Spotlighting work from filmmakers across the world who defy conventions, champion art and challenge audience expectations through a vibrant and engaging festival.

The Arthouse Film Festival (formerly Austin Arthouse) is excited to announce that our 6th year will be expanding to include pop-up screenings* in cities across the US in addition to our official virtual showcase January 14-20, 2024.

*Official selections are automatically submitted for consideration to our new pop-up screenings.

Awards change yearly to accommodate and celebrate the unique films we screen. Our awards for Year 6 included:
Rowlands Award - Best Actress
Cassavetes Award - Best Actor
Eisenstein Award - Best Editing
Argento Award - Best Cinematography
Godard Award - Best Social Commentary
Gondry Award - Best Surrealist Film
Lang Award - Best Expressionist Film
Kubrick Award - Best Director
Lynch Award - Best Arthouse Film
Audience Favorite Award

2023 THE ARTHOUSE FILM FESTIVAL COMPETITION RULES

Submissions must be accompanied by the applicable submission fee and a completed online entry form. Films must be submitted as an online streaming video via a participating submission platform (FilmFreeway) or a password-protected streaming URL. If you change the password or link after submitting, you must email the Festival at austinarthouseff@gmail.com immediately with that change so we may update accordingly. If the Festival is not notified of the change and the link is found to be inactive or the password to be incorrect, the submission may be deemed ineligible.

The Arthouse Film Festival screens films as digital files only during the Festival. Films must be available for screening during the The Arthouse Film Festival in December 2023. Films selected must be in some way categorized as arthouse or experimental in some way. If accepted, filmmaker agrees to allow The Arthouse Film Festival the liberty to edit beginning and/or ending credits down for the purpose of time as well as use film footage and audio for promotional purposes. The submitter must be entitled to submit the film and the legal rights to screen it. Submission does not guarantee acceptance, The Arthouse Film Festival will select the films for the festival and the submitter will be notified if the film has been accepted. By submitting a film the filmmakers, copyright owners and distribution rights owners agree to have the film screened if selected for the program.

We reserve the right to use stills and images for our promotional material, website, program and press release. Films must be original work. Applicants are solely responsible for obtaining all necessary rights and permissions for third-party materials included in their films, including but not limited to music, trademarks, logos, copyrights, and other intellectual property rights. The Arthouse Film Festival expressly disclaims all liability or responsibility for any violations of the foregoing.

*Music video submissions music must be cleared by musical artists and representatives before submitting to the festival as submission will grant us permission to use music for promotional materials.

**At this time we are not accepting submissions from distributors.

BY SUBMITTING THE MATERIAL, I/WE HEREBY AGREES TO INDEMNIFY, HOLD HARMLESS, AND DEFEND THE FESTIVAL, ITS EMPLOYEES, DIRECTORS, REPRESENTATIVES, AND AFFILIATES FROM ALL LIABILITY, CLAIMS, AND DAMAGES IN CONNECTION WITH THE SUBMISSION AND FROM ANY FEES AND EXPENSES, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO REASONABLE ATTORNEYS’ FEES, THAT ANY OF THEM MAY INCUR IN CONNECTION THEREWITH.

Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • I was honored that my film was a small part of your big festival. Thanks to the organizers of the festival

    February 2024
  • Erik Ta

    One of the best, if not the, online festivals White Gaze has been a part of! Congratulations on a successful finale!

    February 2024
  • Dien Vo

    What a wonderful festival -- and one with some of the best selections I've seen. Giselle and Liz have great taste. They were always very communicative, warm, and supportive. Wishing best to them both! Thank you for including my film in this year's lineup.

    January 2024
  • Scarlet Moreno

    The Arthouse Film Festival is not only super kind and communicative, but always features an exciting line up of films that I was so proud to be a part of! Would definitely recommend submitting.

    January 2023
  • Miro Alleyne-McCarthy

    Great festival with excellent array of films that showcase a wonderful array of talent and curatorial taste. Proud to be selected for SLAY THE BEAST FROM A STATE OF PEACE and really enjoyed watching the other films.

    January 2023