Immigration Film Festival

Home
United States
Washington D.C., DC
Immigration Film Festival

IFF brings stories of immigrants and refugees to diverse audiences in the DC area through an annual film festival and smaller events throughout the year.

Join us for the 8th Annual Immigration Film Festival! Mark your calendars and join us online and in person, on October 14-17, 2021 and beyond as we celebrate the contributions of immigrants and refugees. Get your FREE tickets here (although we would appreciate donations): http://www.immigrationfilmfest.org/

05/10/2026

**DEADLINE TO SUBMIT FILMS EXTENDED TO MAY 22**

In the 13th year of the Immigration Film Fest, we seek thoughtful films that tell the stories of ordinary and extraordinary immigrants and refugees.

The Immigration Film Fest is dedicated to bringing the power of film to spotlight and honor the stories of immigrants in society. We particularly encourage immigrant and student filmmakers to submit your films.

The 2026 Immigration Film Fest will be a hybrid festival with live screenings at DMV area venues and hosted online. Selected films will be provided exposure in Washington DC, where policy discussions about immigration are held by decision-makers, international media & thought leaders and where there is an enthusiastic audience for unique, creative films.

Visit the link in our bio to learn more.

04/07/2026

A Third Culture Kid is someone who spends a significant part of their childhood in a country different from their parents’ homeland. This unique upbringing can be both enriching and challenging, often leading to questions of identity, belonging, and where “home” truly is.

Join us on Saturday, April 18 at 7:30 for an intimate night of reflection, learning, and laughter as talented local actors bring real stories from third culture kids to life. The evening will also feature vibrant cultural dance performances, along with a variety of global foods available for purchase, adding even more flavor to the experience.

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/between-worlds-stories-of-third-culture-kids-tickets-1985734781185?aff=oddtdtcreator

03/10/2026

Celebrating its 13th year, the Immigration Film Fest (IFF) will be held in Washington, DC in Fall 2026. IFF is now accepting eligible film submissions until May 15.

What type of films are we looking for? We seek thoughtful films, including narrative feature- and short-length films as well as documentary, that tell the stories of ordinary and extraordinary immigrants and refugees. IFF is dedicated to bringing the power of film to spotlight and honor the stories of immigrants. We particularly encourage immigrant and student filmmakers to submit your films.

Learn more: https://filmfreeway.com/immigrationfilmfest

Reach out with any questions and look out for more information about IFF 2026 coming later this year!

10/18/2025

Friday Night Recap ✨

On 9/26, We continued our festival screenings at Regal Gallery Place with two powerful films exploring migration, identity, and belonging.

🎬 Nabi — Dir. Hamed Golshahi
A quiet, contemplative short following an Afghan migrant worker as his 25-year livelihood comes to an end.

🎬 Ocarina — Dir. Alban Zogjani
A gripping feature from Kosovo and Germany following a couple’s struggle to secure legal status in the UK while holding onto their family and sense of self.

10/17/2025

Opening Night Recap! ✨

We kicked off our core festival screenings in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month on 9/25 with an unforgettable evening of short films spotlighting the strength, creativity, and resilience of Latino immigrants around the world.

🎬 Featured films:
First Winter — Dir. Schantelle Alonzo
Moveable Scraps — Dir. Sandra la Rota
Oneyda — Dir. Yulian Martinez-Escobar
Hermanos — Dir. Rachel McDonald
The Changebaker — Dir. Courtney Dixon

After the screenings, we had the honor of hearing from Oneyda’s director Yulian Martinez-Escobar, Moveable Scraps’ co-creator and co-editor Elliot Zepeda Kim, and The Changebaker’s star Manolo Betancur.

Thank you to everyone who joined us for this powerful night of storytelling and community. ❤️

10/01/2025

Time is running out! 🎬 IFF Virtual access ends October 4. Don’t miss these four incredible films—and many more still available to stream:

1. Loyal American
- After Pearl Harbor, Keige Kaku was discharged from the U.S. Army, imprisoned in a Japanese “internment camp,” and deported. Eighty years later, his son Henry retraces his steps.

2. The Long Walk of Carlos Guerrero
- When NYC chef Carlos Guerrero visits his sick mother in Mexico, he risks everything as an undocumented immigrant. Stranded in the Arizona desert with a young girl from El Salvador, the film follows his perilous journey back to New York.

3. Transformation
- After the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, Malika, a transgender woman, and her partner Mohamed flee Kabul to Istanbul’s Zeytinburnu, escaping honor violence and Taliban punishment in search of a new life together.

4. Calais-Douvres, The Endless Exile
Every year, thousands from Syria, Iran, and Sudan risk the deadly Channel crossing from Calais in flimsy boats, guided by smugglers, in pursuit of a better life in England.

Get your tickets here: https://immigrationfilmfest25.eventive.org/passes/buy

09/29/2025

Miss the in-person screenings this weekend? 🎬 You can still catch IFF Virtual now through Oct 4! Here are five amazing films being featured:

1. Alwadae Lillpite
- Ali has run a car workshop in Lillpite for 5 years, a vital hub for the small village. After his latest residency permit rejection, he plans to leave Sweden, raising questions about the impact on him, his employees, and the community.

2. Dance With Pride
- Colombian dancer Wendy Nedd, supported by Melbourne's Latin American and Hispanic Rainbow Community, embraces her identity and heritage as she prepares to perform traditional dance at Victoria's 2024 Pride Street Party.

3. Encuentro Americano
- On a hot Sunday morning in a busy American diner, strangers’ fragile lives intersect over coffee, breakfasts, and tense conversations during the 2024 U.S. election season.

4. Finding Jia
- Mei, an 8-year-old immigrant, longs for the Western lifestyle she sees on TV.

5. Internal Embers
- Escaping tensions at home, a young Lebanese man envisions his deepest anxieties through ho**ah smoke.

Get your tickets here: https://immigrationfilmfest25.eventive.org/passes/buy

09/27/2025

📸 More photos from our incredible community screening on September 19! So much great discussion and community building happening, along with delicious food and three engaging local documentaries. Thank you to all of our community members for coming out and to our amazing filmmakers for participating 🙌

🤔 Miss out on the fun? We’ve still got tickets available for tonight’s show featuring In Puszcza and Dwelling Among the Gods. Get tickets at the link in our bio!

09/26/2025

Night two of our core Immigration Film Fest screenings continue at Regal Gallery Place!

🎤 After the screening of short film Nabi, and feature film Ocarina, we’ll hear from immigration experts, Dana Lea and Ismael Shahtakhtinski, who will discuss the themes addressed in both films and how they apply to this political and cultural moment in time. Don’t miss out on an excellent show and discussion!

🎟️ Tickets available now at the link in our bio.

09/22/2025

Thank you to everyone who showed up for our SOLD OUT community screening on September 19! We were fortunate to have amazing partners , and joining us for the event, henna from the incredible artist .mahbub, and delicious Ghanaian, Iraqi-Kurdish, and Mexican food to enjoy at the screening.

All three of the short films, Taha’s Theorem, Beyond Borders: Charros of Northern Virginia, and The Test are available to screen as part of our Virtual Fest, which continues until October 4 (check out the link in our bio). Thank you so much to the filmmakers, Aaron Dye, Carlos Gonzalez, and Claudia Myers for joining to share their films with us!

Don’t miss upcoming screenings happening this weekend from September 25-28!

Address

Washington D.C., DC
20012

Website

http://www.immigrationfilmfest.org/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Immigration Film Festival posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Organization

Send a message to Immigration Film Festival:

Shortcuts

Featured

Thelma D. Jones Breast Cancer Fund
400 I Street, SW

Want your organization to be the top-listed Non Profit Organization in Washington D.C.?