Thin Line Fest is a blend of documentary film and multi-genre music in 2022. Texas' International Documentary Film Festival since 2007 and one of Dallas / Fort Worth's largest music festivals since 2014. The 15th Annual Thin Line Fest is March 23 - 27, 2022.

We are very excited to announce that Thin Line will award nearly $35,000 in cash and prizes at this year's festival including large awards to the Best Feature and Short Documentary, Emerging Filmmaker and Best Domestic or International Documentary.

Thin Line Fest will give your documentary our undivided attention during the review process. We review documentaries on any topic, of any length, shot on any format, and completed in any year. We want relevant stories with compelling characters and told in a creative way. We want to review your mockumentaries, docufictions and other hybrid forms of documentary. We love films with an uplifting message, or about overcoming adversity, about music or art, or with great characters. Regardless the topic, we want to watch it!

Thin Line Fest is a multi-format festival focusing primarily on two artistic areas in 2022: documentary film and multi-genre music. We love crossover opportunities and if your film includes a way to be included for music programming, let us know. We also want to know about any Texas connection. Please include this information in your cover letter.

Thin Line Fest is set in Denton, Texas, a progressive community with two universities. The music scene is one of the best in the country with plenty of places to catch a jazz ensemble or an indie rock band around town. Films screen virtually and at local venues in 2022. Music performances are anticipated as live experiences in 2022.

Thin Line Fest had the privilege of hosting two virtual festivals over the past 20 months, and both times we delivered a unique online festival experience unmatched throughout the pandemic. While we are over-the-moon about returning to our traditional venues, we are also committed to delivering an innovative virtual experience in 2022. The key to our success is that we only live stream our events. Nothing is available for download or as on-demand content. This is huge for security because it means that your content is only available while it is live streaming from the festival venue! We use industry-standard security protocols for our live streams and all viewers must first register as a festival attendee. We can also implement geo or viewer-count restrictions if required. Your content plays live on stage at the festival while we simultaneously stream the show to our virtual attendees.

Just like our festival, all streaming events are free; attendees only have to register online. Whether a film screening or a musical performance, online attendees will be able to interact with each other and in some cases with the filmmakers and artists. This creates a community experience for both in-person and online attendees around a live festival event! I hope you will join us!

Awards & Prizes

Unless otherwise agreed by the Festival in writing, awards will be fulfilled approximately 10-14 weeks after the close of the festival. Any award that includes a certificate of credit will be presented at the Award Ceremony.

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).

2022 Awards listed in the below Festival sections are subject to change.

Best Feature Documentary - Best Short Documentary
The overall best feature and short documentaries will be determined by a jury. Only films pre-selected by the festival programming committee will be eligible for this award. The winner will be chosen based on the following characteristics: 1. Be technically and creatively well-rounded and consistent. 2. Contain innovative elements that utilize the array of directorial decisions and creativity including, but not limited to: interview techniques (if there are interviews), narrative flow (traditional or not), overall style and approach to subject matter, as well as interest and importance of the content, subject, and people or things involved in the film. 3. Judges will NOT judge based on personal beliefs about the subject matter itself or any ethical concerns privately held by any one jury member. Feature winner will receive a $15,000 credit with Panavision. Short winner will receive a $5,000 credit with Panavision.
Sponsor: Panavision
Award Value: $15,000, $5,000

Emerging Non-Fiction Filmmaker
This award will go to the documentary filmmaker that shows the most promise for a successful career. Typically this would be a first-time feature filmmaker but it could also be a filmmaker that has a larger body of short film work.
Sponsor: Panavision
Award Value: $5,000

Best Domestic/International Documentary
This award matches the criteria of the Best Feature Award. If the Best Feature is awarded to an International film then this award will be given to the Best Domestic Documentary. If the Best Feature is awarded to a Domestic film then this award will be given to the Best International Documentary.
Sponsor: Panavision
Award Value: $5,000

Denton Award
The Denton Award is a $500 cash or cash value prize for the best feature or short documentary with a 'connection' to Denton County, Texas. A 'connection' can be any tie-in related to the People, Places, and Spirit of Denton County. Here are a few clear-cut examples: the filmmaker was born or currently resides in Denton County, the film's main character was born in or currently resides in Denton County, or the film features a Denton County location or individual city/community. Here are a few not-so-clear-cut examples: the film uses Denton County locations but they aren't featured or identifiable, the film's subject matter deals with a topic or issue currently affecting the people of Denton County, or the film's subject went to school in Denton County. All of the above examples would be eligible for this award. The criteria are meant to be broadly applied; but if you have a question send us an e-mail.
Award Value: $500

Best Student Short Doc Award
The Best Student Short Doc Award is based on the same criteria used in the Thin Line Best Documentary Award except it only applies to short documentaries which are labelled as a Student project in your submission. Student projects are only eligible for student awards.
Award Value: $500

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).

NOTE: Students get 50% off submission fees. Your submission must be flagged as 'student' and your submission profile must include a photo/copy of your student ID. Any issues email info@thinline.us.

-Student works are accepted.
-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 e-mail or phone of their submission status on or around
February 18, 2022.
-Multiple entries are allowed.
-Make sure to tell us any special info about you or your submission. Some key points could be that you are a Texas-based artist. Or does your work have anything to do with the University of North Texas, Texas Woman's University, or Denton County?
-We prefer 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 and all clearances necessary to exhibit your film or music at Thin Line 2022; (ii) warrant that you have the rights necessary to exhibit your film or music at Thin Line 2022; 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 exhibition of your film or music at Thin Line 2022.
-You must authorize Thin Line Fest to exhibit your selected work during the 2022 festival.
-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 & As following screenings of his/her
film. Arrangements can be made for a recorded Q & A if the live Q & A is an impossibility.

Invited Works/Artists

-Thin Line, at its sole discretion, may invite select films and musicians to participate in the festival.
28 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Robin Rosenthal

    This year was our second time bringing a film to Thin Line. We were honored to screen Mariposas del Campo among so many terrific films and filmmakers. Director of Film Programming Susan Davis is an amazing communicator from beginning to end. She and the festival staff are so warm and welcoming, making sure everyone meets each other and has a rocking great time in Denton. Although the theaters were large and comfortable, we did miss the old screening venue on the historic Courthouse Square, where there were more walkable options in close proximity to all the great food, drink, and music that Denton has to offer, providing more options for filmmakers to hang out together.

    May 2022
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  • Dinnie Martin

    Message from the director, Laurier Fourniau :
    Such an awesome cinematographic, musical and human experience ! I was coming from France and the whole festival crew has been very welcoming. I absolutely loved my time at Thin Line.

    April 2022
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  • Fer Delgado

    It was a great experience. I couldn't attend because of the dates, but Susan and its team kept all the time the communication clear and simple and give us opportunity to share our thoughts with the audience and other participants through different channels. It was really an amazing experience eventhough our paticipation was online.

    April 2022
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  • Nick Canfield

    Thanks to all the Thin Line staff for putting on a fantastic festival. They work hard to bring filmmakers to the festival and make it a well run and fun experience. We had a great screening of our film The Reverend and were honored to receive the Best Domestic Feature Award. The music component was excellent too, thanks for bringing Reverend Vince & The Love Choir down for a rocking show.

    April 2022
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  • Holly Morris

    Was wonderful to participate in this Fest. Susan Davis is terrific!

    April 2022
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