Join us for the Sixteenth Season of the Green Bay Film Festival.

The Green Bay Film Festival now takes place over the course of a year with 2 distinct curated events showcased at our festival home, the historic Tarlton Theatre, in the heart of downtown Green Bay, Wisconsin.

The 2026 festival season consists of a spring and fall session with submissions for the spring session running June through August. The event will take place March 14, 2026. Watch for our fall submissions starting March 14th for our October 17th event.

We connect filmmakers and audiences to provide a rich viewing experience, including “talkbacks” and behind the scenes insights. We enthusiastically support our local film community, a live cinema experience and our local historic theatre and home. We delight in giving our filmmakers an extraordinary welcome in traditional Midwest fashion.

GBFF will create themes based on the submissions that we receive utilizing four general categories.

This Year's Categories Are:

MADE IN WISCONSIN: The best the Badger state has to offer from filmmakers currently living in Wisconsin and/or celebrating the stories and triumphs of the people who live, work, and play in Wisconsin!

DOCUMENTARY: We are now accepting submissions for original documentary films! Whether you're an emerging filmmaker or an established director, we welcome compelling stories from around the world.

Submission guidelines:
- Subject: Open - any theme or topic is welcome.
- Length: Maximum run time of 90 minutes.

SHORTS: We are now accepting submissions for short films of any genre or subject. Whether narrative, experimental, animated, or any other style, we welcome bold and original storytelling from filmmakers of all backgrounds.

FEATURES: We are now accepting feature films of any genre or subject matter. Whether you're telling a dramatic story or exploring an experimental approach, we welcome innovative and captivating films from filmmakers of all kinds.

JURIED AWARDS will be determined in advance. Physical trophies awarded to in person participants only.

As one filmmaker said, “Green Bay is the perfect place to host a film festival. The talent is real and everyone’s doors are open.” We couldn’t agree more!

Awards and Prizes

JURIED AWARDS will be determined in advance. Physical trophies awarded to in person participants ONLY. We hope you will attend and help us create an experience that goes beyond "watching a movie"!

All films submitted will compete in noted categories

Juried Awards:

GBFF 2026 juried award will be based on the theme determined for the event as a "Best of the Fest" award for that particular event. A $200 cash award is included. *Attending the festival event is required to receive any award (physical award and cash award). For those winners not in attendance, laurels will be sent.

Note: if Green Bay Film Festival feels that your film fits into a different category, you may be notified with an option to change. Please review the categories to ensure your film fits the selected category.

**NOTE: ANY film that receives a fee waiver or is invited by the festival will not be considered in competition.

Special Note: Notifications! All filmmakers will be notified via the email address submitted on FilmFreeway. Please make sure this information is correct and updated.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS
BY SUBMITTING YOUR FILM, YOU AGREE TO THESE TERMS AND CONDITIONS:
Terms and Conditions are written such that; I or my, represents the (Filmmaker) and that Film Green Bay/ Green Bay Film Festival may also be represented by (Festival, FGB/GBFF).
1. I have read, understood and complied with all eligibility requirements of the categories for which I would like this film to be considered.
2. To the best of my knowledge, all of the statements in this document are true.
3. This film is not subject to litigation nor is threatened by any litigation.
4. I am duly authorized to submit this film to the Festival and its Competition and understand if selected, the Festival holds the right to screen my film.
5. Should my film be selected, a trailer will be requested for non-commercial promotional purposes. The festival may extract clips from my film or use submitted images for festival promotional purposes only, during the sales and promotional period in which the festival plays my film.
6. Should my film be selected, I will notify GBFF of all screenings and distribution that will be taking place prior to my film playing at the festival. I understand that should the festival determine that some screenings and distribution interfere with the festivals ability to draw an audience, they will request that my film will be withdrawn. I understand that the festival does not pay screening fees and that should I submit my film and it is selected to play that I will provide an exhibition copy to be shown for one screening without fees.
7. While the festival does not require a printed disc of my film, I understand that I should insure that GBFF or FGB receive a digital copy. If we are unable to obtain a copy of your film and are unable to contact you, your film will be disqualified.
8. In the event the designated party is unable to attend the awards ceremony; I understand that any party representing the film as listed in the credits of the film shall accept any and all awards in their stead.
9. I must clear all copyrighted material included in my film before it can be publicly screened. The Green Bay Film Festival does not check to make sure that I have cleared these materials at any point during the application process, nor will GBFF or FGB be held responsible for any inclusion of un-cleared materials in my film. It is the sole responsibility of the entity submitting the project to secure permission from the copyright holder of the material in question, whether it is music, stock footage, or any other elements that could violate an existing copyright. Quite often, rights holders offer reduced rates for festival films, so I should contact them directly to avoid any possible rights infringements.
10. I am aware Festival may provide critics an opportunity to review films prior to the Festival.
11. I understand that once I agree to accept my selection to the festival, the festival has an irrevocable license to exhibit the film one time.

FILM FORMATS:
Submissions: FilmFreeway’s high-quality digital online submission platform. Our jury screens online films only. Please make sure your uploaded file works correctly. If you have any problems with FilmFreeway secure online screener, please contact FilmFreeway; the festival cannot help you with this.

Exhibition Copies to show at Festival:
All films will be shown as an electronic file via a projector in mp4. Please be sure you read the technical specifications on how to submit your exhibition copy should you be selected.

Trailers: If you are selected we encourage you to send your trailer. (Please, no longer than One minute.) Trailers should be submitted as an electronic file in mp4 format.

Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Juan Manuel Gonzalez Fernandez

    Very thankful to be selected with our film RELIEFS. We unfortunately couldn't attend, but we hope the festival went great!

    March 2026
  • Great film selection. Really nice venue. Ten stars. Highly recommend.

    March 2026
  • Craig Knitt

    Even though an unexpected snowstorm threatened the event, a respectable crowd showed up and enjoyed the films! I always love the Q+A and was not disappointed. Great questions were asked and it was a lot of laughs!

    March 2026
  • Alistair Kerr

    Fantastic! Great to be involved.

    May 2025
  • Had a great time at this festival and so honored that I won an award! Woohoo! Got to meet other filmmakers and have some delicious beer and popcorn. And they allowed multiple tickets for my family and crew. What more could I want?

    May 2025
    Response from festival:

    It was a delight to meet you in person! We were honored to have such talent with us 😁