NABC 2026 invites independent filmmakers across the globe to submit their work and participate in person for this gala event.

NABC's Film Festival promises a captivating amalgamation of both feature-length and short films. This year, our festival is set to dazzle audiences with an array of feature films and short films spanning various genres, guaranteeing entertainment of the highest caliber. Comprising three distinct segments, our cinematic extravaganza is poised to be an unforgettable experience.

NABC takes pride in presenting a showcase of Bengali Movies, Premieres, and Adda sessions, providing unique selfie opportunities with our esteemed film personalities before and after each screening. Additionally, our festival will host enriching panel discussions on film direction and production, featuring award-winning directors and producers.

The Short Film Festival, a celebration of boundless creativity, serves as a platform for filmmakers to showcase their talents, fostering collaboration and nurturing a sense of community. These festivals ignite the flames of artistic growth, emboldening filmmakers to push the boundaries of storytelling and explore novel narrative avenues.

Furthermore, we extend an invitation to savor the captivating short films and documentaries crafted by immigrant filmmakers from around the world. Join us for interactive sessions and unique opportunities to engage with our film luminaries, facilitating discussions on potential collaborations and igniting inspiration within the burgeoning community of short filmmakers.

Best Short Film
Best Documentary

All filmmakers are encouraged to attend the NABC Film Festival in person and register for the event at the NABC Website - https://nabcapp.com/

NABC Film Festival will take place from July 3, 2026, to July 5, 2026. We look forward to having you be a part of our festival that celebrates cinema in a warm and personable style.

Please read below to gauge your eligibility.
By submitting your Film to WFCN, you accept that this document has been read and understood.
For any questions regarding submissions, please email [email protected]

Film Submission Categories:
1. In Competition Fiction Short Film
- The Film run-time should not exceed 40 minutes
- The film must premiere when screened at NABC
2. In Competition Documentary
- Film runtime should not exceed 40 minutes
- The film must premiere when screened at NABC

Eligibility Criteria For ALL Films:

All Films being submitted to The NABC Festival must meet the criteria below, along with their Category requirements, listed above.

1. All Films submitted must have been completed within 2 years of the festival date.
2. Films that contain non-English spoken dialogue must provide on-screen English subtitles.
3. Accepted Film submitted should be in the mp4 file format.

Film Submission Process:

Please follow the details below in order to submit your Film:

1. All film submissions must be submitted via WFCN, a safe and secure platform to upload and stream your film. You must provide a link with a download option. Our programmers are in different parts of the world and need download access to your film since internet speeds vary and are not reliable for streaming. It is the sole responsibility of the Film’s applicant to provide ALL information asked during the registration process via WFCN.
2. All of the included fields must be completed; your submission will not be considered complete until they are. If there are any issues with your application, NABC will notify you by email.
3. An application will ONLY be considered eligible for NABC once a complete submission kit has been submitted. Along with the above requirements, a complete submission kit must include the following:
a. Synopsis, language, length, year, country of origin, screening format, cast & crew credits, filmmaker picture and bio
b. Online Media screener of the Film
On selection, the following will be required (but not limited to):
a. Posters & postcards for display
b. Press Kit with film stills, reviews
c. Online Trailer of the Film (up to 1 minute)
Recommended minimum sizes:
-Web: Long edge - 900px @72dpi;
-Print: Long edge - 1800px @240dpi
-Video Trailer: Can send us a downloadable link via Vimeo, DropBox, etc. Resolution: 1080p
4. The applicant is responsible for all required mailing costs and will provide an ideal print in the requested Film format. It will be the applicant's responsibility to arrange for returns of Film print and to bear related costs.
5. No fee waivers. Due to the high volume of emails received, email requests for fee waivers will not be answered.

NABC Film Festival REGULATIONS:

1. NABC reserves the right to disqualify any submission if it does not meet the stated requirements.
2. NABC does not provide comments or feedback regarding the submitted Film to the Applicant or any other representative of the submitted Film.
3. Upon selection into the Festival, withdrawal of the film is not permissible.
4. NABC holds the right to determine the eligibility of any new or previously submitted film. In the event the film is deemed ineligible, NABC is under no obligation to refund any or all submission fees previously collected from the applicant.
5. It is the sole responsibility of the Applicant to secure clearance from the copyright holders of any copyrighted materials included within the submitted Film. NABC or NABC sponsors will not be held responsible for the unauthorized inclusion of any copyrighted materials within or relating to the submitted Film.
6. It is the Applicant’s responsibility to read and understand the Legal Terms and Conditions below, which are in place to protect both the Festival and the Filmmaker. By submitting your film on WFCN, you are stating that you have read the Legal Terms and conditions that follow.
7. NABC has no obligation (other than as stated in these rules) to disclose any of the following information: i) identities of screeners or judges; ii) notes, feedback, or information relating to the submitted project; and/or iii) details regarding the submission review or selection process.
8. NABC explicitly disclaims any liability or responsibility for any comments, notes, or opinions expressed about a submission.
9. NABC reserves the right to set geographic blocking rules and settings at its sole discretion, for virtual/online exhibited film content.

LEGAL TERMS & CONDITIONS

I, the authorized representative of the project being submitted (the "Film"), acknowledge and agree as follows in connection with the Film's submittal for consideration for the NABC Film Festival (the “Festival”):
1. I represent that I am 18 or older, or that, if I am younger than the legal age to enter into contracts in my state/country, I have provided the Festival with written consent from my parent or legal guardian.
2. I hereby represent and warrant to the Festival that: (a) I am duly authorized, on my own behalf and on behalf of all other persons or entities who have any ownership rights or interests (including, without limitation, intellectual property rights) in or relating to the Film (the “Film’s Owners”), to exhibit this Film at the Festival, (b) exhibition of the Film at the Festival will not violate any law or any right or consent of any person or entity; and (c) the Film is not subject to any litigation, arbitration, or other adversarial claim or proceeding, nor is the Film the subject of any threat of litigation, arbitration, or other adverse claim or proceeding.
3. I further represent and warrant, on behalf of myself and the Film’s Owners, that the exhibition of the Film at the Festival will not violate or infringe any copyright, patent, privacy right, publicity right, trademark, service mark or any other personal or property right of any person or entity, and that the Film does not constitute or include a defamation of any person or entity. I have paid and will pay in full all license fees, clearance fees, and other obligations, of any kind, arising from or associated with the exhibition of the Film at or in connection with the Festival.
4. In the event that the Film is accepted by the Festival, I acknowledge, on behalf of myself and the Film’s Owners, that the Festival's exhibition or presentation of the Film does not and will not create any confidential or fiduciary relationship between the Festival on the one hand and myself and/or the Film’s Owners on the other. I further acknowledge, on behalf of myself and the Film’s Owners, that we understand that neither I nor any of the Film’s Owners will receive any compensation for such exploitation. I acknowledge that no obligation of any kind is assumed by, or may be implied against the Festival. in the event of, by virtue of, or as a result of the Festival’s selection of the Film. I and the Film’s Owners understand and acknowledge that the selection of the Film by the Festival does not and will not in any way constitute an express or implied endorsement or approval by the Festival, of the content of the Film or any opinion expressed therein.
5. I agree, on behalf of myself and each of the Film’s Owners, to indemnify and hold harmless the Festival and the Chicago South Asian Arts Council, Inc., together with each of their parents, subsidiaries, affiliates, parents, officers, directors, employees, attorneys, creative advisors, agents and representatives (collectively, “NABC Related Parties”) from and against any and all claims, losses, liabilities, damages, fees, and expenses (including, but not limited to, reasonable attorney's fees and other costs) that may be asserted by any person or entity or may be incurred by the Festival, or any NABC Related Parties at any time in connection with the Film or the Festival’s use thereof, and/or arising from any breach or alleged breach of any representation made by me to the Festival, including, without limitation, any express or implied representation in these Terms and Conditions.
6. In the event that the Film is accepted by the Festival, I hereby grant, on behalf of myself and each of the Film’s Owners, each of the following rights to the Festival, and their related entities without reservations, conditions, or qualifications: (a) the right to use footage, stills and/or titles, and information from or relating to the Film for promotional purposes; and (b) the right to issue and authorize publicity concerning the filmmakers and the Film and to use all associated names, likenesses and biographical information. I also agree to provide contact information for the director and producer(s) of the Film and to grant the Festival the right to provide this information to film industry organizations sponsoring Festival events at its discretion.
7. I further agree, on behalf of myself and each of the Film’s Owners, that any claim, dispute, or controversy arising out of, in connection with, or otherwise related to the Film, the Festival, or these Terms and Conditions (including the breach, termination, enforcement, interpretation or validity thereof), as well as the determination of the scope or applicability of this agreement to arbitrate, will be governed by the internal, substantive laws of the State of Illinois and will be submitted to exclusive, binding arbitration before an arbitration forum in Chicago, Illinois. In agreeing to this exclusive arbitration provision, I hereby waive and relinquish, on behalf of myself and each of the Film’s Owners, any right or entitlement that I or the Film’s Owners might otherwise have had to bring or litigate any claim or claims encompassed by this paragraph in federal or state court against the Festival, or any NABC Related Party, and any right to a trial by jury with respect to such claim or claims.
8. I hereby acknowledge that I have read and understood the rules and regulations for submitting a film to the Festival and that the information contained shall supersede any information obtained elsewhere, including, but not limited to, the information contained in any rules and regulations documents from prior years.
9. It is the sole responsibility of the Applicant to secure authorization and permission from the copyright owner(s) of any and all copyrighted content or materials included within the submitted Film. The Institute expressly disavows any responsibility for, and will not be held responsible for, any unauthorized inclusion of any copyrighted content or materials within or relating to the submitted Film, including any content or materials that are or may become the basis for any third party claims for copyright infringement. The Institute reserves the right to disqualify, without refund of any or all submission fees previously collected from the Applicant, any Film with any unauthorized inclusion of copyrighted content or materials. In the event that any claim, dispute, action, or proceeding shall be brought or asserted by any person or entity that alleges that the Film makes unauthorized or unlawful use of any copyrighted content or material, Applicant shall fully indemnify and defend the Institute, the Festival, and each of their representatives and affiliates from any liability in connection therewith and from any fees and expenses, including but not limited to attorneys’ fees, that any of them may incur in connection therewith.
10. It is the sole responsibility of the Applicant to secure authorization and permission from the owner(s) of any and all trademarked content or materials included within the submitted Film. The Institute expressly disavows any responsibility for, and will not be held responsible for, any unauthorized inclusion of any trademarked content or materials within or relating to the submitted Film, including any content or materials that are or may become the basis for any third party claims for trademark infringement, trademark dilution or unfair competition. The Institute reserves the right to disqualify, without refund of any or all submission fees previously collected from the Applicant, any Film with any unauthorized inclusion of trademarked content or materials. In the event that any claim, dispute, action, or proceeding shall be brought or asserted by any person or entity that alleges that the Film makes unauthorized or unlawful use of any trademarked content or material, Applicant shall fully indemnify and defend the Institute, the Festival, and each of their representatives and affiliates from any liability in connection therewith and from any fees and expenses, including but not limited to attorneys’ fees, that any of them may incur in connection therewith.
11. It is the sole responsibility of the Applicant to clear all content of the Film from any and all actual or potential legal claims and issues, including, without limitation, claims based upon theories of libel, defamation, invasion of privacy, violation of rights of publicity, theft of trade secrets, breach of confidence, breach of confidential relationship, and breach of express or implied contract (“Third Party Claim(s)”). The Institute expressly disavows any responsibility for, and will not be held responsible for, any unauthorized inclusion of any content or materials within or relating to the submitted Film that are or may be the basis for any Third Party Claims based upon any of the foregoing legal theories or others. The Institute reserves the right to disqualify, without refund of any or all submission fees previously collected from the Applicant, any Film that is or may become the subject of any Third Party Claims. In the event that any Third Party Claim(s) shall be asserted by any person or entity, Applicant shall fully indemnify and defend the Institute, the Festival, and each of their representatives and affiliates from any liability in connection therewith and from any and all fees and expenses, including but not limited to attorneys’ fees, that each of any of them may incur in connection therewith.
12. Festival is not responsible for any streaming lags, interruptions, outages, or inability to access the Online Film exhibition ("virtual or online screening of Film during Festival") as a result of internet connection or any other technical, hardware, equipment, system, server or technology related issues. The Festival is not responsible for any data security, breach, or piracy-related issues while accessing the Online Film exhibition.
13. NABC does not pay a rental fee for the programmed work. Please notify the festival in advance if your film is being acquired by a distributor.
14. NABC does not provide airfare & stay for every filmmaker who is selected for the film festival.
By submitting my Film to the NABC Film Festival, I freely and voluntarily give and express my full and complete acceptance of all of the terms and provisions set forth in these Terms and Conditions. I acknowledge that no oral representations, inducements, promises, or assurances, not set forth in these Terms and Conditions, have been made to the Film’s owners or me by the Festival, or any other Related Parties.