Tucked away in the artists’ enclave of Denton, Texas, Thin Line Fest is an artistic adventure filled with communal celebration and discovery. What started as a documentary film festival in 2007 is now a lively mosaic of artistic expression with seven music stages and multiple photography galleries. The 17th annual festival is from April 24th to the 28th, but filmmakers and photographers only have until February 20th to submit their work for consideration.
Full disclosure: This article is brought to you by Thin Line Fest
More than fifty documentary filmmakers from around the world will screen their work at the historic downtown theater. Then as night falls, 75 bands ranging from Indie to Country to Jazz will fill the air with an eclectic soundtrack to go along with the visual storytelling experienced across pop-up photography exhibits. All festival programming is within a few minutes walk and general admission to all venues is free. VIP packages are available for an elevated experience.
All submissions are reviewed by a panel of professional artists and photographers, and the best 200 will become Official Selections. The walls of temporary art galleries will be adorned with these carefully selected photographs, printed on archival quality and displayed without frames, creating a narrative tapestry that everyone can enjoy. A ‘Best of Category’ photograph in each of six categories will be announced at the Award Ceremony and will receive a $500 cash award. Documentary films compete for a prize pool of over $40,000 in cash value.
Official Selection artists receive VIP access and a free night at a festival hotel. Additional funds to cover travel expenses are also available for artists exhibiting films or multiple photographs. For five days, Thin Line Fest is a menagerie of artists mingling, discovering, and celebrating, with events such as the Artist Mixer, the VIP Lounge, the Makers Market, and the Awards Ceremony.
Thin Line Fest is accepting submissions until February 20, 2024. Visit Thin Line 2024 Art Call to submit up to 25 photographs. For documentary submissions, visit Film Freeway.
Photography categories are interpreted broadly and artists are encouraged to submit their work in the category that most closely matches the content.
Macro / Micro
In a photo or series of photos, bring the smallest parts of our world closer. Transform miniature into massive to offer new perspectives that alter perceptions through size and scale.
Sight / Unseen
In a photo or series of photos, reveal the commonly overlooked subjects and spaces that surround us. Expose secluded locations, small moments, secret stories, and hidden details.
Time / Space
In a photo or series of photos, showcase interactions between time and space with compositions capturing motion or the lack thereof. Bursts of energy. Steady momentum. Brief pauses that change everything in an instant.
Audio / Visual
In a photo or series of photos, prove how our senses intertwine with imagery that evokes an undeniable auditory sensation. Visualize the rhythms and sounds of everyday life to stir emotions, memories, and imaginations.
Still / Life
In a photo or series of photos, use traditional still-life techniques to create staged scenes depicting the energy and motion of real life. Compose and capture tableaus that serve as artistic representations of reality.
Deep Fake
Use AI technology to create an image or series of images that fits into one of the other five categories. Submissions must be 100% AI-generated. Submissions will be labeled with the submitter’s name and displayed alongside non-AI submissions. During the run of Thin Line Fest, attendees will attempt to identify the AI-created images. (Please indicate the intended category for each Deep | Fake submission.)
Thin Line is a festival that goes beyond the usual limits of competitions. It is an artist-centric festival that wants to share your work with a community that is ready to enjoy the richness of documentary film, the energy of live music, and the subtlety of fine art photography—all while facilitating cross-sectional discussions and collaborations among artists.
Full disclosure: This article was brought to you by Thin Line Fest