Thank You, Filmmakers: Celebrating the Incredible Submissions for the 63rd Ann Arbor Film Festival

We are thrilled to announce that over 2,600 filmmakers from more than 90 countries across six continents have submitted their work for the 63rd Ann Arbor Film Festival, set to take place March 25-30, 2025, with online Awards Programs available from March 30 to April 14.

Of these 2,600 submissions, AAFF received 1,198 films from the United States, 174 from the United Kingdom, 167 from Canada, and 109 from Germany. We are also excited to highlight strong participation from France, China, Spain, Switzerland, the Republic of Korea, the Netherlands, Brazil, Belgium, Austria, Australia, and Portugal, among others. Thank you to all the filmmakers for sharing your incredible work with us!

More than 60 festival screeners will review submissions, and the final selection of competition films for the 63rd AAFF will be announced on February 1, 2025. Each year, AAFF carefully selects 100-145 short films and 6-10 feature films for the awards competition. As an Academy Award®-qualifying festival for the Short Films category, AAFF awards over $25,000 in cash prizes to filmmakers, with winners chosen by an esteemed jury.

Most selected works are experimental films, documentaries, and animated pieces that value the moving image as an experimental art form. These films are featured across 15-20 programs, including experimental films from all genres, with special competition programs for LGBTQ-themed films, Animation, and Music Videos. Committed to exceptional quality, AAFF screens films in 16mm, 35mm, and digital formats, ensuring top-notch exhibition for all participating filmmakers.

The AAFF offers additional opportunities for select filmmakers whose work is accepted into the festival. As a pioneer of the traveling film festival tour, AAFF presents a "Best of" shorts program each year, which screens at over 35 theaters, universities, museums, and art house cinemas across North America and internationally. Additionally, AAFF works to promote filmmakers year-round by hosting special screenings, ensuring that participating filmmakers are compensated for each showing of their work.

Dedicated to supporting bold, visionary independent filmmakers, the Ann Arbor Film Festival advances the art of film and new media, engaging communities with outstanding cinematic experiences.