Thin Line Fest is the longest-running documentary film festival in Texas and includes a multi-genre, city-wide music festival and photography exhibition. Thin Line Fest 2025 returns to downtown Denton, the last cool city in Texas, with more opportunities to explore, discuss, and dissect how the mediums of music, film, and photography connect. Curated panels, pop-up visual art installations, mini-workshops, and performances by world-class musicians will complement the film program.

Thin Line Fest explores the liminal spaces– the border spaces and the tension that exists between different places or feelings where harmony and friction, growth and stagnation, and imagery and sound co-exist. Thank you for your interest, we hope you will submit your work.

FilmFreeway is used only for Film/Video submissions. For photography submissions visit https://artcall.org

Awards & Prizes

Cash awards will be fulfilled at the festival (if present), or as soon as possible after the close of the festival. Any award that includes a certificate of credit will be mailed from the award sponsor. These are generally mailed within 2-3 weeks post-festival.

Award eligibility is subject to any restrictions or conditions imposed by applicable laws and regulations (international, federal, state, or otherwise), and the award recipient is responsible for all applicable taxes, customs, tariffs, insurance, and similar charges or costs (if any).

2025 Awards:

--Best Overall Feature Documentary

--Best Overall Short Documentary

--Best Overall Micro-Short Documentary

--Emerging Filmmaker

--Best Cinematic Vision, Feature Documentary

--Best Student Documentary (Documentary film made by a current student, of any age
or level. Submissions in this category will not be considered for any other award)

--Best “Sound on Screen” - A documentary film (feature-length or short) that treats sound, music, or musicians as the subject of the documentary.

--Best Music Video

--Best Local Music Video (DFW-based filmmaker or band)

Rules & Terms

Submission fees are in US Dollars and are non-refundable. Thin Line reserves the right to disqualify a submission, without a refund or credit, if eligibility requirements are not met or if eligibility status changes. Each entry must be accompanied by the appropriate fee. One submission is defined as one film for example. Submission fees may be paid by credit card only (Visa, MasterCard, Discover).

Entrant confirms and warrants required legal authority to submit the entry into the Festival and to use all music, images, and content in the entry. All entrants will be notified by email or phone of their submission status on or around March 3, 2025. Multiple entries are allowed.

We require digital submission materials. Submission materials will not be returned.
If you are selected you must execute a release agreement wherein you (i) accept responsibility for obtaining any clearances necessary to exhibit your film or music at Thin Line 2025; (ii) warrant that you have the rights necessary to exhibit your film or music at Thin Line 2025; and (iii) indemnify and hold harmless Thin Line Fest, its parent company, its affiliates, and subsidiaries and any of their respective directors, officers, employees, and representatives against any claim arising out of an exhibition of your film or music at Thin Line 2025. You must authorize Thin Line Fest to use your selected work for festival promotion purposes.

You must deliver to the festival (i) one exhibition copy of the invited film in requested formats for virtual/in-person venue screening and (ii) any marketing or press materials. All filmmakers are required to participate in live Q & A's following screenings of his/her film. Arrangements can be made for a recorded Q & A if the live Q & A is an impossibility.
Thin Line, at its sole discretion, may invite select films and musicians to participate in the festival.
39 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Justin Wilson

    Excellent festival that communicates in the best way and even offered me a hotel. They host a super fun awards ceremony and I'm so thankful for what they do for Denton and Texas. Cannot say enough good things!

    May 2025
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  • Aaron Hosé

    Excellent communication and friendly staff. Unfortunately, I had to cancel my attendance last-minute. The social media posts proved that it was a fantastic event with cutting-edge photography, music, and films featuring important stories and social issues that deserve attention. With strong support from the Denton community, Thin Line is clearly one of the most important documentary--and cultural--festivals in the South.

    April 2025
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  • Jordan Barclay

    I was honored to be nominated for Best Emerging Filmmaker for my short film SacK Race With Knives. The fest director and staff went above and beyond with providing us what we needed. The Green Room was also super chill, and provided food and drinks for everyone. Networking was amazing, and I made a few long term friends as well. Highly recommend this festival!

    March 2025
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  • Audun Bjerknes

    I had a great time representing my documentary short "A World of Rhythm" at the Thin Line. I experienced great Texan hospitality in the intimate and artistic city of Denton. The music and photography parts of the Thin Line Fest expanded the festival focus to a very inspiring and rewarding cross-disciplinary event. Hope to be back soon!

    August 2024
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  • Festival Formula

    As a festival strategist you're looking for those festivals that know exactly what they want, and this is a great example. We were delighted that they screened our client PASTURE & STORM for their 2024 edition.

    May 2024
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