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 2025!

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.

2025 Raleigh Film Festival TERMS OF ENTERING

• Filmmakers whose films are accepted for the competition will be notified by email by approximately July 21- 31, 2025 *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 2025 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 2025 Raleigh Film Festival Terms of Entry.

Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Had a great time at the Raleigh Film Fest! It was great to connect with other filmmakers both from NC and not.

    November 2024
  • Many thanks to the Raleigh Film & Art Festival for selecting my script, "Christmas Blizz", as this year's Best Screenplay. It was truly a delightful surprise and a great honor. This festival is a wonderful showcase for talented artists in the world of film and visual arts. The team behind the scenes is always very supportive and provides reliable info in regards to the festival. Thank you for supporting independent filmmakers, writers and artists. Highly recommended.

    October 2024
  • Ray Santisteban

    I was not able to attend the festival (so i can't speak about hospitality or networking) but the communication was top notch, with the team responding to my questions very quickly. Hope to be able to attend this event sometime in the future with another film.

    October 2024
  • Naz Sayari Marcum

    Thank you for accepting our short film, Old Enough to Die, for your 2024 festival! I had a great time attending the festival and seeing the movie up on the big screen, as well as some of the other selections. It was an overall wonderful experience!

    October 2024
  • Thank you Raleigh Film & Art Festival for awarding my short film, Plot Development during your 2024 season.

    This is an incredible festival. Though we were unable to attend in-person, the festival organizers made us feel included and celebrated. It was an amazing experience.

    I would definitely recommend this festival to any filmmakers looking to get their work out there.

    Raleigh Film & Art Festival will make you feel welcome.

    October 2024