The Abilene Frontier Film Festival (AFFF) celebrates the pioneering spirit of independent filmmakers, showcasing bold and innovative films that reflect creativity and resilience.

Set in the heart of Texas at Frontier Texas in Abilene, AFFF offers an inspiring platform for filmmakers from all backgrounds to connect with passionate audiences. With a mix of screenings, panels, and special events, the festival highlights the diversity of independent cinema and fosters a vibrant community of storytellers.

Join us for a weekend of Texas-sized creativity and discovery from October 2-3, 2026!

Awards & Prizes

The Abilene Frontier Film Festival is proud to honor outstanding achievements in filmmaking with various awards and trophies. Trophies and prizes will be presented to winners in our Grand Jury Award categories, which include Best Feature, Best Short, Best Documentary Feature, Best Documentary Short, and Best Animated Short.

Additionally, we’ll be awarding trophies and prizes for three special stand-alone honors: The Texas Award, recognizing excellence in Texas-based filmmaking; the Frontier Award, celebrating films that embody the pioneering spirit; and the Big Country Award, presented to filmmakers who are residents of the Big Country region.

Beyond these, filmmakers will also receive additional prizes and certificates across specific genres and categories, ensuring that unique voices and talents are recognized.

Rules & Terms

Abilene Frontier Film Festival – Rules & Terms for Submissions

1. Eligibility:
- The festival is open to all independent filmmakers worldwide.
- Films must be completed after January 1, 2021.
- There are no restrictions on premiere status, but films previously screened at other festivals are welcome.
- Submissions must be the original work of the entrant and not infringe upon any third-party rights.

2. Categories:
- Narrative Feature
- Narrative Short Film
- Documentary Feature
- Documentary Short
- Animated Short
- Student Film (for qualifying students only)
- Texas Film (for films made in Texas by Texas filmmakers)
- Big Country Film (for filmmakers residing in the Big Country region of Texas)

3. Submission Guidelines:
- All films must be submitted through FilmFreeway.
- Films must be submitted in English or with English subtitles.
- Submissions must include a downloadable screener (MP4 or MOV file).
- Entrants can submit multiple films, but each film must be submitted separately with its own entry fee.

4. Length Requirements:
- Feature Films: 60 minutes or longer
- Short Films: under 40 minutes
- Documentary Features: 60 minutes or longer
- Documentary Shorts: under 40 minutes
- Animated Shorts: under 40 minutes

5. Deadlines & Fees:
- Early Deadline: December 1st, 2025
- Regular Deadline: February 1st, 2026
- Late Deadline: May: 1st, 2026
- Extended Deadline: July 25th, 2026
- Last Call Deadline: August 15th, 2026
- Submission fees vary by deadline, and all fees are non-refundable.

6. Selection Process:
- A panel of industry professionals and festival programmers will review films.
- All selected films will be notified via email by August 31st, 2026.
- If selected, entrants will be required to provide a high-quality screening copy in digital format.

7. Awards & Prizes:
- Trophies will be awarded for Grand Jury Award categories: Best Feature, Best Short, Best Documentary Feature, Best Documentary Short, and Best Animated Short.
- Stand-alone trophies will also be awarded for the Texas Award, Frontier Award, and Big Country Award.
- Additional prizes and certificates will be awarded for specific genres and other film categories.

8. Terms & Conditions:
- By submitting your film, you agree to allow the Abilene Frontier Film Festival to screen your film during the festival dates if selected.
- Filmmakers must have all necessary rights and releases for public screening, including music, images, and performances.
- The festival reserves the right to disqualify any film for any reason, including failure to meet the submission guidelines or inappropriate content.
- Submission fees are non-refundable, and the festival holds no responsibility for loss or damage of submitted materials.
- By submitting, you also agree that the festival may use excerpts, trailers, or stills from your film for promotional purposes.

9. Filmmaker Attendance:
- While attendance is not required to receive awards, we encourage filmmakers to attend and participate in Q&A sessions, panels, and networking events.

10. Distribution Status:
- Films that have secured distribution may still be eligible for screening but may not qualify for certain award categories.

4 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Coby Rich

    What an honor to show our short at the inaugural festival. Can't wait to see how this one grows in the future. We'll be back.

    October 2025
    Helpful
    Response from festival:

    So glad you could join us for your first year, Colby! Ridin’ Dirty was awesome, and we can’t wait to see more of your work in the years to come!

  • Robert Gamperl

    The venue was beautiful — screenings took place in a really nice location with so much character and history. I had visited the museum a few weeks before the festival, and it was already clear how special the place is.

    The correspondence and organization prior to the festival were excellent — everything was communicated clearly, and the team was friendly and professional.

    I’m really happy that there are people who put so much effort into creating a film festival in such a unique and historic setting. It was a great experience overall, and I’d definitely submit again!

    October 2025
    Helpful
    Response from festival:

    Thank you, Robert! Your films were outstanding and truly deserving of the recognition. We can’t wait to see your future work and hope to have you back in Abilene soon!

  • Caleb Ross Shields

    Absolutely fantastic festival! The organizers of the event were exceptional! Prepared, polite, professional, and with a clear understanding of what made them unique as a festival. Even for an inaugural year, AFFF managed to attract an incredible lineup of films and allowed for an incredible caliber of networking opportunities! This network will only continue to grow, and I can’t wait to submit future projects to this festival. I cannot recommend it enough!

    October 2025
    Helpful
    Response from festival:

    You’re too kind, Caleb! It was an honor having you and your team at the festival. Thumbs Up is an incredible film, and we were thrilled to feature it in this year’s lineup! We look forward to seeing your future films!

  • Don Cunningham

    This festival has been the best I have been to. It was an honor and privilege to be selected and screened at this initial event for multiple reasons, the biggest being the Texas hospitality.

    As long as the festival stays true to the roots of the creation to show independent film, this will long continue to be an amazing fest. Best wishes for continued success!

    October 2025
    Helpful
    Response from festival:

    Thank you so much for your kind words, Don! Having you and your family — and your film — at our festival was truly special. We hope to see you back again next year!