Submit your film to the 2026 Denton Black Film Festival
Ready to amplify your voice and share your vision? Whether you’re just starting out or a seasoned pro, the Denton Black Film Festival is your stage. For over 10 years, DBFF has been a launchpad for creatives, offering a vibrant platform to screen bold, brilliant, and culture-shifting stories.
Our annual festival isn’t just about film—it’s a full creative experience. From engaging panel talks and virtual events to music, comedy, and spoken word showcases, DBFF connects your work with audiences both local and global.
This is your moment. Submit your film now on FilmFreeway and be part of a celebration of storytelling and community.
We are accepting entries for:
- Narrative Features
- Documentary Features
- Short Films- Narrative and Documentary
- Web/Episodic Series
- Texas Short Screenplays – Proof of Residency required with entry (See acceptable documents in rules and terms on FilmFreeway)
- Original Music Videos (No Covers Please)
- College Students – Required proof of School Status with Entry (Copy of dated ID or transcript)
- Texas High School Students- Required proof of School Status with Entry (Copy of ID or letter on school letterhead)
The regular deadline is October 4, 2025 with the extended (final) deadline October 24, 2025. For submission rules and terms, visit filmfreeway.com. Questions? Contact us via email at dbfffilmmaker@gmail.com
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Texas College Students Use Code 26DBFFTXCOLLEGE for a 20% Discount
Texas High School Students submit free with waiver code 26DBFFTXHS – limit of 2 films per person
DBFF Alumni Filmmakers receive a 20% discount on the fee. Contact us at dbfffilmmaker@gmail.com for the code.
Waivers are not available for competitive entries and are only available on a limited basis for Invitational consideration.-
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By submitting your project, you confirm that you have read and agreed to fully comply with all the entry rules and regulations.
GENERAL COMMUNICATION
If your contact information changes after submission, notify us at dbfffilmmaker@gmail.com. Please include a phone number for time-sensitive updates (your number will not be shared). If selected and we cannot reach you, your film may be removed from the lineup.
Film Submissions Elgibility
Filmmakers of all races and ethnicities are welcome to submit if ONE of the following is met:
1. The film is written, directed, or produced by a Black filmmaker
2. The film prominently features Black actors
3. The subject matter relates to the Black community or Black experience
Submission Guidelines
• Open to U.S. and international entries
• Non-English films must have English subtitles
• To be eligible for competitive awards, films must have been completed after January 1, 2023. Projects completed prior to this date may be considered for an invitational screening.
• Films that have been commercially distributed are not eligible for the awards program, but may be considered for an Invitational screening
• Only films submitted via FilmFreeway with a paid fee and an online screener (YouTube or Vimeo preferred) are eligible for the competitive awards program. Films invited outside of the submission process are considered non-competitive and are not eligible for awards.
• Works-in-Progress Policy- All works-in-progress must receive advance approval from DBFF prior to submission. To request approval, please contact us at dbfffilmmaker@gmail.com. If submitted without prior approval the project will not be considered for inclusion in the festival.
• Alumni may request a discount code at dbfffilmmaker@gmail.com
• Selected films must be delivered in the required format by the specified deadline
• Student submissions (College or Texas high school) must include proof of student status. If not received, the submissions may not be included in these categories or for any residency based awards.
• Include press kits, trailers, and promotional materials in your FilmFreeway submission
• Submitters affirm the work is original and free of copyright or ownership disputes
• Submission fees are non-refundable, and withdrawal requests are subject to DBFF approval
Liability & Reproduction Agreement
DBFF is not responsible for damages, data loss, or third-party claims involving copyright, music, credits, or trademarks. 3 minutes of the film may be used as promotional assets and for marketing.
Texas Short Screenplay Submissions Eligibility
Screenwriters of all races and ethnicities may submit if ONE of the following is met:
1. The primary writer is Black
2. The screenplay features prominent Black characters
3. The subject matter relates to the Black community or experience
Submission Guidelines
• Primary writer must be a Texas resident -Proof must be provided by one of the following, dated within the past 12 months and showing your name and a Texas address. Failure to provide valid documentation may result in disqualification from residency-based awards.
Texas Driver’s License or State ID
Utility Bill
Lease or Mortgage Statement
Student ID with Enrollment Verification
Voter Registration Card
• Scripts must be original and unproduced
• Submitted by the writer or one team member with consent from co-writers.
• No edits or missing pages accepted after submission
• Awards go to the submitting writer; co-writers are credited
• Entry fees are non-refundable, and withdrawal requests are subject to DBFF approval
Recommendation
We recommend registering your script with the U.S. Copyright Office or Writers Guild of America (WGA) before submitting.
Liability & Reproduction Agreement
DBFF is not liable for damages or third-party claims. Submission grants DBFF permission to use up to 3 minutes of accepted screenplays and related materials for festival promotion.
FAQs
A: No. DBFF does not have a premiere status requirement. While it’s always exciting to be the first to screen a film in our area, we also recognize that powerful stories deserve to be seen by wider audiences—regardless of whether they’ve screened elsewhere. If our team considers a film worth showcasing, premiere status is typically not a deciding factor in our selection process.
A: All submissions that adhere to the festival’s rules and terms are reviewed by multiple members of our programming team. Each film is evaluated based on both artistic and technical merit, using the following criteria:
Content & Creativity: Direction, plot/structure, and character performances
Technical Aspects: Cinematography, editing, sound, musical score
Entertainment Value: Overall watchability and audience engagement
When two films are comparable in quality and impact, additional merit may be given to works that emphasize Black narratives, Black history, or cultural identity.
For Texas Short Screenplay submissions, reviewers consider:
Format, concept, plot, theme, style, structure, setting/atmosphere, conflict, pacing/continuity, characters, and dialogue.
Final selections—for both films and screenplays—are based on several factors, including team members’ ratings and recommendations, as well as the ability to build a cohesive and diverse program that fits within our schedule and appeals to our audiences.
Notification Timeline:
Final notifications will be sent no later than December 3, 2025, though we anticipate beginning notifications in mid to late November.
A: Competitive Awards at the Denton Black Film Festival are determined through a combination of internal review and external industry evaluation. After the programming team selects finalists based on submission ratings and recommendations, an independent panel of industry professionals evaluates those finalists. A ranking system is then used to determine the award recipients. In the event of a tie, the programming team’s original ratings and comments may be considered to help finalize the decision.
Note: For Original Music Videos and Texas Short Screenplays, a single qualified industry judge is responsible for determining the award winners.
Competitive award categories vary each year but may include:
Best Narrative Feature
Best Documentary Feature
Best Narrative or Documentary Short
Best Original Music Video
Best Texas Short Screenplay
Honors for Texas-based and student filmmakers
Outstanding projects are recognized during the festival with a range of awards, which may include camera packages, cash prizes, trophies, certificates, laurels, and other honors.
Note: Only films in the competitive program are eligible for awards. Invitational films—which are curated by DBFF based on theme or quality and may already be in distribution—are not award-eligible and have limited screening slots.
For the Virtual Program, People’s Choice Awards are determined through audience voting and presented to the top-rated films in each category. All films in the competitive program are eligible for this recognition. People’s Choice winners receive laurels, a digital certificate, and—most importantly—bragging rights.