OUTSOUTH Queer Film Festival, formerly The North Carolina Gay and Lesbian Film Festival (NCGLFF), has consistently been ranked among the largest LGBTQ+ film festivals in the United States, attracting thousands of patrons yearly.

Since its beginning in 1995, the Festival has featured a diverse array of shorts, documentaries and feature films. The Durham Convention and Visitors Bureau named OUTSOUTH as a Signature Event for Durham, the highest honor bestowed on a cultural event or attraction by the organization. The Carolina Theatre of Durham, NC, curates and produces the festival.

OUTSOUTH celebrates a worldwide glimpse of today’s Queer life by bringing community together and showcasing entertaining and sophisticated films and filmmaking. The festival features a diverse array of juried new shorts, documentaries, and feature films. Produced and curated by the historic Carolina Theatre of Durham, in beautiful Downtown Durham, the festival was honored in 2021 as one of “20 Fantastic LGBTQ+ Film Festivals Around the Globe” by Moviemaker Magazine.

OUTSOUTH Queer Film Festival seeks submissions in many categories. Please extensively review the categories BEFORE submitting your film. We are especially seeking submissions that include Black, Asian & Pacific Islander or Latinx characters and themes. We include animated short films.

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Awards & Prizes

JURY AWARDS
Best Narrative Feature Film
Best Foreign Language Narrative Feature Film

Note: If OUTSOUTH Queer Film Festival deems there are not enough worthy entries in any given category, the festival reserves the right to not present an award for that category.

Rules & Terms

The Deadline to submit SHORTS in ALL categories is May 17th.

RENTAL OR SCREENING FEES:
OUTSOUTH does NOT pay rental or screening fees for films.

EXHIBITION FORMAT:
All films in the festival screen on digital format. 1080p resolution recommended. .mov, .mp4 accepted.

OUTSOUTH is seeking new narrative and documentary feature films that have NOT yet been released (or planned to be released) on Netflix, DVD/Blu-ray, or other pay services prior to August 16th, the first day after the end of festival. (If your feature film is ONLY available for purchase on your website but NOT on any other service such as Amazon, etc., it is indeed eligible.)

Short films that are available on YouTube, Vimeo or other streaming services are NOT eligible, although you have CAN submit if you remove the link or make it "private/unlisted" until the fest is over.

OUTSOUTH Queer Film Festival does NOT accept music videos or similar.

ARTIST TRANSPORTATION:
OUTSOUTH Queer Film Festival does NOT pay for artist travel such as per diems, airfare, train, hotel, etc. We also do not coordinate travel arrangements with International Cultural Agencies. If your film is accepted, all transportation and lodging is 100% the responsibility of the artist, including all travel arrangements.

Feel Free to contact Committee members about your submission questions.
We encourage submissions of films with or without distribution.
61 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Vance Stringer

    Incredible festival. The team at OUTSOUTH really goes above and beyond to make sure filmmakers and attendees have a wonderful experience. I'm delighted that my short was able to premiere here.

    October 2023
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  • Brian Silverman

    This was a wonderful experience. Love the theatre in Durham and the opportunity to network and watch films with other filmmakers all day long. Wonderful get-togethers and a lot of really great films. Jim was so supportive and welcoming. Great fest.

    September 2023
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  • Leann O’Kasi

    It was such an honor to have the World Premiere of our film Just Passing at OutSouth! We were sad not to be able to attend in person but communication from the festival team was warm, clear and prompt throughout. Thank you to OutSouth for being so hospitable even from across the pond - can't wait to attend in person one day!

    September 2023
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  • iranmehr salimi

    Thank you for everything. Wonderful festival, wonderful team

    September 2023
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  • Cameron Thrower

    OUTSOUTH is one of my favorite queer festivals! The communication from Jim and his team is top-notch! Thank you for having WORST DATE, BEST DATE. We can't wait for future OUTSOUTH fests!!

    August 2023
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