The Film Girl Film Festival has been dedicated to showcasing women in film since 2016. After going on hiatus, we are back! If you are a female-identifying, nonbinary, genderqueer director, we welcome your feature and short film submissions.

Note: while we are confirmed for March of 2026, the exact times will be subject to change, and the finalized festival dates will be announced in the fall of 2025.

More updates shortly!

Awards & Prizes

Audience Award for Best Short and Best Film
Prize determined by audience ballots.

Jury Award for Best Short and Best Film.

Prize determined by a selected group of female-identifyilng judges.

Rules & Terms

All shorts or films directed by women are eligible for consideration. Films directed by men may also be considered if they have at least one woman as the main protagonist. No short or film made before 2021 will be accepted.

Any film accepted can be used for promotional purposes.

We reserve the right to change our programming.
38 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Andrea Zile Bish

    Wonderful Midwest home-grown fest. Great opportunities to network with other filmmakers, good film selection.

    April 2024
    Helpful
  • Leon McConnell

    great films. great venue. Fun location. Communicative and friendly organizers. Cool after party. What more can you ask for. I had a great time and was proud to be a part of this festival. Thank you for selecting our film, A Place for them.

    April 2024
    Helpful
  • Melissa Werner

    We were honored to be part of this amazing film festival. I was not able to make it to Chicago, but was able to see some of the amazing films online. It was humbling to meet some brilliant, female filmmakers. I cannot recommend this festival enough!

    April 2024
    Helpful
  • Ruth Hayes

    I wasn’t able to attend the festival, but the programming looked fabulous, and the zoom discussion among filmmakers in the same program was well moderated and very fun to participate in.

    April 2024
    Helpful
  • Hijas del Maguey

    Amazing festival, we are so grateful to be selected and screened at Film Girls Film Festival. Andrea was so helpful and communication was great. Unfortunately we could not be there but they got us online interviews. It shows that they are truly cinema lovers and their purpose is to disclose independent movies and female filmmakers and stories in order to have a more equal industry. We really recommend this festival.

    April 2024
    Helpful