The Raleigh Film & Art Festival is the largest film and art festival in the state of North Carolina. A premier fun and exciting creative experience and a wonderful exploration of the arts. Featuring an amazing mixture of wonderfully curated films and live entertainment. This three-day event includes unique venues showcasing filmmakers, painters, tattoo artists, jewelry makers, fashion designers, live music, spoken word, playwrights, panels/seminars, and networking. At top rated NC State University the largest in North Carolina.

We take the screening process very seriously. Members of our programming team watch every single film, and films are considered and discussed by the staff before a final decision is made.

Submissions are viewed at least once by a staff-level member of the RFAF programming team in addition to members of our volunteer screening corps, comprising film industry professionals, filmmakers, avid moviegoers, film students, longtime festival submissions screeners and Oscar Academy Members.

RFAF is the place to be for creators and appreciators to see the best talent of 2024!

Awards are given for the following competitive categories:

RFAF Quasar Award
This award was created to support the next generation of emerging directors.

Juried Awards:
Best Short,
Best Mid-length
Best Feature Film
Best New Music Video
Music Video Of The Year
Best Animated
Best Experimental
Best Documentary
Best Cinematography
Best Special Effects
Best Playwright (Short Scripts )
Best Student Film
Best Movie Poster
Best Trailer
Artist Of The Year (Visual)
Best Spoken Word Performance
Best Scene in a Movie
N.C. Film Premier Event (N.C. filmed specific a $5,500 value)

Jury award prizes vary from year to year as sponsorship allows but typically includes goods, services, or awards. Winners also gain the opportunity for distribution.

2024 Raleigh Film Festival TERMS OF ENTERING

• Filmmakers whose films are accepted for the competition will be notified by email by approximately July 21- 31, 2024 *Extended to August 11th*. All the privileges due to filmmakers will be specified in this correspondence.

• All filmmakers with a film in competition will receive a VIP pass, giving free access to all events and screenings (subject to availability) at the Festival. These passes are non-transferable and must be worn at all times in a clear view. Passes are not sent by mail but must be picked up in person at the designated Festival site.
• Raleigh Film Festival promotes the schedule of screenings via media including newspapers, emails, television, and radio. Raleigh Film Festival encourages filmmakers to help promote their films by promoting their screening(s) to industry professionals, distributors, the press and the general public.
• For entries selected to the 2024 Festival, an exhibition print or video of the film in the proper format ( or File (MP4 or MOV (H.264)). Failure to comply with technical specifications may result in the removal of the film from Festival competition.
• Filmmakers may not install banners or posters at the theaters without the official authorization of the Raleigh Film and Art Festival.

***all entry fees are non-refundable***

Exhibiting filmmaker (“Exhibitor”) represents and warrants that:

1. All persons who are featured in the film have given unrestricted permission for use of their images, words, and performances, waiving or assigning to Exhibitor all rights including but not limited to copyrights and moral rights.

2. To the extent any pre-existing material is used in the film that is not original to Exhibitor, except brief clips of video and/or audio material used only to the extent reasonably necessary for purposes of public criticism, commentary and documentary reporting relevant to the thesis of the film, Exhibitor has obtained unrestricted permission from all rights holders for use of the material in the film and for display and performance of the film or any portions thereof in any and all venues and media, including for promotional purposes.

3. To the extent any remaining rights relating to the film are owned by third parties, Exhibitor warrants that Exhibitor has all rights and permissions necessary to permit the showing of the film at the Raleigh Film Festival (a program of Artist Christopher Terrell Inc referred to hereinafter, collectively, as “Raleigh Film and Art Festival”) and any other events sponsored by Raleigh Film and Art Festival at which Exhibitor agrees or has agreed the film may be exhibited, and for use of excerpts or portions thereof in any and all venues and media, including for promotional purposes.

4. All materials submitted to Raleigh Film and Art Festival are otherwise the original work of Exhibitor (and its employees, if any), and not of any third party.

5. The exhibitor has a good and marketable title to the entire submitted work. Exhibitor shall indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Raleigh Film and Art Festival from any and all liability, loss, costs, damage, judgment, or expense (including reasonable attorneys fees) resulting from or arising in any way out of any such claims by any third parties that are based upon, or are the result of any breach of the warranties in this Exhibition Agreement.

By completing the online entry form, the Exhibitor constitutes his/her full and complete acceptance of the terms hereof and that Exhibitor has read and complies with the 2023 Raleigh Film Festival Terms of Entry.

Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Jim Ford

    I was pumped my short film, A BOAT TIME screened here. The festival was Knot too Shabby! The venue and people were all ferry impressive!

    February 2024
  • Dave Harlequin

    It was such an honor to have our film included among such a great lineup at such an outstanding festival. Will definitely be submitting again and again!

    December 2023
  • Miranda Jacoby

    Thank you so much for screening my animated short "In Search Of Birds" at the Raleigh Film & Art Festival. It was an honor to win Best Animated.

    Enjoyed the curation in the animation and experimental films screening.

    October 2023
  • Such a quality event run by great people. We will definitely be back.

    October 2023
  • William Lilly

    We had a fantastic time at the festival and there was an awesome variety of films and artists on display...from first-timers their cellphone to professional cinema cameras and lighting. With the inclusion of art and poetry, it was a true celebration of entertainment from all walks of life.

    October 2023