Twelve Lions Film Festival

Twelve Lions Film Festival A four-day event showcasing independent film from around the world.

| Join filmmaker and stunt performer John Herndon for an engaging conversation about breaking into the film industry, ho...
09/03/2026

| Join filmmaker and stunt performer John Herndon for an engaging conversation about breaking into the film industry, how he got his start as a stuntman, and the experiences that shaped his career. This session is perfect for aspiring filmmakers, performers, and anyone interested in the realities of building a career in film. This seminar is free, but seating is limited, so reserve your spot today!

FRI, SEP 25 @ 1:30PM - 2:30PM
Attendance is FREE | Reserve your spot here https://bit.ly/4y8emBK
Farish Theatre | Central Public Library

Wrigley Media’s George Maranville shares his perspective on the pre-production process. This workshop is free, but seati...
09/03/2026

Wrigley Media’s George Maranville shares his perspective on the pre-production process. This workshop is free, but seating is limited, so reserve your spot today!

Time/Day: FRI, SEP 25 @ 10:00AM
ATTENDANCE IS FREE | Reserve your spot here https://bit.ly/4y8emBK
Location: Farish Theatre | Central Public Library

09/02/2026

Every wonder how a stuntman breaks into the movie biz?

Then sign up for JOHN HERNDON: DYING FOR A LIVING. Join filmmaker and stunt performer John Herndon for an engaging conversation about breaking into the film industry, how he got his start as a stuntman, and the experiences that shaped his career. This TWELVE LIONS FILM FESTIVAL session is perfect for aspiring filmmakers, performers, and anyone interested in the realities of building a career in film.

FRI, SEP 25 @ 1:30PM

This seminar is free, but seating is limited, so please reserve your spot today!

Register at bit.ly/TwelveLionsDyingForALiving or kentuckytheatre.org/twelve-lions-films-events

Ready to break into the film industry? Join us for a Production Assistant Training Workshop presented by BCTC, featuring...
09/02/2026

Ready to break into the film industry? Join us for a Production Assistant Training Workshop presented by BCTC, featuring professionals from LEX Studios. Learn film-set protocol, industry terminology, call-sheet basics, walkie-talkie communication, and the key skills needed to work as a production assistant. Get hands-on insight and take the first or next step on your film pathway.
Workshop participants will get a Workforce Certificate upon completion.

Registration is FREE, but space is limited.
Register here: https://bit.ly/4y8emBK

Date/Time:
SAT, SEP 12 @ 11:00AM - 2:00PM
Location:
Bluegrass Community and Technical College | Leestown Campus | Building C, Room 136

The Twelve Lions Film Festival is proud to welcome writer and director Victor Nunez as our distinguished guest on Saturd...
08/14/2026

The Twelve Lions Film Festival is proud to welcome writer and director Victor Nunez as our distinguished guest on Saturday, September, 26. He will be joining us for a screening and Q&A of his 1993 seminal coming of age film Ruby in Paradise.

Hailed as a triumph of independent cinema and a life-affirming film for audiences, Ruby in Paradise stars Kentucky native Ashley Judd in her first leading role as Ruby Lee Gissing, a young woman who relocates to Florida looking to start anew following the death of her mother. As she endures the trials and tribulations of adulthood, she finds support in unlikely places and tries to come to terms with her past.

Showtime begins at 7:00 PM, followed by a Q&A moderated by Lexington Filmmaker Tom Thurman.

This event is FREE!
Register for your ticket here: https://bit.ly/4qS10qT

When: Saturday, September 26, 2026 @ 7:00 PM
Where: The Kentucky Theatre

Twelve Lions Film Festival and The Kentucky Historical Society are thrilled to welcome filmmaker Barbara Kopple to join ...
08/13/2026

Twelve Lions Film Festival and The Kentucky Historical Society are thrilled to welcome filmmaker Barbara Kopple to join us for a screening celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Academy Award Winning documentary, Harlan County, USA.

Harlan County, USA is documentarian Barbara Kopple’s seminal work, following the rising tensions between coal miners and the Brookside Mine company in southeastern Kentucky over a 13-month strike. The film broke ground as an example of documentarians as active participants in a story rather than quiet observers, it permanently shaped labor organizing, brought awareness to exploitative practices within the coal mining industry, and gave a rare glimpse at life in Appalachia.

Please join us as we look back on an amazing film, along with never-before-seen footage of subjects from the film still living in Harlan County today, brought to us by the Appalachia + Mid-South Newsroom.

This screening is FREE!
Please register for a ticket here: https://bit.ly/4qS10qT

Showtime begins at 7:00 PM, followed by a Q&A.

Here we are, screaming from the top of The Kentucky Theatre CONGRATULATIONS! to the 2026 Twelve Lions Film Festival Sele...
08/12/2026

Here we are, screaming from the top of The Kentucky Theatre CONGRATULATIONS! to the 2026 Twelve Lions Film Festival Selected Filmmakers! We couldn't be more excited to welcome you to this years festival in our home, Lexington, KY for a weekend of fun, film, and community.
Check out this years selected titles below:

Narrative Features:
Landlord
About People and About War
Hekla
Other Houses

Documentary Feature:
The Witchdoctor and the Windmill
A Dairy Story
Still He Waits
Pinball
Crime & Parody
Ride back to Faith

Short Documentary:
Manholes
A Gift for Ethan
Voices Faintly Heard
Willie & His Pigs
Window Poems
Angels Among Us
Elephant in the Room
Sound & Color
North Star
Paris Fox
Australia The Beautiful

Student:
Kids who Dance
Black Seeds Continue to Grow
The Blind Reggaetonera
The Salamander
Pyre
Connected
Flick
3 Minutes
Appalachian Understory
So Tender a Flame

Narrative Short:
Sunspark
Ya Hanouni
Mort
Maqluba
Montaneros
Where the Deer Sleeps
Like Friend Like Deer
Our Father
The Quiet
God Dammit
Las Cosas Que Brillan
O+0
MAD
Something Pointless
Shelter
Move Along Lotty
Ladylike
Help!
Reunion
Arman
Stuck

🎬Twelve Lions Film Festival
📍Lexington, Kentucky
🗓September 25 - 27, 2026

Don't miss your LAST CHANCE to submit your film to TLFF 2026! To be considered in this year's festival, please share you...
06/28/2026

Don't miss your LAST CHANCE to submit your film to TLFF 2026!
To be considered in this year's festival, please share your film by 11:59 EST on July 1st via Twelve Lions Film Festival on FilmFreeway.com
Submit your film today at the 🔗Link below:
https://filmfreeway.com/TwelveLionsFilmFestival

We're looking forward to screening and celebrating your work at this year's festival!

🎬Twelve Lions Film Festival
📍Lexington, Kentucky
🗓September 25 - 27, 2026

There's 1 Day left to submit your film for the TLFF 2026 Regular Submission Deadline! Submit your film before prices inc...
05/31/2026

There's 1 Day left to submit your film for the TLFF 2026 Regular Submission Deadline!
Submit your film before prices increase after June 1. The Late Submission Deadline is July 1, and Official Selection filmmakers will be notified after July 15.
Submit your film today! Link Below:
https://filmfreeway.com/TwelveLionsFilmFestival

We are 2 Days out from the Regular Submission Deadline for TLFF 2026! Submit your film before prices increase after the ...
05/30/2026

We are 2 Days out from the Regular Submission Deadline for TLFF 2026! Submit your film before prices increase after the regular submission deadline on June 1. The Late Submission Deadline is July 1, and Official Selections will be notified after July 15.

Submit your film day. Link Below:
https://filmfreeway.com/TwelveLionsFilmFestival

Address

214 East Main Street
Lexington, KY
40507

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Twelve Lions Film Festival posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Establishment

Send a message to Twelve Lions Film Festival:

Shortcuts

Share

Category