Out On Film, Atlanta’s LGBTQIA+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer) film festival, is one of the most prominent LGBTQIA+ festivals globally and is both an Oscar® and BAFTA-qualifying event. Our Best Drama Short award winner is eligible to enter the Academy’s Live Action Short film competition in the concurrent season, provided Academy rules are met. Celebrating its 38th year in 2025, Out On Film annually presents approximately 150 narratives, documentaries, shorts, and web series, from international features to local programming and retrospectives. We prioritize filmmaker engagement through our highly regarded visiting filmmaker series.

Our main production is an 11-day festival held each September, complemented by events throughout the year. In the last two years, we’ve also hosted a spring mini-festival, with all submissions eligible for both events. We are tentatively planning another spring event in 2025.

Awards & Prizes

Our festival offers both Audience and Jury Awards across various categories:

• Audience Awards for Best Narrative Feature, Best Documentary, Best Drama Short, and Best International Film
• Jury Awards for Best Feature, Best Documentary, Best International Film, Best Performance, Best Director, Best First Film, Best Ensemble, Best Drama Short, and Best Documentary Short (awards may vary yearly based on juror selections)

We also host two Screenplay Competitions: the Short Film Screenplay Competition ($250 prize) and the Feature Film Screenplay Competition ($500 prize). Winners may receive a staged reading at the 2025 Out On Film festival.

Rules & Terms

Out On Film is now accepting entries for the 2025 Festival. We seek films that resonate with and are inclusive of the LGBTQIA+ community, showcasing life’s diverse experiences through the moving image. Submissions should include a completed submission form, entry fee, JPEG publicity photos, a two-sentence synopsis, downloadable trailer URL (if available), and a Vimeo link with a password to preview the film. Preview links and passwords for selected films must remain active until August 29, 2025. Films must have been completed in 2024 or later and must include English subtitles if not in English.

Multiple entries are allowed, each with its own submission form. However, entries containing multiple films will be disqualified. Applicants are responsible for the shipment of exhibition assets to the festival.

By submitting, you certify ownership and rights for public screenings. Out On Film is granted a non-exclusive license to use an excerpt of up to two minutes for promotional purposes only.

Out On Film requests Georgia premiere status for official selections. We reserve the right to determine screening format (in-person, virtual, or both) and apply geo-blocking measures for virtual screenings. Films screened virtually must be available for at least one week throughout the U.S. and may be subject to encore screenings in October.

We value relationships with filmmakers and strive to facilitate their presence. For those invited, we offer airfare, lodging, and transportation. For those attending independently, we do our best to assist with housing.

IMPORTANT: Time-sensitive communications will be distributed from traffic@outonfilm.org, if selected. Please ensure this email address is whitelisted in your email service provider.
132 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Pierre Ieong

    Such a pleasure for Flake to be part of the short program of OutonFilm this year. A diverse and extensive program showcasing exciting new films. Jim and his community were incredibly welcoming and hospitable, being in touch and communicative throughout the process. Atlanta was a great time!

    November 2024
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  • Ashley L. Canfield

    Loved this festival SO much! The organizers were amazing. Great communication and they really care about the filmmakers. The networking events were cool and we met some awesome people.

    November 2024
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  • Lily Ashton

    We were thrilled to be part of Out On Film this year - the communication from the festival was brilliant and felt really personal. The programme looked great and it feels like Jim and the team really care about and champion the films they program. They have in person screenings and an online festival so lots of chances for your film to get seen. We were unable to make it in person but hope to get the chance to visit Atlanta during the festival another year.

    November 2024
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  • Chickenshit Short Film

    Brilliant communication throughout and great efforts to bring a community of international filmmakers together! We are thrilled that our film screened as part of the festival amongst such an excellent selection of LGBTQ+ films.

    November 2024
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  • Camilo Silva

    Exceptional festival and wonderful team. Jim and crew were great, helpful, and communicative which made for a seamless, fun, and productive experience. Thanks so much for screening The Canary and sharing this story at such an important time.

    November 2024
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