2023 Call For Entries Are Closed

Mark your calendar to attend the festival March 26-29, 2023.

Films Announed March 1, 2023

Kansas City FilmFest International 2023 will be 4 days of in-person events and screening

Four days of independent films from around the country and the world!
100 + narrative and documentary shorts and features
All topics, and in addition, film tracks on CinemaJazz, Women Directed Films, Latin Cinema, Black Voices Matter, Alternate Stories, World Cinema, and more
Filmmaker panels, seminars, virtual filmmaker check-in
Audience Choice award & nine juried awards selected by film professionals from across the U.S.
Engaged, enthusiastic, arts-oriented audiences
Each year the festival builds on its tradition of bringing inspiring, thought-provoking, and entertaining films to Kansas City audiences and offers opportunities for artists and filmmakers to network, and develop their craft and art.

Over 95% of our films see one or more filmmakers attend with their films. Our visiting filmmakers let us know how much they’ve enjoyed screening for, and interacting with, our engaged and enthusiastic audiences! Final jurors for Kansas City FilmFest International 2023 will come from a selection of industry professionals in filmmaking, distribution, film media, and festival programmers.

Kansas City FilmFest International is the longest running and largest film festival in the Kansas City Metro Area. It’s presented and governed by the Kansas City Filmmakers Jubilee, a nonprofit arts organization, which debuted its first film festival in April 1997.

FilmFreeway Awards & Prizes:

Narrative Short ($250 prize)
Narrative Feature ($500 prize)
Documentary Feature ($500 prize)
Documentary Short ($250 prize)
Heartland College Student Short($150 prize)
Heartland Highschool Student Short ($150 prize)
Rick Cowan Rick Award for Best Cinematic Heartland Film Locations ($500 prize). (Films must have been at least partially shot in Missouri or Kansas to qualify. Included location details in submission form.)
Best Actor in a Narrative Feature Film
Audience Choice Award for Narrative Feature (is voted on during the festival by audiences)
Audience Choice Award for Documentary Feature (is voted on during the festival by audiences)
Fred Andrews Emerging Filmmaker Award with ($500 prize)
Heartland Filmmaker Award- May be awarded by Programming for an outstanding feature if the filmmaker currently resides in Missouri or Kansas, was born in Missouri or Kansas, or the film was shot in Missouri or Kansas

Kansas City FilmFest International Over the Years!

a woman taking an interview of a little girl

Six people sitting on bar chairs are smiling

a group of Volunteers at the KC Film Fest

seven people posing next to the KC Film Fest Banner

a woman speaking and five men looking at her

group of people enjoying food and drinks

A volunteer checking the passes of people

Three beautiful women posing at the KC Film Fest

a man, a woman, and a boy at KC Film Fest

a man and two women posing at the KC Film Fest

a woman smiling and clicking a photo with her phone

four girls and a boy at The KC Film Fest

a group of people with the High School Poster

four men and a woman posing at the KC Film Fest event

Two men and two women at the KC Film Fest

Two men standing next to the KC Film Fest Poster

Seven People standing next to the KC Film Fest Banner

a man and woman posing next to the KC Film Fest Banner

Jeremy Scott with KC model Isabella Emmack

View of people sitting and standing in the hall

a man speaking with four other people on the stage

a man in a black coat posing with two women

Two men looking at each other and smiling

a woman in a blue dress with a man in black jacket

people capturing a celeb wearing a white shirt

Five people sitting on a chair and having a discussion

teenagers sitting at the first row in a theater

a man in a pink T Shirt Speaking with four other men

two men wearing jackets at the KC Film Fest

a man speaking with another man on the stage

a man and woman in black at the KC Film Fest

Three men and a woman at the KC Film Fest

a woman in a black top and a man in a black jacket

two women in purple T shirts are smiling

Group of eight people at the KC Film Fest

a woman in a red top and a man in a black shirt

Four Hospitality Volunteers Sitting at a Table

Two men and a woman with a mic in their hands

three elderly people and a man at KC Film Fest

a man in a checks shirt and a woman in a black dress

a man with two ladies at the KC Film Fest

two women standing next to the KC Film Fest Poster

a girl in a turquoise top with an elderly woman

a group of people with the KC Film Fest Passes

Two men and women with the KC Film Fest Passes

people in a discussion while having a dinner

a woman speaking and a man is looking at her

three women in a video call for KCFF entries

Six People in the KCFF Video Call for Entries

Five people in the KCFF video call for entries

Seven people in a video call for KCFF entries

Six people attending a video call for entries

Nine people in an online video call for entries

Nine people in the KC Film Fest Online Meet

Three people in a video meeting for the KC Film Fest

a man in a black jacket with two other men

Audiences in a theater talking with each other

a man speaking with one hand on the table

a boy and a girl attending the KC Film Fest

A woman and a man with a mike in his hand

people clicking photos and recording an interview