WE ARE AIFF – FILMMAKER-FIRST, TRULY UNFORGETTABLE

Celebrating 25 years, the Anchorage International Film Festival (AIFF) returns for ten unforgettable days from December 5–14, 2025—where the screenings are just the beginning. Set against the breathtaking backdrop of Denai’na land, the festival brings films to life across four stunning venues in Anchorage, with our main stage at the iconic 300-seat Bear Tooth Theatre—a brewpub where moviegoers can enjoy craft drinks and delicious food while taking in incredible films. And for two of those days, we step away from the screens and into the wild, embarking on unforgettable Alaskan excursions together.

As independent filmmakers ourselves, we know how vital a meaningful festival experience is. AIFF isn’t just Alaska’s largest film festival—it’s a one-of-a-kind creative adventure, built by filmmakers, for filmmakers.

From underground gems, daring debuts, to award-winning powerhouses, our lineup is bold, diverse, and impossible to ignore. It brings together fresh voices and established talent from around the world, but what truly sets us apart is what happens off the screen. We’re here to fuel your creativity, expand your community, and offer you an experience you won’t find anywhere else in the world.

Where else can you attend a festival that includes a fully sponsored glacier hike?

That’s right. In 2024, we brought visiting filmmakers on a breathtaking, all-day hike across ancient Alaskan ice. It wasn’t just a sightseeing trip—it was a reminder of why we tell stories. A shared experience among artists who connected on a deep, personal, and creative level. That’s what we’re about.

Our filmmaker excursions also included:

A Native American Heritage Sightseeing Tour
A Northern Lights bonfire gathering, complete with drinks, food, and real conversation
This isn’t a “shake hands and leave” kind of event. At AIFF, we offer longform Q&As, in-depth panels, and real bonding opportunities where filmmakers can meet potential collaborators, investors, and lifelong friends.

In 2024, we screened 115 films from around the world, welcoming over 100 filmmakers. With sold-out audiences and dynamic discussions, AIFF became more than just a festival—it became a community.

AIFF is internationally recognized for showcasing fearless new voices and powerful stories that demand attention. We’ve hosted films from Sundance, SXSW, DOC NYC, Berlin, Toronto, and Tribeca, and we’re not stopping there. We make room for the trailblazers—especially Alaskan filmmakers, whose raw talent and untold stories light up the screen like nothing else. We’re also proud to elevate Native American voices, giving them the platform they deserve. From the wilds of Alaska to the farthest reaches of the globe, AIFF celebrates the filmmakers pushing boundaries, breaking norms, and telling stories that matter.

In 2024, Porcelain War received the Outstanding Documentary Director win at AIFF and was nominated for Best Feature Documentary by the Academy just a few months later. As we like to say, AIFF is THE ICY ROAD TO THE OSCARS!

This is your invitation to go deeper. To connect. To reflect. To be inspired. Come to AIFF and rediscover why you make films in the first place.

Join us in Anchorage this December.
Films Worth Freezing For.

Awards & Prizes

As we prepare for our 25th anniversary edition in 2025, we’re proud to announce new award categories:

Best Sports Documentary
Best Music Documentary
Native Voices Award
Best Music Video

Best iPhone Short
Best Original Television Pilot: Scripted or Unscripted

These join our already celebrated awards lineup, including:

Best Narrative Feature
Best Documentary Feature
Best Narrative Short
Best Documentary Short
Best Animation
Best Made in Alaska
Explorer’s Achievement Award
Real World Impact Award
And of course our Audience Awards!

Rules & Terms

The 2025 Anchorage International Film Festival is open to any film that has premiered after January 1, 2023, regardless of content, subject, or origin. Submitting your film to the 2025 AIFF is not a guarantee of selection.

A film will only be eligible for the 2025 AIFF jury competition if fees and forms are submitted with the film by the September 1st, 2025 final deadline. We support independent film and encourage all genres to enter.

The AIFF will not refund any fees if the filmmaker fails to submit the film in the correct category. Films submitted without the correct fees or proper submission media may be deemed ineligible at the discretion of the AIFF programming director or executive director. The AIFF will not refund any fees if the filmmaker fails to submit a suitable exhibition copy in an acceptable format.

Once a film is accepted and becomes an official selection in the festival, AIFF WILL NOT consider screening fees of any kind. If accepted to the festival, the applicant grants the 2025 AIFF the right to show the submitted film publicly in Alaska until December 31, 2025, UNLESS written notice is provided to AIFF. If a selected film is chosen for an outdoor screening, AIFF has the right to play film audio over necessary radio channels. Failure to submit film in the correct category and/or non-payment of submission fees could disqualify film for selection at the discretion of the programming director.

If film is selected, exhibition media MUST BE IN THE REQUESTED FORMAT and should also be clearly marked with the film title, director, and exact running time.
AIFF will ONLY return EXHIBITION MEDIA if the proper packaging with correct postage is provided by the film submitter at the time the film is submitted.

AIFF WILL NOT RETURN OTHER MATERIALS UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, i.e. posters, postcards, director statement, or press kits. Send only the type and number of other materials requested by the programming director. Failure to follow any of these guidelines could lead to disqualification of the film, at the discretion of the programming director. Films must be insured by the film submitter. The AIFF is not responsible for damaged or lost media during shipping.

The AIFF is hereby granted the right to utilize an excerpt from any film submitted and accepted for exhibition at the festival for promotional purposes. The individual or corporation submitting the film hereby warrants that it is authorized to commit the film for screening, and understands and accepts these requirements and regulations. The film submitter/director/producer shall indemnify and hold harmless AIFF from and against any and all claims, liabilities, losses, damages, and expenses (including but not limited to attorney's fees, and costs of the court) which may be incurred by reason of any claim involving copyright, trademark, credits, publicity, screening, and loss of or damage to the screening media entered.

Unless negotiated with the festival programming director, all shipping fees are the responsibility of the filmmaker. Any other arrangements must be agreed to in writing by the programming director. If a film is accepted for the festival, the filmmaker will be informed well in advance on the type of exhibition media to provide.

Questions should be directed via email to the AIFF Festival Directors at Pat@anchoragefilmfestival.org.& Adam@anchoragefilmfestival.org
103 Reviews
Overall Rating
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  • Stephan Seidel

    I want to sincerely thank Adam, Pat, and the entire festival team for an amazing festival experience.

    I’m not exaggerating when I say: visiting Anchorage, attending the festival, and showing my film there has been one of the best times of my life.

    The quality of the invited films was incredibly high—so many inspiring works. But what made it even more meaningful were the people: the fellow filmmakers, artists, and guests were generous, open, and deeply appreciative. I had so many wonderful conversations.

    The locals in Anchorage were amazing hosts—warm, helpful, and full of kindness. The spirit of the festival, and of the town itself, felt alive, beautiful, and special.

    And who else offers a glacier trip for filmmakers as part of a film festival experience? That day alone would’ve made the journey worth it—but every single day at AIFF had its own kind of magic.

    I truly hope I can visit Anchorage again as part of this festival.

    Thank you again for the invitation and for this incredible experience. I’ll never forget it.

    March 2025
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  • Matt Mazany

    When I started my festival run with Big Brothers, the AIFF was one I really wanted to go to. I was born and raised in Alaska and when I was growing up, there was never anything like a film festival there so I would just go to movies like crazy at the Bear's tooth and Totem Theater. When Big Brothers got accepted, I had huge expectations for the festival.

    I just want to say it lived up to my high bar. It was great fun. I think it's a uniqe thing to get to share Anchorage in the winter with a lot of filmmakers not from there. The AIFF team was super welcoming and were great ambassadors for the joys of Alaska. On top of that, the programming was great, I got to watch a lot of great films and meet some cool filmmakers.

    I would reccomend to any filmmaker to put AIFF high on their list if they want to have a great fun experience and screen to enthusiastic local crowds.

    January 2025
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  • Carrie Wachob

    This festival exceeded my expectations. It was amazing and I felt that the festival team was really interested in every project and took the time to make the filmmakers feel welcome. Made new friends and look forward to attending again in the future, with or without a film.

    January 2025
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  • William Turner

    AIFF is one of the best festivals I've ever attended and I see it only going from strength to strength with the great festival organisers they have and the strong community of film fans in Anchorage!

    Adam and Pat have really taken to festival directing like fish to water. I've never met more committed festival directors in my life. They were at every screening, Q&A, mixer, and filmmaker excursion. Speaking of which, the festival excursions to the glacier hike, Indigenous cultural centre, and Northern Lights experience were incredible.

    I've never been made to feel more at home in the city hosting a festival than AIFF. Not only because of these excursions immersing us in the region's stunning environment and rich cultural landscape but also thanks to the great community of festival organisers and film fans. I would love to share another pint with not only Adam and Pat, but James, Dean, Nadeem, Cheryl, Kim, Mike, and the rest of the team.

    On top of that the programming, venues, and accommodation were all top-notch. All of this meant that AIFF was a great festival to meet and bond with fellow filmmakers. I've made some filmmaking friends I hope to collaborate with and keep in touch with for years to come!

    TLDR: Epic festival!

    January 2025
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  • Jeremy Pion-Berlin

    I had a blast at Anchorage International Film Festival! They took us on two amazing excursions and we got to hike across a Glacier! Plus it was all for free. The films were engaging and unique, thoughtful Q&A's, great venues, and lots of events to connect with filmmakers and the community. I would highly recommend this festival and hope to be back next year.

    January 2025
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