The Fargo Film Festival is the premier annual moving picture event in the state of North Dakota. Featuring more than 100 movies every March, the five day festival takes place at the historic Fargo Theatre, a beautiful, 870-seat art deco movie palace equipped with a Mighty Wurlitzer pipe organ.

The Fargo Film Festival showcases work from all over the world and routinely programs movies that go on to receive distribution. In recent years, the festival has hosted several Oscar-nominated filmmakers and many Oscar-nominated films.

The festival's Ted M. Larson Award honors individuals who have demonstrated outstanding, longtime contributions to film education, film production, film culture, and/or film criticism and history. Recipients of the Ted M. Larson Award include George A. Romero, John Waters, Hal Hartley, Don Hertzfeldt, Janet Leigh, Richard Edlund, and Leonard Maltin.

Awards & Prizes

The Fargo Film Festival names winners in each of its seven categories and also honors films with several special awards.

Rules & Terms

Movies must be submitted electronically through the FilmFreeway. No physical media, including DVD and Blu-ray, are accepted as submission copies.

If selected, submitters are required to provide a file of their movie in DCP format, the industry standard for theatrical exhibition. With the exception of 2-Minute Movie Contest selections, DCP is the only accepted exhibition format of the Fargo Film Festival.

Moviemakers must provide a high-resolution image from their movie.

Movies must have been completed after January 1, 2023.

Moviemakers are responsible for obtaining all necessary rights and releases for public screening of their work.

59 Reviews
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Networking
  • Nicholas Sennott

    Of the many amazing regional festivals each year, Fargo stands out. There are many small touches for filmmakers, like a handwritten card from a "concierge" with the festival and an individual interview/Q&A after our (short film) screening. The community is warm and receptive, very memorable experience and recommend making the trip highly!

    March 2024
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  • Nigel Gould-Davies

    Thrilled and honoured that "Balloons" was selected as one of the 2-minute films. Such an encouragement to a new film maker to know their work was screened at this great art deco cinema. Thank you Fargo Film Festival.

    March 2024
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  • Ebba Jahn

    Although I wasn't able to attend I felt connected via the festival's detailed communication, and honored to have STICK NO BILLS screen in the 2-minute section of the festival - thanks.

    March 2024
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  • Vivian Kerr

    We were honored to have SCRAP play at the festival this year and to win Best Narrative Feature. I cannot say enough good things about the staff, volunteers, and festival coordinators. I was treated like a VIP from the moment I arrived. I had a great time exploring Fargo and the historic Fargo Theatre was an incredible place to screen in front of a packed audience! Thank you so much to Emily, Sean, Matt, and everyone who makes this festival so special. I hope to be back again soon!

    March 2024
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  • Michael Dorfman

    We were honored to have our short film DORFENSTEIN'S MONSTER screen in the "2-minute Movie Contest" portion of the festival. Although we weren't able to attend we felt connected from the festivals detailed social media updates. Great communication, great films, and great filmmakers! Highly recommend!!

    March 2024
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