Great expansion has come to The Northern Virginia International Film & Music Festival (The NOVA Fest) in its seventh season! After hosting several hundred films from over 30 countries, and celebrating industry leaders like Eduardo Sanchez of The Blaire Witch Project, Michael Uslan, the executive producer of JOKER and all modern BATMAN films and Russell Williams II, the first African-American to win back to back Academy Awards for his work on Glory and Dances With Wolves, we are also continuing our highly successful film market!

The CAPITAL FILM MARKET works in conjunction with The NOVA Fest and the Virginia Film Office to bring sales agents, domestic & international film offices and buyers from around the globe, searching for and buying new content. In the age of new media CAPITAL fully embraces and offers an environment to sell content to platforms such as Netflix, Hulu, Amazon, iTunes, Google play and on and on.

Seminars, panels, receptions and party after party, lead up to an elaborate Oscar-style Awards Ceremony held at the Mosaic in Fairfax, Virginia, home of the beautiful Angelika Film Center! Welcome to the biggest festival and market of its kind in the United States of America!

*Unprecedented times require unprecedented action. Just like on set, we're having to improvise when forces beyond our control impose themselves. 2020 and the immediate future will be a continuous course correction. We have postponed our 6th Season to November 2020 AND at the same time, we are keeping on track to have our 7th Season remain in April of 2021.

Please stay tuned for any updates. We will do our best to maintain as much stability, as we have control over. Thank you for your patience and understanding. As always, we will make every decision based on what is best for our artists.

Please be well during these incredibly provocative times!

Awards & Prizes

Award winners receive Oscar-Caliber trophies at our Red Carpet Awards Ceremony.

Rules & Terms

We are accepting submissions for feature and short Narrative, Documentary, Screenplays, Teleplays, Music Videos and Art & Design. Shorts will play prior to a feature or in a shorts program. All genres are welcome. The festival programming staff will place your film in the appropriate category.

All entries will be judged on content, creativity, imagery, story and skill of the filmmaker or screenwriter. Productions produced from January 2013 to January 2021 may be submitted. Works in progress will be accepted. All films must be submitted on DVD (Region 1) or available online via FilmFreeway for consideration by the Selection Committee.

All disc entries must be sent to the Northern Virginia International Film & Music Festival. Videos and DVDs submitted will not be returned unless accompanied by SASE. Films selected for the NOVA Fest will be announced no later than February 15, 2021.

All presentation materials for the Northern Virginia International Film & Music Festival must arrive in Virginia no later than March 08, 2021 (post marked by March 08, 2021). Please notify us by mail, fax or email of any address changes.

The Northern Virginia International Film & Music Festival is hereby granted the right to utilize footage and promotional materials supplied by the submitting agent from any film submitted, film accepted, video, or project for exhibition at the Festival for promotional purposes. All accepted filmmakers agree that the Northern Virginia International Film & Music Festival may use content (film, trailers, art, marketing collateral) from their projects in order to promote the festival, their film or the NOVA Fest Event via print, web and broadcast television. The individual or corporation submitting the film hereby warrants that it is authorized to commit the film for screening, and understands and accepts these requirements and regulations. The submitters shall indemnify and hold harmless the Northern Virginia International Film & Music Festival, it's vendors, sponsors and supporters from and against any and all claims, liabilities, losses, damages, and expenses (including but not limited to attorney's fees, and costs of the court) which may be incurred by reason of any claim involving copyright, trademark, credits, publicity, screening, and loss of or damage to the screening videos entered.

If 'Nominated', presence at the Awards Ceremony is NOT required to Win. However, presence at the Awards Ceremony IS required to receive your trophy.
31 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
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Hospitality
Networking
  • George Dibble

    Very well run festival even through rescheduling due to Covid. From communication to social media presence and marketing. We're excited to have our film selected and look forward to attending later this year.

    April 2020
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  • Stephane Arteta

    Wonderful team, very supportive and responsive, great communication. It’s a honor to be selected, It is such a terrific festival. I look forward to attending the event. A bientôt

    April 2020
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  • Stacy Waymack Thornton

    Coming in from California, it is a huge expense to be there the entire time. But I love the experience and all the people involved. Just wish I could afford being there every year. Been there in 2016 & 2019 as a Nominee. Won in 2017 & 2018 but of course was unable to go. One day I hope I pick a year in which I win and can walk across that stage. Doubt it but as dreamers do, I keep dreaming.

    December 2019
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  • Koura Linda

    This was our 2nd year attending the NOVA Fest and it is one of the few festivals in the country that we have attended that holds a high standard on all counts.
    We have met some of the most incredible fellow filmmakers here, along with some great industry contacts. The festival is professional with a lot of work done to provide a platform to independent filmmakers.
    We have attended indie film festivals across the country and this is one of our personal favorite Top 5.
    Highly recommend to all filmmakers, especially newer filmmakers/those starting out in the festival circuit.

    May 2019
    Helpful
  • Natalie Jean

    Unfortunately, I was unable to attend. But I had the honor of having my music video "The Letting Go", selected for the film festival.

    April 2019
    Helpful