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Documentaries Without Borders

International Film Festival

Your story matters. We deliver it directly to the distributors that count—guaranteed.

Official IMDb Qualifying Festival

Winners can list their awards directly on IMDb

Submit Your Film View All Festivals

Submission Deadlines

Opening Date September 1, 2025
Earlybird Deadline September 30, 2025
Regular Deadline October 31, 2025
Late Deadline December 31, 2025
Extended Deadline January 31, 2026
Last Chance February 28, 2026
Notification Date March 15, 2026

Recent Festival Winners

Cracking the Code: Phil Sharp and the Biotech Revolution - Documentary Film Poster
SUMMER 2025

Best of Festival

Cracking the Code: Phil Sharp and the Biotech Revolution

Categories: Health & Science Documentary

United States

The Time Factor - Documentary by Clément Lefer - Film Poster
FALL 2024

Best of Festival

The Time Factor

Director: Clément Lefer

Category: Documentary

France

Stand UP Speak OUT - Reproductive Rights Documentary - Film Poster
SPRING 2024

Best of Festival

Stand UP, Speak OUT - Reproductive Rights

Director: Elisabeth Harris

Category: Documentary

United States

Freedom on Fire: Ukraine's Fight for Freedom by Evgeny Afineevsky - Film Poster
SUMMER 2023

Best of Festival

Freedom on Fire: Ukraine's Fight for Freedom

Director: Evgeny Afineevsky

Category: Documentary

United States

Climate Emergency: Feedback Loops - Science Documentary - Film Poster
SUMMER 2022

Best of Festival

Climate Emergency: Feedback Loops

Director: Susan Gray

Category: Science Documentary

United States

Why Choose DWBIFF?

🎬

Guaranteed Distribution Review

Best of Festival winners receive guaranteed review by Worldwide Motion Pictures Corporation, Adler & Associates, Cardinal XD, and CCS Releasing—at no extra cost.

📺

WRPN.TV Exposure

Showcase your film to a worldwide community through our partnership with WRPN.TV Entertainment Network.

💡

Constructive Feedback

Rejected films receive detailed feedback. Make corrections and resubmit for FREE—even for the next season.

🎓

Student Discounts

Reduced rates for all student film entries in major categories, regardless of deadline status.

⭐

IMDb Qualifying

Official IMDb qualifying festival. Winners can list their awards to enhance professional credibility.

🌍

Documentary Focused

Dedicated exclusively to documentaries and docu-dramas, with specialized categories for maximum recognition.

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About DWBIFF

As a dedicated documentary filmmaker, you have an important message—deliver it to the people that matter! While other festivals claim to "invite" distributors to venues, we deliver them to you directly, guaranteed.

DWBIFF is a festival dedicated to documentaries and docu-dramas only. We are one of the few festivals with a separate category specifically for docu-dramas, recognizing the unique storytelling approach of this hybrid format.

What Sets Us Apart

  • Direct Distributor Access: No need to hope a distributor sees your film at a festival venue. We guarantee top winners will be reviewed by our distribution partners.
  • Web-Based Competition: 100% of our effort and investment goes into finding a market for you, not into renting theatres. We focus on what matters—getting your film seen by decision-makers.
  • Fair Judging Process: All our judges are paid professionals—no unpaid volunteers. Our founders are registered Committee Members of the Universal Film & Festival Organization (UFFO.ORG), a UK-based non-profit promoting best business practices for film festivals.
  • Individual Merit System: Your film doesn't compete against others. Instead, it's judged on its own merits, ensuring judges focus entirely on your work when evaluating it.
  • Specialized Categories: Environmental, Human Spirit, Social Issues, Wildlife, Docu-drama shorts, Docu-drama features, and many more unique documentary distinctions.
  • Free Resubmission: Rejected films receive feedback on what needs improvement. Make the suggested corrections and resubmit for FREE, even for the following season.

Distribution Opportunities

DWBIFF, in cooperation with our distribution colleagues, offers guaranteed distributor review to the Best of Festival winners in our 19 major categories. We don't control whether distributors offer production deals, but we open the door for top winners.

Additional Benefits

  • Reduced rates for sub-category submissions (cinematography, editing, original score, research, etc.)
  • Optional on-demand video play on WRPN.TV
  • Sub-category awards for cinematography, research, original concept, editing, viewer impact, and many others
  • Unique opportunity to show your film to a worldwide community through WRPN.TV Entertainment Network

Award Levels

Best of Festival

Granted to the top-scoring entries each season in the 19 major categories. Winners receive guaranteed distributor review.

Best of Show

Recognizing exceptional entries based on genre and national/international origin.

Award of Outstanding Excellence

For entries with truly exceptional artistic and technical achievements.

Award of Excellence

Recognizing superior quality in documentary filmmaking and storytelling.

Award of Exceptional Merit

Acknowledging outstanding work across various aspects of production.

Award of Merit

Celebrating notable achievements in documentary filmmaking.

Kudos Endeavor Award

Honoring commendable efforts and promising work in the documentary field.

Note: If there is insufficient competition within any category, DWBIFF reserves the right to withdraw a "Best Of" presentation in that category.