DALLAS — The lineup is set for the 19th annual Dallas International Film Festival (DIFF), which is scheduled to take place from April 25 to May 1.

What You Need To Know

  • The 19th annual Dallas International Film Festival runs from April 25 to May 1, 2025

  • There will be over 125 films, including narratives, documentaries and shorts from global filmmakers

  • DIFF is now an Oscar Qualifying Festival, enhancing the stakes for grand jury prize winners

DIFF 2025 will feature over 125 screenings, including narrative features, documentaries and short films from both studio and independent filmmakers worldwide. 

DIFF was designated as an Oscar Qualifying Festival in October 2024 by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. This distinction allows recipients of the grand jury prizes for Best Animated Short Film, Best Documentary Short Film and Best Narrative Short Film to be eligible for Academy Award consideration. 

“For our first year as an Oscar Qualifying Festival, we have curated a powerful collection of feature, documentary and short films. One particular highlight will be the world premiere of HAPPY AS LARRY – last year, the screenplay for that film was a semifinalist in our first-ever Screenwriting Competition, and it has now returned to DIFF as a completed film, a testament to the role film festivals like ours play in furthering the art of film,” said James Faust, DIFF artistic director, in a news release.

Attendees can also participate in panels and Q&A sessions with filmmakers and actors. Nightly red carpet events will offer opportunities to celebrate the films and their creators. 

The festival will also host live screenplay table reads and present various awards to recognize outstanding contributions to cinema. 

Cinépolis Luxury Cinemas at Victory Park will be the primary host for the festival. Additional locations for other screenings and events are planned at the AT&T Discovery District, the Harwood District, the historic Texas Theatre and Virgin Hotels Dallas.

The lineup of feature films for DIFF 2025 includes:

  • 40 ACRES (Narrative Feature) (Canada)
  • ADA-MY MOTHER THE ARCHITECT (Documentary) (USA, Israel)
  • ALL THAT WE LOVE (Narrative Feature) (USA)
  • A PORTRAIT OF A POSTMAN (Documentary) (USA) WORLD PREMIERE
  • ANDRE IS AN IDIOT (Documentary) (USA)
  • BARRON'S COVE (Narrative Feature) (USA)
  • BUDDIES AND THE HEIR (Narrative Feature) (Brazil)
  • CAFÉ CHAIREL (Narrative Feature) (Mexico)
  • THE CONFESSION (Narrative Feature) (USA) WORLD PREMIERE
  • DANIELLA FOREVER (Narrative Feature) (Spain, USA, Belgium)
  • DIY: THE RISE AND FALL AND RISE OF PUNK (Documentary) (USA) WORLD PREMIERE
  • DUE WEST (Narrative Feature) (USA) WORLD PREMIERE
  • EASTERN WESTERN (Narrative Feature) (USA, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria)
  • GALLAGHER (Documentary) (USA)
  • GUNMAN (Narrative Feature) (Argentina)
  • HAPPY AS LARRY (Narrative Feature) (United Kingdom) WORLD PREMIERE
  • FREE LEONARD PELTIER (Documentary) (USA)
  • FRIENDSHIP (Narrative Feature) (USA)
  • KINTSUGI DREAMS: THE UNMUKT CHAND STORY (Documentary) (India) WORLD PREMIERE
  • THE LIBRARIANS (Documentary) (USA)
  • LUV YA, BUM! (Documentary) (USA)
  • MATTER OF TIME (Narrative Feature) (USA) WORLD PREMIERE
  • MOTHERLAND (Narrative Feature) (USA)
  • NIGHT IN WEST TEXAS (Documentary) (USA) WORLD PREMIERE
  • OMAHA (Narrative Feature) (USA)
  • THE OTHER (Narrative Feature) (USA) WORLD PREMIERE 
  • PARTY PEOPLE (Narrative Feature) (USA)
  • REMAINING NATIVE (Documentary) (USA)
  • SABA (Narrative Feature) (India)
  • THE SALAMANDER KING (Narrative Feature) (USA) WORLD PREMIERE
  • THE SHORT GAME (Narrative Feature) (USA)
  • STELLA STEVENS: THE LAST STARLET (Documentary) (USA)
  • TAKE IT AWAY (Documentary) (USA) WORLD PREMIERE
  • TO USE A MOUNTAIN (Documentary) (USA) US PREMIERE
  • TOXIC (Narrative Feature) (Lithuania)
  • UNEARTH (Documentary) (USA)
  • WHAT WE HIDE (AKA SPIDER & JESSIE) (Narrative Feature) (USA)
  • WILLIE NELSON PRESENTS: KING OF THE ROADIES (Documentary) (USA) WORLD PREMIERE

Passes for the festival are currently on sale, with options ranging from $100 to $500 per person. 

For the most current details and updates, visit the official DIFF website.