Ann Arbor Film Festival

Ann Arbor Film Festival

Also known as: AAFF
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The Ann Arbor Film Festival (AAFF) is devoted to experimental film and to work that treats the moving image as an experimental art form, whatever the genre: animation, documentary, narrative, music video and performance-based pieces share its competition. Founded by George Manupelli in 1963, the festival showed only work finished on 16mm during its first four decades and still screens 16mm alongside digital formats; its Off the Screen programme presents expanded cinema performances and moving image installations. Kenneth Anger, Agnès Varda, Andy Warhol, Barbara Hammer, James Benning and George Lucas are among the artists who showed early work here.

Each year more than 100 shorts and features compete for nearly $40,000 in cash and in-kind awards, three of which are on the Academy's list of qualifying awards for the Short Films categories. Through the Pay Artists initiative, launched in 2021, every selected filmmaker receives a screening fee, and a touring programme of shorts travels to cinematheques, universities and museums in the U.S., Canada and Europe. The 65th edition runs 23–28 March 2027 in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Country

United States (USA)

Categories

Animation, Documentary, Experimental, Feature, Music Video, Short

Dates

23 March 2027 — 28 March 2027

Awards and prizes

Nearly $40,000 in cash and in-kind awards each year (film stock, processing, camera equipment rental), decided by a jury of guest jurors. Academy Award qualifying for the Short Films categories (99th Academy Awards list): Ken Burns Award for Best of the Festival, Chris Frayne Award for Best Animated Film, Lawrence Kasdan Award for Best Narrative Film. Other awards (2026): Tom Berman Award for Most Promising Filmmaker; Tom Berman Award for Best Documentary Film; Richard Myers Best Non-Narrative Film; Kodak Cinematic Vision Award; Susan Dise Best Experimental Film; Barbara Aronofsky Latham Award for an Emerging Experimental Video Artist; Barbara Hammer Feminist Film Award; Gil Omenn Art & Science Award; Prix DeVarti for Funniest Film; Terri Schwartz Film Award for Parody and Satire; Eileen Maitland Award; George Manupelli Founder's Spirit Award; CameraMall Best Michigan Filmmaker Award; Lawther/Graff No Violence Award; Best Experimental Animation Award; Best in Dance Film Award; Leon Speakers Award for Best Sound Design; Martin Contreras and Keith Orr \aut\ Award for Best LGBTQ Film; Peter Wilde Award for Most Technically Innovative Film; Terri Schwartz Asian Film Award.

Festival rules

Open to experimental films and to films that demonstrate a high regard for the moving image as an experimental art form, in any genre (experimental animation, documentary, narrative, music video and other forms). - Shorts: 59 minutes or less; Features: 60 minutes or longer. - Work must be completed within the last three years; works in progress are accepted and juried with all other entries. - Films previously submitted may not be re-entered unless the edit has changed significantly. - Entries not in English need English subtitles. - Entries via secure online screening (FilmFreeway) or 16mm print; DVD, VHS and video data files are not accepted for preview. - Entry fees are per film, non-refundable; no waivers or discounts. - Off the Screen (OTS): proposals for expanded cinema performances and installation works, accepted through the regular deadline. - All accepted filmmakers receive a screening fee (Pay Artists initiative). 65th AAFF (2027) deadlines: early 31 July 2026, regular 31 August 2026, late 30 September 2026.

Contacts

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