Submit your film to the 2027 Denton Black Film Festival
Entering its 13th year in 2027, the Denton Black Film Festival (DBFF) is the largest Black film festival in Texas and the Southwest, celebrating Black culture and storytelling through film, music, spoken word, comedy, and more. DBFF welcomes filmmakers and creatives from around the world whose work reflects the richness, diversity, creativity, and complexity of Black experiences, cultures, and communities.
Following an impactful 2026 festival season filled with meaningful storytelling, sold-out events, filmmaker conversations, and unforgettable cultural experiences, DBFF continues to provide a vibrant platform for artists, audiences, and community to connect through the power of storytelling. We invite you to share your story and #ExperienceCulture at the 2027 Denton Black Film Festival.
This is your moment. Submit your film now on FilmFreeway and be part of a celebration of storytelling and community.
Why Filmmakers Love DBFF
DBFF offers filmmakers more than screenings — it provides opportunities for cultural connection, audience engagement, professional visibility, and meaningful festival experiences.
Selected filmmakers have experienced:
• Screenings in theatrical cinema venues with engaged audiences
• Filmmaker Q&As and audience conversations
• Awards Celebration and filmmaker recognition event
• VIP filmmaker hospitality experiences
• Networking mixers and industry connections
• Panels, workshops, and educational sessions
• Virtual festival exposure and audience voting opportunities
• Live performances, art exhibitions, and cultural programming
Filmmakers have shared that participation in DBFF has led to valuable industry connections, additional screening opportunities, and distributor interest in their projects. DBFF creates a festival experience designed to celebrate filmmakers while building meaningful connections between artists, audiences, industry professionals, and community.
We are accepting entries for:
• Narrative Features
• Documentary Features
• Short Narrative Films
• Short Documentary Films
• Original Music Videos
• College Student Shorts
• Texas High School Student Shorts
• Texas Short Screenplays
Benefits For Selected Participants
Selected filmmakers and screenwriters receive access to an exciting festival experience that have included:
• Two VIP Experience Festival Passes
• Filmmaker and industry networking opportunities
• Access to filmmaker panels, workshops, mixers, and festival events
• Discounted hotel accommodations
• Discounted festival passes and tickets
• Complimentary screening tickets for selected filmmakers
• Live table reads for selected screenplay finalists
• Awards Celebration recognition and festival honors
Additional prizes, awards, and recognitions may be announced.
Awards & Prizes
The Denton Black Film Festival proudly celebrates excellence in filmmaking, storytelling, and artistic achievement through a competitive awards program honoring outstanding films and filmmakers. Awards and recognitions may include:
• Cash prizes
• Trophies
• Certificates
• Official laurels
• Audience Awards
• Additional prizes, honors, and special recognitions
New for 2027, DBFF will introduce In-Person Audience Awards in select categories, allowing festival attendees to vote for favorite films during the live festival experience. Virtual People’s Choice Awards will continue for eligible films participating in the Virtual Festival. Award winners and honorees may also receive recognition and promotional support across
DBFF festival, media, and social platforms.
Awards & Prizes
If your contact information changes after submission, please notify DBFF at dbfffilmmaker@gmail.com. If selected and we are unable to contact you, your project may be removed from the festival lineup. Please include a phone number
Film Submissions Eligibility
All filmmakers are welcome to submit if ONE of the following is met:
1. The film is written, directed by, or produced by a Black filmmaker
2. The film prominently features Black actors or stories
3. The subject highlights history, culture, and heritage of the Black community.
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, 2024. 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
All screenwriters are welcome to submit if ONE of the following is met:
1. The primary writer is Black
2. The screenplay features prominent Black characters
3. The subject highlights history, culture, and heritage of the Black community.
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 require premiere status for submissions. While DBFF values the opportunity to introduce films to audiences within our region, the festival recognizes that meaningful and impactful stories deserve to reach audiences beyond a single screening or premiere.
Programming decisions are based primarily on storytelling, artistic vision, technical execution, cultural resonance, and overall fit within the festival program.
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:
We anticipate beginning notifications in mid to late November.
Programmed at the discretion of the festival. Invitational screenings are non-competitive and are not eligible for juried awards or
competitive consideration. Filmmakers are encouraged to carefully review all submission requirements and provide
complete and accurate materials at the time of submission. Incomplete submissions or
missing requested information may impact a project’s eligibility or consideration.
All films and projects submitted for competitive consideration must be submitted with the
appropriate entry fee. DBFF screening alumni may request a discount code for eligible submissions by contacting dbfffilmmaker@gmail.com.
A limited number of invitational films may be programmed at the discretion of the festival.
Invitational screenings are non-competitive