Nevada City Film Festival: Submissions Are Open for 2026 Season

Reimagining the Film Festival Experience: Where Story, Innovation, and Imagination Meet

This June 26–28, the historic streets of downtown Nevada City, CA come alive as we launch a new kind of festival experience — part festival, part symposium, and part think tank. Our goal is to create a space where filmmakers, artists, and audiences come together not just to watch films, but to exchange ideas, spark collaborations, and reimagine the future of cinema.

This year, we’re shining a special spotlight on animation and the artists who bring imagination to life. At a moment when technology — especially AI — is transforming the creative landscape, we believe it’s more important than ever to celebrate the human touch, the artistry, and the storytelling power that animators bring to the screen.

From screenings and panels to intimate dinners, hikes, and late-night gatherings under the stars, the festival will be a hub of creativity, conversation, and inspiration.

Who Should Submit

If you’re an animator or filmmaker who believes in the power of art to move, connect, and innovate — this is your invitation. Come share your work, your ideas, and your voice as we build a festival that doesn’t just showcase films, but helps shape the future of filmmaking itself.

Professional, student, and amateur filmmakers are invited to submit short films in a variety of genres including, but not limited to, documentaries, animation, narrative, comedy, multi-media, experimental, and music videos.

Submission Timeline:

January 9, 2026 - Early bird Deadline

February 6, 2026 - Regular Deadline

March 6, 2026 - Late Deadline

March 27, 2026 - Extended Late Deadline

April 10, 2026 - Notification Date

June 26 – 28, 2026 - Event Date