Tryon International Film Festival

The Tryon International Film Festival (TRIFF) is the principal annual event of the non-profit Polk County Film Initiative, now celebrating its tenth year of operation. Our festival spans multiple screening venues, seamlessly connecting film enthusiasts and artists. Additionally, depending on content, we offer a special evening amphitheater screening that includes live music, delightful culinary offerings, refreshing beverages, and a unique film experience.

Beyond the Festival, TRIFF hosts a wide array of educational sessions throughout the charming town of Tryon. These sessions facilitate valuable connections between filmmakers and students, fostering the development of original voices, inspiring fresh concepts, and encouraging collaboration within the independent film production sphere. Importantly, these sessions are open to the public and free of charge.

TRIFF also features an enchanting gala, held at the new building known as "The Fitzgerald," named after F. Scott Fitzgerald. During the festival operations, we affectionately refer to this building as TRIFF HQ, signifying our festival headquarters. The retail shops, bars, and dining establishments in the area warmly welcome festival-goers.

Plan to immerse yourself in the entire festival experience by staying at one of our exclusive B&B's alongside your fellow filmmakers. Attend your own film screening, participate in breakout sessions, explore the picturesque streets, or unwind in our complimentary VIP lounge located at the heart of the town.

Over the years, our film selection process has evolved due to the influx of high-quality submissions. We meticulously curate films characterized by exquisite craftsmanship in the categories of full-length features, short films, and documentaries. Our festival is also renowned for its Human Rights & Dignity category, a cornerstone performance grouping since our inception.

For the 2024 film season, the Tryon International Film Festival introduces two new performance categories: Best Animation - Full Length and Best Animation – Short Film, alongside the newest addition, the Environmental Awareness or Green category. These categories encompass a wide range of animation styles, including 3D animation, cartoons, puppetry animation, clay animation, computer graphics, and miscellaneous animated films in various styles.

Moreover, in line with TRIFF's dedication to education, we are thrilled to introduce two new categories dedicated to TRIFF student filmmakers, specific to TRIFF education. These categories are named the "AWE Project - High School" and the "AWE Project - College." These additions highlight our commitment to nurturing young talent and fostering a vibrant educational environment within the festival.

A note to filmmakers seeking waivers: While we consider waiver requests, we apply rigorous scrutiny to the reasons provided. Our approach to approving waivers remains conservative.

Special Note: When submitting your film, please ensure you provide all requested information on our form, including a synopsis, the director's bio and headshot, and production shots. Incomplete submissions may not be considered.

Trophies and Awards: Each year, our awards team collaborates with local artists from our community to create exceptional and thoughtful awards. If your film is honored with a performance category award and you are present at the festival, you will receive your award during the ceremony. However, for those winners unable to attend, please note that you will be responsible for the cost of shipping and delivery, given the logistical challenges of sending trophies and awards globally.

Learn more about the Tryon International Film Festival by visiting our website at http://www.tryoninternationalfilmfestival.org or join our Facebook Group: Polk County Film Initiative, Tryon International Film Festival.