.
The right festival gives them the space they deserve.
Submitting fewer, better-fitting applications often leads to stronger outcomes.
Ready to Submit Your Feature Film?
Explore festivals that program feature films and screen them for engaged audiences.
Submissions are handled through FilmFreeway.