Avert your eyes and press record. You are not meant to be seen and yet you are everywhere—the news, the courts, the gas station in your hometown, the morgue, the dance floor. There is an attempt by the State to erase voices that break its narrative by means of villainization and degradation. This, unwittingly, offers a bad fantasy spotlight to all those it stigmatizes. Invisible and immortalized. We want your absolute worst.

Nothing to Film Festival presents queer, working class, low budget, B rated, amateur films. Showcasing new and emerging artists, first-time filmmakers, underbelly actors, discarded projects, genre-fucky garbage, experimental nonsense, nonlinear dreams. The festival will be held at PennyCup Haw Creek at the start of November. All are welcome to submit, priority will be given to WNC locals. Accepting features no more than 60 minutes in length. Submissions open June 1st, 2026. Email nothingtofilmfestival@gmail.com for questions and inquiries.

Awards & Prizes

AWARDS & PRIZES
Best Short | Prize: gargantuan trophy
Best Director | Prize: ginormous trophy
Best Actor | Prize: massive trophy
Audience Choice Award | Prize: colossal trophy

Rules & Terms

RULES & TERMS
The Festival is geared toward small budget productions to prioritize underrepresented filmmakers. Films should adhere to the themes detailed within the Nobody Film Festival description, i.e. absurdist, avocational, meaningful nonsense. We accept films of all varieties and genres: documentary horror, coming-of-age narrative, animated comedy, etc. By submitting, you agree to all following rules and regulations:
As the submitter, you attest that you are the owner or have the explicit written permission of the owner of the film, and hereby grant us the right to screen your film at our festival.
It is your responsibility as the submitter to clear all rights before your film screens at the festival. You acknowledge that you have secured all applicable licenses and waivers of copyrights, moral rights, trademarks, and any intellectual property rights.
The submitter shall indemnify and hold harmless Nothing to Film Festival from and against any and all claims, liabilities, losses, damages and expenses which may be incurred by reason of any claim involving copyright, trademark, credits, publicity, screening, and loss of or damage to the screening video entered.
You are welcome to submit multiple projects as long as each entry is submitted individually.
Submitted films are considered the final finished versions of those films by the festival (no edits past submission).
The use of AI is prohibited.
Premiere status is not required.
You retain full rights to your submitted film, and agree that clips from the film and other material related to your project may be used for festival promotional purposes.
There is no guarantee that films submitted will be selected for festival screening.
We will notify all submitters whether or or not their film has been selected for festival screening by September 1st.