Arlington International Film Festival (AIFF) serves as a bridge between the global and the local. We are committed to showcasing films that inspire audiences to be curious, empathic and creative while uplifting underrepresented stories and artists. Through our interconnected programming, learning opportunities, and commitment to cultural exchange, AIFF fosters understanding and creativity for a brighter and more connected world.

In 2014 AIFF was awarded the Community Recognition Award by the Arlington Martin Luther King Committee, in 2013 the Alan McClennen Community Arts Award by the Arlington Center for the Arts and the Gold Star Award by the Massachusetts Cultural Council.

AIFF is open to national and international filmmakers. Many of our selected films have been nominated for Academy Awards; i.e. BOTSO: The Teacher from Tbilisi directed by Tom Walters, Elena directed by Petra Costa, and Documented directed by Jose Antonio Vargas. We Still Live Here directed by Anne Makepeace was chosen by the U.S. State Department to screen around the world and other films have been purchased by CNN, POV, PBS, WGBH, and NOVA.

Awards & Prizes

We will be reworking our awards for 2026 - more info coming soon!

Rules & Terms

AIFF screens local, national and international features and shorts with a focus on our mission of fostering an appreciation for different cultures through independent film.

Feature films, narrative and documentary: 46 min or longer
Short films: 45 minutes or less

The film must be in the original language with English subtitles
Film production must have been completed within the last two years

Exhibition format: Materials can be sent via Dropbox, WeTransfer, or DCP High-Resolution File. The preferred exhibition format for theater screening is DCP.

31 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Jade Dandan Evangelista

    We are sincerely honored that Wetsitales: The Sun and The Moon (Visayas) has been recognized as an Official Selection of the Arlington International Film Festival (USA). We extend our deepest gratitude to the festival for this distinction and for providing a respected international platform that celebrates meaningful and diverse cinematic voices. This recognition is a significant milestone for our team, and we are privileged to present this Visayan story to a wider global audience. We are truly thankful for this opportunity and for the confidence placed in our work.

    June 2026
    Helpful
  • Antonella Spirito

    I wasn’t present so I can’t really review on many aspects but we had very little to no communication with the festival even after emailing them directly (except for the general emails they sent to every filmmaker). I was also following along on social medias and there was very little advertisement of the selected films except for the general schedule.

    November 2025
    Helpful
  • Mikheil Gabaidze

    t was a great honor for me and my team to have our film screened at your wonderful festival. We truly hope that the jury members, the organizers, and cinema lovers enjoyed watching it as much as we enjoyed creating it.

    We sincerely hope that your festival will become a bridge between us and lead to future collaborations and meetings at upcoming festivals.

    Wishing you continued success and inspiration in all your future editions.

    October 2025
    Helpful
  • Dmytro Zavora

    Great Festival, Thanks for including Vita Nova!

    November 2024
    Helpful
  • Brian Silverman

    Our team had a terrific experience at the Arlington International Film Festival. April is extremely organized, supportive, and welcoming. Great job pairing the films for the screening, wonderful theater, and outstanding support from the community.

    December 2023
    Helpful