Find Your Route Through Cinema
Welcome to the Tucumcari Film Festival – where every story is a journey and every filmmaker finds their path.
As we celebrate Route 66's 100th anniversary and America's 250th birthday, our "Find Your Route" theme invites you to explore the countless paths that define the American experience. From the frontier spirit that built our nation to the modern dreamers still chasing horizons, we showcase films that capture every route of the human journey.

Your Cinematic Journey Awaits
Navigate through our diverse film categories: visionary science fiction, heartfelt comedies, authentic westerns, and powerful documentaries. Each genre represents a different route through storytelling, celebrating both our frontier heritage and boundless imagination.
Born as the Tucumcari Rawhide Days Film Festival, we began by honoring classics like Rawhide and the southwestern tales that shaped our identity – from lawless frontier towns to the free-spirited beatniks who made Route 66 legendary. Today, we've expanded our route to welcome storytellers from every corner of the globe.

Our festival showcases professional and amateur works from international, national, and local New Mexico filmmakers. Every category offers awards, recognizing the unique routes filmmakers take to bring their visions to life.

Join the Journey
Workshops: Help us map the educational routes you'd like to explore. Share your workshop ideas on Facebook or message us directly.
Sponsors & Partners: Ready to fuel the adventure? Email FilmTucumcari@gmail.com to discover your sponsorship route.
Volunteers: Be part of the journey behind the scenes. Contact us here or on Facebook to find your volunteer path.
Find your route. Share your story. Celebrate the journey that is uniquely yours.

Awards & Prizes

Official Selection of the Festival
Best of Category
Best of Show, (Judges Choice)
Audience Choice

Sheriff's Star
The Sheriff's Star is awarded in recognition of films that tackle deep social and political issues, thereby providing a guiding light for all of us. This award is given by the choice of the Sheriff (Director) of the festival

Rules & Terms

TUCUMCARI FILM FESTIVAL SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

How to Submit
- All entries must be submitted through FilmFreeway
- Foreign language films must include English dubbing or subtitles
- Entry fees are non-refundable
- No premiere requirements or completion date restrictions apply

*Please note: As our festival continues to grow and evolve, scheduling may change without prior notice.*

Content Standards
To maintain our family-friendly atmosphere, we cannot accept films containing:
- Nudity or pornographic content
- Excessive violence or brutality
- Extreme profanity
- Graphic gore (bloodless action sequences are acceptable)

Selection Process & Notification
- Our selection committee reviews all submissions
- Selected films will be announced on or around April 17th, 2025
- All filmmakers will receive email notification of their submission status
- The festival does not provide rental or screening fees

Technical Requirements
**Odeon Theatre:** DCP 2K Scope format preferred
**Railroad Depot:** Vimeo or YouTube links accepted with download link possible please.

*Need DCP conversion? We recommend services like AutoDCP.com*

Student Submissions
Students must provide valid student ID with their submission.

Terms & Conditions
By submitting your film, you confirm that:
- Your work is cleared for festival screening
- You accept full legal responsibility for all intellectual property
- You grant permission to screen your film at the Tucumcari Film Festival

**Legal Protection:** Submitters agree to indemnify and hold harmless the Tucumcari Film Festival, its partners, and associated entities from any claims related to copyright, trademark, publicity, or damages.

**Awards:** While your presence at the festival is greatly appreciated, you don't need to attend to receive awards. Please let us know if you plan to attend so we can arrange festival passes for you.

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*Ready to share your story with us? We can't wait to see what you've created!*
23 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • H James Gilmore

    What a welcoming and friendly small film festival! Great communication and a fun Zoom awards ceremony for those of us that couldn’t get to Tucumcari. I really wish we could have attended, because I live funky small towns. My only suggestion is to announce selections earlier so more filmmakers can arrange to attend.

    May 2026
    Helpful
  • WANDA CRAMER

    Thank you to the good folks at Tucumcari for the recognition of DIED TWICE. We were disappointed not to be able to attend in person! Hope to see you next season!

    May 2026
    Helpful
  • Peter Reddoch

    It was a privilege to have our film, Roswell, Where?, included in this year’s Tucumcari Film Festival. Screening at the Tucumcari Railroad Depot Museum provided a perfectly authentic and historic atmosphere for a documentary that honors the deep roots of New Mexico's legacy.
    We are incredibly honored to walk away as the People’s Choice Award winners—a testament to the incredible engagement the festival fosters between filmmakers and the community. Receiving an Honorable Mention as well was a fantastic addition to a great weekend. The organizers have built a wonderful platform for regional storytelling, and the support from the local audience was truly overwhelming.
    I highly recommend this festival to any filmmaker looking for an intimate, high-engagement experience. Strongtower Ventures looks forward to returning to Tucumcari for future cycles.

    May 2026
    Helpful
  • Dr. Gregory McWhorter

    We were thrilled that our film, Sanguine Deposit, was selected to screen at the Tucumcari Film Festival. They had great communication and seem like wonderful people. Even though our film did not win an award, we felt like winners in just being selected. We hope they continue to grow and have much success on their future festivals.

    July 2025
    Helpful
  • Paulo Fajardo

    A festival with a big heart. Good communication and pioneering spirit. I loved the experience. Thank you very much.

    June 2025
    Helpful