West Virginia Film Festivals & Film Events for 2026 

By Dave Lavender, West Virginia Film Office 

Ready or not, the new year is here and in the world of film in West Virginia, we’re excited to already have a good number of film festivals slated for 2026 here in the Mountain State. Without further adieu, let’s shake the frost and march into celebrating some films with a late winter and Spring loaded with screenings.

FEBRUARY 

Feb. 19 – Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour at Marshall University 

At 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 19 at the Joan C. Edwards Playhouse. Embark on a thrilling cinematic journey at the Banff Mountain Film Festival, a mesmerizing event showcasing the epitome of adventure, environmental exploration, and heart-pounding action. As a distinguished program of Banff Centre, renowned as the largest and most esteemed mountain festival globally, this year’s tour promises to captivate audiences with a carefully curated collection of the most inspiring films from the festival.

Since 1986, right after the festival, held every fall in Banff, Alberta, the Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour starts to travel around the globe with stops in 450 communities and 40 countries.

For tickets, https://www.marshall.edu/muartistseries/#/shows/banff_mountain_film_festival

MARCH 

March 4-5: The 13th annual West Virginia Mountaineer Short Film Festival 

Set for March 4-8, 2026. The WVMSFF invites submissions in video/film, animation, VR, video installation & performance to its 13th edition, which takes place March 4 – 8, 2026 on the campus of West Virginia University. The droids they are looking for are … innovative, provocative, highly charged and deeply personal works in a variety of genres, both traditional and experimental. This year we also welcome submissions to a special thematic category, exploring new insights into evolving definitions and understandings of Time, in any context. Deadline for entries is Feb. 6, 2026.

 They screen short narrative films and experimental artworks alike, and welcome all genres: narrative, documentary, video art, experimental animation, comedy, sci/fi, 2D/3D animation, low budget/no budget and that which eludes categorization. Established submission categories include: Experimental, Narrative, Documentary, Animation & Student Work and a special theme of Time.

 Find out more info at  https://www.wvmsff.com/ where you can also link to the Film Freeway admissions page at https://filmfreeway.com/TheWestVirginiaMountaineerShortFilmFestival?

March 13-15: The 23rd Annual American Conservation Film Festival 

One of the nation’s longest-running conservation and outdoors film fests, the American Conservation- Film Festival is set for March 13-15 in Shepherdstown, WV. Films have been chosen and filmmakers will be notified Jan. 31 for this educational and entertaining weekend packed with 25 powerful stories and perspectives from filmmakers and conservationists across the globe. Founded in 2003, in Shepherdstown, WV, ACFF was created by filmmakers and conservationists who believed that stories shape how we connect with nature. Today, the festival has grown into a nationally recognized platform for showcasing powerful films on the most urgent environmental issues. Highlights include a student day for Jefferson County students where they interact with professional filmmakers about careers in filmmaking.

Go online at https://filmfreeway.com/ACFF 

March 13-15: The first Martinsburg/Apollo Film Festival

Held at the historic Apollo Civic Theater in downtown Martinsburg, MAFF has been re-branded by director Brett Hammond, who held the first for three years over in Berkeley Springs, WV. 

Sponsored by the Martinsburg/Berkeley County CVB, the festival rolls March 13-15 with more than 20 hours of independent and often regionally made films of all genres. There will be socials on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, and hotel discounts for attendees. 

 Keynote speaker is Hollywood screenwriter, actor and producer Darrell Fetty. The Milton WV native and Marshall University grad is best known for writing and producing the record-breaking History Channel miniseries The Hatfields and McCoys, as well as Texas Rising. His new Civil War spy series The Gray House debuts in February on Amazon Prime. 

 Festival passes run from $10 for students to $49 for adults for the weekend. Day passes also available.

Go online at https://www.martinsburgff.com/event-details/2026-martinsburg-apollo-film-festival

March 20-22: The 15th Appalachian Film Festival 

After a decade-long run 2003-2013, the Appy Film Fest in Huntington was revived in 2023 and is now back for a fourth straight year.

 Once held in April, the Appy has moved up to Friday through Sunday, March 20-22 to coincide with the 49th annual Appalachian Studies Conference hosted by Marshall University.

 Held at the historic Foundry Theater (above Huntington City Hall), the Appy features  regionally-made films from the 13-state Appalachian region that reflect and celebrate Appalachia through the lens of curated content that features four categories, student, music video, short and feature length. Each of the winners will receive a Blenko Glass Appy. “Best in Fest” can come from any of the four categories. Friday’s screening’s start at 6 p.m. with a slate of films, live music and fun. Saturday’s full-day fest runs 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. with curated selections from around Appalachia.

Sunday, March 22 – 2-4 –  Fairmont, WV native best-selling author Ed Ashton, most famous for his novel “Mickey 7”  which you might know as the major motion picture “Mickey 17,”  will be hosting the professional development portion this year alongside a panel and Q&A. Moderated by WSAZ’s Tim Irr, learn how this Fairmont native took his dream from the pen to the page, then to the hands of an Academy Award winning director to gross $133 million worldwide. $5 General Admission. Free entry for festival submitters

Go online at https://filmfreeway.com/AppalachianFilmFestival and https://www.foundrytheater.org/appalachian-film-fest for more information. Contact festival director Rachel Allinder at rachel@foundrytheater.org for more information on how you can volunteer or help sponsor the fest.

March 21 – Third Annual Harpers Ferry Film Fest 

The third annual Harpers Ferry Film Festival is scheduled for 5-9 p.m. Saturday, March 21, 2026, at the Stephen T. Mather Training Center. There is a reception following the films. This event showcases various films in the historic town of Harpers Ferry. Filmmakers will include but not limited to Zack Harold, Drew Broadhurst, Laura Lancu, Jesse Womack, Caroline Collins and others. Tickets on sale soon on EventBrite. For more information, and updates, attendees are encouraged to visit the official event page on Facebook.

March 31 – Marshall Student Film Fest 

The Marshall Film Studies Program is accepting submissions for the Marshall Student Film Festival. Submissions are being accepted until Friday, February 27.

Any Marshall student, undergraduate or graduate, may submit work, whether or not that work was created for a class. Submitted work may be in any film or video genre or format, including but not limited to narrative film, documentary, music video, animation, abstract/avant-garde film, television or web show episodes, and video essays. Students may submit as many individual items as they like.

The screening of selected works and awarding of Best of Festival will take place at 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 31, at the Joan C. Edwards Playhouse. Submit films and get more info at https://www.marshall.edu/filmstudies/

April 9, Banff Mountain Film Fest Tour Stop in Morgantown 

At 7 p.m. Thursday, April 9, head to the Metropolitan Theater, 390 High St., Morgantown, for the Banff Mountain Film Fest. 

Get ready for a three-hour celebration of mountain sports, adventure, culture, and the environment! The 2025 Banff Centre Mountain Film Festival World Tour is back, showcasing the most exhilarating short films featuring explorers, runners, mountain bikers, skiers, paddlers, and climbers from around the globe. Now back for its 28th year, this event is hosted by Chestnut Mountain Productions.

This global tour follows the renowned Banff Mountain Festival, the largest and most prestigious mountain festival in the world. Held every November in the stunning mountain town of Banff, Canada. The festival screens 300 of the best films exploring mountain sports, culture, the environment, and adventure during the week-long event. This year’s lineup promises a captivating lineup of short films shot in some of the world’s most wild and remote locations. Expect breathtaking cinematography, thought-provoking narratives, and heart-pounding action. 

Get info at http://www.chestnutmtnproductions.com/banff-film-festival/west-virginia/morgantown/