All Genders, Lifestyles, and Identities Film Festival
Austin, United States
79
Tier BScreenings
Festival dossier
2026 Great Lakes International Film Festival
Erie, United States · Est. 2001 · High structural score (80–100) for legitimacy and industry clout — not limited to Oscar-qualifying festivals
Tier ATrusted
Erie, United States
98
Legitimacy ScoreShould I submit?
Strong legitimacy signals
Tier A score for legitimacy and industry clout. Still confirm deadlines, fees, and categories on the festival site before paying.
- 25 years of verifiable history
- Physical screenings at TREC Big Green Screen Theater
- 4 verified pro signals
Overview
The Great Lakes International Film Festival in Erie, Pennsylvania is a long-running independent film festival founded in 2002 that screens films from the United States and around the world. It is notable for its broad, inclusive program across many genres and lengths, and for its reputation as a major stop for independent filmmakers seeking audience exposure, networking, and distribution opportunities.[1][2][11]
Last updated Aug 27, 2026
Legitimacy Analysis
Positive Indicators (+48 pts)
- 25 years of verifiable history
- Physical screenings at TREC Big Green Screen Theater
- 4 verified pro signals
- Verified trusted status
- Legitimacy signals outweigh concerns (4 vs 0)
Red Flags (-0 pts)
No red flags found
Trust Signals
Positive Signals
- FilmFreeway Gold festival
- Has FilmFreeway community ratings
- Documented history with archived programs
- Named venues with external verification
Festival Details
Founded
2001
Venue
TREC Big Green Screen Theater
Screenings
Physical screenings confirmed
FilmFreeway communityGold festival
Avg. rating
4.3/ 5
Reviews
113
Synced 4 days ago
Rating synced from FilmFreeway; individual review text not pulled yet for this festival.
View on FilmFreewayFilmFreeway reviews are filmmaker opinions, not our score. Cross-check red flags before paying fees.
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At a glance
How scoring works
Scores are calculated from structural indicators: accreditations, physical screenings, award category count, submission frequency, and acceptance rate. Higher scores reflect more verifiable legitimacy signals.
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