IMPORTANT:
All submissions are only accepted thru FilmFreeway, and to ensure accessibility for our review team and audiences, all submitted films must be presented with English-language titles and dialogue, or include English subtitles. Thank you.
Grief Fest™: The Grief Film Festival - Intro Video (1 Min):
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/BOCS7VUFZB8
About:
Grief Fest™: The Grief Film Festival — Films About Love, Loss and Healing Thru the Lens
Grief is one of the most universal human experiences—and one of the most powerful stories a filmmaker can tell.
The Grief Film Festival (“Grief Fest™”) is a new international film festival dedicated to films that explore grief in all its forms: love, loss, remembrance, transformation, resilience, and healing. We invite filmmakers of all experience levels, from first-time creators to established studios, to submit films of any duration and any genre that engage with the subject of grief in authentic, meaningful, and human ways.
This is not Cannes—and we are proud of that.
While many outstanding festivals focus on innovation, technical perfection, and industry prestige, Grief Fest is a community-powered festival. Our films are not judged by red carpets or elite panels alone, but by the soul of the community. We celebrate how effectively a filmmaker connects with real people—how the story lands, resonates, opens dialogue, and creates shared understanding around grief.
What Makes Grief Fest - The Grief Film Festival Different
Honoring:
Grief Fest honors the many talented filmmakers worldwide whose work has been inspired and/or impacted by grief; including the many who are no longer with us today. One of the inspirations for the creation of Grief Fest: The Grief Fest Film Festival came from one very talented filmmaker out of Boston, Massachusetts whose work and life were deeply impacted by grief - Enrique Oliver (1958-2026).
Community-Centered Storytelling:
Our focus is on impact, emotional truth, and connection—not just production value.
Street-Level Audience Insight:
Filmmakers, distributors, and investors gain real-world audience perception and reactions to films addressing one of humanity’s most shared experiences.
Inclusive & Accessible:
All filmmakers are welcome—students, independents, collectives, nonprofits, and studios of all sizes. Grief Fest welcomes all films, and the festival is an all-inclusive, non-religious, LGBTQ+ friendly, and all-welcoming film festival.
Any Duration, Any Format: Shorts, features, micro-films, documentaries, narratives, experimental works, poetry readings and hybrid forms are all encouraged.
Global Perspective:
Grief transcends culture, language, and borders—and so do the stories we seek.
Why Submit
Grief Fest offers something rare: authentic audience engagement.
Selected films will be screened:
Screenings of the selected films:
The in-person and virtual screenings of the selected "Grief Fest™" films will take place during the 2026 year-end holidays. The community screenings will take place during the Thanksgiving (November 25 - 29), and Christmas/New Year's (December 24 - January 3) holidays. The hybrid festival format expands reach beyond the in-person screening thru the Grief Fest Screening Room in the Film Festival Plus Platform (https://tgff.filmfestivalplus.com). This hybrid experience provides filmmakers with valuable insight into how their work resonates across different communities and platforms—information that is meaningful for future distribution, development, and investment conversations.
The 2026 Grief Fest Films
Every film selected for the 2026 Grief Fest is, in our eyes, already a film of distinction. Each represents courageous storytelling and a meaningful contribution to how we understand, express, and navigate grief together.
At the close of the festival year, we will share the "2026 Grief Fest - Top Honors Films" per category. The 2026 Grief Fest Honors recognize the films that resonated most deeply with both our community audience and festival jury. These films will be announced on the main festival website (GriefFest.com) on New Year’s Eve (12/31/2026) and will also be highlighted in the Grief Fest Screening Room on the Film Festival Plus platform.
We celebrate every filmmaker whose work is part of Grief Fest. The films receiving Top Honors this year exemplify storytelling that connected with particular depth and clarity, reflecting creative approaches that moved audiences and jurors alike. While each selected film has made a meaningful impact, these “Top Honors” recognize those works whose resonance rose to an exceptional level — offering insights that may help shape and inspire the future of grief-centered storytelling.
Our Mission
Grief Fest exists to create space—for stories, for conversations, and for collective healing. We believe film can:
Normalize conversations around grief
Build empathy and understanding
Strengthen community through shared experience
Transform personal loss into collective meaning
If your film explores grief not just as an ending, but as a journey—through love, loss, memory, and healing—we want to experience it with our community.
Submit your film.
Share your story.
Join the conversation.
Welcome to GriefFest™ - The Grief Film Festival
Films about love, loss and healing through the lens....
Grief Fest™: The Grief Film Festival proudly honors films for their emotional impact, authenticity, and ability to connect with the community, rather than through traditional trophies or physical prizes.
The 2026 Grief Fest Films
Every film selected for the 2026 Grief Fest is, in our eyes, already a film of distinction. Each represents courageous storytelling and a meaningful contribution to how we understand, express, and navigate grief together.
At the close of the festival year, we will share the "2026 Grief Fest Top Honors."
The 2026 Grief Fest Honors recognize the films that resonated most deeply with both our community audience and festival jury. These films will be announced on the main festival website (GriefFest.com) on New Year’s Eve (12/31/2026) and will also be highlighted in the Grief Fest Screening Room on the Film Festival Plus platform.
We celebrate every filmmaker whose work is part of Grief Fest. The films receiving Honors this year exemplify storytelling that connected with particular depth and clarity, reflecting creative approaches that moved audiences and jurors alike. While each selected film has made a meaningful impact, these Honors recognize those works whose resonance rose to an exceptional level — offering insights that may help shape and inspire the future of grief-centered storytelling.
There are no statues, trophies, or shipping fees associated with our awards. Instead, all winning films will receive:
Official digital award certificates issued through FilmFreeway
Additional downloadable certificates delivered directly via email for easy sharing, printing, and promotion
Official Grief Fest "Selection & Honors" laurels for use in marketing, press, and distribution materials.
Global Promotion for Winning Films
Honor-receiving titles receive extended visibility through MyGriefAngels.org, the festival’s sponsoring nonprofit organization. My Grief Angels was recently recognized as one of the “13 Best Mental Health Resources of 2025,” and maintains a growing global audience across: MyGriefAngels.org and affiliated websites, Online newsletters and email communications, Social media and digital outreach channels, Festival-related community and educational initiatives
This promotional support helps winning films reach audiences who are deeply engaged with conversations around grief, mental health, and healing—long after the festival concludes.
Recognition That Travels
Rather than physical awards that sit on a shelf, Grief Fest Honors are designed to travel digitally, helping filmmakers amplify their work, demonstrate audience impact, and share meaningful recognition with viewers, partners, distributors, and investors worldwide.
At Grief Fest™ - The Grief Film Festival,
Your story—and the community it touches—is the true award.
