Where visionary storytelling meets a world-class music city.
The 57th Nashville Film Festival will be hosted from September 24–30, 2026, presenting an electrifying celebration of film, music, and culture at some of Nashville’s most iconic arts venues. The festival showcases nearly 150 films from around the globe, alongside captivating Q&A sessions with filmmakers, dynamic industry panels, unforgettable parties, and engaging opportunities to connect with fellow creatives and film fans.
Named by MovieMaker Magazine as one of the top 50 Film Festivals Worth the Entry Fee, the Nashville Film Festival offers a platform for every type of filmmaker to shine with 14 film competition categories, 7 screenwriting competition categories, and a unique pitch competition. With Academy Award®-qualifying status for our Narrative, Animated, and Documentary Short categories, we provide filmmakers a pathway to global recognition and an incredible festival experience. Submit your work, join our community, and be part of one of the most distinctive and celebrated film festivals in the country.
About the 2026 Screenwriting Competition
NOW OPEN FOR ENTRIES!
Since 2014, the Nashville Film Festival Screenwriting Competition has championed exceptional stories for film and television and visionary voices from around the world. Each year, semifinalist, finalist, and winning scripts have gone on to be produced, selected for top film festivals, and even recognized in NashFilm’s own film competition. The competition includes categories in drama, comedy, horror, and genre features, as well as shorts, 30-minute pilots, and 60-minute pilots. To further celebrate regional talent, the competition also honors an outstanding script by a Tennessee writer. We’re dedicated to elevating bold ideas, fresh perspectives, and stories that stay with you long after the last page is turned.
Entry Deadlines
Open for Entries: December 5, 2025
Early-bird Deadline: January 11, 2026
Regular Deadline: March 15, 2026
Late Deadline: April 26, 2026
Extended (FINAL) Deadline: May 10, 2026
Quarter Finalists will be notified by June 30, 2026. Scripts that advance to the semifinal and final rounds will be personally notified. Winners will be announced live at the 2026 Film Festival, but you do NOT need to be present to win.
About the 2026 Film Competition
Open for Entries on January 1, 2026
Founded in 1969, the Nashville Film Festival (NashFilm) is one of the longest-running film festivals in the United States—and the first in the South. We champion bold, independent voices from Tennessee and across the globe, and with Academy Award®-qualifying status for our Narrative, Animated, and Documentary Short categories, we provide filmmakers a pathway to global recognition.
What sets NashFilm apart is our powerful intersection of film and music. Filmmakers can immerse themselves in categories such as Music Documentary Features and Music Videos, alongside panels and conversations that explore how sound shapes story, character, and emotion. In a city built on music, we celebrate the craft of filmmaking through the lens of rhythm, voice, and innovation.
At the same time, NashFilm offers a diverse, thoughtfully curated lineup far beyond music-driven work. From New Directors Features to Tennessee stories, Student-made films, Graveyard Shift Shorts (Horror), and our Oscar®-qualifying Shorts program, we create a home for every type of filmmaker to shine.
The 57th Nashville Film Festival will take place September 24–30, 2026, bringing an electrifying week of film, music, and culture to some of Nashville’s most iconic arts venues. Filmmakers can expect a dynamic showcase of 150+ films across 14 competitive categories, craft-focused Q&As, inspiring industry panels, and countless networking opportunities, including receptions, mixers, and collaborative meetups tailored to creatives. Actors, directors, writers, producers, cinematographers, editors, and composers all converge here to connect, create, and celebrate.
Submit your work, join our community, and be part of one of the most distinctive film experiences in the country.
Entry Deadlines
Open for Entries: January 1, 2026
Early-bird Deadline: March 9, 2026
Regular Deadline: May 11, 2026
Late Deadline: June 1, 2026
Extended (FINAL) Deadline: June 15, 2026
Connect with Nashville Film Festival & see festival highlights on Instagram!
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ABOUT NASHFILM
The Nashville Film Festival (NashFilm) is a globally-recognized non-profit organization and cultural event presenting the best in world cinema, American independent films and documentaries by veteran masters, up-and-coming directors, and first-time filmmakers.
Originally founded in 1969, the Nashville Film Festival is one of the first film festivals in the United States. With Academy Award® qualifying status in our narrative, documentary, and animated short categories, the Nashville Film Festival has screened many award-winning films from around the globe.
In addition to producing one of the top film festivals in the country, NashFilm strengthens and enriches the local community year-round through unique programs, including film education screenings for public school students, a summer film camp for high schoolers, and free outdoor film screenings for locals.
Learn more about NashFilm, a 501(c)3 arts advocacy organization.
