South Texas International Film Festival 2026
The City of Edinburg proudly promotes the visual arts and supports the growing film industry in the Rio Grande Valley through the South Texas International Film Festival (STXIFF).
The South Texas International Film Festival is an annual celebration of the art of cinema, showcasing the work of talented filmmakers from around the globe. Based in Edinburg, Texas, STXIFF presents a dynamic lineup of local, regional, national, and international films, creating a welcoming hub for storytellers from all backgrounds. True to our South Texas roots, we emphasize genuine connection and hospitality, offering filmmakers and film enthusiasts an engaging and memorable experience.
The City of Edinburg invites you to submit your narrative or documentary films and join us for the 12th Annual South Texas International Film Festival, taking place September 10–12, 2026. Designed for both emerging and established filmmakers and filmgoers, the festival features an exciting lineup of screenings, workshops, panels, networking mixers, and our signature Awards Ceremony.
Any questions, please email us at stxiff@cityofedinburg.com.
Dates & Deadlines
1. The 12th edition of the South Texas International Film Festival (STXIFF) will be held from September 10 through 12, 2026 in Edinburg, Texas.
2. Call for entries for the 12th STXIFF opens November 15, 2025. Final submissions close at 11:59 PM on May 15, 2026. Deadlines will have three different dates:
Early Bird Entry: November 15 - December 19
Regular Entry: December 20 - March 31
Late Entry: April 1 – May 15
3. The Official Selections will be announced on June 20, 2026 via email to filmmakers and through the STXIFF social media platforms.
General Submission Guidelines
Film submissions will be admitted only through FilmFreeway. https://filmfreeway.com/STXIFF
Submit your film only when your film is complete.
Submissions must be in English or have English subtitles at the time submitted.
Submissions will be considered incomplete if the following are not included in the initial FilmFreeway submission: Film, Poster, and Synopsis.
The submitter is responsible for ensuring that their screener link and password are active throughout the entire submission cycle. In the event of a password or URL change after submitting, email stxiff@cityofedinburg.com immediately.
Feature films running time is over 40 minutes and under one-hundred and twenty (120) minutes in length, including credits.
Short films running time is 40 minutes or less including credits.
To be eligible for competition and thus an award, the film:
a) Must have been completed after January 1, 2024.
b) Must have the rights to all songs and other copyright material.
c) Must not be publicly available on VOD, broadcast, online or physically for purchase or renting. The film may be online but private (i.e., password or private link).
The minimum requirement for selected films is H.264 codec, 1920x1080, mp4.
A jury of industry professionals will determine the winners of each category. The decisions will be final and unappealable and will be announced during the Award Ceremony.
Staff of the City of Edinburg Cultural Arts division and STXIFF Planning Committee members may not participate in any of the films which compete for an award. This includes but is not limited to actress, actor, director, writer, producer, or any other member of the production team of the film. If the producer and/or director wishes to appeal a crew member’s conflict of interest, they may do so by contacting the STXIFF staff before submitting a film. The STXIFF Staff will review the appeal and give a response within 15 days. Deadline dates may be affected by your appeal; we recommend informing STXIFF Staff 1 month prior to a deadline.
By submitting your film, you grant permission to STXIFF to use your film trailer, stills, press picture, synopsis, bio, up to thirty (30) seconds of your film, and all other submitted information for Festival promotion without limitation and at its sole and complete discretion in perpetuity for the production and promotion of the South Texas International Film Festival.
The South Texas International Film Festival takes all necessary precautions to prevent copy and intellectual rights from being stolen, however, the film submitter takes all responsibility for any loss and stolen property by submitting to STXIFF and will to the maximum extent allowed by law agree to indemnify and hold harmless and defend the City of Edinburg, the South Texas International Film Festival, its agents, employees, officers, and volunteers from and against any claim, loss, damage, liability, and expense including reasonable attorney’s fees, incurred or suffered by them by reason of all claims, demands, or causes of actions asserted or that may be asserted against any or all of the named parties, whether alleging intentional or negligent acts or omissions, and whether seeking compensatory or punitive damages, and involving, arising out of, or relating to the submission agreement and any other claims against any staff or agent of the South Texas International Film Festival and the City of Edinburg.
By submitting your film, you are allowing STXIFF to screen your film during the event dates. If you decide to remove your film from screening, you must notify STXIFF staff at least two months prior to the event date. Your film will not be eligible for a prize if it does not screen during the event.
Any other situation not considered in these submission guidelines will be reviewed by the South Texas International Film Festival.
We recommend you carefully review these guidelines and please email stxiff@cityofedinburg.com if you have any additional questions.
DISCLAIMER: In an effort to ensure fairness and transparency within our regional film competition, we invite professional filmmakers from outside the Rio Grande Valley as part of the programming team to view and select the films in our RGV competition. This process provides an equal platform for all local filmmakers in the RGV.
Categories
Please submit your film to ONE CATEGORY ONLY.
The competition categories for the 12th edition of the STXIFF are as follows:
Short Films-Short films running time is 40 minutes or less including credits.
Documentary Short Film
A Documentary Short Film is a nonfiction film about real events and people that was produced in any part of the world.
International Short Film
An International film is a narrative film that was produced anywhere in the world except the United States.
RGV Short Film
A RGV film is a narrative film that was predominantly produced and shot in the Rio Grande Valley (i.e., Cameron, Hidalgo, Starr, Willacy, and Zapata Counties). Include your City, State and postal zip code in the Submitter Information for your project in FilmFreeway. If your address is not in the RGV, and your film was predominately shot in the RGV, please email stxiff@cityofedinburg.com.
Texas Short Film
A Texas film is a narrative film that was predominantly produced and shot in the state of Texas. Must include Texas as State in the Submitter Information for your project on FilmFreeway. If your address is not in Texas and your film was produced and shot in Texas, please email stxiff@cityofedinburg.com.
U.S. Short Film
A U.S. film is a narrative film that was predominantly produced in the United States.
Feature Films-Feature films running time is over 40 minutes and under one-hundred and twenty (120) minutes in length, including credits.
Documentary Feature Film
A Documentary Feature Film is nonfiction film about real events and may be produced anywhere in the world
Narrative Feature Film
A Narrative Feature film may be produced anywhere in the world.
Awards & Prizes
These are the prizes that may be awarded at the 12th STXIFF:
Best Documentary Feature Film
Best Narrative Feature Film
Best Documentary Short Film
Best International Short Film
Best RGV Short Film
Best Texas Short Film
Best U.S. Short Film
South Texas (regional) Awards
To qualify for South Texas Regional Awards, films must be produced and shot in South Texas (an area roughly south of and including San Antonio) with a predominately South Texas crew and cast.
Edinburg Film Friendly Award
Must be filmed in Edinburg, TX. If you filmed all or part of your film in Edinburg, include a list of the Edinburg locations in your cover letter.
We reserve the right to not give an award or announce a winner in one or more categories.