Join us for the Fifteenth Anniversary Season of the Green Bay Film Festival.
The Green Bay Film Festival now takes place over the course of a year with 6 distinct curated events showcased at our festival home, the historic Tarlton Theatre, in the heart of downtown Green Bay, Wisconsin.
The 2025 festival season will utilize our year around format. Our festival is split into seasonal events each with its our unique theme; SPRING: March 15, April 12, May 10; FALL: September 13, October 11 and November 15.
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 introduce 5 distinct themes from which we will select the best to exhibit.
This Year's Categories Are:
WISCONSINS OWN: The best the badger state has to offer both in front of and behind the camera. Celebrating the stories and triumphs of the people who live in and work in or just love Wisconsin!
ANIMATION: Films that explore the boundaries of imagination from hand drawn to digital creations, all stories welcome.
COMEDY: "Does anybody remember laughter?!" Let's explore the world of comedy! Defined differently by nearly everyone, we can all agree that laughter is the best medicine so bring on the jokes! Bring on the situations! Just be sure to bring the laughs.
SCI-FI: Science fiction spans a wide range of themes that can explore time travel, space travel, are set in the future, and deal with the consequences of technological and scientific advances and themes about humanity. “What If?” Every great science fiction film explores a “what if” question that ignites the imagination. ...
ENVIRONMENTAL DOCUMENTARY: Channel your inner David Attenborough; environmental documentary film has the ability to dramatize the reality of environmental issues and empower audiences to become an active part of the change necessary to address environmental crises. This can also be an opportunity to shine a light on the people who are having successes within our climate crisis or areas that are turning negatives into positives.
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 2025 Jury's Choice Award for Best WISCONSINS OWN
GBFF 2025 Jury's Choice Award for Best ANIMATED FILM
GBFF 2025 Jury's Choice Award for Best COMEDY
GBFF 2025 Jury's Choice Award for Best ENVIRONMENTAL DOC
GBFF 2025 Jury's Choice for Best SCI-FI
IMPORTANT NOTE: The Green Bay Film Festival does not select the category you are competing in. Your category selection when submitting your film determines which category you compete in.
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: Awards! All filmmakers will be notified via the email address submitted on FilmFreeway. Awards will be sent to the address listed on FilmFreeway. Please make sure this information is correct and updated. Should an address not be provided, your response to award notification should be immediate.