Florida's Premier Independent Film Festival — Celebrating Storytelling Since 2014
Get TicketsJoin us for five days of groundbreaking independent cinema, workshops, masterclasses and networking in the heart of Flagler Beach. From Florida premieres to international shorts, the 2026 program celebrates the boldest voices in filmmaking.
Get Festival Passes Submit Your FilmThe Flagler Film Festival is the premier independent film event on Florida's northeast coast. Since 2014 we have screened more than a thousand films from over forty countries, hosting filmmakers, critics and audiences for five days of cinema each October. Our mission is simple: bring great independent storytelling to Flagler Beach and connect filmmakers with the audiences and industry partners who will champion their work.
The 2026 edition features world and East Coast premieres, a curated selection of Florida-made films, retrospective screenings, industry panels, hands-on workshops and an awards program that celebrates excellence across narrative, documentary, animation and experimental filmmaking.
A documentary exploring the lives of Florida's last remaining fishing families along the Atlantic coast. Directed by Maria Castellanos. East Coast premiere.
A surreal narrative feature about a lighthouse keeper who discovers bioluminescent secrets hidden beneath the reef. Best Cinematography nominee.
An animated short that reimagines Miami's skyline as a living ecosystem. Winner of the 2025 Student Short Award.
A gripping noir thriller set in Tampa's Ybor City. Features an ensemble cast of emerging local actors.
An anthology of three short films tracing immigrant journeys through Florida's agricultural heartland.
A love letter to 35mm cinema. Follows a retired projectionist who opens a micro-cinema in a small Gulf Coast town.
A slow-burn mystery set among Louisiana's moss-draped bayous, shot entirely on 16mm. Official selection, 2026 festival circuit.
A poetic sci-fi short following a repair technician aboard a failing space station as she decides what to save. Best Experimental nominee.
The full program of more than 90 films will be announced in early September, including secret screenings, retrospective titles and a dedicated Florida Showcase strand.
View the Full 2026 Program| Date | Time | Event | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 14 | 18:00 | Opening Night Gala — Neon Tides Premiere | Flagler Auditorium |
| Oct 15 | 10:00 | Student Shorts Block A | Beachside Cinema 1 |
| Oct 15 | 14:00 | Industry Panel: Distribution in 2026 | Conference Hall B |
| Oct 16 | 11:00 | The Salt Wind + Director Q&A | Flagler Auditorium |
| Oct 16 | 19:00 | Midnight Shorts — Horror & Genre | Beachside Cinema 2 |
| Oct 17 | 10:00 | Workshop: Lighting on Location | Studio Pavilion |
| Oct 17 | 16:00 | Roots & Routes Anthology Screening | Flagler Auditorium |
| Oct 18 | 20:00 | Closing Ceremony & Awards | Grand Ballroom |
Full day-by-day programming, including panel times and filmmaker Q&As, is published on the schedule page. Times are Eastern Daylight Time.
Reserve Your SeatsThree-time Sundance winner Carlos Mendez shares his approach to natural-light cinematography on digital and film.
A two-day workshop focusing on structure, dialogue and character arcs for feature-length indie scripts. Limited to 20 participants.
Learn how to create immersive soundscapes on a micro-budget. Includes hands-on foley and ADR sessions.
Programming directors from leading festivals explain what makes a film stand out on the circuit — and how to plan a release around festival play.
An intensive afternoon with casting director Elena Ruiz on auditions, rehearsal technique and building trust on set.
Line producers walk through realistic budgets, incentives and tax credits available to independent productions in Florida.
We accept narrative features, documentaries, shorts, animation and experimental works from filmmakers at every stage of their career. Early deadline: June 15. Regular deadline: August 30. All submitted films are reviewed by our volunteer programming committee composed of filmmakers, critics and educators.
Award categories include Best Narrative Feature, Best Documentary, Best Florida Film, Best Student Short, Best Cinematography and the Audience Choice Award. Winners receive cash prizes, equipment grants and distribution consultation.
| Pass | Price | What's Included |
|---|---|---|
| Single Screening Ticket | $14 | Admission to one screening, any venue |
| Day Pass | $45 | All screenings and panels on a single day |
| Five-Day All-Access Pass | $120 | Every screening, panel, Q&A and the closing ceremony |
| Workshop Pass | $160 | All-Access Pass plus all workshops and masterclasses |
| Student Pass | $60 | All-Access Pass with valid student ID |
Group bookings of ten or more receive a 15% discount. Pass holders get priority entry, reserved seating at premieres and invitations to the opening and closing parties.
Get Your Festival PassThe festival takes place across five venues in and around Flagler Beach: the historic Flagler Auditorium, Beachside Cinema 1 and 2, the downtown arts center and the Studio Pavilion. All venues are within a ten-minute walk of the beachfront, and a free shuttle runs between them every twenty minutes during the festival week.
Flagler Beach is about one hour south of Jacksonville and 90 minutes north of Orlando. Free parking is available at the Flagler Auditorium lot and the Beachside Cinema garage. Accommodation partners offer discounted rates for pass holders throughout October.
Plan Your VisitSubmissions open each January and close in late summer. Narrative features, documentaries, shorts, animation and experimental works are accepted, with separate student categories.
Tickets and full festival passes are available online. Individual screening tickets, day passes and all-access passes can be purchased through the tickets section of this website.
Screenings are held at the Flagler Auditorium, Beachside Cinema 1 and 2, and the downtown arts center, all within easy reach of Flagler Beach.
Most screenings are open to all ages. A small number of late-night titles are marked for mature audiences on the schedule.
Yes, most workshops and masterclasses are open to pass holders. Spaces are limited, so early registration is recommended.
The Flagler Film Festival takes place every October in Flagler Beach, Florida. The 2026 edition runs October 14–18 across five days of screenings, workshops and events.
Yes, the festival includes dedicated student short categories with reduced submission fees and mentorship opportunities for selected filmmakers.
Yes, volunteer applications open each spring. Volunteers receive free access to screenings and behind-the-scenes experience across the festival week.
Free parking is available at the Flagler Auditorium lot and the Beachside Cinema garage, with additional street parking throughout downtown Flagler Beach.
Awards include Best Narrative Feature, Best Documentary, Best Florida Film, Best Student Short, Best Cinematography and the Audience Choice Award, announced at the closing ceremony.
The Flagler Film Festival is made possible by the support of local businesses, cultural partners and a community that believes independent stories deserve a big screen.
The festival brings together independent filmmakers, critics and audiences for five days of screenings and conversation. This overview covers featured films, workshops, venues and the awards program for 2026. The festival program is published annually and updated on this page. Workshop spaces are limited, and early registration is recommended.
All festival venues are accessible and located within easy reach of Flagler Beach. This closing note has been added specifically for the flaglerfilmfestival.com festival page. Notes are kept concise; full details appear under the relevant headings.
Winners are announced at the closing ceremony on the final evening of the festival.
Yes, most feature screenings include a Q&A with the director or cast.
Submissions open each January and close in late summer; full details are listed in the submissions section.
Selected screenings are streamed during the festival week for remote audiences.