Timing festival submissions is half the job. Miss a deadline by a day and you're waiting another year. This is your current state of Texas festival submissions — what's open, what's closed, and when the next windows open.
Updated: March 21, 2026.
🔴 OPEN RIGHT NOW — ACT FAST
Austin Film Festival (AFF) — Film Competition
Festival dates: October 29 – November 5, 2026 | Austin, TX
The AFF early bird deadline is in six days.
| Category | Early Bird (Mar 27) | Regular (Apr 24) | Late (May 27) | |----------|--------------------|--------------------|----------------| | Feature Film | — | — | — | | Documentary Feature | — | — | — | | Short Film (narrative, doc, animated) | Cheapest rate | Mid rate | Higher |
Film eligibility: Completed after January 1, 2025. Films must be available for screening during the festival (Oct 29–Nov 5). Previously submitted films may be resubmitted if eligible. No fee waivers.
→ Submit: filmfreeway.com/AustinFilmFestival
Austin Film Festival (AFF) — Script & Teleplay Competition
⚡ EARLY BIRD DEADLINE: March 27, 2026 — 11:59 PM CDT — 6 DAYS AWAY
AFF's screenplay competition is one of the most respected in the world. Winners get the bronze typewriter, industry meetings, and — more practically — actual career traction. Studios, agents, and executives use AFF as a talent-scouting mechanism. Winners are announced October 31, 2026; semifinalists and finalists are notified by mid-September.
| Category | Early Bird (Mar 27) | Regular (Apr 24) | Late (May 27) | |----------|--------------------|--------------------|----------------| | Feature Screenplay | $60 | $70 | $90 | | Short Screenplay / Teleplay | $50 | $60 | $75 | | Fiction Podcast | $40 | $45 | $50 | | Playwriting | $25 | $25 | $35 |
Blind judging. All entrants can opt in for free reader comments. Second Rounders, Semifinalists, and Finalists get exclusive conference access and discounts.
→ Submit: austinfilmfestival.com/about-aff-script-competitions/
Lone Star Film Festival (LSFF) — Fort Worth
Submission deadline: August 21, 2026 (upcoming — submissions currently open)
Fort Worth's independent cinema showcase, organized by the Lone Star Film Society (329 S. Main Street, Fort Worth). Not an imminent deadline, but open now. If your film is ready and you want DFW visibility, get it in early.
Also runs the Johnny Langdon Film Education Initiative — screenwriting, documentary, and film theory workshops; high school film camps.
→ Submit: filmfreeway.com/LoneStarFilmFestival
Austin International Film Festival (AIFF)
Deadline: April 15, 2026 (extended final deadline)
Separate from AFF. Smaller, rolling submission cycle.
Rolling deadlines (all passed except final): Oct 15 → Nov 15 → Dec 15 → Jan 15 → Feb 15 → Mar 15 → Apr 15 (extended final)
→ Submit: filmfreeway.com/AustinIFF
🔵 FESTIVAL IN PROGRESS
Dallas International Film Festival (DIFF)
Festival dates: April 23–30, 2026 (currently in notification phase; festival in about 5 weeks)
DIFF's 2026 submission cycle closed December 31, 2025. Notifications went out March 3, 2026. The 20th anniversary edition runs at Cinépolis Luxury Cinemas Victory Park, Texas Theatre, and Virgin Hotels Dallas.
Oscar-qualifying awards: Grand Jury prizes for Best Animated Short, Best Documentary Short, and Best Narrative Short. If your short is selected, you're in the Academy conversation.
Next submission cycle for DIFF 2027: Expected to open June 2026.
→ Watch: diffdallas.org
✅ CLOSED FOR 2026 CYCLE
SXSW Film & TV Festival
Festival ran March 12–18, 2026. Austin.
Submissions for the 2027 cycle are expected to open in late July 2026.
→ Mark your calendar: sxsw.com
Denton Black Film Festival (DBFF)
Festival ran January 28 – February 8, 2026. Denton.
Submission deadline for the 2026 cycle was November 7, 2025. The next cycle (for the 2027 festival) will open in summer 2026.
The largest Black film festival in Texas and the Southwest. Also runs year-round educational programming through the Denton Black Film Festival Institute.
→ Watch: dentonbff.com
USA Film Festival — Dallas
Submission deadline was December 31, 2025. One of Dallas's longest-running festivals.
→ Watch: usafilmfestival.com
🟡 UPCOMING — WATCH FOR OPENS
Houston Cinema Arts Festival (HCAF)
Festival timing: November 2026 (annual)
Important caveat: HCAF is a curated festival and does not accept open submissions. The artistic director works with advisors and partner organizations to solicit films. You cannot submit through FilmFreeway.
To pursue HCAF consideration: build relationships with the Houston Cinema Arts Society directly. The festival focuses specifically on films by and about visual, performing, and literary artists.
Highlight: The Space City Short Film Competition — space/science-themed shorts judged by NASA employees, filmmakers, and programmers, with winners selected by Richard Linklater. This is one of the most distinctive short film competitions in the country.
→ Contact: cinemahtx.org
SXSW Film & TV Festival 2027
Submissions expected: Late July 2026
Start developing now. SXSW's Texas Short Competition, Texas-rooted narrative categories, and Oscar-qualifying short film awards make this the single most important Texas festival submission. The application window closes early October — don't wait.
→ Watch: sxsw.com
Texas Festival Quick Reference (2026 Cycle)
| Festival | City | Open Now? | Next Deadline | Oscar Qual? | |----------|------|-----------|---------------|-------------| | Austin Film Festival (film) | Austin | ✅ Open | Mar 27 (early bird) | No | | Austin Film Festival (scripts) | Austin | ✅ Open | Mar 27 (early bird) | No | | Lone Star Film Festival | Fort Worth | ✅ Open | Aug 21, 2026 | No | | Austin Int'l Film Festival | Austin | ✅ Open | Apr 15, 2026 | No | | Dallas International (DIFF) | Dallas | 🔵 In festival (Apr 23–30) | ~Jun 2026 (next cycle) | Yes (shorts) | | SXSW Film & TV | Austin | 🔴 Closed 2026 | ~Jul 2026 (2027 cycle) | Yes (shorts) | | Denton Black Film Festival | Denton | 🔴 Closed 2026 | ~Summer 2026 | No | | USA Film Festival | Dallas | 🔴 Closed 2026 | ~Dec 2026 | No | | Houston Cinema Arts Festival | Houston | Invitation only | Curated | No |
Mark These Dates
6 days from now:
- March 27 — AFF Early Bird deadline (film + scripts). After this date, you pay more.
Coming up:
- April 15 — AIFF extended final deadline
- April 23–30 — DIFF 2026 (20th anniversary)
- April 24 — AFF Regular deadline
- May 27 — AFF Late deadline
- August 21 — LSFF deadline
- Late July — SXSW 2027 submissions open
- October 29–November 5 — AFF festival
- November — Houston Cinema Arts Festival
This calendar will be updated when new deadlines are announced. All dates verified against official festival sources as of March 21, 2026.
Sources: AustinFilmFestival.com, Texas Film Commission hotline, FilmFreeway, DIFF Dallas, LoneStarFilmFestival.com, cinemahtx.org (HCAS), sxsw.com