RIFF 2027 · Submissions
Submit to RIFF 2027.
Ten features and roughly thirty-eight shorts. $20 for every category, every deadline. Submission fees are waived for all New Mexico-made films. Most shorts play before a feature, to a full house.
Come as our guest
We want you here.
Selected feature directors and producers traveling from outside New Mexico receive a $500 travel stipend. Every film we program receives a $100 meal credit and access to discounted festival lodging.
We accept work from anywhere. Non-English films require English subtitles, burned in or delivered as a separate file.
FilmFreeway submissions are opening shortly.
The button is ready for the festival’s live FilmFreeway URL. Until then, questions are welcome at info@ruidosointernationalfilmfestival.org.
The button is ready for the festival’s live FilmFreeway URL. Until then, questions are welcome at info@ruidosointernationalfilmfestival.org.
Categories
Features
Features run 60 minutes or longer.
| Category | Definition |
|---|---|
| Narrative Feature | Fiction, 60 minutes or longer |
| Documentary Feature | Nonfiction, 60 minutes or longer |
| The Asterisk (*) Series | Any feature produced for under $150,000; verifiable budget required |
| New Mexico Focus | By a New Mexico filmmaker or substantially shot in New Mexico |
Shorts
| Category | Definition |
|---|---|
| Narrative Short | Fiction, under 30 minutes |
| Documentary Short | Nonfiction, under 30 minutes |
| Animated Short | Any technique, under 30 minutes |
| Experimental Short | Non-traditional form, under 20 minutes |
| New Mexico Short | By a New Mexico filmmaker or shot in New Mexico |
| Student Short | Currently enrolled college or university filmmakers |
| Music Video | Under 10 minutes |
| High School Challenge | New Mexico high school students; free entry |
Dates & fees
No late fees.
Early BirdSep 30, 2026$20
RegularOct 31, 2026$20
FinalDec 12, 2026$20
Rules
- Films must have been completed after January 1, 2025.
- Features run 60 minutes or longer. Shorts run under 30 minutes.
- Works-in-progress are not accepted.
- Films previously screened publicly in New Mexico remain eligible.
- All New Mexico-made films receive a waived submission fee.
- Asterisk features require a verifiable total production budget under $150,000 USD.
- Non-English films must include English subtitles.
- Accepted films must deliver a DCP or approved digital file by January 20, 2027.
- Submitting grants RIFF screening rights during the festival and promotional use of up to 60 seconds of footage and stills.
- We accept submissions from anywhere in the world.
FilmFreeway link coming shortly