Fresh Coast Film Festival

Fresh Coast Film Festival

Also known as: FCFF
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The Fresh Coast Film Festival is a documentary festival devoted to the outdoor life, water-rich landscapes and communities of the Great Lakes and the Upper Midwest. It takes place each October, in the fall colour season, in Marquette, Michigan, on the shore of Lake Superior, and dates back to 2016. The programme brings together environmental, adventure and cultural documentaries from many countries with a focus on Great Lakes storytelling, and the festival weekend adds guided outdoor tours around Marquette, from rock climbing and rowing to waterfall hikes and history walks.

Films selected in Marquette can go on to the festival’s roadshow and satellite events, and Fresh Coast supports regional film projects through its Making Waves grant. The 2026 edition, marking ten years of the festival, takes place 15–18 October 2026 across ten venues in Marquette.

Country

United States (USA)

Focus

Action and adventure, Nature and ecology

Categories

Documentary, Feature, Short, Student

Awards and prizes

Awards for Best Regional Feature (over 25 minutes), Best Regional Short (under 25 minutes) and Best First-Time Filmmaker (any length). Attending filmmakers receive a weekend pass and an invitation to the filmmaker welcome event; limited lodging and travel support is available. The festival also offers the Making Waves grant for film projects with a regional focus or connection.

Festival rules

Films should normally be completed within the two calendar years before the festival; exceptions are considered case by case. Submissions need a secure online screener (Vimeo preferred) with the password included and download enabled. Films not in English must have English subtitles. Works in progress and films with temporary soundtracks are considered. An electronic press kit is optional but recommended. Accepted films may be excerpted for promotion, kept in the festival library and screened later in the Fresh Coast roadshow and satellite events.

Contacts

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