LGBTQ-U festival logo
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LGBTQ Unbordered · WRPN.tv Festival

LGBTQ Unbordered International Film Festival

Breaking stereotypes with global LGBTQ+ cinema and real-world opportunities for filmmakers.

From the creators of Depth of Field, Docs Without Borders, and WRPN.tv Women’s International Film Festival, under the WRPN.tv Network umbrella.
LGBTQ+ stories without borders
Showcase authentic, positive LGBTQ+ narrativeswith fair judging and practical feedback

LGBTQ-U, under the WRPN.tv Network, offers a web-based competition with live screenings for Best of Festival winners and optional online exposure for many top award levels.

▶ Learn how the festival works
Best of FestivalWinners live screened at the Cinema Art Theater in Rehoboth Beach, DE, with guaranteed distributor review in major categories.
WRPN.tv exposureOther award winners down to Excellence invited to screen on WRPN.tv, reaching viewers worldwide.
LGBTQ-U square logo
Official LGBTQ-U logo 
Winter 2024 poster Celebrating Laughter Static Space Divos 62-84 Let's Talk About Sex Solitude Intrinsic Moral Evil Avocado Toast the series Written on Water Out of Time Orpheus Star Patrick Trees of Peace Junior
Selected posters from past winners and seasons.
LGBTQ-U promo · Overview teaser.
LGBTQ-U video interview.
LGBTQ2 · Additional video interview
LGBTQ1 · Festival video interview
LGBTQ Unbordered is part of the WRPN.tv Network, created by the team behind several long-running independent film festivals.
Hybrid format: web-based competition plus live screenings for Best of Festival winners.
How the festival works
Judging, awards, and screenings
✅UFFO.org aligned

LGBTQ-U uses a merit-based scoring system where each entry is judged on its own strengths, rather than directly competing against every other submission. Judges are paid from selection through awards, and the festival does not rely on unpaid volunteer evaluators.

  • Top-scoring entries each season receive Best of Festival and Best of Show honors in their categories.
  • Best of Festival winners are live screened, while winners down through Excellence can be invited to screen on WRPN.tv.
  • Additional levels include Outstanding Excellence, Excellence, Exceptional Merit, Jury’s Choice Award, Merit, and Kudos Endeavor.
Dates & deadlines
Season schedule
⏱Seasonal windows

Key dates for this season include opening, multiple deadlines, notification, and event dates.

Opening DateDecember 11, 2025 · 49 categories.
EarlybirdJanuary 31, 2026.
RegularFebruary 28, 2026.
LateMarch 30, 2026.
ExtendedApril 30, 2026.
Last ChanceMay 31, 2026.
NotificationJune 14, 2026.
Event DateJuly 11, 2026.

Always confirm dates and fees on the current FilmFreeway listing before submitting.

Submissions & feedback
What makes LGBTQ-U different
📝FilmFreeway only
▶

All entries go through FilmFreeway; review categories, fees, and terms there before submitting.

Feedback for rejected submissions only:
  • Some rejected films receive a letter explaining why they were not accepted and outlining suggested corrections.
  • Those selected rejected submitters are encouraged to fix identified issues and can resubmit to the next LGBTQ-U competition for free once the suggested corrections are made.
  • This process is designed to help promising projects improve both for LGBTQ-U and for submissions to other festivals.

This feedback and free resubmission opportunity applies to specific rejected entries at the judges’ discretion, not to accepted films or all submitters.

Submission fees are generally non-refundable; check the most current policy on FilmFreeway before entering.

Categories & distinctions
Film and writing awards
🎭Unique options

LGBTQ-U offers distinctions such as “Dust Collector” for pre‑2009 films, “Tight Shorts” and “Loose Shorts” based on runtime, and separated Horror and Sci‑Fi categories.

Film
Shorts and featuresDocumentariesWeb seriesStudent films“Dust Collector” pre‑2009
Runtime
“Tight Shorts” < 15 minutes“Loose Shorts” 15–59 minutes
Writing
ScreenplaysNovel writingStage plays

Screenplay winners can receive distinctions such as Rhodium (with scripts submitted to Polaris Pictures and permanent WRPN.tv Winners’ Wall placement), Gold, Platinum, and other tiers.

Rules & terms
Key points at a glance
⚖Fair practice

The “Rules and Terms” describe how clips from accepted winners can be used for promotion, eligibility requirements, and the individual scoring approach for each entry.

Clips
  • LGBTQ-U may use brief clips from accepted winning entries on the festival site and WRPN.tv for promotional purposes.
Eligibility
  • Submitters must have authority to commit the work and accept festival rules; non-English works must be subtitled, dubbed, or accompanied by an English transcript.
  • The festival can deny entries and reserves the right to withdraw “Best Of” presentations if competition is insufficient in a category.
Judging
  • Entries are scored individually against an internal performance scale rather than directly against each other.
  • Judges assign levels from Best of Festival down through various Excellence, Merit, and Kudos levels based on noted achievements.
Liability
  • Entrants agree to indemnify LGBTQ-U, WRPN.tv, and Roman Pictures from claims related to copyright, publicity, and loss or damage to submitted materials.

For the full, legally binding version of all terms, always refer to the complete “Rules and Terms” text and the FilmFreeway listing.