Best Fests: The best October film festivals, Vol. 2
October rolls around with shorter days and the first real chill in the air, the kind that pushes film lovers inside for packed houses, dark rooms, and the slow reveal of new work. The calendar fills quickly with regional festivals that range from horror marathons to quiet docs, and this year’s slate keeps the same mix of established stops and newer arrivals.
Some events lean into the season with scares and atmosphere, while others focus on community stories, experimental shorts, or the intersection of film with dance, fashion, and the outdoors. The result is a circuit that rewards planning and leaves room for last-minute discoveries.
Buffalo International Film Festival
8th – 15th October
Buffalo, New York
Buffalo International Film Festival marks its twentieth anniversary with programming across North Park Theatre and Silo City. The event continues to spotlight regional and international indie work alongside local documentary and experimental voices, with workshops that keep the focus on emerging filmmakers in Western New York.
Follow them: @BuffaloFilmFest
Tacoma Film Festival
22nd – 25th October
Tacoma, Washington
Tacoma Film Festival reaches its twentieth edition at The Grand Cinema. The long-running event keeps its reputation for connecting new artists with industry contacts while screening a wide range of independent features and shorts throughout the long weekend.
Follow them: @TacomaFilmFest
(In)Justice For All Film Festival
Early October
Chicago, Illinois
(In)Justice For All Film Festival continues its focus on urgent social themes. Screenings address incarceration, community violence, and civil rights through features, shorts, and music videos that draw audiences into conversation after each program.
Follow them: @IFAFF
ImageOut: The Rochester LGBT Film Festival
8th – 14th October
Rochester, New York
ImageOut: The Rochester LGBT Film Festival presents its thirty-fourth annual fall edition. The program highlights new queer cinema with East Coast and world premieres, maintaining its role as the largest LGBTQ festival in New York State.
Follow them: @ImageOut
Mill Valley Film Festival
1st – 11th October
Mill Valley, California
Mill Valley Film Festival returns for its forty-ninth edition with a slate that mixes international independent titles and studio previews. The California Film Institute event keeps its track record for early looks at notable films and in-person appearances from filmmakers and casts.
Follow them: @MVFilmFest
Salem Horror Fest
Late April / Early May
Salem, Massachusetts
Salem Horror Fest shifts its 2026 dates to late spring, moving away from the October slot. The festival maintains its emphasis on socially conscious horror and continues to draw filmmakers interested in contemporary takes on the genre.
Follow them: @salemhorrorfest
San Francisco Dance Film Festival
23rd October – 8th November
San Francisco, California
San Francisco Dance Film Festival combines theatrical screenings with a streaming window. The hybrid format expands access to dance documentaries and captured performances while preserving the in-person experience that has defined the event.
Follow them: @SFdancefilmfest
Frankly Film Festival
Early October
Piqua, Ohio
Frankly Film Festival remains a compact, student-friendly weekend built around short films. The event continues to welcome work across genres and keeps its focus on giving emerging voices a first public platform.
Follow them: @franklyfilmfest
Grapevine Film Festival
Early October
Grapevine, Texas
Grapevine Film Festival pairs screenings with the city’s galleries and restaurants. The program centers student and independent shorts while encouraging visitors to explore the surrounding cultural scene.
Follow them: @GVFilmFest
LA Fashion Film Festival
Early October
Los Angeles, California
LA Fashion Film Festival continues its celebration of style on screen. The event showcases work that blends cinematic technique with fashion storytelling and maintains strong ties to the city’s design community.
Follow them: @lafashionfilmfestival
Lake Charles Film & Music Festival
Early October
Lake Charles, Louisiana
Lake Charles Film & Music Festival offers a relaxed weekend of screenings, concerts, and panels. The program keeps its informal tone while giving attendees direct access to filmmakers and musicians.
Follow them: @LCFilmFest
Lonely Seal Film Festival
Early October
Boston, Massachusetts
Lonely Seal Film Festival screens work inside the historic Regent Theatre. The setting pairs new independent films with a century-old cinema atmosphere that underscores the event’s focus on local and emerging voices.
Adventure Film Festival
Early October
Boulder, Colorado
Adventure Film Festival pairs on-screen thrills with outdoor excursions. The program mixes adrenaline-driven documentaries and shorts with guided hikes, rides, and climbs that extend the experience beyond the theater.
Follow them: @AdventureFilm
Boobs and Blood International Film Festival
Early October
Los Angeles, California
Boobs and Blood International Film Festival leans into horror with a playful, adult edge. The weekend includes short film programs, themed parties, and appearances from performers and directors who work at the intersection of genre and spectacle.
Follow them: @boobsandblood
Ellensburg Film Festival
Early October
Ellensburg, Washington
Ellensburg Film Festival balances lighthearted programming with serious attention to craft. The event draws regional artists and maintains a commitment to thoughtful discussion alongside the screenings.
Eugene Environmental Film Festival
Mid October
Eugene, Oregon
Eugene Environmental Film Festival runs a week of nature documentaries and discussion events. The program takes advantage of the Pacific Northwest setting to connect audiences with stories about climate, conservation, and local ecology.
Follow them: @EugeneEvoFF
Haverhill Film Festival
Early October
Haverhill, Massachusetts
Haverhill Film Festival keeps its experimental roots while opening the program to animation, documentary, and narrative shorts. The event continues to champion work that pushes form and subject matter.
Follow them: @haverhillff
Imaginarium Convention
Early October
Louisville, Kentucky
Imaginarium Convention expands beyond film into a full weekend of creative programming. Attendees move between screenings, panels, gaming events, and a book fair that together create a broad platform for genre artists.
Follow them: @ImaginariumCon
India International Film Festival
Early October
Boston, Massachusetts
India International Film Festival highlights stories from the Indian diaspora. The program features shorts, documentaries, and features that reflect community experiences and new voices within that tradition.
Follow them: @IIFFB18
Other Venice Film Festival
Early October
Venice, California
Other Venice Film Festival focuses on independent work made in and around the beachside neighborhood. Panels and casual gatherings give filmmakers and audiences space to connect outside the usual industry circuit.
Follow them: @othervenicefilm
Sheridan WYO Film Festival
Early October
Sheridan, Wyoming
Sheridan WYO Film Festival presents new work against the backdrop of the Bighorn Mountains. The program includes experimental pieces and a VR component that explores emerging tools for visual storytelling.
Follow them: @SheridanWYOFilm
Tyron International Film Festival
Early October
Tryon, North Carolina
Tyron International Film Festival screens more than one hundred films with an emphasis on filmmaker development. Educational sessions and social events aim to build lasting connections for artists working in the Southeast.
Follow them: @TyronFilmFest
West Virginia FILMmakers Festival
Early October
Sutton, West Virginia
West Virginia FILMmakers Festival uses the historic Elk Theater as its main venue. The long-running event keeps its focus on local talent and relaxed conversations between screenings.
Follow them: @WVFILMmakerFest
Tucson Film Festival
Early October
Tucson, Arizona
Tucson Film Festival pairs films with live music in a city known for its desert setting and independent arts scene. The program continues to highlight regional stories alongside visiting work.
Follow them: @tucsonfilmfest
Glendale International Film Festival
Late September
Glendale, California
Glendale International Film Festival has moved its main dates to September. The event keeps its reputation for elegant presentation and large-format screens that draw local audiences looking for a polished festival experience.
Follow them: @GlendaleIntFF
Climate and Environmental Film Festivals in October
Eugene Environmental Film Festival sits alongside other regional events that use October timing to spotlight climate stories. These programs pair documentaries with panel discussions that connect scientific themes to the communities where the festivals take place.
Hybrid and Streaming Options at October Film Festivals
San Francisco Dance Film Festival offers both theatrical and streaming windows, a model that appears at several other October events. The approach lets audiences choose between in-person energy and the flexibility of watching from home.
Adventure and Outdoor Film Events
Adventure Film Festival combines on-screen action with guided outdoor activities. The format appeals to viewers who want the physical counterpart to the stories they watch on screen.
Fashion and Style-Focused Film Festivals
LA Fashion Film Festival stands out for its narrow focus on style and design. The event continues to attract filmmakers and audiences interested in the visual language of fashion rather than traditional narrative features.
October film festivals keep expanding the range of what counts as essential viewing. Whether the draw is a horror marathon, a quiet documentary, or a hybrid program that stretches into November, the season offers steady options for anyone willing to follow the calendar from one city to the next.
