The Flathead Lake International Cinemafest is proud to present its thirteenth annual edition of domestic and international independent cinema from February 14-16, 2025, with Encore Screenings February 16-20, 2025. Filmmakers and film fans alike love attending this exciting winter film festival in picturesque Polson, Montana. Nestled at the base of Flathead Lake, FLIC offers small town charm and big league independent film enjoyment for our guests. Filmmakers enjoy FLIC because it presents an opportunity to exhibit their films to real audiences — not just audiences of other filmmakers. They also appreciate the intimate Q&A sessions after film screenings -- and multiple networking opportunities with other filmmakers. FLIC hosts mixer events throughout the weekend, affording filmmakers interaction with their colleagues and audience members. Additionally, we close the weekend with an awards show — passing out accolades and hardware to deserving filmmakers is one of the highlights of the weekend!

See the filmmaker reviews below!

Come join the fun in February! See you here!

Nominations are made at the time of official selection and awards are presented at our Awards Show on Sunday afternoon of the festival. Nominees and Winners are showcased on the FLIC website and social media. Nominees are also listed in our printed program and screening schedule. Nominated and winning films are screened a second time during our Encore Week following the festival. Up to 5 nominees (with a minimum of 3) -- with one winner in each -- are made in the following categories:

• Audience Award
• Best Picture - FLIC Jr.
• Best Animation
• Best Short Documentary
• Best Feature Documentary
• Best Short Narrative
• Best Feature Narrative
• Best Montana Film
• Best Actor
• Best Actress
• Best Director
• Best Cinematography
• Best Original Score

**If you want to email us to ask for a waiver, please include a link to the trailer or film. Queries for waiver requests will not be considered without appropriate links.**

• By submitting, the entrant/s agrees they have read and accepted all FLIC rules, terms and conditions.

• Upon notification that their film is an official selection, filmmakers have seven (7) calendar days to notify FLIC if they wish to pull their film from the festival. If FLIC does not hear otherwise, we will assume the filmmaker wants their film to screen at FLIC and it will be scheduled for presentation at a day and time of FLIC's choosing. After the aforementioned seven days, the filmmaker will NOT be permitted to remove the film from the festival, even if another festival requires exclusivity. This is non-negotiable. If you have any doubts about your ability to follow through and participate in screenings, please be advised of this policy.

• Entrants confirm they have full legal right and authority to submit for use all images, content, talent, music/sounds in their entry, and that the film will not violate any copyright, trademark, service mark, privacy right, publicity right, patent, or any other intellectual property right of any person or entity. If consent of other parties is required, all of them are also agreeing.

• Submitted films should not convey a defamation of any person or entity and not be subject to or threatened by litigation. FLIC reserves the right not to select films which in the opinion of FLIC's judges are abrasively controversial and/or politically divisive.

• Foreign language films MUST have captions burned into the film.

• Entrant grants FLIC permission to screen the entry at the FLIC festival, and agrees to hold harmless FLIC, its sponsors, entities, venues, committee members, volunteers, attorneys and advisers from any and all claims, damages, costs, losses, liabilities or attorneys’ fees that may be held against any of them in association with the film entry or the festival’s use.

• If selected, feature length MP4 films are not to exceed 10GB file size. Visit Vimeo.com for compression suggestions and guidelines. Films may be sent via web in HD formats. Downloads from Vimeo are common and films are also sent via WeTranfer.com, ftp, etc. All video files are due by January 1st.

• DCP, DVD, and Bluray submissions are NOT accepted or screened. ALL submissions must also come through FilmFreeway. There is no screening fee compensation. No exceptions or considerations will be made.

• G, PG, and PG-13 approximate-rating films will be reviewed for consideration. Occasional exceptions to this guideline are made on a film-by-film basis at the judges' and festival director's discretion. Hard R content will not be selected.

• All judging is confidential and all decisions and film scores are final.

• If selected, the version of the film that was submitted will be screened. FLIC does not accept changes or edits to films after official selections have been made. Work-in-progress films should not be submitted. Filmmakers may contact FLIC to discuss exceptions.

• All submission fees go to the Flathead Lake International Cinemafest, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization.

Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Melea Burke

    It was a joy to have my film "Uprooted" show at FLIC. From the warm welcome from everyone involved (including the audience), to the new theater with crisp screens and sound and cushy seats, not to mention the beautiful location in Polson, Montana, this was a truly memorable weekend. David and Jessica are lovely hosts and clearly put a lot of thought and care into planning and running this festival. The Q&A sessions were some of the most engaging I have attended, and the variety of films was exciting to see in a small festival.

    July 2024
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    Response from festival:

    Thank you, Melea! We loved having you join us in person to share Uprooted with our FLIC 2024 audience! We look forward to more great work from you in the future!

  • This is a fantastic festival that features international as well as Montana made films. The organizers clearly love film and their passion is contagious. We will definitely be submitting our next film to FLIC.

    April 2024
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    Response from festival:

    Thank you, John! We're grateful for your participation in FLIC 2024. Send more films our way!

  • We were so happy to have our short film The System, screened at this festival. This is one of the best festivals that we have attended. So well supported by the local community. Screenings in a real theater, and not on a 6 foot screen in a cramped room.
    David and Jessica were always around, communicating well, and wonderful hosts!
    Thank you so much for screening our film!

    March 2024
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    Response from festival:

    The pleasure was all ours, Bryan! Your film The System, projected on the big screen, was a FLIC 2024 highlight. So was your Q&A session following. Our best to you.

  • Jeremey Lavoi

    Great festival, with friendly and interested programmers. It's fun to attend in person if you get the chance.

    February 2024
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    Response from festival:

    Thanks, Jeremey! Filmmakers like you are the reason FLIC is successful. We appreciate you sharing your work with us.

  • Jared Weseloh

    It was a fantastic film festival weekend, I had a great time. The hosts David and Jessica do a phenomenal job with the festival! I would highly recommend attending future festivals if you can.

    February 2024
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    Response from festival:

    Thanks, Jared! We loved having your music video in the festival and your in-person participation was a wonderful bonus!