Mystic Film Festival is a grassroots celebration of independent filmmaking that brings together storytellers, artists, and audiences in a shared love of cinema. Showcasing feature-length and short narrative films and documentaries from around the world, the festival creates a space where diverse voices can be heard and meaningful conversations can take root. Through screenings, filmmaker Q&As, workshops, and community events, we aim to connect people through the power of story and the craft of filmmaking.

Now in its ninth year, the festival will take place September 24 - 27, 2026, across venues in Mystic, Connecticut, and Westerly, Rhode Island. Our cornerstone venue, Mystic Luxury Cinemas in Olde Mistick Village, hosts opening night, which proudly features films made by local filmmakers and celebrates the talent within our own community. The festival closes with our annual awards celebration, honoring standout independent films in every category. This year, we are expanding our submission categories to welcome an even wider range of stories and filmmakers.

Our Screenplay Competition, now entering its sixth year, has become a highlight of the festival, shining a light on emerging screenwriters and fostering connections within the indie filmmaking community. With expanded categories, the 2026 competition continues to champion fresh voices and original storytelling. Winners will be announced live at the festival, underscoring our commitment to supporting creators at every stage of the filmmaking process.

Founded by local filmmakers and artists, Mystic Film Festival was created to nurture New England talent, champion films made in Connecticut, and bring unique independent voices from around the world to our coastal community.

Halfway between New York City and Boston lies the beautiful seaport of Mystic. Known for its rich seafaring past and maritime history, it is also a popular destination for its restaurants and locally produced craft beer and wine, art galleries and museums, and sailing, kayaking and hiking along the pristine shoreline.

Mystic is easily accessible by car and train, and the Tweed New Haven Regional Airport in New Haven, Connecticut and T.F. Green International Airport in Providence, Rhode Island are both within an hour’s drive. Bradley International Airport in Hartford, Connecticut is just over an hour's drive.

Awards & Prizes

The Mystic Film Festival Jury will recognize the top films in competition: Best Narrative Feature, Best Feature Documentary, Best Narrative Short, Best Documentary Short, Best International Narrative Film, Best Director Narrative Film, Best Director Documentary Film, Best Connecticut Film, Best New England Film, Human Rights Award, Best Conservation Film, Best Cinematography Narrative Film, Best Cinematography Documentary Film, Best Editing Narrative Film, Best Editing Documentary Film, Best Student Film, Best Student Film Director, Best Art Direction, Best Costume Design, Best Original Score, Best Actor in a Narrative Feature, Best Actress in a Narrative Feature, Best Actor in a Narrative Short, Best Actress in a Narrative Short, Best Ensemble Cast Narrative Feature, Best Ensemble Cast Narrative Short, Lifetime Achievement Award, Grand Jury Prize Narrative Feature, Grand Jury Prize Narrative Short, Grand Jury Prize Feature Documentary, Grand Jury Prize Documentary Short, Best Screenplay Narrative Feature, Best Screenplay Narrative Short, Best Screenplay Student Film, Audience Choice Award for Narrative Film, Audience Choice Award for Documentary Film, and Audience Choice Award for Student Film. We will also be offering awards for the top winners of our various script categories.

Rules & Terms

MYSTIC FILM FESTIVAL GENERAL RULES:

All entries must be submitted online via FilmFreeway.
Your application will not be considered complete until all entry requirements are met.
No music videos, commercials, or web episodes.
Films must be produced (completed) no earlier than January, 2024.

FILM ENTRY RULES:

Please be prepared to provide one or more of the following exhibition formats: MPEG 4, Quick Time, or DCP.

The filmmaker will assume material costs and shipping costs of materials to Mystic Film Festival.

Entrants must assume all responsibility for clearing materials through customs.

Audio is STEREO.

Titles produced in languages other than English must have legible English subtitles.

DCPs will be returned to the successful entrants at filmmaker's cost.

Upon acceptance, filmmakers must agree to provide no less than two high-resolution digital stills (minimum 540 x 960) to be used at Mystic Film Festival’s discretion. Digital stills must be movie stills, not "behind the scenes" / production stills. We also require a short synopsis of your film (limited to 300 words). If you have an EPK, digital posters, or a trailer, please include these too.

Not all invited films officially selected will be eligible for competition. The selection committees' and juries' decisions are final.

We do not pay honorariums, screening fees, or travel costs to the festival.

Mystic Film Festival reserves the right to make any necessary changes in its rules and regulations or festival programming and scheduling.

By entering the Mystic Film Festival, you grant the Mystic Film Festival permission to screen your film at Mystic Film Festival, to use your marketing materials to promote your film at Mystic Film Festival, and on social media and in traditional media spaces, and use your trailer (if available) for promotional purposes.

If filmmaker withdraws film after it has been accepted into the festival, the filmmaker will assume costs to the festival to withdraw the film from the program.

Please note that when purchasing feedback on your film or screenplay submission, you must also submit the film or screenplay for programming.

85 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Ryan Bell

    Mystic was welcoming and professional. Highly recommended!

    April 2026
    Helpful
  • AMANDA MERGULHÃO FERRARI

    I am so excited for I won a trophy for best fantasy short film! Communication could be best though, for they haven't been responding my last four e-mails. I am trying to do a follow up about my trophy but it's been almost a month they haven't replied or given any update. I hope the festival crew can see this comment and solve it. I have provided my address and they said it would be possible to send me the trophy despite being in a other country. Now it's been almost a month and they have ignored my last 4 e-mails. I have asked if they needed any further info... Nothing. No reply ever came. I look for an explanation and a solution. Waiting for my trophy. I will keep pushing it.

    November 2025
    Helpful
    Response from festival:

    Dear Amanda. We responded to you early on and let you know we would ship your award as soon as we could. We're happy to confirm that the award has been shipped. At this point, it is likely going through customs in Brazil, and unfortunately we don’t have any control over how long that process may take before you receive it. We’re a small team of volunteers doing our best to get awards out to everyone who wasn’t able to attend the ceremony, and we’re covering the shipping costs ourselves. We truly appreciate your patience and understanding as we work through these deliveries.

  • Mac Hendrickson

    Wonderful festival with a great lineup and great communication from the whole team! Definitely visit beautiful Mystic and check out this great festival

    October 2025
    Helpful
  • Dien Vo

    Wonderful festival, organizers, and attendees.

    A lot still stands out to me after attending, but here are some key highlights. 1) Some of the strongest selections of films I've seen at comparable fests. 2) Professional screening conditions throughout -- projectors, rooms, etc. -- and the seats at Mystic Luxury Cinemas are heavenly. 3) Friendly, communicative organizers. They keep in regular contact throughout the entire process. Thorough. 4) Excellent, affordable workshops with professionals who are also approachable. 5) You'll meet a lot of friendly and talented filmmakers.

    Good vibes throughout. Highly recommended, and wishing them continued success.

    October 2025
    Helpful
  • Charlie Finesilver

    Thank you all to the judging committee for bestowing on our WWII screenplay HEIMRICH FARM as finalist for the best Feature Screenplay award!! We are honored and grateful!!

    October 2025
    Helpful
    Response from festival:

    Thank you for the wonderful feedback, Charlie.