CELEBRATING OUR 5TH YEAR
April 22-26, 2026
Zeitgeist Minnesota Film Festival (ZMFF) will take place April 22 – 26, 2026 in person at Zeitgeist Center for Arts and Community and surrounding venues in Duluth, MN!
ZMFF will consist of a variety of local, national, and international films, post-film conversations and Q&As with filmmakers, and grant cash awards.
Zeitgeist Minnesota Film Festival is passionate about programming films from filmmakers that are working in their own communities. We are excited about films that are being made with limited budgets, from small towns, and from resourceful filmmakers.
We focus on highlighting filmmakers and stories from Minnesota, Wisconsin, and the greater Midwest.
COMMUNITY CENTERED: Building and nurturing a thriving film and media arts community is important to us. In order to connect more with the community, we have established community partnerships with organizations that have a strong foothold across a diverse range of people in the region. Through these partnerships, we aim to prioritize artists who have historically been denied access to resources and opportunities within the industry.
CREATIVE EXPRESSION: We judge films solely based on their artistic and creative expression not on the resources they were drawn from. We look for films as art, evocative of reflection and response.
We invite filmmakers to submit innovative works that do not adhere to conventional storytelling techniques.
I really loved this festival…The programming was well done, the talks were interesting and engaging, the networking events were fun and the location was amazing…Highly recommend this festival to local and international filmmakers.
ZMFF TABLE READS
The Zeitgeist Minnesota Film Festival Table Read is a curated event with a live reading of a feature film screenplay by regional actors, giving audiences a glimpse into the story’s characters, tone, and dialogue before it’s filmed. It’s a chance for writers to hear their work come to life and gather feedback in a creative, collaborative setting.
2026 FUNDERS & PARTNERS
PAST PROGRAMMING
VOLUNTEER WITH US!
OPERATIONS TEAM:
These volunteers are the front lines of the Festival, and are MFF ambassadors. For many of the festival guests, you will be the first face they see. The various roles include but are not limited to: Greeter, Usher, Ticket Checker, and Runners.
Responsibilities: This position is perfect for friendly and welcoming people who can solve simple issues such as answering questions, handing out ballots, check tickets, and controlling traffic flow.
STREET TEAM:
Do you like to get out in the community? Do you like to get to know area businesses? Then the Street Team is an excellent place to volunteer!
Responsibilities: Distribute posters and rack cards to area businesses.
TRANSPORTATION:
****You must be at least 25 years old, have a valid driver’s license, proof of insurance, and your own vehicle. You should have the maturity to be able to talk with passengers when needed but also the discretion to leave them be when needed. We will reimburse gas receipts.