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Event History

Founded in 1963, the Ann Arbor Film Festival is the oldest avant-garde and experimental film festival in North America.

What Makes this event different?

The six-day festival presents 40 programs with more than 180 films from over 20 countries of all lengths and genres, including experimental, animation, documentary, fiction, and performance-based works. Thousands of influential filmmakers and artists have exhibited early work at the AAFF, including Kenneth Anger, Brian De Palma, Agnes Varda, Andy Warhol, Gus Van Sant, Barbara Hammer, George Lucas, Les Blank, Matthew Buckingham, and James Benning.

The Ann Arbor Film Festival is open to experimental films as well as films that demonstrate a high regard for the moving image as an experimental art form, no matter the genre. Each year the AAFF selects 100-145 shorts and features for exhibition in the awards competition portion of the festival.

• Films previously submitted may not be re-entered unless there has been a significant change to the edit. Later versions of a film may be reviewed and/or selected at the programmer's discretion.
   
• Short and feature-length entries are accepted.
   
• Short films run no longer than 60 minutes. Feature films run 60 minutes or more.
   
• Entries not in English should have English subtitles.
   
• Works in progress may be submitted, but are juried in the same pool as all other submissions.
   
• Work must be contemporary - completed within the last three years.
   
• Entry fees are per film entered, and must accompany the entry form for confirmation. Entry fees are non-refundable.
   
• Make checks and money orders payable to the Ann Arbor Film Festival.
   
• The Ann Arbor Film Festival does not give waivers or discounts.
   
• Entries are accepted via secure online screening and 16mm only. We do not accept DVD, VHS or video data files for screening purposes.
   
• 16MM
  • If you would like the festival to preview a 16mm print of your film, please contact the festival directly at submissions@aafilmfest.org to make arrangements.

The Final Deadline is September 30, 2021

CATEGORIES & FEES​

Shorts - films that the filmmaker deems to be experimental with a runtime less than 60 minutes. $60

Features - films that the filmmaker deems to be experimental with a runtime of 60 minutes or longer. $70

 

FESTIVAL AWARDS
​
The AAFF offers approximately $22,500 in both cash and in-kind awards each year.

In addition to conferring prestige and financial support, an AAFF award can also qualify filmmakers for an Oscar® Nomination by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in the short film category.

Qualifying AAFF awards include the Ken Burns Award for Best of the Festival, the Chris Frayne Award for Best Animated Film, the Lawrence Kasdan Award for Best Narrative, and Best Experimental Film.