The 2026 Film Festival
The Footcandle Film Festival is designed to bring unique, challenging and entertaining films to Western North Carolina every September.
The Footcandle FilmLAB
The Footcandle FilmLAB is an exhilarating 60-hour filmmaking competition held from September 18th to 21st, where creative minds unite in dynamic teams to craft unique short films under intense time constraints. This event pushes collaboration and innovation to the limit, culminating in a public screening where the winning film earns a cash prize, celebrating the art of storytelling and cinematic excellence.
Filmmaker Symposium
Thursday, Sept 24th • Hickory Community Theater, Hickory, NC
Interested in independent filmmaking, but not sure where to start? Join us for the Filmmaker Symposium, part of this year's Footcandle Film Festival! Designed for aspiring filmmakers and creative dreamers, this special session offers real-world insights into the world of independent filmmaking.
In-Person & Online Screenings
Films in competition for the Footcandle Film Festival, selected from hundreds of submissions received throughout the year, will be shown over a three-day period. There will be over 40 films shown over this weekend, with the weekend culminating in an Awards Ceremony on Sunday evening recognizing the best of the films shown throughout the festival.
Scriptwriting Competition
Each year screenwriters from around the world submit their screenplays for consideration in our competition. At Sunday night's awards ceremony a winner from all the entries received will be announced and some selected scenes will be presented in a video clip.
Children's Short Film Showcase
A curated collection of short films from filmmakers of various backgrounds providing young folks an opportunity to learn about the creative art form that is film. The event is free and designed for a younger audience (ages 8 - 14) and their families.
Outdoor Screening
Watch the skies! Experience Close Encounters of the Third Kind the way it was meant to be seen—on the big screen, under the stars. Join the Footcandle Film Festival for an unforgettable outdoor screening of Spielberg's sci-fi classic, filled with mystery, wonder, and a few visitors from beyond.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is the Footcandle Film Festival+
The Footcandle Film Festival is designed to bring unique, challenging and entertaining films to Western North Carolina every September. The festival is being held by the founders and members of the Footcandle Film Society, a 600-member group dedicated to screening and discussing films on a monthly basis. The society was formed in late 2008 by Alan Jackson & Chris Frye. The inaugural film festival was held in September of 2015.
When Will The 2026 Film Lineup Be Announced?+
The 2026 film lineup has been announced! You can see all of this year's selected films on our Film Guide page.
What Are The Awards And Prizes?+
Submissions will be categorized in one of five categories: Narrative Short, Documentary Short, Children's Short, Narrative Feature, or Documentary Feature. At the festival closing ceremonies awards will be given for Best Narrative Feature ($1,000), Best Narrative Short ($750), Best Documentary Feature ($1,000), Best Documentary Short ($750) and Best International Film ($750) as selected by a panel of judges, and five awards selected by festival attendees — Audience Favorite Narrative Feature ($750), Audience Favorite Documentary Feature ($750), Audience Favorite Narrative Short ($500), Audience Favorite Documentary Short ($500), & Audience Favorite Children's Short ($500).
When and Where Can I Buy 2026 Festival Tickets?+
You can purchase individual tickets to specific film screenings and events, or buy a festival pass that gives you access to everything. Browse what's playing on the Schedule and Film Guide, or get an all-access pass on the Passes page.
This project has been supported in past years by the Arts Culture Catawba through the North Carolina Arts Council, a division of the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, with funding from the State of North Carolina from the National Endowment for the Arts.