About NOFF
NEW ORLEANS FILM FESTIVAL
The 2025 New Orleans Film Festival takes place in-person between Oct 23-27 and virtually until Nov 2.
All Festival Passes are on sale now!
The New Orleans Film Festival (NOFF), organized by the New Orleans Film Society, is a renowned celebration of independent filmmaking that has been championing diverse voices and groundbreaking stories for over 36 years. As an Academy Award®-qualifying festival in the categories of Documentary Short, Narrative Short, and Animated Short, NOFF serves as a vital platform for emerging and established filmmakers to showcase their work to global audiences.
Recognized by MovieMaker Magazine as one of the “25 Coolest Film Festivals in the World,” the festival highlights a rich blend of local, national, and international talent, fostering connections within the film industry while embracing New Orleans’ unique cultural vibrancy. During the New Orleans Film Festival, New Orleans shines even brighter as an epicenter of culture and creativity, with 250+ filmmakers from every corner of the world in attendance at 150+ films. We see our greatest impact in the exchange of ideas that occurs when over 12,000 people gather in person over the course of six days to champion film in New Orleans and engage with visionary films, directors, and other film lovers.
“Both filmmaker-focused and audience friendly, NOFF aims to be an incubator for future projects and collaborations. It manages a mentorship program for filmmakers of color that pairs emerging talents with established ones and has been supported by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the Golden Globe Foundation, HBO, and the National Endowment for the Arts.” Read more here.
“The coolest of cool festivals. I’m always in awe of the curation and quality of films here. Some words I’d use to describe them: poetry, transcendent, heartfelt, impactful, and evocative. The magical spirit of New Orleans permeates the festival in every way. The festival has phenomenal parties, sumptuous cuisine, beautiful event spaces, and the best pitch showcases.” —Katherine Propper. Read more here.
Diversity + Discovery:
Paste Magazine praised the festival for offering “a platform to voices that still fight to be heard.” We honor three vital commitments to filmmakers and to audiences hungry for fresh work with perspectives less often represented on the silver screen:
- 90% of the films in the festival will come from submissions, ensuring New Orleans Film Festival is a place of discovery where all voices have an opportunity to be heard
- 50% or more of the films will be helmed by women and gender non-conforming filmmakers
- 50% or more will be helmed by filmmakers of color
Community + Connectivity:
New Orleans’ unique sense of place informs the festival experience– filmmakers, industry players, and cinephiles experience films and events at pop-up and passionately preserved historic venues, and rub elbows in Hollywood South amidst the strong undercurrent of revelry native to the Crescent City. From the Second Line parade following the opening night film to late-night cocktails, live music in historic mansions, and cinematic Mississippi River views, we hope all leave inspired, with an enduring story to tell and deeper connections to each other and to the art of film.
We believe inspiration isn’t exclusive; New Orleans Film Society works with 50+ partnering non-profit organizations to distribute free tickets and promote free screenings to ensure more New Orleanians of all ages access transformative films during the festival.
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NOFF RETURNS OCTOBER 23rd, 2025!
The New Orleans Film Society partners with venues across the city to bring you the 2025 New Orleans Film Festival in the below locations.
Click on each venue to read descriptions and information to help plan your visit.
For more information about accessibility services offered, or to request accommodations, please complete this form or email questions to info@neworleansfilmsociety.org.
Please join us in embracing our community guidelines at all Festival events by:
- Acknowledging with gratitude the land we occupy as the colonized Indigenous space known first as Bulbancha
- Sustaining authentic relationships with our neighbors, especially the Afro-descendent communities that continually shape New Orleans
- Including people equitably of every race, ethnicity, gender identity and expression, ability, sexual orientation, nationality, religion, age, physical appearance, language, citizenship, and socioeconomic status
- Protecting each other’s health by staying home when sick
- Treating others with dignity and respect, especially Festival volunteers and staff implementing Festival policies and procedures
- Enjoying alcohol and other refreshments responsibly and mindfully
We will not permit:
- Disruptive behavior of any kind that interferes with Festival events
- Use of personal electronics during Festival screenings, especially cell phones and unauthorized recording devices
- Non-compliance with the direction of Festival staff and volunteers regarding Festival policies and procedures
- Verbal or physical harassment, including abusive language and gestures, threats, cursing, or sexual language directed at others
- Any form of discrimination or harassment, including, but not limited to, racism, homophobia, transphobia, ableism, sexism, or body shaming
- Using firearms or other dangerous weapons in Festival spaces to intimidate or harm volunteers, staff, or attendees
By purchasing a ticket or entering Festival event spaces, you agree to join us in this Code of Conduct. If you are found to be in violation of these agreements, you may be removed from events by a designated staff member. If you witness or experience a violation of these agreements, we encourage you to report the incident anonymously via this form or send an email to info@neworleansfilmsociety.org.
By entering Festival event spaces, you consent to photography and recording (audio and video) and its release, publication, exhibition, or reproduction to be used for news, webcasts, promotional purposes, telecasts, advertising, inclusion on websites, social media, or any other purpose by NOFS and its affiliates and representatives.
The New Orleans Film Festival is working toward equitable access to our programming. Available accessibility services, by event, will be listed in the online Film Guide.
To request accommodation for specific Festival events, please complete this form. For more information about particular programs, or questions about services not described, please email info@neworleansfilmsociety.org.
CAPTIONING & AMPLIFICATION
NOFF partners with filmmakers to enable closed captioning for their programs whenever possible using personal caption devices, available by request (with a photo ID) at some of our venues. Films with closed captions will be noted in the online Film Guide.
Assistive Listening Devices, which amplify program sound through headphones or hearing aids, are available by request (with a photo ID) at some of our venues.
Some programs are equipped with Descriptive Audio Tracks that provide narration through Assistive Listening Devices.
At this time, some theaters may not accommodate these accessibility devices, but films will feature open captions (on-screen) whenever possible.
PRINT & LANGUAGE OPTIONS
All foreign-language films are screened with English subtitles. Films with subtitles will be noted in the online Film Guide.
NOFF can arrange American Sign Language interpreters by request at no cost to you. Two weeks’ notice is strongly preferred.
Large-print Program Guides are available by request at no cost to you at each of the Festival venues.
PHYSICAL ACCOMMODATIONS
All Festival venues are accessible to attendees using mobility devices, and accessible (ADA) seating is available for all Festival events by request.
With the exception of the Prytania Theatre Uptown, each venue has accessible restrooms and Festival attendees are invited to use the restroom that best suits their needs. In some venues, private restrooms are available.
Working service animals, such as guide dogs, are welcome to accompany Festival attendees. We are unable to accommodate pets or emotional support animals.
QUESTIONS & REQUESTS
To request accommodation for specific Festival events, including accessible seating or other accommodations including discounted companion tickets, please complete this form.
Detailed descriptions of our Festival venues, including accessibility features, restroom options, and seating specifications, will be added to our website as the Festival approaches.
For more information about particular programs, or questions about services not described, please email info@neworleansfilmsociety.org.