Naples has a real film festival, and it is a bigger deal than most locals realize. The Naples International Film Festival has been named one of the Top 50 Film Festivals Worth the Submission Fee and one of the Top 25 Coolest Film Festivals in the World, and it just keeps growing.
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Event | Naples International Film Festival (NIFF), 18th annual |
| Dates | October 22 to 25, 2026 |
| Venue | Alamo Drafthouse Cinema, 9118 Strada Place, Mercato |
| Presented by | Artis-Naples |
| Categories | Narrative Features, Documentary Features, Short Films, Student Showcases |
| Screening tickets | $14.99 per film, plus tax and fees |
The Naples International Film Festival is now entering its 18th year, and it is set to take place October 22 through 25, 2026 at Alamo Drafthouse Cinema in the Mercato. It is presented by Artis-Naples, the same organization behind the Baker Museum and the Naples Philharmonic, which is why the festival carries more weight than a typical small city film event.
The festival champions independent storytelling and brings together visiting filmmakers, industry professionals, and moviegoers for several days of screenings, conversations, and shared stories. Artis-Naples is inviting filmmakers to submit work in five categories, including Narrative Features, Documentary Features, Short Films, and Student Filmmaker Showcases for both K through 12 and college level.
The talent it draws is not small time either. Last year, the festival's opening night short film went on to win the 2026 Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film. That is not a fluke. Recent programming has consistently punched above what you would expect from a Southwest Florida event.
The festival offers over $15,000 in cash prizes across 12 competition categories, including a Jury Award for Best Narrative Feature at $2,500, a Jury Award for Best Documentary Feature at $2,500, an Audience Award for Best Narrative Feature at $1,250, and a dedicated Best Florida Film award recognizing projects shot at least partially in the state. There is also a Rising Star Award, a Best First Feature Award, and an Impact Award, among others.
Individual Alamo Drafthouse screenings run $14.99 plus tax and fees, available through Alamo Drafthouse directly or through the festival's own site. For people planning to see multiple films, a 10 pack of tickets is available at the Alamo Drafthouse box office for $140, which works out to $14 per ticket. Opening Night includes a film and party option starting at $40 for film only, up to $225 for the VIP party tier, with doors opening at 6pm and the film starting at 7pm.
There is also an outdoor option. Norris Garden Film Screenings offer table seating for four at $84, available only through Artis-Naples directly, valid for the Friday and Saturday nights of the festival with doors at 7pm and film at 7:30pm. That is a nice change of pace from sitting in a standard theater seat for four straight days of programming.
NIFF is not the only film event on the local calendar. Naples Cinematheque runs the Naples MotorFilm Fest, a separate motorsport themed festival hosted at the Paragon Pavilion Theater on Vanderbilt Beach Road, showcasing motorsport films from around the globe over a multi day run. The Jewish Federation of Greater Naples also runs the Naples Jewish Film Festival each fall. If film is your thing, Naples has more going on than just the one big October weekend.
Alamo Drafthouse Cinema at 9118 Strada Place in the Mercato, off US 41 in North Naples.
Individual screening tickets are available at $14.99 each, so you do not need a full pass to attend.
No, it is open to the public and built around bringing filmmakers and general audiences together for screenings and conversations.
Want more on what is happening around town this month? Check our events calendar, or browse our Naples art galleries and public art guide for more culture picks.