Hobnobben. It's more than a film festival. It's a celebration of the human experience through cinematic storytelling.
WHEN
Hobnobben 2026 will take place October 22 – 25 and will be the 11th year of the film festival! Hobnobben is a signature event of Fort Wayne Cinema Center, a 501c(3) nonprofit arts organization in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Each year, we invite filmmakers, film lovers, and the film-curious to experience heart-changing cinema over four glorious days.
OUR VALUES
At Hobnobben, we encourage people to "see and be seen." By showcasing diverse stories and voices that have been typically excluded, and curating films by themes, we're able to provide a one-of-a-kind festival that invites participants to see themselves represented on screen — and be seen by others. We shine a light on underrepresented stories and creators in film, such as: LGBTQIA+, Black, Indigenous, people of color, women, neurodivergent, seniors, immigrant, body-positive stories, and the quirky/campy.
We believe the art of filmmaking should be accessible to everyone, and as such, we aim to build safe spaces for diverse storytelling, audience engagement with important issues, and meaningful conversations. We believe this is best accomplished by meeting people where they’re at and hearing their stories. This isn’t a film fest for film snobs.
WHAT TO EXPECT
Hobnobben Film Festival filmmakers can expect networking opportunities to build relationships with other filmmakers. A celebration of your work through thoughtfully curated film blocks by an audience that includes the general public, artists, commercial videographers, and event sponsors. We also strive to bring a unique view of the Midwest and the filmmaker-friendly community of Fort Wayne, Indiana. Finally, our festival organizers are here to answer any questions you may have.
STANDARDS
Please note that Hobnobben operates with high standards relating to the content that we showcase to the community. There are some lines we will not cross, including:
- Misogyny
- Certain sexual violence
- Incest
- Transphobic content and/or jokes
- Slurs, such as the r-word
- Fridging of female/femme characters
- Othering and/or villainizing neurodivergent characters
- And anything else that is harmful and without a potentially meaningful payoff*
*This is not intended to be a complete list, but rather a few examples to help illustrate how we approach making selections for Hobnobben Film Festival.
Best of Awards will be given in each of the following categories:
Narrative Feature
Feature-Length Unscripted
Animated Shorts
Unscripted Short
Fiction Short
Student Work: High School and Undergraduate
First-Time Filmmaker and Advanced Student
Indiana Reels- Films with an Indiana connection, both short and feature-length.
Best Comedy: Bring us your joy, your quirkiness, your passion.
All films submitted will also be eligible for the Jen Lynn Award. This film honors films with LGBTQIA+ representation and storytelling.
Jennifer Fray and Lynn Serstad have supported the festival since day one. Without the support of people such as these wonderful women, Hobnobben would not be what it is today. We are thrilled to be able to honor two great women and two valuable members of our Fort Wayne and Hobnobben Communities with this award.
