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Film Festivals in Ohio Calendar

Photo by Steven Van on Unsplash

Film competitions offer filmmakers an opportunity to both showcase their work and network with peers. Many future collaborations were launched in theater lobbies and after parties.

They are also a great way for cinephiles to meet filmmakers, to ask questions and learn more about the craft. Similarly, after parties help loosen up those conversations.

Click through each title to learn more about the festival, how to submit your film and how to get tickets.

MARCH 

Short. Sweet. Film Fest.
March 2 to 8, 2026
Submissions
The Short. Sweet. Film Fest. strives to showcase up and coming filmmakers at the local, national and international levels who strive to advance the art of film.


March 14, 2026

The Youngstown Film Festival brings bold, original cinema from around the world to the heart of Ohio’s passionate arts community. Founded by award-winning filmmaker Adam Michael, the festival showcases shorts and features that think outside the box, with a special award dedicated to uplifting local talent. Screenings take place at The Vault in downtown Youngstown’s historic Chase Tower, creating a unique and inspiring space for filmmakers and film lovers alike.


Over-The-Rhine International Film Festival
TBD 2026

Submissions
The Over-the-Rhine International Film Festival (OTRFF), organized by Living Arrangements for the Developmentally Disabled (LADD), is the nation’s first diversity film festival led by the disability community. OTRFF's mission is to present stories that celebrate the human spirit by providing a platform for audiences to see through another’s eyes. In addition, OTRFF aims to spotlight the Queen City and its role in reframing how we see disability in the entertainment industry’s ongoing discussion of diversity.


APRIL

Cleveland International Film Festival
April 9 to 18, 2026
Submission process
The Cleveland International Film Festival promotes artistically and culturally significant film arts through education and exhibition to enrich the life of the community. (In other words, we present the newest and best films from around the world, and we do everything in our power to make sure that our audience learns something along the way - about other cultures, about the topic at hand, about the experience from the filmmakers themselves.)

Athens International Film + Video Festival
April 13 to 19, 2026
Submission process
Founded in 1974, the AIFVF has been presenting the best in international film for 44 years. Known globally as a festival that supports cinema from underground and marginalized populations, the AIFVF represents the values that we share as a community. It is a champion of justice and provides a voice for underrepresented artists and viewpoints on a global level. For four decades, Athens International has embraced experimental, narrative, short-form, feature length, and documentary films from every corner of the globe, offering filmmakers a stellar platform for public exposure and an environment that values artistry above marquee names and industry relationships. - From the website


Cinema Columbus Film Festival

TBD 2026

Submissions

In celebration of independent film and filmmakers, central Ohio’s premier cinemas and exhibition venues have joined forces, creating the region’s grandest annual film event – a centerpiece of arts and culture in Columbus.


Columbus International Film and Animation Festival
TBD 2026
Submissions
Founded in 1952, the Columbus International Film and Animation Festival is the oldest film festival in the United States. Presented by Columbus College of Art and Design, the festival showcases world-class independent films in central Ohio.


TBD

The Cleveland Italian Film Festival is part of the Italian Film Festival USA, showcasing the local premieres of recent Italian films and short films—all presented in Italian with English subtitles. Held at Case Western Reserve University, the festival celebrates Italian cinema through engaging stories, cultural insight, and artistic excellence.

JULY

TBD 2026
The Canton Palace Theatre Anime Fest will return in 2026. The festival presents anime films, anime and pop culture vendors, Japanese-themed concessions, a cosplay contest, gaming tournaments, and Anime After Party.

AUGUST

The Indie Gathering
Aug. 7 to 9, 2026
Submissions 
The festival's mission is to inspire and encourage independent film makers through a competitive showcase, while presenting a great networking opportunity for anyone involved in the industry.

SEPTEMBER

Cleveland Jewish FilmFest

Sept 4 to 14, 2025
The annual Cleveland Jewish FilmFest is a multi-day festival that often features more than 30 films from around the world. The FilmFest showcases a diverse selection of dramas, documentaries, shorts and television programs that explore, educate, entertain and provoke discussion on the Jewish and Israeli experiences. From dramatic to humorous, the festival presents powerful and award-winning films for all movie lovers.

Sept. 14 and 19 to 20, 2025
The Cleveland Silent Film Festival and Colloquium is a vibrant celebration of the artistry of early cinema, brought to life through live musical performance. Each year, the festival highlights some of the finest works from the silent film era, paired with the talents of acclaimed musicians who specialize in silent film accompaniment. Set across various venues in Cleveland, Ohio—a city with deep roots in both music and film—the festival honors the rich legacy and enduring impact of this unique cinematic tradition.

HorrorHound Weekend Film Festival
Sept. 12 to 14, 2025
Submissions
Committed to spotlighting the best in new independent horror from around the world.

Sept. 18 to 20, 2025
The Cindependent Film Festival, held each September in Cincinnati, showcases independent films from around the world, offering screenings, panels, and networking events. The festival highlights original storytelling while connecting filmmakers, industry professionals, and audiences in a collaborative and creative environment.

Sept. 18 to 26
Submissions
The Greater Cleveland Urban Film Festival (GCUFF) is a premier Midwest event celebrating the voices and visions of independent filmmakers, screenwriters, and actors from the African Diaspora. More than just a festival, GCUFF sparks inspiration and education through curated screenings, engaging discussions, and industry opportunities. 

Sept. 20, 2025
Showcasing horror shorts from diverse Ohio filmmakers, spanning various ages, gender identities, ethnicities, and countries of origin.

Sept. 26 to 28
Submissions
The Maumee Film Festival celebrates the art of creativity, filmmaking and storytelling. It allows aspiring filmmakers the unique opportunity to see their work projected on a movie screen in the iconic and beautiful Maumee Indoor Theater. The festival also celebrates the city of Maumee, a peaceful community situated along the scenic Maumee River in Northwest Ohio.

OCTOBER

Oct. 2 to 5
Submissions
The Yellow Springs Film Festival is an annual celebration of storytelling and performance, featuring narrative and documentary films, shorts, stand-up comedy, and live music. Held the first weekend of October at iconic local venues, the festival also hosts a spring "Mini-Fest" each April to spotlight new films and guest speakers. Rooted in creativity, diversity, and dialogue, YSFF brings artists and audiences together in a spirit of connection and discovery.


Chagrin Documentary Film Festival
October 7 to 12, 2025
The Chagrin Documentary Film Festival is produced annually by Fevered Dreams Productions. Fevered Dreams Productions was originally founded by Chagrin Falls High School Alumnus and filmmaker, David Ponce, as his film production company. David was inspired to tell the story of Sparrow Village, an AIDS orphanage in Johannesburg, South Africa in a documentary entitled “The Lost Sparrows of Roodepoort”. 


Oct. 17 to 20
Submissions
The Nightmares Film Festival is a premier horror and genre event held annually in Columbus, Ohio, renowned for its deep ties to the horror filmmaking community and its showcase of bold, boundary-pushing films. Hosted at the acclaimed Gateway Film Center, the festival offers world-class screenings, expert presentations, and a welcoming space where filmmakers and fans come together to celebrate and elevate the art of horror.


NOVEMBER


Sylvania Film Festival
Nov. 8, 2025
Each spring, Sylvania Arts engages with hundreds of its community members during the annual Tree City Film Festival. The festival was founded in 2012 with a 50 Hour Film Challenge. It has since grown to include Shorties U, a filmmaking workshop for youth, and free community screenings of the Oscar short animation and live action films. 

TBD 2025
Unorthodocs, the Wexner Center’s annual festival of creative nonfiction, spotlights bold, boundary-pushing documentaries. Lineups explore themes like collective action, gaming communities, and resistance, all complemented by appearances from visiting filmmakers. 


Have a film festival to submit?

Write us at midwestmovies@gmail.com.

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