Longleaf Film Festival

A free-to-attend festival that highlights the best of independent film in a place that strives to tell the stories that connect us all—this is Longleaf. Our weekend festival screens films that demonstrate a Tar Heel State connection, through the people involved in making them or through their subject. The North Carolina Museum of History serves as home base for Longleaf Film Festival. As we enter year eight in 2022, Longleaf continues to grow, even though, due to COVID-19, Longleaf 2020 and Longleaf 2021 became a series of online and live-streamed events. Still, through our community of filmmakers and film fans, we were able to promote the art and craft of filmmaking and the passion of film to viewers in Raleigh, the Triangle, and beyond. Looking Forward, Again Longleaf Film Festival seeks to reflect the diversity of talent and imagination that exists throughout the filmmaking world and—as a place that helps tell the stories that connect us all—we believe that the North Carolina Museum of History, our host, is in a unique position for showcasing those films. Throughout our short history, we have been grateful for the impactful stories regarding race and community that have been told in past festivals. We strongly believe that the art and craft of filmmaking help connect us and offer avenues for insight, as well as entertainment. We want to share your stories—all of your stories: animated, documentary, and narrative films, music videos, spoken word productions, and web series. To help in our small way, we want to provide easier access to Longleaf for everyone; so, as in 2021, we are again waiving fees for directors who identify as Black, Latinx, or Indigenous—we can do so with help from many caring folks. Their support also means that, for 2022, Longleaf will be able to offer recognition to the best films made by historically underrepresented filmmakers (see the prize list, below, for details). Contact co-director Sally Bloom, sally.bloom@ncdcr.gov for a waiver. Waivers MUST be requested before submission and all other submission requirements apply. It is our intent and dearest hope that we can have an in-person festival on May 13 and 14, 2022, at our home base, the North Carolina Museum of History—following all guidelines from the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services regarding COVID-19. If an in-person event is still not feasible, we will pivot to a virtual program as necessary.