Below is a list of film festivals that screen underground, avant-garde and experimental films. The list is organized strictly alphabetically.
We’re in the process of updating this page to include screening dates, and perhaps submission deadlines. We stress that it’s a process. Feel free to check back for more updates.
(Note: “(est.)” means that we don’t have confirmed screening dates yet, but estimate when the festival is typically held.)
Artifact Small Format Film Festival
Next Festival: March, 2020 (est.)
Alchemy Film & Moving Image Festival
Next Festival: May 2-6, 2019
Antimatter Film Festival
Next Festival: Oct. 16-26, 2019
Ann Arbor Film Festival
Next Festival: March, 2020 (est.)
Arizona Underground Film Festival
Next Festival: Sept., 2019 (est.)
Atlanta Underground Film Festival
Next Festival: Aug. 15-18, 2019
B-movie, Underground and Trash Film Festival
Next Festival: Aug. 28-Sep. 1, 2019
Boston Underground Film Festival
Next Festival: March, 2020 (est.)
Calgary Underground Film Festival
Next Festival: April, 2020 (est.)
Chicago Underground Film Festival
Next Festival: June, 2020
Coney Island Film Festival
Next Festival: Sept. 13-15, 2019
Experiments in Cinema
Next Festival: April, 2020 (est.)
Festival du nouveau cinéma
Next Festival: Oct. 9-20, 2019
Florida Experimental Film/Video Festival
Next Festival: Feb., 2020 (est.)
Hell’s Half Mile Film & Music Festival
Next Festival: Sept. 26-29, 2019
Images Festival
Next Festival: April, 2020 (est.)
Lausanne Underground Film Festival
Next Festival: Oct., 2019 (est.)
Media City
Next Festival: Nov., 2019 (est.)
Melbourne Underground Film Festival
Next Festival: Nov. 15-17, 2019
Milwaukee Underground Film Festival
Next Festival: April, 2020 (est.)
Mono No Aware
Next Festival: Dec., 2019 (est.)
Montreal Underground Film Festival
Next Festival: May 24-26, 2019
Onion City Experimental Film and Video Festival
Next Festival: March, 2020 (est.)
PDXtreme Festival
Next Festival: TBD
Revelation Perth International Film Festival
Next Festival: July 4-17, 2019
San Antonio Film Festival
Next Festival: July 30-Aug. 4, 2019
San Diego Underground Film Festival
Next Festival: Aug. 22-25, 2019
South Texas Underground Film Festival
Next Festival: Jan., 2020 (est.)
The Spooky Movie International Film Festival
Next Festival: Oct., 2019 (est.)
Sydney Underground Film Festival
Next Festival: Sept. 12-15, 2019
TromaDance
Next Festival: June 21-22, 2019
We Make Movies International Film Festival
Next Festival: July 11-14, 2019
Winnipeg Underground Film Festival
Next Festival: May 31-June 1, 2019
WNDX Festival of Film and Video Art
Next Festival: Oct. 2-6, 2019
On Hiatus or Defunct:
ATA Film & Video Festival
Arkansas Underground Film Festival
Austin Underground Film Festival
Backseat Film Festival
Brisbane Underground Film Festival
Denver Underground Film Festival
Hi/Lo Film Festival
Hi Mom! Film Festival
Miami Underground Film Festival
Migrating Forms
Minneapolis Underground Film Festival
New Haven Underground Film Festival
New York Underground Film Festival
Oakland Underground Film Festival
PDX Film Festival
PollyGrind
Twin Cities Underground Film Festival
Wisconsin Underground Film Festival
Zero Film Festival
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