Green Bay Film Festival

Overview

The Green Bay Film Festival (GBFF) is in its 16th season and operates as a year-round festival with two distinct curated events at the historic Tarlton Theatre, 405-409 W. Walnut Street in downtown Green Bay, Wisconsin. The 2026 spring session takes place March 14, 2026, with the fall session scheduled for October 17, 2026. Submissions for the spring session run June through August, and fall submissions open March 14, 2026.

GBFF programs four categories: Made in Wisconsin, Documentary, Shorts, and Features. The festival creates themes based on the submissions received, curating each event around the specific films selected rather than programming to a predetermined theme. The festival does not pay screening fees and requires attending filmmakers to provide an exhibition copy for one screening without additional compensation.

The festival is not Academy Award-qualifying and is not FIAPF-accredited. Its value proposition is community engagement, filmmaker hospitality, and the historic Tarlton Theatre venue, which provides a restored Art Deco cinema experience with bars and a restaurant. Tickets are $15 for general admission and include access to all main activities for the event.

Submission Details

GBFF accepts submissions through FilmFreeway. The festival operates on a split-season model:

Submission categories:

• Made in Wisconsin - films by filmmakers currently living in Wisconsin and/or celebrating the stories and triumphs of people who live, work, and play in Wisconsin
• Documentary - original documentary films, any theme or topic, maximum runtime 90 minutes
• Shorts - short films of any genre or subject (narrative, experimental, animated, or other styles)
• Features - feature films of any genre or subject matter

Key rules:

• All films submitted compete in their noted categories.
• If GBFF determines a film fits a different category, the filmmaker may be notified with an option to change.
• Any film that receives a fee waiver or is invited by the festival will not be considered in competition.
• The festival does not pay screening fees. If selected, the filmmaker provides an exhibition copy for one screening.
• If selected, a trailer (maximum one minute, mp4 format) is requested for promotional purposes.
• The festival may extract clips or use submitted images for promotional purposes during the sales and promotional period.
• Filmmakers must notify GBFF of all screenings and distribution taking place prior to the festival. If the festival determines prior screenings or distribution interfere with its ability to draw an audience, it may request the film be withdrawn.
• Physical trophies are awarded to in-person participants only. Winners not in attendance receive laurels.
• Attending the festival event is required to receive any award (physical award and cash award).

Submission fees: Check the FilmFreeway listing for current fee amounts and deadline tiers.

Awards and Prizes

GBFF presents juried awards determined in advance of the festival event. The 2026 juried award structure:

• Best of the Fest - $200 cash award. Based on the theme determined for each event. Attending the festival is required to receive the cash award and physical trophy. Winners not in attendance receive laurels only.

The award is category-agnostic: "Best of the Fest" can come from any of the four submission categories (Made in Wisconsin, Documentary, Shorts, Features). The festival determines the theme for each event based on the submissions received.

What Filmmakers Should Know

Split-season format: GBFF is unusual in operating as a year-round festival with two separate events. Each event is curated independently with its own theme and submissions. If your film is not selected for the spring session, you can resubmit for the fall session. The fall 2026 event is scheduled for October 17, 2026, with submissions opening March 14, 2026.

Attendance requirement for awards: You must attend the festival event to receive any award, including the $200 cash prize and physical trophy. If you win but do not attend, you receive laurels only. This is a firm rule, not a preference. Factor travel costs to Green Bay into your festival ROI calculation before submitting.

No screening fees: GBFF does not pay screening fees. If your film is selected, you provide an exhibition copy for one screening without additional compensation. This is standard for small regional festivals but differs from festivals like Middlebury New Filmmakers, which pays screening fees for its Vermont Tour.

Prior distribution disclosure: If your film has prior screenings or distribution, you must disclose this to GBFF. The festival reserves the right to request withdrawal if prior distribution interferes with its ability to draw an audience. This is not a hard premiere requirement, but it functions as a soft one. If your film is already widely available, GBFF is less likely to program it.

Made in Wisconsin category: The Made in Wisconsin category is non-negotiable and always programmed. It is reserved for filmmakers currently living in Wisconsin and/or films celebrating Wisconsin stories. If you qualify, this category has less competition than the open categories. The festival also programs Indigenous Stories as a recurring thematic category.

Tarlton Theatre venue: The Tarlton Theatre is a historic Art Deco cinema originally constructed circa 1924 to 1925 as an automobile dealership and converted to a cinema in 1941 by architect Perry Crosier. The building reopened as The Tarlton Theatre on December 15, 2018, after over a decade of dormancy. The venue includes bars and a restaurant, and the festival incorporates food and beverage opportunities into its events. The theatre offers complimentary parking at the paved lot immediately west of the venue at 100 South Chestnut Avenue.

Community focus and Midwest hospitality: GBFF prioritizes filmmaker hospitality and community connection. The festival describes its approach as giving filmmakers "an extraordinary welcome in traditional Midwest fashion." The atmosphere is informal and community-oriented. There are no market events, no industry accreditations, and no distribution deal-making.

No fee waiver competition eligibility: If your film receives a fee waiver or is invited by the festival, it will not be considered in competition. This means waived-fee submissions can screen but cannot win the Best of the Fest award. If you are offered a waiver and want to compete, pay the entry fee instead.

Festival History

GBFF was founded in 2010 and has grown over 16 seasons into a fixture of Green Bay's cultural scene. The festival found its permanent home at the Tarlton Theatre in 2018, when the historic building reopened as an Art Deco cinema and performing arts venue. The theatre was restored by owner Tarlton Knight and former owner Mark Mariucci.

The Tarlton Theatre has a layered history. Originally constructed circa 1924 to 1925 as an automobile dealership, it was converted to a Streamline Moderne-style single-screen cinema in 1941 by Standard Theatres Management Corporation, with design by architect Perry Crosier, known for Art Deco and Art Moderne theatres throughout the American Midwest. The building operated as the West Theater until it closed. It reopened on December 15, 2018 as The Tarlton Theatre. In 2022, The Tarlton Theatre became the home of The Weidner Downtown At The Tarlton, a fine arts partnership with The Weidner and the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay. In 2024, the theatre celebrated 100 years since the original construction.

The festival's shift to a year-round, two-event format reflects an adaptation to the realities of regional festival programming. Rather than concentrating all programming into a single multi-day weekend, GBFF spreads its events across the year, allowing for more focused curation per event and sustained community engagement.

Past Winners

GBFF presents a single juried award: Best of the Fest, which includes a $200 cash prize. The award is category-agnostic and can come from any of the four submission categories. The festival determines the theme for each event based on submissions received, and the Best of the Fest winner is selected in advance of the festival.

The festival's year-round format means each themed screening event functions as its own mini-festival. Recent themed programs include:

• 2024 Spring Season: Wisconsin's Own (February), Indigenous Stories (March), Female Perspective (April), Tales of the Great Lakes (September), Noir (October), Wisconsin's Own (November)
• 2025 Spring Season: Wisconsin's Own (March 15), Wisconsin's Own encore (April 12), Animation (May 10)
• 2025 Fall Season: Comedy (September 13, with MC Pete Schwaba), Sci-Fi (October 11), Environmental (November 15)
• 2026 Spring Session: March 14, 2026

The 2025 "Wisconsin's Own" screening on March 15 presented 15 films with connections to the Dairy State, spanning short films, documentaries, and animated works. Festival director Caitlin Schuchart noted the range of genres represented.

Notable Alumni Films and Where They Ended Up

Several films connected to GBFF's programming went on to wider recognition:

• Hundreds of Beavers (Mike Cheslik, 2022) - Highlighted by GBFF Program Director Jim Schwartz as a standout Wisconsin-made film, described as "blending cutting edge animation with live action, produced by a bunch of guys from Wisconsin." Toured extensively on the festival circuit including Fantasia, Cinequest, Fantaspoa, and Sitges. Gained cult classic status and was distributed theatrically by SRH in January 2024.
• Green and Gold (Anders Lindwall, 2025) - A Wisconsin-themed feature about a dairy farmer (Craig T. Nelson) who bets on the Green Bay Packers to save his farm. Filmed mostly in Door County. Released nationally in theaters by Angel Studios in January 2025, becoming the second-most popular movie in Wisconsin theaters. Extended its run in 20 Marcus Theatres locations.
• Gift of Fear (Jack Kohler and Katy Dore, 2023) - Screened at GBFF 2024 Indigenous Stories program. A SAG-AFTRA feature addressing Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women (MMIW). Released on streaming in July 2024.
• The Last Rung on the Ladder (Kurt Krauss) - A Stephen King adaptation filmed around Wisconsin. Screened at GBFF 2025 "Wisconsin's Own" program after winning recognition at the MLC Awards in Green Bay.

Submission Tips Specific to This Festival

GBFF's year-round format and specific rules create a unique submission landscape:

• Submit to the Made in Wisconsin category if eligible. This category is non-negotiable and always programmed. It is reserved for filmmakers currently living in Wisconsin or films celebrating Wisconsin stories. Competition is lighter than in the open categories.
• Plan for attendance if you want the award. You must attend the festival event to receive the $200 cash prize and physical trophy. Winners not in attendance receive laurels only. Factor travel costs to Green Bay into your ROI calculation.
• Use the split-season format to your advantage. If your film is not selected for the spring session, you can resubmit for the fall session. The fall 2026 event is October 17, with submissions opening March 14, 2026.
• Disclose prior screenings and distribution. The festival reserves the right to request withdrawal if prior distribution interferes with audience draw. This functions as a soft premiere requirement.
• Do not accept a fee waiver if you want to compete. Films that receive a fee waiver or are invited by the festival cannot compete for Best of the Fest. If you want to be eligible for the award, pay the entry fee.
• Submit a one-minute trailer if selected. The festival requests a trailer (maximum one minute, mp4 format) for promotional purposes. Have this ready before notification.

Industry Reputation Notes

GBFF occupies a specific niche among Wisconsin film festivals. It is most usefully compared to two peer festivals:

• Milwaukee Film Festival - Both are Wisconsin-based festivals, but Milwaukee Film is significantly larger, with a bigger budget, more industry connections, and a competitive section with larger cash prizes. Milwaukee Film draws national and international industry attendees. GBFF is smaller, more community-focused, and operates year-round rather than as a single multi-day event. GBFF's $200 Best of Fest prize is modest compared to Milwaukee Film's awards.
• Beloit International Film Festival (BIFF) - Both are regional Wisconsin festivals with community focus. BIFF is older (founded 2006) and larger, with multiple venues and a broader regional draw. GBFF is more intimate, centered on a single historic venue (the Tarlton Theatre), and prioritizes filmmaker hospitality and the dining-and-drinking experience. BIFF gives awards in multiple categories; GBFF gives a single Best of Fest award.

GBFF is known in the Green Bay arts community as a welcoming, informal festival with strong local character. The Tarlton Theatre venue, with its full bar and restaurant, creates a social atmosphere that distinguishes GBFF from traditional cinema-only festivals. The festival has no film market, no industry accreditations, and no distribution deal-making. Program Director Jim Schwartz and Festival Director Caitlin Schuchart curate themed programs that respond to the submissions received each cycle.

Watch

See Also

Calculate your total festival submission costs and projected return using the Festival ROI Calculator. Estimate your acceptance probability with the Festival Acceptance Odds Estimator. For festival circuit strategy, see Film Festival Strategy. For independent filmmaking approaches, see Independent Filmmaking Strategies. Submit through the GBFF FilmFreeway page or the GBFF website.