"Exquisite taste in an exquisite place... this festival just keeps spotting great talents on the rise. It’s a near-perfect start-of-summer festival." - MovieMaker Magazine, 50 Film Festivals Worth the Entry Fee 2023

The Provincetown International Film Festival is dedicated to showcasing new achievements in independent film and honoring the work of emerging as well as acclaimed directors, producers, and actors. Taking place in America's oldest art colony, PIFF continues a long tradition of supporting and connecting artists by providing easy networking opportunities and access to filmmakers and industry in one of the most culturally rich and naturally beautiful towns on earth.

Now in its 27th year, PIFF has established itself as the largest cultural event on lower Cape Cod, attracting thousands of filmgoers, tastemakers, and arts patrons. This festival showcases over 80 US and international independent narrative and documentary features, and short films as well as panel discussions and special events. PIFF welcomes audiences and supporters, new and seasoned, young and old, to a quality showcase of emerging films, enticing events, informative panels, special programs, and exuberant celebrations.

All accepted films are eligible for the Audience Awards presented to Best Narrative Feature and Best Documentary Feature.

The Provincetown International Film Festival (PIFF) is proud to announce that The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences® has named the Provincetown International Film Festival (PIFF) as a qualifying festival in three Short Film categories. Winners of the Best Narrative Short Film, Best Documentary Short Film, and Best Queer Short Film awards at PIFF may qualify to enter the Academy Awards® for the concurrent season, provided the films otherwise comply with the Academy rules. Please see the Academy's qualifying and eligibility rules: https://www.oscars.org/oscars/rules-eligibility

Juried Award categories include:
• John Schlesinger Awards (presented to a first-time narrative and documentary feature filmmaker)
• Best Narrative Short Film (Academy Award® Qualifying)
• Best Documentary Short Film (Academy Award® Qualifying)
• Best Queer Short Film (Academy Award® Qualifying)
• Best Animated Short Film
• Best New England Short Film
Honorable Mentions bestowed at the discretion of PIFF jury.

Honorary awards include the Filmmaker on the Edge Award given to a film artist whose outstanding achievement, innovation and vision continue to push the boundaries of the medium throughout their body of work.
Past honorees include: Andrew Haigh, Luca Guadagnino, Sofia Coppola, Richard Linklater, John Cameron Mitchell, Sean Baker, Ang Lee, David Cronenberg, Darren Aronofsky, Mary Harron, Guy Maddin, Quentin Tarantino, Todd Solondz, Gregg Araki, Jim Jarmusch, Todd Haynes, Gus Van Sant, Christine Vachon, and John Waters.
Excellence In Acting Award recipients include: Colman Domingo, Billy Porter, Tilda Swinton, Molly Shannon, Chloë Sevigny, Gael Garcia Bernal, Alan Cumming, Vera Farmiga, Patricia Clarkson, Dale Dickey and Judith Light.
Past Next Wave Award honorees include: Joel Kim Booster, Aubrey Plaza, Bowen Yang, Jenny Slate, Mae Martin, Julio Torres, Megan Stalter, Chloë Grace Moretz, Jillian Bell, Mya Taylor, and Natalie Morales.

The Provincetown International Film Festival (PIFF) is dedicated to showcasing independent US and international films, offering a full program of full-length and short films curated by an established programming team, with submissions reviewed by a dedicated screening committee. If you are interested in submitting your work, please read all the information below and follow the instructions.

• PIFF shows narrative, documentary, and short films in DCP and BluRay.

• Film must have been completed after January 1, 2024.

• Multiple titles may be submitted by an entrant. However, each title requires its own separate entry form and entry fee.

• All accepted films are eligible for the Audience Awards (presented to Best Narrative Feature and Best Documentary Feature). Other award categories include the John Schlesinger Award (presented to a first time narrative and documentary feature filmmaker), Jury Awards for Best Short Documentary Award, Best Queer Short Film, Best Narrative Short, Best Animated Short, and Best New England Short (as well as Honorable Mentions bestowed at the discretion of PIFF jury).

• Feature films may not have been released theatrically, or be available via streaming or online to the public prior to the festival.

• ONLY online preview copies are accepted for submissions.

• Be sure to upload photos, stills and press kits or include a web link. If your work is selected, photos will be used for promotion and for the PIFF website and catalog.

• Acknowledgment of receipt of your entry will be made by via FilmFreeway. You will be notified of acceptance or rejection via email by approximately May 23, 2025.

• PIFF does NOT pay rental/screening fees for submitted works which are programmed.

• PIFF will pay RETURN shipping for the film (exhibition copy) within the Continental U.S. ONLY. It is the filmmaker’s responsibility to deliver the film to the festival via the requested method by: May 23, 2025 (Shorts) / May 30, 2025 (Features).

• Selected short films may be programmed to screen either before a feature, as part of a shorts program, at an event, or any combination thereof.

• For Shorts Programs: PIFF creates a master exhibition reel of every shorts program. If your film is selected for a shorts program, final cut must be provided in the form of digital upload (acceptable formats include Apple ProRes (HQ, or LT) 4:2:2 or h.264 HD 1920x1080 Bit rate at least 8mb/s).

Contact email: programming@ptownfilm.org

Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Cory Jacobs

    We couldn’t have had a better experience at Provincetown International Film Festival! Valérie Deus, the shorts programmer, curated the most thoughtful and surprising blocks of shorts. We fell hard for all the other filmmakers. There were always excellent opportunities to gather. The community around this festival is real. We feel beyond grateful to have premiered our first film at this incredibly special festival. Thank you PIFF…we will be back!

    August 2024
  • Olivia Mitchell

    We adored going to Ptown! Wow, we're honored to have been included. Valerie greeted us so kindly on the first day, and ok come on the location is obviously hard to beat..!! We felt the community was close, kind, and the programming was just fantastic. Every film in our block shocked us in a good way...just fresh, sincere, quality films. We can't wait to come back one day. And this time for even longer!

    June 2024
  • This was my second year at the festival and it did not disappoint! Provincetown is one of those hidden treasure festivals that delivers on every level. You couldn’t pick a more idyllic setting for a festival and everyone who runs the festival is so kind and generous. Fantastic programming, epic parties and opportunities to connect with other filmmakers and industry peeps and plenty of options in town to keep you entertained and well fed between screenings! 10/10

    June 2024
  • Lisa Olivieri

    We are so grateful that we were able to have our World Premiere of Recovery City, at this festival. We had two screenings with wonderful q&a discussions. The folks at the festival were extremely helpful and all of the details were easy to navigate. And what could be better than having a World Premiere at this beautiful seaside town? And their lineup of films was incredible!
    Thanks from all of us at Recovery City

    June 2024
  • Patrick A Riviere

    It is clear why PIFF is fast becoming one of the top festivals in the country. The films that are curated into the festival are all stand-outs; the A-listers show up and participate in conversations, screenings and socializing; the festival leadership and staff care deeply about filmmakers (especially shorts and indie film) and the many parties are an amazing way to connect with other filmmakers and industry professionals. Having my sophomore short doc film, Artists at the Edge, make its World Premiere here as part of #piff26 was a dream come true. From start to finish (including excellent communication from programmers, staff and box office) this was the BEST FEST of many I've participated in! If you're lucky enough to get into this festival make sure and get yourself and your team to Provincetown. You'll be happy that you did!

    June 2024