2025 FRIDAY HARBOR FILM FESTIVAL
Each year, the Friday Harbor Film Festival, located on beautiful San Juan Island, Washington, invites dedicated and talented filmmakers to showcase their documentary films’ unique ability to:

ENTERTAIN​
Entertain audiences through the art of compelling storytelling;

INSPIRE
Inspire audience members and filmmakers to be a force for positive change;

ENLIGHTEN
Enlighten all participants by conveying relevant information, creating awareness, and expanding appreciation of our fragile planet, diverse cultures, and those daring to explore new frontiers;

ENCOURAGE
Encourage young people to learn the art of storytelling through film by participating in the Young Filmmakers Showcase.

Select films will show at scheduled times October 23 – 26, 2025 followed by filmmaker Q&As. Non-attending filmmakers can also participate in Q&A's in-theatre via pre-recorded sessions. However, filmmaker attendance at the festival is encouraged and preferred.

The festival will host an in-person awards ceremony on Sunday, October 26, 2025. Festival awards in each category outlined in the "Awards & Prizes" section are selected by audience choice votes.

SUBMISSIONS for FHFF 2025 Features and Shorts are accepted from February 15 through August 1, 2025.

SUBMISSIONS for FHFF 2025 Young Filmmakers Showcase are accepted from February 15 through August 21, 2025.

Read about our theme categories in the Rules & Terms section.

Awards & Prizes

FRIDAY HARBOR FILM FESTIVAL AUDIENCE CHOICE AWARDS are chosen by viewing audience voting. Award winners each receive a personalized metal salmon sculpture made by Chuck Moen of Sandy, Oregon. Winning films will be promoted over the next year following the festival through the FHFF.org website and social media channels.

AWARD CATEGORIES
Best Feature Documentary Film - the winning film will be screened again at the Audience Choice Awards event.

Best Short Documentary Film

Feature Film Categories by theme:
Best "Explorers and Adventures" Film
Best "Things to Consider" Film
Best "Tales from the Heart"

Young Filmmakers Showcase
Best "13-17 years Age Category" Film
Best "18-26 years Age Category" Film

Rules & Terms

OPEN CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS -- FESTIVAL REQUIREMENTS
The selection committee will consider documentary film submissions. Filmmakers will be advised upon selection notification September 2, 2025. Selected filmmakers will be invited to attend the festival weekend screenings, audience Q&A's and special events.

FEATURE AND SHORT DOCUMENTARY FILMS
Feature Documentary Films have a running time of 41 minutes or longer.

Short Documentary Films have a running time of 40 minutes or less.

YOUNG FILMMAKERS SHOWCASE FILMS
Young Filmmaker Showcase films must have a running time of 3 to 15 minutes.
Live-action or animated documentary short films are accepted in this category.

PLEASE NOTE:
Young Filmmakers Showcase films are accepted in two age groups:
13-17 years and 18-26 years, at the time of film completion. ***Entries must Include the filmmaker’s birthdate & age with submission.***

All FEATURE FILMS Films are categorized by theme:

EXPLORERS & ADVENTURES
These films follow amazing people exploring our world. They showcase adventurous people taking risks and highlighting remarkable experiences and discoveries on land, in space and in the sea.

THINGS TO CONSIDER
These films are thought provoking explorations of challenges in the world, urging viewers to take action to solve problems. Topics range widely, including the impact of climate change, health concerns, the plight of natural environments, scientific discovery, innovative solutions, and social justice.

TALES FROM THE HEART
These films tell human-interest stories. They describe extraordinary achievements, the beauty of nature, people who overcome adversity, or efforts to create a better world. Films in this category showcase amazing people and places or highlight the arts.

COPYRIGHT AGREEMENT:
By entering this contest, all entrants agree that their submissions are original pieces of work, and do not infringe upon the intellectual property rights of others and are in compliance with all copyright laws. It is the sole responsibility of the entrant to secure authorization and permission from the copyright owner(s) of any and all copyrighted content or materials included within the submitted film.

The Friday Harbor Film Festival disavows any responsibility for, and will not be held responsible for, any unauthorized inclusion of any copyrighted content or materials within or relating to the submitted film, including any content or materials that are or may become the basis for any third-party claims for copyright infringement.

It is the sole responsibility of the entrant to secure authorization and permission from the owner(s) of any and all trademarked content or materials included within the submitted film. The Friday Harbor Film Festival disavows any responsibility for, and will not be held responsible for, any unauthorized inclusion of any trademarked content or materials within or relating to the submitted film, including any content or materials that are or may become the basis for any third-party claims for trademark infringement, trademark dilution or unfair competition.
34 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • James Hadgis

    Really let down — after finding out that my film was selected, I received no follow-up from the team as to when and where it would be screened, even after repeatedly reaching out to them for updates. Most (especially smaller) festivals usually try to make a semblance of an effort to encourage filmmakers to attend in person, but this festival didn't even confirm with me what file/version of my film that they were going to screen. I felt extremely unappreciated.

    December 2024
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    Response from festival:

    Dear James, we regret that our communication fell short in your case. We have changed our submission system this year to help avoid such issues in the future. The in-person and online festivals will take place at different times so there is no confusion about whether a film is being screened at the festival or only online when the selection notifications go out. It is very important to FHFF that filmmakers are treated well and feel valued. My apologies that that was not your experience!

  • Carl Davis

    Such a fun town to visit, friendly folks, extraordinary documentaries! Very honored to have my film--The Magic of Sailing-- selected.

    December 2024
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  • Fernando Betancourt

    Honored to have my capstone film selected for this festival and be an award winner in the audience choice 18-26 young filmmaker competition. I hope to submit to this festival again sometime soon!

    November 2023
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  • Jessica Plumb

    A wonderful gathering of documentary filmmakers in a beautiful location!

    November 2023
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  • Amy Benson

    The Friday Harbor Film Festival is magical! It is a rare in that it is both a filmmaker-honoring as well as an audience-focused fest. They bring the two together with their gatherings and the tradition of the filmmaker panel. The townspeople are so warm, fest-organizers so accommodating, the films so fabulous, AND the town is full of beauty and oysters. I didn't want it to end. My film team got on the ferry and as we waved goodbye we immediately started talking about how we would come again next year. It is a fest worth making a film for.

    November 2023
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    Response from festival:

    Amy,
    You are the AUDIENCE FAVORITE SHORT FILM of FHFF, 2023!
    The Last Act is the most beautiful film and hope you receive wide distribution. Karen Palmer, Director FHFF