The 27th Annual Woodstock Film Festival (WFF) running October 14-18, 2026 has officially opened submissions for this year. Named by Moviemaker Magazine as one of the “Top 50 Film Festivals Worth the Entry Fee,” WFF is an Oscar®-qualifying festival in Live Action Short, Animated Short, and Documentary Short categories.

Ethan Hawke calls it “a festival that isn't trying to sell you anything, but simply and beautifully celebrating the art & craft of filmmaking.”

This year introduces a new regional category — Made in the Hudson Valley — spotlighting films shot or produced in the region.

Submission Deadlines Include:

March 13 – Earlybird Deadline
May 8 – Regular Deadline
June 5 – Late Deadline
June 12 – FilmFreeway Final Deadline

In keeping with Woodstock’s legacy rooted in art, music, activism, and creative experimentation—submitted films may also be considered for Woodstock Legacy Programming.

If the film explores themes of art or artists (in any medium), music or music videos, experimental work, activism, or environmentalism, the festival asks filmmakers to note this in their application for special consideration.

Film Categories Include:

Narrative Feature – Documentary Feature
Short Narrative – Short Documentary – Animated Short
Student Short – Student Short Animation

Across a range of juried competitive categories, the Woodstock Film Festival offers prizes including:

Best Narrative Feature*
Best Documentary Feature
Ultra Indie Award*
Changemaker Award*
Laurent Rejto Made in the Hudson Valley Award
Haskell Wexler Award for Best Cinematography
Best Narrative Short
Best Documentary Short
Best Student Short
Best Animated Short
Best Editing Award for Narrative & Doc Features
Audience Award for Narrative & Doc Features

*Eligible to receive cash prices.

For more information, please visit our FilmFreeway page: filmfreeway.com/WoodstockFilmFestival.