Juneau International Film Festival

Overview

The Juneau International Film Festival is Alaska's most important film festival. Founded in 2008 and held annually in Juneau, Alaska's coastal capital accessible only by sea or air, the festival celebrates Alaskan cinema, Indigenous Alaska Native storytelling, and international films in one of the most geographically distinctive festival locations in the United States.

Juneau's isolation -- accessible only by boat or plane, surrounded by the Tongass National Forest and sitting at the base of glaciers -- gives the festival a uniquely focused community atmosphere. Filmmakers and audiences who make the effort to reach Juneau are genuinely committed, creating exceptional engagement.

Alaska's Indigenous communities -- Tlingit, Haida, Tsimshian, Athabascan, Yupik, Inupiaq, and many others -- have rich storytelling traditions, and the festival serves as an important platform for Alaska Native filmmaking alongside broader programming.

Key Sections

• Alaskan Film Competition -- films by or about Alaskans competing for prizes
• Alaska Native Storytelling -- films by and about Alaska's Indigenous peoples
• Environmental Film Program -- films addressing environmental issues in the Last Frontier
• International Program -- curated international films
• Short Films -- competitive short programs

What Filmmakers Should Know

The festival accepts open submissions. For Alaskan and Alaska Native filmmakers, this is the most important domestic platform. The environmental and Indigenous programming sections create particular resonance for films addressing those themes.

Major Awards

• Best Alaskan Film -- jury prize
• Best Alaska Native Film
• Audience Award

Festival History

The Juneau International Film Festival was founded in 2008 and has built a devoted community in Alaska's capital.

See Also

For Alaska and Pacific Northwest film culture, see Film Locations. For Indigenous filmmaking, see imagineNATIVE Film Festival.