Taos Film Festival 2027: International Animation and Experimental Film Entries, 1 November Regular Deadline
Taos Film Festival in New Mexico, United States, is receiving submissions for its second annual edition, scheduled for 29 April through 2 May 2027. The regular application deadline is 1 November 2026. In addition to conventional narrative and documentary work, its published categories explicitly welcome experimental short films, animated shorts and features, and international films. Unlike many festivals, Taos states that it has no blanket restriction on production date, so a previously completed film may qualify if it meets the other rules.
Experimental, animation and international sections
The Taos Film Festival programmes narrative shorts and features, documentary shorts and features, an experimental short category, international shorts and features, and animation shorts and features. The experimental category can be relevant for artists working with moving-image installation, collage, abstract footage or nontraditional editing, provided their submitted piece functions as a film under the rules. Animation projects should be entered under the appropriate animated format rather than an unrelated regular narrative class. The official organiser page links to detailed individual rules for each section.
Deadline schedule and submission platform
The regular deadline is 1 November 2026, followed by a final deadline on 15 December 2026 and a separate extended window through 15 January 2027. The early window closed on 1 August. Submission fees vary by category and deadline, and residents or productions based mainly in New Mexico may qualify for discounts; the exact current amounts and codes appear in the festival's FilmFreeway rules. Before submitting, read all restrictions on previous screenings, online availability, subtitles and accessibility, and ensure the preview link will remain active throughout judging.
Festival locations, selection and costs
Notifications are planned for 1 March 2027, with screenings from 29 April to 2 May. Organisers list Taos Center for the Arts, Harwood Museum of Art and WildFlower Playhouse among their principal venues. These are cultural settings rather than a purely online contest. International creators should not assume airfare, US visas or accommodation are covered by their entry fee, and should budget separately for any physical appearance or delivery of exhibition-quality copies.
Who organises Taos Film Festival?
Taos Film Festival is presented as a project of the Taos Center for the Arts, a local cultural organisation with film and performing arts programming. The official submission page gives the festival timetable, venue context and the direct FilmFreeway application link. This is the second annual festival, so its track record should not be described as if it were a long-established 30-year award. Applicants can assess previous edition programming before committing their fee.
Official organiser guidelines and application
Information checked on 22 October 2026. Reconfirm deadlines, fees, eligibility and rights on the current official page before entering.