Anchorage International Film Festival Announces Dates For 26th Annual Festival

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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ANCHORAGE INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES DATES FOR 26TH ANNUAL FESTIVAL

Festival runs December 4-13, 2026 in Anchorage, Alaska

LOS ANGELES, Calif. — July 23, 2026 — Recognized as one of the world’s highest-rated film festivals based on filmmaker reviews, the Anchorage International Film Festival, AIFF, continues to grow as a premier destination for independent cinema, offering filmmakers a unique opportunity to showcase their work in the Films Worth Freezing For® | The Icy Road to the Oscars. Timed just before Academy Award shortlist announcements, AIFF provides an important platform for independent films to gain visibility during the height of awards season.

This year, AIFF is expanding its filmmaker-first commitment thanks to the expanded support of the Ellsworth Foundation and the Atwood Foundation, which will provide free airfare for every selected Feature Narrative and Feature Documentary filmmaker attending the festival. This investment ensures that more filmmakers can experience Anchorage, engage with audiences, and participate in the collaborative community that has become a hallmark of AIFF.

In 2025, AIFF’s impact was evident when the festival’s Best Live Action Short Award winner continued its successful festival run following Anchorage, earned a place on the Academy Awards shortlist, and ultimately won the Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film.

A Filmmaker-First Festival

At the heart of AIFF is its commitment to fostering meaningful connections between filmmakers and audiences. Filmmakers don’t simply screen their work, they engage directly with the community through post-screening Q&As, Coffee Talk discussions, school visits, and special community events.

“With AIFF, we are building something that feels true to the independent spirit of filmmaking,” said Festival Directors Pat McGee and Adam Linkenhelt. “It is curated by filmmakers, for filmmakers, and designed to be more than a festival. It is an immersive experience and creative retreat where artists connect deeply with audiences and each other while experiencing the incredible culture and natural beauty that make Alaska unlike anywhere else in the world.”

A Festival Experience Found Only in Alaska

One of the defining elements of AIFF is that the experience extends far beyond the theater.

Thanks to the festival’s outstanding community partners, AIFF and its sponsors will once again offer visiting filmmakers complimentary Alaska experiences that showcase the very best of the state. These include a free glacier hike hosted by Greatland Adventures, a free hunt for the Aurora Borealis hosted by Visit Anchorage, and a free Alaska Native cultural experience hosted by the Alaska Native Heritage Center.

These unforgettable experiences give filmmakers the opportunity to explore Alaska together, build lasting relationships, and create memories that continue long after the festival ends—turning filmmakers into lifelong ambassadors for Anchorage and the State of Alaska.

Community Programming

AIFF continues to expand its free and accessible programming, including its popular Coffee Talk series, filmmaker panels, educational outreach, and community events designed to bring audiences and filmmakers together throughout the festival.

New AIFF Video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tbJd97bqybA