NOTICE: As of May 19, we are NO LONGER ACCEPTING SHORT FILMS (1-53 min). We are ONLY accepting Features (54+ min). Please do not contact us asking for late consideration for short films.

OUTSOUTH Queer Film Festival, formerly The North Carolina Gay and Lesbian Film Festival (NCGLFF), has consistently been ranked among the largest LGBTQ+ film festivals in the United States, attracting thousands of patrons yearly.

Since its beginning in 1995, the Festival has featured a diverse array of shorts, documentaries and feature films. The Durham Convention and Visitors Bureau named OUTSOUTH as a Signature Event for Durham, the highest honor bestowed on a cultural event or attraction by the organization. The Carolina Theatre of Durham, NC, curates and produces the festival.

OUTSOUTH celebrates a worldwide glimpse of today’s Queer life by bringing community together and showcasing entertaining and sophisticated films and filmmaking. The festival features a diverse array of juried new shorts, documentaries, and feature films. Produced and curated by the historic Carolina Theatre of Durham, in beautiful Downtown Durham, the festival was honored in 2021 as one of “20 Fantastic LGBTQ+ Film Festivals Around the Globe” by Moviemaker Magazine.

OUTSOUTH Queer Film Festival seeks submissions in many categories. Please extensively review the categories BEFORE submitting your film. We are especially seeking submissions that include Black, Asian & Pacific Islander or Latinx characters and themes. We include animated short films.

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Awards & Prizes

JURY AWARDS
Best Narrative Feature Film
Best Foreign Language Narrative Feature Film
Best Narrative Short Film
Best Foreign Language Narrative Short Film

Note: If OUTSOUTH Queer Film Festival deems there are not enough worthy entries in any given category, the festival reserves the right to not present an award for that category.

Rules & Terms

The Deadline to submit SHORTS in ALL categories is May 12th.

RENTAL OR SCREENING FEES:
OUTSOUTH does NOT pay rental or screening fees for films.

EXHIBITION FORMAT:
All films in the festival screen on digital format. 1080p resolution recommended. .mov, .mp4 accepted.

OUTSOUTH is seeking new narrative and documentary feature films that have NOT yet been released (or planned to be released) on Netflix, DVD/Blu-ray, or other pay services prior to August 18th, the first day after the end of festival. (If your feature film is ONLY available for purchase on your website but NOT on any other service such as Amazon, etc., it is indeed eligible.)

Short films that are available on YouTube, Vimeo or other streaming services are NOT eligible, although you have CAN submit if you remove the link or make it "private/unlisted" until the fest is over.

OUTSOUTH Queer Film Festival does NOT accept music videos or similar.

ARTIST TRANSPORTATION:
OUTSOUTH Queer Film Festival does NOT pay for artist travel such as per diems, airfare, train, hotel, etc. We also do not coordinate travel arrangements with International Cultural Agencies. If your film is accepted, all transportation and lodging is 100% the responsibility of the artist, including all travel arrangements.

Feel Free to contact Committee members about your submission questions.
We encourage submissions of films with or without distribution.
54 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Mackenzie Leigh

    We loved screening at OUTSOUTH! The programming team was responsive and quick to answer questions. Our film was heavily promoted and the screenings were well-attended. We felt very welcome and taken care of at OUTSOUTH. Highly recommend the festival to other filmmakers!

    November 2022
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  • La Hagendorfer

    THIS film festival has made it into my heart! Not only were all the people involved very professional beforehand, but also on site it was really wonderful, care was taken, the location is beautiful and there were many other filmmakers to meet. These days in Durham flew by thanks to the exciting queer film program and the warm people in charge of it!

    October 2022
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  • Julie Casper Roth

    Super fantastic! The folks in NC are the best. Screened here many years ago and even back then other filmmakers spoke highly of it.

    October 2022
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  • Jonathan D'Rozario

    I had an absolutely incredible time at OUTSOUTH Queer Film Festival, both as a filmmaker and as an audience member. Everyone involved in the festival was so kind and generous with their time, and the films programmed were fantastic. I couldn't be happier to have screened at OUTSOUTH, and to have been able to take part in-person!

    August 2022
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  • Robin Careless

    OUTSOUTH, much like all the festivals that run out of the Carolina Theatre, is a wonderful experience, and I highly recommend it to anyone with a Queer film. It's just a great time.

    August 2022
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