← All festivals
35th edition
Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival
Hot Springs, United States
October 9-17, 2026
9 days
About Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival
The Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival, presented by the Hot Springs Documentary Film Institute, is North America's longest-running all-documentary festival. Founded in 1992, the festival takes place each October in Hot Springs National Park, Arkansas, and features international nonfiction features and shorts. Programming includes filmmaker forums, educational partnerships and wellness initiatives that take advantage of the resort town's setting.
Festival details
Location
Hot Springs, United States
Scope
International
Focus
Documentary · Feature · Short
Duration
9 days
Founded
1992
Special programs
Films & Schedule
Core festival screening program of curated international documentaries.
Filmmaker Forum
Panels and conversations with visiting documentary filmmakers.
Year-Round Programming
Documentary screenings outside the main festival window.
Educational Programs
Partnerships with schools and educators.
Wellness Programs
Wellness activities integrated with the resort-town setting.
For filmmakers
Submission deadline
2026-07-15
Screening eligibility
Tiered deadlines: Early Bird Feb 1 · Regular May 1 · Late Jun 15 · Extended Jul 15, 2026.
Accepted formats
Non-fiction films of all forms and lengths
Best Documentary Films
Award-Winning Documentaries
Curated For You
WATCH NOW
