MARCH 4-5: 13TH ANNUAL WEST VIRGINIA MOUNTAINEER FILM FESTIVAL
https://www.wvmsff.com/
The 13th annual West Virginia Mountaineer Short Film Festival Set for March 4-8, 2026. The WVMSFF invites submissions in video/film, animation, VR, video installation & performance to its 13th edition, which takes place March 4–8, 2026 on the campus of West Virginia University. The droids they are looking for are innovative, provocative, highly charged and deeply personal works in a variety of genres, both traditional and experimental. This year we also welcome submissions to a special thematic category, exploring new insights into evolving definitions and understandings of Time, in any context. Deadline for entries is Feb. 6, 2026.
They screen short narrative films and experimental artworks alike, and welcome all genres: narrative, documentary, video art, experimental animation, comedy, sci/fi, 2D/3D animation, low budget/no budget and that which eludes categorization. Established submission categories include: Experimental, Narrative, Documentary, Animation & Student Work and a special theme of Time. More at: https://filmfreeway.com/TheWestVirginiaMountaineerShortFilmFestival
MARCH 5: WV PBS SCREENING OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION
https://www.wvallstar.org/small-town-universeollaboration/
West Virginia Public Broadcasting (WVPB) will host a public screening of selected excerpts from The American Revolution, the landmark documentary series by Ken Burns, Sarah Botstein and David Schmidt, followed by a community conversation at 7 p.m. on Thursday, March 5, 2026, at the Brad D. Smith Business and Innovation Center on the campus of Marshall University. “Ken Burns’ work reminds us that the American Revolution was not a single, unified story — it was experienced very differently depending on who you were and where you stood,” said Trey Kay, host of WVPB’s Murrow Award–winning podcast Us & Them. “As we approach the nation’s semiquincentennial, this feels like an important moment to ask not only what the Revolution meant then, but how its unresolved tensions continue to shape the debates we’re having today.”
Our free event will include a community forum with audience members engaging with panelists in a live panel discussion moderated by Trey Kay, to explore the evolution’s legacy and its relevance to contemporary questions about democracy, identity, inclusion and belonging. The event will reflect on how the ideals of the American Revolution have been interpreted, contested and reimagined over time — and what those debates can teach us as the nation confronts current challenges related to race, citizenship, immigration and democratic norm This event is part of WVPB’s ongoing community engagement and civic dialogue initiative and is free and open to the public.
MARCH 7: HERDCON MARSHALL UNIVERSITY
https://www.wvallstar.org/small-town-universeollaboration/
The annual HerdCon is March 7th, 2026. HerdCon is Marshall University’s annual pop culture convention hosted by the University Libraries. It’s an all ages free event at the Marshall University’s Huntington campus on Saturday, March 7. If you like cosplay, anime, ttrgs, and other nerdy endeavors, you’ll fit right in. Students and community members design the t-shirts, local artists have artwork for sale, and student cosplayers take the stage in the annual Cosplay Contest.
Film components include a panel paying homage to the late, great indie filmmaker Danny Boyd (known for such Troma films as Chillers, Invasion of the Space Preachers and Paradise Park). Hear a panel discuss Boyd’s decades as a landmark indie filmmaker in WV, and his plethora of work as a graphic novelist, playwright, feature and documentary filmmaker and a filmmaking professor at WVSU. And a wrestler! Attendees are limited to one clear bag per person, or a small clutch bag (no larger than 4.5′′ x 6.5′′) for privacy.**
MARCH 13-15: THE FIRST MARTINSBURG APOLLO FILM FESTIVAL
https://www.martinsburgff.com/event-details/2026-martinsburg-apollo-film-festival
One of the nation’s longest-running conservation and outdoors film fests, the American Conservation- Film Festival is set for March 13-15 in Shepherdstown, WV. Films have been chosen and filmmakers will be notified Jan. 31 for this educational and entertaining weekend packed with 25 powerful stories and perspectives from filmmakers and conservationists across the globe. Founded in 2003, in Shepherdstown, WV, ACFF was created by filmmakers and conservationists who believed that stories shape how we connect with nature. Today, the festival has grown into a nationally recognized platform for showcasing powerful films on the most urgent environmental issues. Highlights include a student day for Jefferson County students where they interact with professional filmmakers about careers in filmmaking. Held at the historic Apollo Civic Theater in downtown Martinsburg, MAFF has been re-branded by director Brett Hammond, who held the first for three years over in Berkeley Springs, WV.
Sponsored by the Martinsburg/Berkeley County CVB, the festival rolls March 13-15 with more than 20 hours of independent and often regionally made films of all genres. There will be socials on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, and hotel discounts for attendees. Keynote speaker is Hollywood screenwriter, actor and producer Darrell Fetty. The Milton WV native and Marshall University grad is best known for writing and producing the record-breaking History Channel miniseries The Hatfields and McCoys, as well as Texas Rising. His new Civil War spy series The Gray House debuts in February on Amazon Prime. Festival passes run from $10 for students to $49 for adults for the weekend. Day passes also available.
MARCH 14-15: MUSIC FROM THE BIG SCREEN – WV SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
https://wvsymphony.org/season-calendar/musicfromthebigscreen
Guest conducted by Chelsea Tipton, II, the West Virginia Symphony Orchestra will whisk the audience away to experience the magic of the movies as Music from the Big Screen brings iconic film and TV scores to life. Featuring legendary music by John Williams alongside favorites from James Bond, Pirates of the Caribbean, Harry Potter, and more, this concert is a thrilling celebration of Hollywood’s most unforgettable soundtracks. Concerts are slated for 7:30 p.m. Saturday, March14 at the Clay Center for the Arts & Sciences of WV and 2:30 p.m. Sunday at the Blennerhassett School in Parkersburg.
MARCH 20-22: 15TH APPALCHIAN FILM FESTIVAL
https://filmfreeway.com/AppalachianFilmFestival
After a decade-long run 2003-2013, the Appy Film Fest in Huntington was revived in 2023 and is now back for a fourth straight year. Once held in April, the Appy has moved up to Friday through Sunday, March 20-22 to coincide with the 49th annual Appalachian Studies Conference hosted by Marshall University. Held at the historic Foundry Theater (above Huntington City Hall), the Appy features regionally-made films from the 13-state Appalachian region that reflect and celebrate Appalachia through the lens of curated content that features four categories, student, music video, short and feature length. Each of the winners will receive a Blenko Glass Appy. “Best in Fest” can come from any of the four categories. Friday’s screening’s start at 6 p.m. with a slate of films, live music and fun. Saturday’s full-day fest runs 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. with curated selections from around Appalachia.
Sunday, March 22-24 – Fairmont, WV native best-selling author Ed Ashton, most famous for his novel “Mickey 7” which you might know as the major motion picture “Mickey 17,” will be hosting the professional development portion this year alongside a panel and Q&A. Moderated by WSAZ’s Tim Irr, learn how this Fairmont native took his dream from the pen to the page, then to the hands of an Academy Award winning director to gross $133 million worldwide. $5 General Admission. Free entry for festival submitters
MARCH 21: 3RD ANNUAL HARPERS FERRY FILM FESTIVAL
https://filmfreeway.com/AppalachianFilmFestival
The third annual Harpers Ferry Film Festival is scheduled for 5-9 p.m. Saturday, March 21, 2026, at the Stephen T. Mather Training Center. There is a reception following the films. This event showcases various films in the historic town of Harpers Ferry. Filmmakers will include but not limited to Zack Harold, Drew Broadhurst, Laura Lancu, Jesse Womack, Caroline Collins and others. Tickets on sale soon on EventBrite. For more information, and updates, attendees are encouraged to visit the official event page on Facebook.
MARCH 31: MARSHALL STUDENT FILM FESTIVAL
https://www.marshall.edu/filmstudies
The Marshall Film Studies Program is accepting submissions for the Marshall Student Film Festival. Submissions are being accepted until Friday, February 27. Any Marshall student, undergraduate or graduate, may submit work, whether or not that work was created for a class. Submitted work may be in any film or video genre or format, including but not limited to narrative film, documentary, music video, animation, abstract/avant-garde film, television or web show episodes, and video essays. Students may submit as many individual items as they like. The screening of selected works and awarding of Best of Festival will take place at 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 31, at the Joan C. Edwards Playhouse.
APRIL 9: BANFF MOUNTAIN FILM FEST TOUR STOP MORGANTOWN
http://www.chestnutmtnproductions.com/banff-film-festival/west-virginia/morgantown/
At 7 p.m. Thursday, April 9, head to the Metropolitan Theater, 390 High St., Morgantown, for the Banff Mountain Film Fest. Get ready for a three-hour celebration of mountain sports, adventure, culture, and the environment! The 2025 Banff Centre Mountain Film Festival World Tour is back, showcasing the most exhilarating short films featuring explorers, runners, mountain bikers, skiers, paddlers, and climbers from around the globe. Now back for its 28th year, this event is hosted by Chestnut Mountain Productions.
This global tour follows the renowned Banff Mountain Festival, the largest and most prestigious mountain festival in the world. Held every November in the stunning mountain town of Banff, Canada. The festival screens 300 of the best films exploring mountain sports, culture, the environment, and adventure during the week-long event. This year’s lineup promises a captivating lineup of short films shot in some of the world’s most wild and remote locations. Expect breathtaking cinematography, thought-provoking narratives, and heart-pounding action.
