DCIFF brings together passionate artists, filmmakers, critics, curators, and film enthusiasts for a celebration of independent filmmaking. Like previous festivals, we continue to be an essentially volunteer-run festival. All submissions fees support festival programming.
The 2027 festival is entirely in-person in Washington, DC. Acceptance into DCIFF 2027 assumes your attendance and active involvement in the festival experience.
DCIFF, the oldest independent film festival in Washington DC running since 1999, has been a FILM FORUM since 2022 ( a competitive film festival with in-depth conversations around film, filmmaking and animation) with a storied history of presenting extraordinary films. We showcase cutting edge features, animation, experimental, shorts, and documentaries on every subject, from every country, and with every budget imaginable. Our mission is to forward films and careers and we are thrilled with the success of our alumni.
