Year 10 is Going to Be Big!

November 11-14, 2026 | Kilgore, Texas

The Reel East Texas Film Festival is turning 10, and we’re planning our biggest celebration yet! Join us in historic downtown Kilgore, Texas, for three unforgettable days of films, community, and creativity.

Dedicated to showcasing independent filmmakers, REEL East Texas celebrates storytelling in all its forms, from powerful features to groundbreaking shorts, inspiring documentaries, and bold student films.

Located in the heart of the East Texas Piney Woods, Kilgore is unlike any other town in Texas. Its wildcatter spirit and workman mindset perfectly reflect the heart of independent filmmaking. With its signature skyline, authentic downtown, and towering pine trees, Kilgore offers a cinematic Texas backdrop that filmmakers and audiences alike fall in love with.

All screenings take place at the iconic Texan Theater and the 4 Star Cinema, two historic Kilgore landmarks that bring together state-of-the-art projection and classic Texas charm. Beyond downtown, visitors can explore the Texas Museum of Radio & Broadcasting, the East Texas Oil Museum, and the Rangerette Showcase, rounding out a true East Texas cultural experience.

City events, parties, mixers, and custom-tailored activities make the Reel East Texas Film Festival a must-attend event for filmmakers and film lovers alike.

A festival hosted by filmmakers for filmmakers, RETFF is all about connecting audiences, creators, and industry professionals in celebration of artistic and independent spirit.

Year 10 is coming, and it’s going to be big. We’ll see you November 11-14, 2026, in Kilgore, Texas!

Best Student Film (high school)
Best Student Film (college) | Documentary
Best Student Film (college) | Fiction
Best Actress (feature and short)
Best Actor (feature and short)
Best Contest Screenplay | Comedy (feature and short)
Best Contest Screenplay | Drama (feature and short)
Best Festival Screenplay | Comedy (feature and short)
Best Festival Screenplay | Drama (feature and short)
Best Cinematography (feature and short)
Best Dance Film (shorts only)
Best Director (documentary and fiction)
Best Animated (feature and short)
Best Comedy (feature and short)
Best Documentary (feature and short)
Best Drama (feature and short)
Best Dramedy (feature and short)
Best Horror (feature and short)
Best Foreign Film (feature and short)
Best Music Video
Best Science Fiction (feature and short)
Best Western (feature and short)
Best Texas Film (feature and short)
REEL People’s Choice Award "Audience Favorite" (feature and short)
REEL Jury Award "Best of Festival" (feature and short)

All films must be the original work of the filmmakers and all filmmakers must have the necessary rights. The festival is not liable for any rights issues.

Films of all lengths (short & feature) and all genres (family, animated, comedy, drama, sci-fi, action, horror, documentary, foreign, music video) are welcome to submit.

Screenplays (features and shorts) of all genres are welcome to submit. Screenplays must be non-produced as of the date of the film festival. (November 7, 2024)

Screener films should be submitted on digital file (Mov, Mp4). NO DVDs, BluRays or hard drives. Please do not send us any hardware.

Films in language other than English must include English subtitles.

No feedback on submissions can be given.

The Filmmaker understands and accepts that they do not participate in receiving any funds from the Box-office proceeds which are fully retained by the festival to help cover the overall cost of the festival presentation. It should be noted for the record that box-office proceeds never cover the cost of presentation of the Features and Short Film Programs. The Festival (RETFF) is a non-profit, 501-C-3 Educational/Cultural Organization with Federal, State, County & City Tax-Exemptions.

We're filmmakers, too. It feels great to get an acceptance letter, and it hurts when we don't make the cut. We look forward to sending out this year's good news to select entrants, but we won't be mailing rejection letters: if you don't hear from us this time around, no worries -- keep at it, and start preparing your entry for next year's festival.

From the Lawyers: All participating filmmakers release the festival (RETFF) from any and all liability for submissions. Entrants understand the submitted materials will be securely-held by the festival; every effort will be made to protect and control access for viewing. RETFF assumes absolutely no liability for theft, violations of copyright or piracy of submitted content.

Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Leon Gisclair

    The festival was absolutely phenomenal! The staff was extremely welcoming and encouraging to all of the filmmakers. Great for networking, enjoying good movies, and making memories!

    December 2025
  • I was told Reel East Texas FF was a good one and it exceeded my expectations. Saw so many good films, so many chances to network and talk with other filmmakers, treated like royalty, and it seems the entire town loved having us there. Will definitely submit again. And Chip was such a great communicator, which is such an important value for me.

    December 2025
  • This Festival is a filmmaker's heaven. The films were amazing and even Networking with likeminded people. Thank you for accepting our film and my screenplay! You should definitely submit your films here!

    December 2025
  • We were honored to have our short film, A Thousand Paper Cuts, as an official selection at REEL East Texas. Unfortunately we weren't able to attend the festival in-person but the communication and friendliness of the organizers were top notch. Hope to attend in the future!

    December 2025
  • Marlene Morris

    We were thrilled to have From Here/From There (De Aquí/De Allá) included in the REEL East Texas Film Festival lineup. RETFF is truly a filmmakers’ festival—Chip and his team go out of their way to ensure every film is showcased with care. They’re organized, communicative, and genuinely attentive to filmmaker needs.

    I loved connecting with fellow filmmakers and the wonderful Kilgore community. Come enjoy the charm of this small East Texas town—and relax knowing you’ll be met with real East Texas hospitality.

    November 2025