The Tacoma Film Festival celebrates the boldness, perseverance, and grit of independent cinema. We present the best in contemporary independent filmmaking from the Pacific Northwest and around the world, connecting filmmakers and audiences around screenings and events in the Gritty City.
Now entering its 20th year, the Tacoma Film Festival has grown from a small regional festival into a welcoming haven for regional and international filmmakers, industry professionals, students, fans, critics, and creative entrepreneurs.
Check out the full Tacoma Film Festival 2024 virtual program below! Physical copies are coming soon and will be available at The Grand Cinema and other community hubs around Tacoma!
Our top-tier, all-access entry pass will give you unlimited access to all in-person films and events during the festival. A pass will guarantee you advanced tickets and save up to 50% on attendance at TFF! Plus access to VIP areas to mingle with all the other fun film fans.
Are you a Grand Cinema Member? Purchase our discounted pass instead!
Please purchase each pass separately, with unique emails for each pass so we can collect information about each person in your party. Do not purchase more than one pass per email.
Passholders will be granted 20 film vouchers to purchase tickets in advance and will be connected to the email address you use for purchase of the pass. Passholders can also exchange vouchers for tickets at the box office during the festival using their physical pass.
*Free Tickets for Students and EBT/Quest Card Holders*
For all the student cinephiles out there, we are excited to announce an extraordinary bargain: FREE access to Tacoma Film Festival screenings and events, courtesy of Tacoma Creates!
Starting October 6, current students will be able to obtain tickets at The Grand Cinema Box Office. To qualify, students must attend a Tacoma K-12, college, or technical school and provide a valid student ID or other proof; Tacoma residents who attend a school outside city limits must provide proof of address in addition to school ID. (Some restrictions apply: access to the Opening Night, and tickets cannot be obtained online.)
And for our week of Encore Screenings, October 13-17, Tacoma Creates is also offering free tickets through the Box Office for Tacoma residents with EBT/Quest cards.
Description and Eligibility
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The Tacoma Film Festival celebrates the boldness, perseverance, and grit of independent cinema. We present the best in contemporary independent filmmaking from the Pacific Northwest and around the world, connecting filmmakers and audiences around screenings and events in the Gritty City.
Now entering its 20th year, the Tacoma Film Festival has grown from a small regional festival into a welcoming haven for regional and international filmmakers, industry professionals, students, fans, critics, and creative entrepreneurs.
FULL FESTIVAL LINEUP DROPS SEPTEMBER 18
Description and Eligibility
Centered Content
The Tacoma Film Festival celebrates the boldness, perseverance, and grit of independent cinema. We present the best in contemporary independent filmmaking from the Pacific Northwest and around the world, connecting filmmakers and audiences around screenings and events in the Gritty City.
Now entering its 20th year, the Tacoma Film Festival has grown from a small regional festival into a welcoming haven for regional and international filmmakers, industry professionals, students, fans, critics, and creative entrepreneurs.
HISTORY:
Established in 2006, the Tacoma Film Festival was created and developed by the passionate individuals behind Tacoma's only non-profit art-house movie theater, The Grand Cinema. The Grand (TFF's primary venue) is one of the Puget Sound region's strongest outlets for both international and local independent filmmakers, and works hand-in-hand with the festival to connect our city to the art of film.
In recent years, the Tacoma Film Festival has built a reputation as a low-key setting where indie film fanatics can meet up-and-coming creators and witness the future of film. Years before Naima Ramos-Chapman became a writer and producer for HBO's critically acclaimed series, Betty, she won her first award in Tacoma. Past participants also include the likes of Ben Sinclair and Katja Blichfeld (High Maintenance); Terence Nance (Random Acts of Flyness); John Wilson (How to with John Wilson); and Julia Garner (Ozark).
Description and Eligibility
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SUBMISSION DATES & DEADLINES:
March 1, 2026 - Opening Date March 20, 2026 - Earlybird April 20, 2026 - Spring May 20, 2026 - Regular June 20, 2026 - Late September 1, 2026 - Notification Date October 22 – 25, 2026 - Event Date SUBMISSIONS ARE NOW CLOSED.
SUBMISSION CATEGORIES: Narrative Short Narrative Feature Documentary Short Documentary Feature Animated Short Animated Feature Late Night Short Late Night Feature Pacific Northwest Narrative Short Pacific Northwest Narrative Feature Pacific Northwest Documentary Short Pacific Northwest Documentary Feature Music Video
WAIVERS: Entry fees are waived for films: – Made in Tacoma, WA and/or for directors currently residing in Tacoma. – Made by returning TFF alumni filmmakers, with film title and year of exhibition denoted. Please email us at info@tacomafilmfestival.com to request a waiver. No other waiver types are available.
TFF VIP PASS SALE
TFF VIP PASS SALE
TFF VIP PASS - TFF VIP PASS - PREMIUM MEMBER DISCOUNT
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5 4 65 Voucher Package
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NEW! Want to dip in the fest and get a mini-pass? Buy our new FIVE FOR SIXTY FIVE PASS and save $2 per ticket. (Opening, Closing, Centerpiece films excluded)
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2026 Pass information
VIP PASSES ON SALE NOW!
Why buy a VIP Pass? If you want to catch as much of the festival as you can, a VIP Pass is the best bang for your buck! You’ll save up to 30% versus buying individual tickets, and it’s a great way to support what we do at the Tacoma Film Festival! You’ll receive:
Access to all films and associated events
A sneak peak at our programming on September 17, a whole week before anyone else!
Early access to tickets at our box office. Reserve your screenings before they go on sale online to the general public on September 25.
A chance to mingle with filmmakers, festival staff, and other VIP’s at our afterparty at The Elephant House.
Member Discount - Being a Premium Grand Member AND a TFF VIP Festival Pass holder is the sweetest deal of all; Get ALL the VIP perks at a discounted price
VIP PASS: $225
VIP PASS - PREMIUM MEMBER: $195
VIP PASS - DUAL PREMIUM MEMBERS: $390
HOW TO PURCHASE
Box Office: Stop by our box office in between showtimes to purchase a VIP Pass. This requires a Grand Cinema account, so be sure to make one if you haven’t already to expedite the process!
Over the phone: We are able to accommodate VIP Pass purchases over the phone if you already have a Grand Cinema account with a credit or debit card on file. We can NOT take credit card information over the phone. To add your card to your account, go here, or click on the user account icon in the upper right corner, then “Payment Information” and enter your card number, expiration, and CVC code.
If you would like to purchase two VIP Passes on a single Grand Cinema account: Premium Members with a Joint or Silver account can purchase a single TFF VIP Pass - Dual Premium Members. This pass will come with 40 vouchers (double the amount of a regular VIP pass), with a limit of two voucher redemptions per screening, effectively admit 2. This pass costs $390, the price of two TFF VIP Passes with the Premium Member discount. When purchasing your pass, please give our Box Office the names of both Premium Members for the physical pass; either person may utilize the pass in person, but it will be linked under only one of your emails. This pass may not be shared with people outside of the two members sharing an account whose names are on the pass.
HOW TO USE YOUR PASS
Once you purchase your VIP Pass using your Grand Cinema account, you’ll receive 20 vouchers good for all Tacoma Film Festival films and associated events, just enough for every screening you can physically catch!
These vouchers will automatically be used when you reserve tickets for screenings at our box office (starting 9/17) or online (starting 9/25).
You may reserve one ticket per screening, including Opening Night and our Centerpiece Presentation.
While your VIP Pass gets you into everything, you still must reserve your tickets ahead or at the time of showing!
FAQs
What is a VIP Pass? - A VIP Pass will get you into all the TFF screenings and special events. It also acts as your festival ID during the festival. If you have a festival pass, you don’t have to pay for specific screenings—they’re already covered—but you must reserve your screenings using the vouchers you receive when you purchase your pass.
What are Vouchers? - Vouchers are like promises. Vouchers are how you will reserve your screenings for the festival. These will live in your Grand Cinema online account if you purchase your pass at our box office, or in a code sent to you via email if you purchase your pass online.
When can I pick up my physical VIP Pass? - Your physical pass will be ready to pick up starting October 1 at our Passholder Check-in table, and will act as your ID during the fest. This pass will make it even easier to get your tickets during the fest, just show it to box office staff!
Can I lend my Pass to my friend? - Passes are non-transferable and non-refundable.
Any questions not covered here? Give us a call during our office hours, 9-5pm Monday-Friday, or send us an email at info@grandcinema.com
*Free Tickets for Students and EBT/Quest Card Holders*
For all the student cinephiles out there, we are excited to announce an extraordinary bargain: FREE access to most Tacoma Film Festival screenings and events, excluding Opening Night and our Centerpiece Presentation, courtesy of Tacoma Creates! For more information on how Tacoma Creates tickets work, read here!
