About the Film Festival
Join us for the Dallas International Film Festival 2027, April 22 – 29, 2027!
DIFF 2027, the 21st annual Dallas International Film Festival, will screen the best narrative and documentary features and short films from across the globe.
The 21st annual Dallas International Film Festival doesn’t just screen films. The interaction between story tellers, audiences and the Texas community is what we strive to develop both during the festival and throughout the year.
DIFF 2027 is a global adventure that features premiere screenings, nightly red carpets, eye-opening documentaries, intriguing short films, filmmaker panels, award presentations, daily filmmaker happy hours, and an enhanced filmmaker hospitality program that includes city tours and a Festival Lounge where filmmakers, screenwriters, film industry leaders, celebrities, sponsors, and our audience can all come together to discuss film.
DIFF supports both the beginning and end of the filmmaking process from script to screen. The annual Screenwriting Competition has a track record of moving stories beyond the page, showcasing selected Screenwritings through live scenes table read performances at the festival and helping projects advance to fully produced films that premiere at DIFF. Since 2024, 11 selected Screenwritings have received live table read performances through the competition. Selected scripts may be considered for development and production through Event Horizon Films, the production company behind (S)HIT SQUAD, SNEAKERHEAD, and THE BEST DAYS OF RICHARD DAVIS. The DIFF Screenwriting Competition has been featured by Final Draft, recognized by Script magazine, and named a top "15 Submission-Worthy Screenwriting Competition” by MovieMaker magazine. Writers may submit short, feature-length or TV pilot scripts. All scripts are read in their entirety by industry professionals currently working with leading management and representation companies. Outstanding submissions have the opportunity to gain visibility with professionals actively seeking new voices and projects. Advancing scripts are evaluated by a distinguished panel that has included Academy Award® winners, Emmy Award® winners, producers, executives, and produced screenwriters behind major film and television projects. DIFF is committed to creating meaningful opportunities for writers through festival participation, industry exposure, live table reads, development discussions, and potential production pathways.
We invite you to add your voice to the conversation. At DIFF, filmmakers are invited to the festival to participate in a variety of programs, Q&A sessions, and a series of panel discussions, including sessions with Dallas area high schools, in which filmmakers have the opportunity to discuss their work and careers with a new generation of content creators.
Dallas International Film Festival is an Oscar® Qualifying Festival.
Qualified awards are:
Grand Jury Prize - Best Animated Short Film
Grand Jury Prize - Best Documentary Short Film
Grand Jury Prize - Best Narrative Short Film
Films that win qualified award(s) between October 1, 2025, and September 30, 2026, may be qualified to enter the 99th Academy Awards®, provided that the films meet all the requirements set forth in the official rules for that season. Up-to-date rules can be found at www.oscars.org/rules.
Grand Jury Prizes are awarded to competition films in the following categories: Narrative Feature, Documentary Feature, Narrative Short, Documentary Short, and Animated Short. A Grand Jury Prize will also be awarded to the best Student Film in the Shorts Competition.
The Grand Jury Prize is the festival's highest honor, and all winners of this award will be presented with a trophy. The trophy is a symbol of the festival's appreciation for their outstanding achievement and the film's excellence in filmmaking. It is a lasting reminder of the film's place in the festival's history.
The Grand Jury Prize winner of the Texas Competition category will enjoy a camera rental package worth $30,000 or more for their next production, courtesy of Panavision.
Fade In software will be awarded to:
Grand Jury Prize - Best Texas Feature
Grand Jury Prize - Best Narrative Feature
Grand Jury Prize - Best Short Film
Audience awards for Best Narrative Feature, Best Documentary Feature, and Best Short will also be presented.
Additional prizes will be announced as the Festival dates draw closer
SCREENWRITING
Grand Screenwriting Prizes are awarded to the Best Feature Script, Best Pilot Script, Best Short Script and Best Texas Script.
A live table read of a scene from each official selection Screenwriting will be performed during DIFF by qualified actors. Winners will be selected at the awards presentation and receive a DIFF trophy, script circulation, and recognition on the Festival Red Carpet and at the awards presentation.
Subject ：
Video Format ：AVI HDV MPEG4 DCP MOV MPEG
Rules & Terms
Premiere status is taken into consideration for every submission in each category strand with priority given to Dallas/Fort Worth Premieres, Southwest Premieres, US Premieres, North American Premieres, and World Premieres.
In order for feature films to be considered for competition, a Dallas/Fort Worth Premiere is required.
Films in competition must not have had major theatrical release or US broadcast airing prior to the festival.
Feature Films must not be commercially available prior to April 2027. However we will consider these films for Special Presentations.
More than one entry may be submitted. Each entry must be accompanied by a separate entry form and entry fee.
If your film is selected, you will be asked to provide a digital press kit which includes: head-shot and filmography of director, color and/or B&W stills from the film, screeners for press, and a video trailer (cleared for broadcast). You will also be asked to deliver a 30-60 second promotional video that can be used by DIFF and our DIFF marketing partners to help promote your film at the festival.
Categories and fees
Narrative Feature
Video length ：70 - 300
A juried competition featuring the best of international cinema. In order for feature films to be considered for the competition, we require a Dallas/Fort Worth Premiere. Narrative features must be over 70 minutes in length. Narrative features in competition cannot have U.S distribution at the time of the festival screening. Films may be considered for other programming strands.
Documentary Feature
Video length ：60 - 300
A juried competition featuring cutting-edge, informative documentary works from around the world. Documentaries under 25 minutes should be submitted as shorts. Documentary feature films must be over 60 minutes in length. In order for feature films to be considered for the competition, we require a Dallas/Fort Worth Premiere. Documentary features in competition cannot have U.S distribution at the time of the festival screening. Films may be considered for other programming category strands.
International Feature
Video length ：70 - 300
International features must be over 70 minutes in length. Films may be considered for other programming strands.
Short (Narrative)
Video length ：0 - 30
The most innovative films from around the world that push the edge of traditional storytelling in 30 minutes or less. Any student filmmakers or filmmakers from Texas should make a note on the cover letter section of their application.
Short (Documentary)
Video length ：0 - 30
The most innovative films from around the world that push the edge of traditional storytelling in 30 minutes or less. Any student filmmakers or filmmakers from Texas should make a note on the cover letter section of their application.
Short (Animated)
Video length ：0 - 30
The most innovative films from around the world that push the edge of traditional storytelling in 30 minutes or less. Shorts can be narrative, documentary, experimental but must be animation.
Short (Student)
Video length ：0 - 30
The most innovative films from around the world that push the edge of traditional storytelling in twenty five minutes or less. Shorts can be narrative, documentary, experimental or animation as long as they are under 30 minutes in length. As noted, premiere status is taken into account. Any student filmmakers or filmmakers from Texas should make a note on the cover letter section of their application.
Live Event
