"Exquisite taste in an exquisite place... this festival just keeps spotting great talents on the rise. It’s a near-perfect start-of-summer festival." - MovieMaker Magazine, 50 Film Festivals Worth the Entry Fee 2023

The Provincetown International Film Festival is dedicated to showcasing new achievements in independent film and honoring the work of emerging as well as acclaimed directors, producers, and actors. Taking place in America's oldest art colony, PIFF continues a long tradition of supporting and connecting artists by providing easy networking opportunities and access to filmmakers and industry in one of the most culturally rich and naturally beautiful towns on earth.

Now in its 26th year, PIFF has established itself as the largest cultural event on lower Cape Cod, attracting over 10,000 film-goers, movie buffs, and arts patrons. This festival showcases over 100 US and international independent narrative, documentary, and animated features and shorts as well as panel discussions and special events. PIFF welcomes audiences and supporters, new and seasoned, young and old, to a quality showcase of emerging films, enticing events, informative panels, special programs, and exuberant celebrations.

Awards & Prizes

All accepted films are eligible for the Audience Awards presented to Best Narrative Feature and Best Documentary Feature.

The Provincetown International Film Festival (PIFF) is proud to announce that The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences® has named the Provincetown International Film Festival (PIFF) as a qualifying festival in the category of Short Films. Winners of the PIFF Best Narrative Short Film, Best Documentary Short Film, and Best Queer Short Film awards may qualify to enter the Academy Awards® for the concurrent season, provided the films otherwise comply with the Academy rules.

Juried Award categories include:
• John Schlesinger Awards (presented to a first-time narrative and documentary feature filmmaker)
• Best Narrative Short Film (Academy Award® Qualifying)
• Best Documentary Short Film (Academy Award® Qualifying)
• Best Queer Short Film (Academy Award® Qualifying)
• Best Animated Short Film
• Best New England Short Film
Honorable Mentions bestowed at the discretion of PIFF jury.

Honorary awards include the Filmmaker on the Edge Award given to a film artist whose outstanding achievement, innovation and vision continue to push the boundaries of the medium throughout their body of work.
Past honorees include: Bruce LaBruce, Luca Guadagnino, Richard Linklater, John Cameron Mitchell, Sean Baker, Sofia Coppola, Ang Lee, David Cronenberg, Darren Aronofsky, Guy Maddin, Quentin Tarantino, Todd Solondz, Gregg Araki, Mary Harron, Jim Jarmusch, Todd Haynes, Gus Van Sant, Christine Vachon and John Waters.
Excellence In Acting Award recipients include: Billy Porter, Tilda Swinton, Molly Shannon, Chloë Sevigny, Gael Garcia Bernal, Alan Cumming, Vera Farmiga, Patricia Clarkson, Dale Dickey and Judith Light.
Past Next Wave Award honorees include: Julio Torres, Megan Stalter, Bowen Yang, Jenny Slate, Chloë Grace Moretz, Jillian Bell, Aubrey Plaza, Mya Taylor, and Natalie Morales.

Rules & Terms

The Provincetown International Film Festival (PIFF) is dedicated to showcasing independent US and international films, offering a full program of full-length and short films curated by an established programming team, with submissions reviewed by a dedicated screening committee. If you are interested in submitting your work, please read all the information below and follow the instructions.

• PIFF shows narrative, documentary, and short films in DCP and BluRay.

• Film must have been completed after January 1, 2023.

• Multiple titles may be submitted by an entrant. However, each title requires its own separate entry form and entry fee.

• All accepted films are eligible for the Audience Awards (presented to Best Narrative Feature and Best Documentary Feature). Other award categories include the John Schlesinger Award (presented to a first time narrative and documentary feature filmmaker), Jury Awards for Best Short Documentary Award, Best Queer Short Film, Best Narrative Short, Best Animated Short, and Best New England Short (as well as Honorable Mentions bestowed at the discretion of PIFF jury).

• Feature films may not have been released theatrically, or be available via streaming or online to the public prior to the festival.

• ONLY online preview copies are accepted for submissions.

• Be sure to upload photos, stills and press kits or include a web link. If your work is selected, photos will be used for promotion and for the PIFF website and catalog.

• Acknowledgment of receipt of your entry will be made by via FilmFreeway. You will be notified of acceptance or rejection via email by approximately May 24, 2024.

• PIFF does NOT pay rental/screening fees for submitted works which are programmed.

• PIFF will pay RETURN shipping for the film (exhibition copy) within the Continental U.S. ONLY. It is the filmmaker’s responsibility to deliver the film to the festival via the requested method by: May 17, 2024 (Shorts) / May 31, 2024 (Features).

• Selected short films may be programmed to screen either before a feature, as part of a shorts program, at an event, or any combination thereof.

• For Shorts Programs: PIFF creates a master exhibition reel of every shorts program. If your film is selected for a shorts program, final cut must be provided in the form of digital upload (acceptable formats include Apple ProRes (HQ, or LT) 4:2:2 or h.264 HD 1920x1080 Bit rate at least 8mb/s).

Contact email: programming@ptownfilm.org

15 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Sasha Korbut

    One of my all-time favorite film festivals. Can't recommend it enough.

    October 2023
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  • Loi Huynh

    Beyond grateful to be part of the festival. Great opportunities lay here!

    August 2023
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  • Andrew Chappelle

    This film festival is practically perfect. It's filmmaker centered and has several parties for you to meet the other creatives in town. They have a well stocked hospitality suite that is wonderful for cooling off between screenings and enjoying a glass of Rosé if you like. They also provide bikes! The several venues make the festival memorable and exciting. If you are lucky enough to get selected, try your hardest to attend!

    June 2023
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  • Joan Cassin

    I could not have asked for a better festival to have premiered our short film at. The quality of service, the venues, the town itself, and the community of people that came together to make it all happen were an absolute dream.

    I got so much out of our experience as a filmmaker. This one will be hard to top!

    June 2023
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  • Ernest Anemone

    It is everything you could ever want from a film festival. The staff and the volunteers somehow transform an already-stunning seaside town into something even more beautiful. Their hard work creates an atmosphere that feels both well-organized yet also relaxed, and that allows filmmakers of all background and experiences to enjoy each other's work but also their company. In terms of programming, you will not only find the best of the best from other festivals but also many hidden gems that are thoughtfully curated to both entertain and inspire you often in surprising ways. You have to attend this festival at least once in your life to see what a film festival should be.

    June 2023
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