Las Vegas Film Festival Opens 2027 Call for Entries, Announcing Distribution Awards and Expanded New Media Categories

The 2027 Las Vegas Film Festival, January 14–21 at Brenden Theatres, opens submissions for features, shorts, documentaries, TV, video podcasts & vertical media.

LAS VEGAS, NV, UNITED STATES, August 26, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ -- The Las Vegas Film Festival announced today that submissions for its 2027 festival will officially open Friday, August 28, inviting filmmakers and independent creators from the United States and around the world to submit their work for consideration.

The 2027 Las Vegas Film Festival will take place January 14–21, 2027, at Brenden Theatres at the Palms Casino Resort as the Festival’s official host venue. Across eight days, the Festival will present a curated program of independent, contemporary, and international cinema screenings alongside filmmaker appearances, industry programming, competitive awards, and special events around Las Vegas.

A Multi-Format Call for Entries

Submissions will be accepted across a broad range of narrative and nonfiction storytelling. In a move reflecting the rapidly shifting media landscape, categories include U.S. and international feature films, documentary features, short films, animation, student films, television and web series, music videos, video podcasts, vertical narratives, and digital-first work.

“Great storytelling is no longer defined by a single format or screen,” said Tom Ingram, Festival Director of the Las Vegas Film Festival. “We want the Las Vegas Film Festival to be a place where an independent feature filmmaker, a documentary director, a short filmmaker, or an emerging digital creator can bring exceptional work and have it taken seriously.”

$100,000+ Grand Prize Distribution Packages and Cash Awards

To offer immediate, tangible opportunities for independent creators, the 2027 Festival will present jury, audience, and regional awards across its competition programs. More than $10,000 in cash prizes will be awarded across selected categories.

Additionally, the festival is introducing four Grand Prize Distribution Awards valued at up to $25,000 each, providing winning creators with guaranteed theatrical exhibition and distribution opportunities. Grand prize structures include theatrical distribution packages for narrative and documentary features, a theatrical showcase for award-winning short films, and a dedicated showcase for selected video podcasts.

Through the Festival’s official partnership with streaming platform IVOX+, along with other streaming and theatrical distribution partnerships, Official Selections will also be considered for worldwide digital exhibition and expanded distribution following the event.

“Las Vegas is the entertainment capital of the world, so we want this festival to mean something real to filmmakers,” said Louie Comella, Executive Director of the Las Vegas Film Festival. “The traditional festival circuit too often doesn’t lead to commercial distribution anymore. We want to provide more than just a screening, a trophy, and a PDF laurel. By connecting the event directly to theatrical exhibition and streaming, we are bridging the gap between independent film and actual audience reach.”

How to Submit

Submissions for the 2027 Las Vegas Film Festival open Friday, August 28, 2026. Filmmakers, podcasters, and digital creators can submit projects directly through FilmFreeway and Festhome.

The Festival will announce its first wave of Official Selections and programming schedules in the months leading up to January. Tickets and Festival passes for the 2027 Las Vegas Film Festival will go on sale on September 15, 2026.

About the Las Vegas Film Festival

The Las Vegas Film Festival is an international cinema event from the entertainment capital of the world. The Festival showcases independent, contemporary, and international cinema, bringing together filmmakers, audiences, and industry professionals through screenings, premieres, filmmaker appearances, panel discussions, special events, and awards. The 2027 Las Vegas Film Festival takes place January 14–21, 2027, at Brenden Theatres at the Palms Casino Resort and venues throughout Las Vegas.

www.LasVegasFilmFestival.com

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Louie Comella - Executive Director
Las Vegas Film Festival
press@lasvegasfilmfestival.com
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