After receiving 3,900 submissions from 117 countries for the 34th anniversary of the festival, our seasoned team of programmers selected a slate of 127 films in competition that represent a wealth of perspectives. These include 29 feature films (19 documentaries, 10 narrative features) and 98 short films, with 25 world premieres, 9 US premieres, 40 Southern premieres, and 49 Louisiana premieres.

Overall, films from filmmakers based in the American South represent 60% of the lineup, and Louisiana-made films represent 22% of the lineup. The directors of selected films represent 35 different nationalities. Films directed by women and non-binary directors account for 55% of the lineup, films helmed by directors of color make up 57%, and films from directors identifying as part of the LGBTQ+ community account for 37% of selected films.

Our full #NOFF2023 lineup includes 149 films, 2 South Pitches, 3 Artist Talks, 3 workshops, and 17 panel conversations.

Learn about our Programming Practices and Meet our Programmers.

 

Click the NOFF button below left for a bigger view of the film guide!

If you’re browsing on your phone, click Launch Full Film Guide

Browsing tip! Click the individual titles to learn about each film. Use the various tags for focused browsing—don’t forget to unselect a previous tag if you want to view tags one by one.

View 2023 New Orleans Film Festival film guide.

Click here to buy your NOFF2023 Virtual Pass or click a film screening below to purchase individual streaming tickets.

Virtual Cinema Pass (watch it all!) – NOFS Members $75 | General Public $100

Tickets – NOFS Members $8 | General Public $10

Browsing tip! Use the list icon to the right of Eventive to return to the Virtual Film Catalog.

View the 2023 New Orleans Film Festival schedule

NOFF 2023 Filmmakers Conference events are free and open to the public (unless otherwise noted).

Conference events take place at the Kimpton Hotel Fontenot New Orleans or in the NOF2023 Festival Hub at the Contemporary Arts Center (CAC) New Orleans.


DAY 1 – Friday, November 3

12:00 PM-1:15 PM – Call & Response: A Firelight Chat

In storytelling traditions, call and response is a powerful tool for collective world building and narrative justice. In this panel, we explore the work of nonfiction filmmakers who model this approach, centering community input and impact in their creative practice.

Moderated by Weeta Girmay – Regional Initiatives Coordinator, Firelight Media with Set Hernandez – Director, unseen ; Nailah Jefferson – Director, Commuted; and Robie Flores, Director, Boundless.

Location: Hotel Fontenot, 2nd Floor, Canray BC

 

12:00 PM-12:50 PM – Artist Talk with Zeelie Brown

Enjoy a live musical performance from Jazz cellist, visual artist, garden designer, and butcher Zeelie Brown, intended to accompany their digital video projection, “She Done Burnt the Moon,” on display in the Festival Hub at the CAC, followed by a discussion about their work and inspiration moderated by Cinema Reset Curator Rachel Lin Weaver.

Location: The Corner stage at the CAC Festival Hub

 

1:30 PM-2:25 PM – LAUNCH Talks: Taking Your TV Career to the Next Level with NBCU LAUNCH

Robert Baltazar, Vice President of TV Programming DEI at NBCUniversal, will provide an overview of NBCU LAUNCH’s inclusion efforts that are for creative talent at any place in their career. He will offer practical advice on how program participants can maximize their experience and answer questions about navigating the television industry. NBCU LAUNCH is the umbrella brand that houses the comprehensive diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts across NBCU’s entertainment television portfolio, which includes the company’s marquee talent development programs such as the NBC TV Writers Program, Unscripted Producers Initiative, TV Directors Program & Female Forward, and Below-the-Line Traineeship.

Location: The Corner stage at the CAC Festival Hub

 

1:45 PM-3:00 PM – Producing Creative Nonfiction

Blending art and cinema, the broadening continuum of creative nonfiction storytelling has expanded filmmaking traditions. But what does it take to produce boundary-pushing films that challenge our understanding of the form of nonfiction filmmaking? This panel looks at the producer’s perspective on making creative nonfiction.

Moderated by Rachel Nederveld – DPA member & Producer, Tuba Thieves with Flor de oro Tejadda – Producer, Bone Black: Midwives vs the South; Jayme Kaye Gershen – Producer, Garden High; and Sara Archambault – Producer, Richland.

Location: Hotel Fontenot, 2nd Floor, Canray BC

 

3:00 PM-5:00 PM – Projection Mapping Workshop

Break away from the screen and imagine your media in new contexts! Projection mapping is a method to “map” projected video or light onto irregular surfaces or unexpected locations. This workshop introduces the art of projection mapping through a variety of techniques, and is suitable for beginner or established filmmakers, artists, and anyone interested in the power of media and projection to transform physical space. Space is limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Location: The Antenna Space at the CAC

 

6:00 PM-7:00 PM – Meet the Programmers

Navigating film festivals can be daunting, especially when deciding which ones align with your artistic and ethical values, and distribution goals. In this panel discussion, we pull back the curtain on film curation practices and speak to programmers committed to community responsibility and curatorial justice.

Moderated by Barbara Twist, Executive Director, Film Festival Alliance; Zuri Obi, NOFF Programmer; Amber Love, NOFF Programmer; and Kayla Myers, Indie Memphis Programmer.

Location: The Corner stage at the CAC Festival Hub

 


DAY 2 – Saturday, November 4

11:30 AM-12:20 PM – Artist Talk with Molly Morningglory

Cinema Reset Curator Rachel Lin Weaver speaks in depth with installation artist Molly Morningglory, whose interactive installation “are, am, over (#c, Bvbancha)” (on display in the Festival Hub at the CAC) uses found objects sustainably foraged from the local landscape to explore the relationship between land and the body.

Location: The Corner stage at the CAC Festival Hub

 

2:30 PM-3:45 PM – Undocumented Stories

Stories by and about undocumented communities are essential in transcending beyond the confines of imaginary borders. In this panel discussion, we explore the ways in which the nonfiction filmmaking industry can create long-term support systems that advocate for the success of undocumented storytellers.

Moderated by Rahi Hasan – Co-Founder, Undocumented Film Collective with Pedro – protagonist, unseen; Tem’ the Filmmaker, member of Undocumented Film Collective; and Andrés Lira – Director, Primero, Sueño.

Location: Hotel Fontenot, 2nd Floor, Canray BC

 

2:30 PM-3:30 PM – Accessibility at Work

This panel will reveal how different players in the filmmaking community approach accessibility and show how collaborative work makes for a more equitable and accessible film ecosystem. We will try to understand what barriers keep us from prioritizing accessibility and share our journey to overcome them.  

NOFS and Sundance Film Institute will present their perspectives as film exhibitors, Full Spectrum Features will discuss how an independent production company prioritized change towards greater access, and Southern directors of the Mississippi River Styx  will take us through their path of making their film accessible to audiences.

The event is supported by the FEAW (Film Event Accessibility Working Group), which was formed as a collaborative effort by film event representatives seeking to unify and enhance accessibility in film festivals, screenings, and programs across the industry.

Location: The Corner stage at the CAC Festival Hub

 

3:00 PM-5:00 PM – 16mm Direct (Cameraless) Animation Workshop

A collaboration of the NOFF Cinema Reset program and Antenna‘s 24-Hour Draw-A-Thon, this free, hands-on workshop introduces the process of animating through manipulating the surface of 16mm film! Participants will scratch, paint, draw, splice, and collage with 16mm to create animation. All ages are welcome, but children should be supervised by a guardian; sharp tools and potentially hazardous or messy materials will be in use (scissors, razor blades, sandpaper, ink, etc.) All materials are provided and no prior experience is necessary. This workshop is offered on a drop in/drop out basis. Come any time and stay as long as you like!

Location: The Antenna Space at the CAC

 

3:30 PM-4:30 PM – New Orleans: The Best City of Independent Filmmakers

New Orleans is a top film production hub that supports award-winning independent filmmaking. This panel discussion will provide filmmakers with the toolkit they need to shoot their next project in the most creative city in the US. Moderated by Carroll Morton, Director of Film New Orleans, with Stephen Hamner, Louisiana Economic Development; Jason Waggenspack, The Ranch Film Studios; Stevee-Rayne Warren, NOVAC; producer Darcy McKinnon; and independent filmmaker Thomas Lim.

Location: The Corner stage at the CAC Festival Hub

 

5:00 PM-5:50 PM – Artist Talk with Logan Dandridge

Join Cinema Reset Curator Rachel Lin Weaver in conversation with artist Logan Dandridge, whose work is screening in the CAC Media Gallery as part of NOFF and explores the interstices of diaspora, music, and spirituality.

Location: The Corner stage at the CAC Festival Hub

 

5:00 PM-6:15 PM – Towards a Restorative Lens: Healing-Informed Practices in Nonfiction Filmmaking

The power of cinema is situated in its influence on shaping material realities. In this panel, we unpack how nonfiction films can impact mental health, explore holistic filmmaking practices and discuss strategies for harnessing cinematic power with healing-informed care and intention.

Moderated by Dawn Valadez – Director of Youth and Artistic Development, BAVC Media and Sherry Simpson Dean – Senior Director of Engagement, ITVS; Imani Dennison – Director, Bone Black: Midwives vs the South; Chloe Abrahams – Director, The Taste of Mango; and Katja Esson – Director, Razing Liberty Square.

Location: Hotel Fontenot, 2nd Floor, Canray BC

 


DAY 3 – Sunday, November 5

2:00 PM-3:15 PM – We Might Need A Riot: Filmmaking While Queer

Queer and gender diverse artists in the American South are reclaiming narrative power and charting new territories in the cinematic space. In this panel, we explore queer and specifically, gender diverse representation in contemporary art and the ways in which lived experiences are shifting narrative frameworks.

Moderated by Lynn Sylvan – Programmer, New Orleans Film Society with Macon Reed – Multidisciplinary Artist; Hannah Patterson – Director, Late to the Party; and Viviana de la Rosa – Filmmaker.

Location: Hotel Fontenot, 2nd Floor, Canray BC

 

3:00 PM-3:50 PM – A Seat at the Table: An exploration of the history, work, and impact of Black Women Film Directors in America

Ryan Pearson of the Detroit Narrative Agency leads a presentation and discussion on the history of Black women directors in film, addressing the challenges they have faced and had to overcome at the intersection of being Black and a woman in a very white male–dominated industry. This interactive discussion will include clips of Black women directors talking about their experiences and scenes from their films.

This program will take place at The Corner stage at the CAC Festival Hub.

 

3:00 PM-5:00 PM – Working with Celluloid: An introduction and understanding of Super 8mm & 16mm Motion Picture Film

Join us for a relaxing, creative, and educational afternoon of learning all about these celluloid formats and having the opportunity to actually capture a scene using celluloid film. This workshop will cover the history of the types of film and cameras available as well as demonstrate film loading and filming exercises. Presented by Kodak and Kodak Film Lab Atlanta.

Location: The CAC, 2nd Floor, Boardroom

 

3:45 PM-5:00 PM – Dollars & Sense

Whether it’s shorts or features, docs or fiction, creating a realistic budget and securing the funds for your film can feel overwhelming. In this panel, we speak to filmmakers about their approach to budgeting and how they involved their communities near and far to get their finished films to audiences.

Moderated by Elise McCave – Head of Film, Kickstarter with Emily Potter & Grace Potter – Directors, Night Swim and Freaks; Darcy McKinnon – Producer, Commuted; and Jess X Snow – Director, I Wanna Become The Sky.

Location: Hotel Fontenot, 2nd Floor, Canray BC

 

5:15 PM-6:30 PM – Slow Life Cinema

In a deadline-driven industry, filmmaking can feel like a conveyor belt of content creation. But what happens when filmmakers slow down to nurture creativity? Through case studies, we reflect on maintaining long-term relationships with protagonists or collaborating with actors in pursuit of quiet spaces and thoughtful approaches.

Moderated by Amada Torruella – Programmer, New Orleans Film Society; Crystal Kayiza – Director, Rest Stop; and Sebastián Pinzón Silva – Director, La Bonga.

Location: Hotel Fontenot, 2nd Floor, Canray BC

 


DAY 4 – Monday, November 6

12:30 PM-2:00 PM – NOFS Alumni Table Read + Conversation: Forever Here by Bianca Siplin

Join us at the Actor’s Apothecary for a live table read featuring New Orleans actors reading a new script, Forever Here, currently in development from Louisiana-based writer/director Bianca Siplin, an alum of the New Orleans Film Society’s Emerging Voices Directors Lab. Space is limited so plan to arrive early.

Location: Actor’s Apothecary (1506 Prytania St.,  New Orleans)

South Pitch is free and open to the public.

Since 2011, South Pitch has provided a unique opportunity for filmmakers from across the American South to pitch their next film production to a panel of industry judges. This year’s program will feature two tracks: South Pitch Narrative and South Pitch Documentary. The winning pitches from both programs will receive a $10,000 cash prize. Click here to learn about this year’s South Pitch Finalists

South Pitch Narrative

Friday, November 3 | 3:00 PM-5:00 PM | The CAC Black Box Theater

South Pitch Documentary

Saturday, November 4 | 12:30 PM-2:30 PM | The CAC Black Box Theater


The 2023 South Pitch Program is presented with support from

 

 

Parties, receptions, and the VIP Lounge require an NOFF2023 All Access Pass or special invitation to enjoy access (unless otherwise noted).


Thursday, November 2

Opening Night Party

Time: 10:00 PM-1:00 AM

Location: Gallier Hall (545 St. Charles Ave, New Orleans)

Celebrate #NOFF2023 Opening Night at Gallier Hall! Second line to the beat of The Stooges Brass Band before a special performance by Flagboy Giz and tunes brought to you by DJ FTK. Lite bites provided by Codey’s Nola and capture the night with a photo by the Iconic 360 Photo Booth.

NOFF2023 All Access Pass or special invitations required to enjoy access.

Sponsored by Film New Orleans and the Mayor’s Office of Cultural Economy. Entertainment sponsored by Positive Vibrations Foundation and Backbeat Foundation.

 


Friday, November 3

VIP Lounge

Time: 10:00 AM-8:00 PM

Location: CAC Festival Hub (900 Camp St, New Orleans)

NOFF2023 All Access Pass required to enjoy access.

 

Reception with the Dallas Film Commission

Time: 1:00 PM-2:00 PM

Location: Reception space in the CAC Festival Hub (900 Camp St, New Orleans)

NOFF2023 All Access Pass or special invitations required to enjoy access.

Sponsored by the Dallas Film Commission

 

Meet the Programmers Reception with FilmEx: New Orleans

Mingle with programmers, educators, and artist service folks gathering at NOFF2023 for Film Festival Alliance’s FilmEx: New Orleans before the Meet the Programmers Panel at 6:00 PM.

Time: 5:00 PM-6:00 PM

Location: Reception space in the CAC Festival Hub (900 Camp St, New Orleans)

NOFF2023 All Access Pass or special invitations required to enjoy access.

Sponsored by Film Festival Alliance

 

Reception with PBS

The documentary series Reel South invites filmmakers and industry folks to meet the producers of Reel South and executives from PBS stations from across the region looking to connect and produce with local and regional filmmakers.

Time: 7:30 PM-8:30 PM

Location: Reception space in the CAC Festival Hub (900 Camp St, New Orleans)

NOFF2023 All Access Pass or special invitations required to enjoy access.

Sponsored by Reel South

 

Friday Night Soiree in the French Quarter

Time: 9:00 PM-12:00 AM

Location: Historic BK House & Gardens (1113 Chartres Street, New Orleans)

Join us at the heart of the French Quarter for a night of mystique at the Historic BK House and Gardens. Enjoy lite bites by Codey’s Nola, a Silent Disco with DJ Ghazi and DJ Heelturn, and some surprise activations!

NOFF2023 All Access Pass or special invitations required to enjoy access.

Sponsored by Firelight Media, the Historic BK House & Gardens, James Douglas Hislop, and the Nous Foundation. Entertainment sponsored by Positive Vibrations Foundation.

 


Saturday, November 4

VIP Lounge

Time: 11:00 AM-8:00 PM

Location: CAC Festival Hub (900 Camp St, New Orleans)

NOFF2023 All Access Pass Required.

 

Reception with Film New Orleans

Catch the New Orleans: The Best City of Independent Filmmakers panel at 3:30 PM and then mingle with the Film New Orleans staff and industry panelists to learn more about why you need to shoot your next project in the most creative city in the US!

Time: 4:30 PM-5:30 PM

Location: Reception space in the CAC Festival Hub (900 Camp St, New Orleans)

NOFF2023 All Access Pass or special invitations required to enjoy access.

Sponsored by Film New Orleans and the Mayor’s Office of Cultural Economy

 

Choke Hole Takes #NOFF2023: Saturday Night Party

Time: 10:00 PM-1:00 AM

Location: CAC Festival Hub (900 Camp St, New Orleans)

This is one party you don’t want to miss! End your festival Saturday with an extreme off the screen experience as the New Orleans-based Choke Hole takes the ring following the Saturday night screening of Chokehole: Drag Wrestlers do Deutchland playing as part of Pleasure Principles: Doc Shorts at the CAC Black Box starting at 7:30pm. Then dance away to tunes from DJ Red Stylez and create in the neighboring Antenna’s 24-hour Draw-A-Thon. Food will be available for purchase from Codey’s Nola and drinks from the CAC.

NOFF2023 All Access Passholders enjoy complementary access and drinks. Tickets are $10. Click here to purchase!

Entertainment sponsored by Positive Vibrations Foundation.

 


Sunday, November 5

VIP Lounge

Time: 11:00 AM-8:00 PM

Location: CAC Festival Hub (900 Camp St, New Orleans)

NOFF2023 All Access Pass Required.

 

Reception for Local Filmmaker Students

Student filmmakers from local academic institutions are invited to gather for a fun meet-n-greet mixer!

Time: 1:00 PM-2:00 PM

Location: Reception space in the CAC Festival Hub (900 Camp St, New Orleans)

Click here to RSVP. Student ID required to enjoy access.

 

Reception with Black Public Media, ITVS, and World Channel

Time: 3:00 PM-4:00 PM

Location: Reception space in the CAC Festival Hub (900 Camp St, New Orleans)

NOFF2023 All Access Pass or special invitations required to enjoy access.

Sponsored by Black Public Media, ITVS, and World Channel

 

Sunday Night Party at Margaret Place Hotel

Time: 9:00 PM-12:00 AM

Location: Margaret Place Hotel (1133 Margaret Place, Courtyard, New Orleans)

Wind down under the stars at the beautiful Margaret Place. Enjoy a spread of lite bites with DJ Lord Chilla on the 1s and 2s.

NOFF2023 All Access Pass or special invitations required to enjoy access.

Entertainment sponsored by Positive Vibrations Foundation.

 


Monday, November 6

VIP Lounge

Time: 1:00 PM-8:00 PM

Location: CAC Festival Hub (900 Camp St, New Orleans)

NOFF2023 All Access Pass Required.

 

Join NOFS staff as they celebrate the closing of #NOFF2023 weekend!

Time: 3:30 PM-5:30 PM

Location: Reception space in the CAC Festival Hub (900 Camp St, New Orleans)

NOFF2023 All Access Pass or special invitations required to enjoy access.

 

Reception with BAVC Media

Time: 6:00 PM-7:00 PM

Location: Reception space in the CAC Festival Hub (900 Camp St, New Orleans)

NOFF2023 All Access Pass or special invitations required to enjoy access.

Sponsored by BAVC Media

 

REEL Reset: NOFF Edition @ NOVAC: New Orleans

NOVAC is back with more R&R therapy for their film family with another installment of REEL Reset sponsored by Film New Orleans in collaboration with NOFS as the official Monday night party of the #NOFF2023

Time: 7:30 PM-10:30 PM

Location: NOVAC: New Orleans (4422 S. Carrollton, New Orleans)

Free and open to the public. Click here to register.

Sponsored by NOVAC, Film New Orleans, and the Mayor’s Office of Cultural Economy


Tuesday, November 7

NOFS Patron Party for Producer’s Circle and Director’s Circle Members 

Time: 5:00 PM-8:00 PM

Location: Bar Marilou (544 Carondelet St, New Orleans)

Open to NOFS’s Producer’s and Director’s Circle Members and special invite only.

Sponsored by Maison de la Luz.

 

Closing Night Reception

Time: 5:00 PM-8:00 PM

Location: Reception space in the CAC Festival Hub (900 Camp St, New Orleans)

As the in-person days of NOFF2023 come to an end, we invite you to visit our Festival HUB for one last gathering with NOFS and NOFF staff. Shop the merchandise, grab a drink, and make lasting connections!

NOFF2023 All Access Pass or special invitations required to enjoy access.