ARTIS—NAPLES ANNOUNCES CALL FOR ENTRIES

Published on March 25, 2026

Naples, Fla. (March 25, 2026) — Artis—Naples announced today that it has officially opened the call for entries for the 2026 Naples International Film Festival (NIFF), set to take place October 22-25 at Alamo Drafthouse Cinema in Mercato. Now entering its 18th year, NIFF continues to champion independent storytelling, offering a filmmaker-focused festival experience that brings artists and audiences together in an engaging, collaborative environment.

Filmmakers are invited to submit their work in five categories: Narrative Features, Documentary Features, Short Films, Student Filmmaker Showcase (K-12) and Student Filmmaker Showcase (College/University). Cash prizes totaling more than $15,000 will be awarded across 12 competition categories. Submissions open March 25 via FilmFreeway. The early-bird deadline is May 15, followed by the regular deadline on June 18 and the final deadline on July 8, 2026.

Since becoming part of Artis—Naples, NIFF has become an integral part of the multidisciplinary organization’s programming, complementing its longstanding commitment to the visual and performing arts. The festival brings together visiting filmmakers, industry professionals and cinephiles for several days of screenings, conversations and shared stories. A recent example is The Singers, a short film selected for NIFF’s 2025 Opening Night Shorts that went on to win the 2026 Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film, tying for first place.

“At its core, NIFF is about storytelling and connection,” said Shannon Franklin, festival producer. “Each year, we’re inspired by the range of voices and perspectives that filmmakers bring to the festival. NIFF has earned its reputation as a welcoming, collaborative space where artists and audiences can engage meaningfully with independent film.”

The 2026 festival will once again blend the energy of independent cinema with the artistic resources and setting of Artis—Naples. In addition to in-theater screenings, select films will be presented outdoors in Norris Garden on the Artis—Naples Kimberly K. Querrey and Louis A. Simpson Cultural Campus, offering audiences a distinctive viewing experience under the stars.

“The Naples International Film Festival has become a vital part of our multidisciplinary programming,” said David Filner, executive vice president, artistic operations. “Independent film expands the dialogue we foster across disciplines, and NIFF continues to attract filmmakers whose work resonates deeply with the Southwest Florida community. We look forward to discovering the next slate of submissions.”

Accepted films will be programmed in competitive and noncompetitive categories at the discretion of the festival. In addition to juried and audience awards, NIFF will present its Focus on the Arts Award, a $1,500 cash prize recognizing a narrative or documentary feature that highlights one or more of the visual or performing arts.

Films must be completed after January 1, 2025 and be available to screen during the festival dates. All submissions must be made through FilmFreeway.

For full submission guidelines and to submit a film, visit: https://artisnaples.org/naples-international-filim-festival/call-for-entries/2026.

Submissions are generously supported by the Collier County Tourist Development Council.

ARTIS—NAPLES

Artis—Naples, home of The Baker Museum and Naples Philharmonic, creates and presents world-class visual and performing arts. Through our multidisciplinary offerings, we inspire, educate and entertain to engage and enrich the growing and diversifying community.

KIMBERLY K. QUERREY and LOUIS A. SIMPSON CULTURAL CAMPUS

Led by CEO and President Kathleen van Bergen and Artistic and Music Director Alexander Shelley, Artis—Naples offers more than 800 visual and performing arts experiences annually across its 8.5-acre Kimberly K. Querrey and Louis A. Simpson Cultural Campus and throughout the community. Artis—Naples welcomes hundreds of thousands of visitors each year for a broad array of artistic and educational opportunities perfect for audiences of all backgrounds and interests. The cultural campus is home to five buildings, including two performance halls (Frances Pew Hayes Hall and Myra J. Daniels Pavilion), The Baker Museum, the Toni Stabile Education Building and the Kohan Administration Building.

NAPLES PHILHARMONIC

The Naples Philharmonic has long been recognized as one of the cornerstones of Southwest Florida’s arts community. As part of Artis—Naples, the Naples Philharmonic performs more than 140 orchestral and chamber music concerts, as well as opera and ballet, education, community and special event concerts annually between September and June in the 1,477-seat Hayes Hall, the 283-seat Daniels Pavilion and around Southwest Florida. The Naples Philharmonic has enjoyed a history of working with world-class music directors. Following a successful inaugural season in 2024-25, Alexander Shelley commences his second season as artistic and music director in 2025-26. Renowned violinist James Ehnes continues as artistic partner through the 2025-26 season, working with Naples Philharmonic musicians in a variety of settings with a focus on inspiring and embodying a high level of artistry. Podium leadership also includes Principal Pops Conductor Jack Everly, celebrating 16 years in this role in the 2025-26 season and bringing pops performances that celebrate music across genres.

THE BAKER MUSEUM

The Baker Museum is the foremost fine art museum in Southwest Florida, presenting an ambitious slate of exhibitions annually to complement installations of works from its permanent collection. Comprising more than 3,000 objects, the museum’s broad holdings of 20th- and 21st-century art reflect particular strengths in modern art of the United States and Mexico. The Baker Museum’s collection demonstrates the generosity and commitment of area collectors, including significant gifts from the collection of the late Olga Hirshhorn.

In 2025, The Baker Museum was accredited by the American Alliance of Museums, the highest national recognition for museums in the United States, affirming the museum’s commitment to excellence, accountability and public service.

With more than two decades of collecting and exhibiting, the museum is committed to the stewardship and scholarship of its collections and to fostering inspiring and transformative experiences with the visual arts. At the same time, The Baker Museum partners with the world’s leading arts institutions to make extraordinary exhibitions accessible to the Southwest Florida community—including recently the National Portrait Gallery, London and the Helen Frankenthaler Foundation. In 2020, Artis—Naples celebrated the renovation and expansion of The Baker Museum and adjoining Norris Garden, designed by Weiss/Manfredi Architecture/Landscape/Urbanism, which created new spaces for multidisciplinary exploration and social interaction.

EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY

In addition to creating and presenting visual and performing arts, Artis—Naples provides robust education and community activities for students of all ages in Collier and Lee counties. Each season, thousands of Collier County Public School students interact with Artis—Naples education programming, both on our cultural campus and in their classrooms. Beyond our commitment to youth education, the Lifelong Learning program provides informative lectures and study opportunities for adults seeking to engage more deeply with the arts.

The Friends of Artis—Naples, comprised of more than 3,500 donor households, offers activities, travel experiences and events designed to foster a deeper relationship between patrons and the arts.

In 2017, Artis—Naples acquired the Naples International Film Festival (NIFF), expanding its film offerings and providing a platform for the festival’s continued excellence and growth. In 2023, the festival’s 15th anniversary year, NIFF was named one of MovieMaker Magazine’s “20 Great Film Festivals in Vacation Destinations.”