The camera is rolling on year 15 of the Tyler Film Festival!
Submissions for the 2027 Tyler Film Festival (TFF) opened Thursday, Oct. 1, inviting filmmakers to put their work in the spotlight for a chance to be part of the festival’s next lineup. Over the years, TFF has brought filmmakers and audiences together to experience original stories from East Texas and around the world on the big screen.
From emerging filmmakers to seasoned storytellers, the festival welcomes narrative, animated and documentary films. Entries must be 15 minutes or shorter and completed after Jan. 1, 2026.
Filmmakers can submit in two categories: Short Films and Student Short Films. To qualify for the student category, films must be produced entirely by filmmakers enrolled in grade school or a higher education institution.
The Earlybird Deadline is April 1, 2027, with entry fees of $15 for student films and $20 for other short films. The Regular Deadline is May 1, with fees increasing to $20 for student films and $25 for other short films.
Selected filmmakers will be notified in July 2027. Those selected for the festival receive free admission to see their work on the silver screen during the 2027 Tyler Film Festival on Sept. 17 and 18 at Liberty Hall.
New for 2027, TFF is adding a Best of East Texas award to recognize standout filmmaking from the region. The winning film will receive an $800 prize and trophy.
The festival will present nine awards, including:
- Jury Award / Best of the Festival – $1,000 and trophy
- Best Student Film – $800 and trophy
- Best of East Texas – $800 and trophy
- Best Cinematography – $800 and trophy
- Best Actor – $300 and trophy
- Rising Star – $300 and trophy
- Film with the Most Heart – Trophy
- Funniest of the Fest – Trophy
- Audience Favorite Trophy
Films containing AI-generated visual or audio content are not eligible for submission. This includes AI-generated images, video, animation, voices or music. AI-assisted tools may be used for technical post-production purposes, such as audio cleanup, noise reduction, restoration or mixing, as long as they are not used to generate new creative content.
Filmmakers can review the complete rules and submit their films at FilmFreeway.com/TylerFilmFest.
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