One of the biggest and longest running LGBT film festivals in the country, TIGLFF offers a selection of compelling cinema by, for or about LGBT communities that entertains, empowers, and enlightens the Festival audience.

*Winner - 2011 Creative Loafing Reader's poll Best of the Bay Film Festival

*Named as a "Top 25" public event by the Tampa Bay Business Journal

*Named three times as the "Best Local Film Festival" by Creative Loafing

Awards & Prizes

The Friends of the Festival Fund was established in 2009 through the estate of Alan Ira Dusowitz. This endowment trust helps fund film programming content for TIGLFF. In honor of Alan, TIGLFF will give annual cash awards for Best Emerging Film-maker in the categories of Full Length Feature Film and Short Film.

In addition, we give nominal Audience and Jury Awards in the categories of Narrative Feature, Documentary Feature and Short Film.

Rules & Terms

Film Submission Requirements

1. Films should be of interest to lesbian, gay, bisexual, intersex and/or transgendered people. We are seeking narrative, documentary, experimental and animated films and videos (both features and shorts) on DCP, digital download, hard drive, 35mm and BluRay or DVD if necessary.

2. Vimeo links are preferred for preview screeners.

3. Each submission should be entered separately on FilmFreeway. If you are submitting more than one entry, please complete a separate entry for each submission.
Film Submission Requirements

4. Rough cuts and works-in-progress are eligible for submission if an exhibition copy will be available by July 31st, 2019. Please identify the screener as a “Rough Cut” and specify what is missing (i.e. temp sound, needs color correction, etc). Please be aware that an updated version of your rough cut MAY NOT be able to be re-screened for submission consideration.

5. By submitting your work to TIGLFF, you grant to Friends of the Festival, Inc. a nonexclusive license to use an excerpt of your submission tape of up to two minutes in length, for promotional purposes only, including but not limited to internet and television broadcast.

6. Still photos of your work are requested with your submission and are required for all films selected for the festival. Good stills make a difference in film placement and press coverage, particularly for shorts. Even the shortest short can get press coverage or festival prominence with a captivating still image. If you email stills to us they must be in JPEG format and hi-resolution (at least 300 dpi).

7. You are also encouraged to enclose a synopsis, production credits and press information regarding your film.

5 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Laura Madalinski

    Highly recommend! Very communicative, friendly, and helpful. I was treated exceptionally well by the festival staff and had a lovely time.

    February 2020
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  • Winton Holmes

    We were delighted that our short documentary "Rainbow Voices from Aotearoa New Zealand" was shown at the Festival, enabling these stories from another part of the globe, to be seen in Florida and on a large screen. Wonderful communication throughout. Thanks KJ and the Festival team! Kia Kaha.

    October 2019
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  • April Kelley

    We were thrilled to be a part of this wonderful festival - we only wish we could have been there in person, but their communication throughout to us on the other side of the pond was superb!

    October 2019
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    Response from festival:

    We wish you could have been with us too, April. Treacle was a hit! Thank you for your kind words.

  • Mat Hayes

    LOVED being a part of this festival. KJ was so wonderful and communicative. The volunteers were so warm and engaging. And talk about VENUE! The Tampa Theatre was LEGIT!!! Such a great screening!! Thank you KJ and TIGLFF! Until next time..

    October 2019
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    Response from festival:

    Thank you for coming and for making a wonderful film, Mat! We look forward to the next time. :)

  • kareem ferguson

    I had an incredible time screening my film "GAY BABY" at TGILFF 2019 ... EVERYONE involved were warm and supportive. My point of contact was KJ Mohr (Director of Programming) an amazing lady who answered any question I might have had and even thought of way's to make my time in Tampa even better than I thought. Sunny- Renee - David the whole crew in Tampa are great... This is a must visit festival and screening venue in downtown at the historic Tampa Theater will blow your mind.

    October 2019
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    Response from festival:

    Thank you for your kind words, Kareem. And thank you for coming to Tampa. It was so delightful to meet you... And we love your work!