Naples International Film Festival

Named by MovieMaker Magazine as one of the "Top 25 Coolest Film Festivals in the World" in 2019, the 13th annual Naples International Film Festival (NIFF) takes place October 21-24, 2021, in Naples, Florida. Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the 2021 Naples International Film Festival's exact nature has not yet been finalized. Last year's Festival featured a combination of outdoor in-person screenings and secure virtual screenings via Eventive. The health and safety of our patrons, team members, visiting filmmakers and our wider community will always be our top priority. Although we hope to return to theaters, we will continue to comply with guidance from Federal, state and local authorities and explore all exhibition options for the 2021 edition. As part of Artis—Naples, a multidisciplinary arts organization that focuses equally on the visual and performing arts, the Naples International Film Festival is a place for film lovers to connect, exchange ideas and celebrate the art of film in a friendly, welcoming environment. This year we’re thrilled to be awarding over $10,000 in cash prizes, which includes a $1,500 cash prize for our Focus on the Arts award given to a Narrative or Documentary film with an emphasis on one or more of the visual and performing arts. NIFF presents a carefully curated program of over 60 domestic and international narrative, documentary, and short films from established and emerging filmmakers. The opening night film and party traditionally takes place on the Artis—Naples cultural campus, with competition films screening at one of our state-of-the-art partner theaters throughout the weekend. Our community is passionate about film, and NIFF always strives to create a relaxed environment where filmmakers and audiences can truly connect. Whenever possible, we strongly encourage filmmakers to attend the festival, where they will find a warm welcome from our friendly staff, dedicated volunteers, and enthusiastic community. We intentionally keep our program small, which allows us to pay detailed attention to every film in the festival. Filmmakers have always been encouraged to participate in everything from our exclusive filmmaker’s welcome reception to the opening night festivities and more. Our hope is that filmmakers will make lasting relationships during their time in Naples. Since the beginning of NIFF, we have endeavored to foster a spirit of camaraderie among visiting filmmakers, whether relaxing in the filmmaker lounge, attending each other’s screenings, or sitting on a panel together. We strive to build long-lasting relationships with our NIFF alumni and make a point to stay in touch long after the festival weekend has ended. It’s gratifying to watch careers and projects develop, and we always welcome the chance to consider new work from our alumni. Filmmakers are at the heart of everything we do. When you share your film with us, you will be treated with respect throughout every stage of the submissions process. Your emails will be returned, your questions answered and a real, live person will (usually) answer the phone. Thank you for your interest in the Naples International Film Festival. We wish you all the best with your film!