Blog: Film festivals

New York Shorts International Film Festival features over 340 short films, special events, talks, retrospectives films, and tributes with honored guests, establishing New York Shorts as one of the finest exhibitions of short films in North America.

Now in our 13th year, New York Shorts International Film Festival is the largest short film festival on the East Coast. A non-profit organization that provides a showcase for emerging filmmakers from around the world.

New York Shorts is a qualifying film festival for the Canadian Screen Awards, presented by The Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television. We are the only short film festival in New York on the Canadian Screen Awards eligible festival list.

The festival has become a career stepping stone, establishing a tradition of discovering and promoting filmmakers who have gone on to become Academy Award® Nominees.

Previous film selections include:

2023 Student Academy Award® Duet by Lyuwei Chen - Winner New York Shorts Best Documentary

2023 OSCAR® NOMINEE Live-Action Short Film, The Red Suitcase by Cyrus Neshvad winner New York Shorts 'Best International Film'

2022 OSCAR® WINNER Documentary, Short The Queen of Basketball by Ben Proudfoot

2020 OSCAR® WINNER Live-Action Short Film, "The Neighbors" Window" by Marshall Curry winner New York Shorts 'Best of Fest'

2020 OSCAR® NOMINEE Documentary Short Subject The New York Times Op-Docs "Walk Run Cha-Cha" by Laura Nix and Colette Sandstedt

2019 OSCAR® NOMINEE Animated Short "Animal Behaviour" by Alison Snowden and David Fine

2015 OSCAR® NOMINEE "The Dam Keeper" by Robert Kondo, Daisuke Tsutsumi

2013 Student Academy Award® "A World for Raúl" by Mauro Mueller wins New York Shorts Best Drama

2012 OSCAR® NOMINEE & BAFTA Best Short Animation "A Morning Stroll" by Grant Orchard, Sue Goffe

2012 World premiere "Derek" by Ricky Gervais wins New York Shorts Best Comedy and became a popular British television show picked up by Netflix.

New York Shorts International Film Festival is one of the largest showcases of short films in North America and an ideal platform for filmmakers to screen their films and gain recognition in New York City.

New York Shorts events include receptions, as well as workshops with industry experts and top filmmaking professionals sharing their practical advice to attending filmmakers.

2023 Industry Events
Industry Master Spotlight w/ BAFTA Nominated Director Jon Amiel
Industry Master Spotlight w/ Academy Award® Winning Producer Andrew Carlberg
Industry Short Film Spotlight w/ Academy Award® Winning Director Chris Overton

2022 Industry Events
Tribute to legendary film director Bob Giraldi
Spotlight Screening from George R.R. Martin's (Game of Thrones creator)
Beyond The Screen with Ben Proudfoot (Oscar® winning documentary director)
Film Retrospective Kim Magnusson (producer/director of seven Academy Awards® nominations and two Oscar wins)
Film Tribute to cinematographer Halyna Hutchins

New York Shorts believes short-form cinema and its filmmakers should have their own premier film festival in New York deserving similar recognition given to feature films.

The heart of the festival is the quality and scope of extraordinary film programming to enthusiastic audiences in the vibrant filmmaking enclave of New York City.

Cartoon Club – International Festival of Animation Cinema, Comics and Games, now at its 40th edition, is one of the best known festivals on the Italian scene.

It is a remarkable window for animation works, short films in particular – fiction, educational, experimental, computer graphic – and with a whole section solely dedicated to comics: Riminicomix.

The Festival features SHORT ANIMATED FILMS in various sections:

CARTOON CLUB AWARD, open to short animated films made by professional filmmakers and production companies.

SIGNOR ROSSI AWARD, open to animated films made by secondary school and university students, and by the students of animation film schools.

CARTOON KIDS AWARD, among the titles submitted to either Cartoon Club Award or to Signor Rossi Award, the Festival direction will select, at their own discretion, some short animated films aimed at a children’s audience. An all-children’s jury will select the winner among these films.

INTERNATIONAL PANORAMA, a non-competitive section open to European and non-European animated short films.

CARTOON JUNIOR AWARD, open to short animated films realized within workshops for children, in Italy or abroad.


Furthermore, the festival features:
- exhibitions;
- educational and social projects;
- workshops in local schools;
- one of the most popular and entertaining Cosplay conventions in Italy.
- publication of books and catalogues.
The festival takes place in Rimini in various locations, from downtown to the beach, in the month of July.

Only for films made in Spanish film schools.

The 2023 COMMFFEST will celebrate 18 years from September 14-22 2023 screening in movie theatres exhibition spaces, and ONLINE presented yearly by a group of dedicated volunteers. COMMFFEST a charitable corporation makes its home in one of Toronto’s most fast growing, economically diverse neighbourhood, Old Town Toronto, where many languages are spoken amongst an eclectic population.

Our screenplay competitions is spearheaded by 30 year filmmaker, writer, director and producer Vladimir Bondarenko who is an instructor at Toronto Film school,

COMMFFEST is a film festival that presents a broad range of local and international films representing current affairs and relevant issues that affect our society. COMMFFEST provides opportunities for emerging filmmakers, artists, musicians and global community stakeholders to express themselves freely and to connect with audiences on a more personal level. This unique blend of film, filmmakers and audiences creates a dynamic atmosphere to provoke thought and stimulate further understanding and exploration of ideas, attitudes, and emotions that can foster change – starting with the communities in which we live.

FILMS OF ANY GENRES ACCEPTED; independently produced films. Included in that mix are childrens issues, poverty, human rights LGBTQ, women's rights, third world struggles,

The last 18 years Commffest has built a valuable platform for introducing emerging and professional filmmakers to bring together communities, not for profit organizations with government officials in panel discussions to tackle pertinent issues often resulting in more funding and support for these groups.
Commffest is a cultural platform that strives to educate and create a hospitality environment where filmmakers and attendees can mix and mingle over food, drink and entertainment.

TESTIMONY , Eleanor Mc Grath’s
As an independent film-maker, you work often for a year or possibly years to direct, edit, produce a film and then comes the waiting game to be selected by a film festival.

COMMFFEST is more than a community film festival in Toronto; it is an art festival with a world perspective and I am most fortunate to have been part of the 2015 film festival programming with my documentary, "Forgotten". COMMFFEST's vision is to share stories that demonstrate the strength, struggles and beauty of humankind while providing a strong platform for independent film makers to showcase their perspective and vision of our world today and into the future. We need festivals like COMMFFEST who step away from the mainstream and champion works where the viewpoint is critical, enlightened or visionary in their approach to conflicts or issues that prevail throughout Toronto, Canada, North American and worldwide.

Behzad Sedghi Filmmaker
For me, COMMFFEST has been where my films have finally reached their maturity by connecting through the big screen with their audience. It is this connection that is essential for any artistic endeavour. As this may be the case with most other festivals, however, in my direct experience with COMMFFEST I clearly felt that each artist was given special attention, a chance to have a dialogue about their creation and ultimately was embraced in a celebration of their achievement. COMMFFEST founders and organizers are filled with the love of films and arts and clearly possess the vision and generosity to make this celebration happen every year. I look forward to being part of the next celebration either as an artist or a member of its community.

COMMFFEST mission statement:
To advance education by raising the cultural, artistic and aesthetic expression of the community and to advance the public’s appreciation of the arts through related artistic workshops and panel discussions, while promoting the works of filmmakers and artists alike.

The programming: The films are chosen by a jury of professionals from a globally solicited call for submissions. Once chosen, the programming is created to generate discussion around specific world events and themes, provoking dialogue and acceptance of others and their concerns.

More about COMMFFEST
COMMFFEST attracts educators, artists, politicians, business leaders, socially conscious organizations and trendsetters.

Local Educational engagement:
Over 6000 Children from local schools across the GTA that now include the COMMFFEST festival experience as part of their annual curriculum.
COMMFFEST’S unique diversity invites the world to one local community event over several days in Toronto

"Italian Film Days" brings Italian films to Cyprus.

The event is organized by the IMAGO Group and the Embassy of Italy in Nicosia. The artistic direction of the Festival is entrusted to Claudio Rossi Massimi, Italian author and director.

Films from all Countries are allowed to partecipate, not only Italian films!

* All winners will receive an official laurel and a free certificate (PDF/JPG file, ready for print).

IRANIAN FILM MAKERS ARE REQUESTED TO ASK FOR "WAIVER CODE".

SCREENING : MARCH 11-12, 2022

JUST A NOTE: Cafe Irani Chaii International Film Festival will not accept any entries that are against any government, its policies or hurting anyone's religious beliefs.

Serving as Mumbai’s upcoming Premier Film Festival, the Cafe Irani Chaii International Film Festival (CICIFF) is founded to showcase Mumbai and Bollywood as the Biggest Film Industry across the world. With an aim to exhibit the most captivating and innovative content, the two day festival is slated to happen on March 11-12, 2022.

Breaking all stereotypes, CICIFF's mission is to present quality films from around the world as well as support, recognize and honor film makers. CICIFF festival intends to connect the film fans and movies goers with the world, especially the serious filmmaker and their associates so as to bring about greater understanding of the art of film making.

The two day Cafe Irani Chaii International Film Festival will be a “Free for All” film festival for audiences to enjoy films from various countries including Germany, Italy, UK, USA, Russia, Bangladesh, Iran, Poland in English and the country's own languages. Indian regional language films like Hindi, Marathi, Bengali, Bhojpuri, and in south Indian language including Malayalam, Tamil, Telegu and Kanada will be showcased.

GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY FOR IRANIAN FILM MAKERS - FREE ENTRY

SUBMISSIONS 2025
MI PRIMER FESTIVAL, 10TH EDITION

The call is open until November 30!

The international film festival for children and youth MI PRIMER FESTIVAL (MPF) that sows the love for cinema. It is in our hands to find ways to encourage and promote that girls, boys, adolescents and young people understand what is happening in the world and show them ways to initiate change.

MPF invites you to participate in its 10th edition, we will celebrate our first ten years, which will take place during 2025 in different regions of Peru, taking as a starting point our first event in Lima that will be from February 16 to 22, 2025 in person, thanks to different venues and cultural centers.

MI PRIMER FESTIVAL aims to create a space for the exhibition of national and international cinema and audiovisuals, framing our content around the Human Rights of NNAs established in the Convention on the Rights of the Child and in the General Law on the Rights of NNAs, which recognizes them as holders of their rights.

We are a festival focused on the care and agency of children's citizenship, from a decentralized vision that aims to ensure that our content reaches a diverse audience.

MY FIRST FESTIVAL, through audiovisual and new media, promotes reflection on the various rights of children and adolescents from the imagination and education, forming creative, flexible and safe future citizens.

Festival accepts movies of interest for gay, lesbian, bisexual, intersexual and transexual people. To participate in the competitive section (prizes), these films should have not been programmed on TV, screened in comercial venues or another spanish festival excluding the organized by Fundacion Triangulo. In any case, copyleft or copyright should be later than 2022.

Since 1999, a group of filmmakers meet every year in the worldwide known picturesque bavarian town called Oberammergau, to watch and talk independent films and how to rule the world. Now you can join this group.

IndieNuts opens their gates for everyone and founded the IndieNuts Awards festival.

The IndieNuts Awards is an international independent film festival based in Germany, that features a live screening event and business panel discussions. This guarantees unique PR opportunities towards independent filmmakers worldwide.

Today, making an independent movie isn't that big of a challenge, as it was back in the old days, but getting it out into the world is the big challenge today. And thats where IndieNuts jumps in. We want to help you get your movie out into the crowd, so you get all the recognition and attention your film deserves.

You ask why and how we can do that? We are professionals in the film business since 1990 and as independent filmmakers since 1999. We have solutions for you and a lot of experience and are willing to share them with you.

As IndieNuts, we want to connect the audience with the filmmaker and the filmmaker with other filmmakers. We will promote all selected movies on our website -IndieNuts.com- and give you the chance to directly connected with your own crowd.

*Covid-19 UPDATE / 01. October 2020: Due to the rise in the number of Covid-19 cases in germany, our government has increased the containment measures and it is not possible for us as a festival to hold this 2020 as a open to public festival. We will run a jury vote as a solution for the 2020 festival. We´re very sorry and sad to not meet all those great peolpe, but we are looking forward to see you all in 2021. Now let´s face 2020 and STAY NUTS

TAXCO Mexico, light city and Magic Town, one of the most impressive locations in the world, invites you to the 10th EDITION OF TAXCO FILM FEST.

The sole purpose of BEFF is to develop a film culture that inspires and brings together all types of film makers, irrespective of their film making genre. BEFF also aims to appreciate and promote creativity in all forms, be it a film or photography to the world and to a diversified audience.

The event is a glamorous red carpet event in Kolkata. The participants have excellent opportunities to exchange their ideas, ideologies and cultural innuendos. The winners have a chance to meet with the audience after screening.

Festival of short films related to functional diversity or featuring people with disabilities.

It is a party that combines different languages, platforms and materials that revolve around audiovisual and cinematographic language. It calls for works from all backgrounds, emphasizing urban, rural and community-based community productions produced by Latin American peoples who are in search of their own image and propose different perspectives that do not find a space in the commercial distribution network.

The competition conditions the creator to submit to the taste of a jury, limiting in many cases the creative options of filmmakers whose works do not respond to the logic of the film industry; So we propose a non-competitive festival where the objective, rather than winning an award or recognition, is to share the experience of the realization itself, the search for the image and the reality that it reflects.

An open, plural, democratic party, which invites all sovereign achievements to join in dreaming and being part of the force that constitutes the different, critical, silenced looks. Inviting national and international allies to add as many voices to that search for their own image and audiovisual sovereignty.

Works made in neighborhoods and community cinema by more people making audiovisual and less stars of the film industry. Decentralized projection sites, to bring the audiovisual to where people are and (re) take the street for public and free cultural action, for love, not for business. A meeting, production, reflection and discussion space, on topics that concern us and that are embodied in the films that are screened and in the workshops that take place during the week, because we celebrate the audiovisual as a weapon of struggle for our free expression.

The Puglia international film festival is the only Italian and European film festival that deals with and deals with exclusively political, social and historical issues that are directly interconnected and connected to each other.

After each screening there will be a live debate between operators in the world of cinema and characters belonging to Italian and international politics, historians, academics and organizations involved in social policies.
Puglia international film festival is an extraordinary annual event held in Polignano a mare, an authentic pearl and tourist destination in Puglia and Italy.

We welcome you to the Third Edition of Prague Film Awards - a two-day celebration of quality independent filmmaking, awards, and industry events in front of a live audience of film critics, enthusiasts and producers. Join us for two memorable nights of screenings, networking and red-carpet treatment.

Prague Film Awards, now in its second edition, was born out of a desire to create a welcoming space where international cinema and Czech filmmaking can meet and enrich each other. After our hugely successful, sold-out first edition in January 2018 and January 2019, we will be returning to Kino Atlas in Prague, January 2021.

We believe quality filmmaking should be celebrated and awarded, regardless of the budget. This is why our dedicated team of international programmers focus on creating the most diverse screening selection. Why our nominated filmmakers are guests of honor. Why seeing and hearing the audience react to your cinematic work is just one of the many ways your work is being rewarded.

We are passionate about supporting up-and-coming directors, producers and actors, and providing them with worthwhile, memorable screening experiences. These include Q&As with filmmakers, industry roundtables, and audience awards.

▶ We are accepting submissions for a number of categories and are open to all languages, as long as films in a language other than English are subtitled in English. All submissions must come through Festhome ◀

Prague Film Awards is run in association with Close:Up, a collection of international film festivals supporting indie filmmaking. By establishing a working network among filmmakers, producers and marketing professionals, we share one common goal: to forge productive and lasting relationships between independent filmmakers and audiences.

We are now open for submissions for our 2021 event!

The Barcelona Olympic Foundation, with the support of the Barcelona City Council, organizes the BCN Sports Film 2025 – 15th BARCELONA INTERNATIONAL FICTS FESTIVAL and forms part of the WORLD FICTS CHALLENGE 2025.

The BCN Sports Film 2025 will be held in Barcelona from 17th to 25th February 2025. This fifteenth edition of the Festival will have a competitive nature.

The fifteenth edition of the festival will have a hybrid format so, there will be face-to-face screenings and online screenings. The rights that the authors assign, therefore, are both for the face-to-face sessions that are held in the official venues of the contest, as well as for the sessions that will be held online through an online platform.

These Rules & Regulations have been approved by the BCN Sports Film 2025 Organising Committee. Your taking part in BCN Sports Film 2025 implies the total acceptance of these regulations.

The Cisterna Film Festival is an international short film festival held in Cisterna di Latina, Italy, in July. It is organized by the Cultural Association MOBilitazioni Artistiche with the artistic direction of Cristian Scardigno.

From 2015 to 2023 the Cisterna Film Festival screened international and national premieres, from the major festivals (Cannes, Venice, Berlin, Sundance, Clermont-Ferrand) and winners of the most important national and international awards (Oscar, David, Cesar, Goya).

Since 2017, the festival has hosted a “Focus” section dedicated to specific country. In 2017, Poland inaugurated it, with the support of the Polish Institute in Rome, and in 2018 it was the turn of Ireland, with the collaboration of the Irish Film Festa and the Irish Embassy. In 2019 there was a Focus on Germany, with the support of German Films and German Embassy in Rome and in 2021 the Focus on Greece with the collaboration of Drama International Short Film Festival, an European Film Awards qualifying festival. In 2022, the CFF screened shorts from Croatia with the support of Croatian Audiovisual Centre. Last year, the Festival hosted short-films from Palestinian authors, in collaboration with the Consulat Général de France a Jérusalem and the Palestinian Ministry of Culture.

The festival annually hosts key figures from the show business and organizes collateral events such as book presentations, workshops dedicated to teenagers and photography exhibitions.

www.cisternafilmfestival.com

FIC es un festival que fomenta el cine joven: creemos que los estudiantes de colegio (15-18 años) son capaces de crear grandes cortos. Por eso los premiamos.

En el FIC se premian a nivel nacional (Ecuador) 14 categorías. Por este medio buscamos cortos internacionales para la categoría Mejor Cortometraje Internacional

The general.
The northern festival of short films "METERS" is held from February 15-16, 2020 in the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) in the city of Yakutsk.
The Northern Short Film Festival "Metres" (hereinafter referred to as the Festival) is a screening competition for films eligible to participate by decision of the Festival Directorate.

After the resounding success of our 2nd season, the Australian, Oz Indie Film Festival will, once again, celebrate the very best of International and Australian independent film making. At a time when movies are becoming more and more programmed by market research, demographics, comic books and computer game sales, it has never been more important to discover and foster new brave independent filmmakers.

Your film will be judged on one criteria only – the quality of your work. So feel free to let the world know your opinions and politics, provided these are dramatically crucial to the work you submit. Within the realms of what's legally decent, we won't censure your work.

Our categories include Australian Independent Feature Films, Australian Short Films, International independent Films, Documentaries, Australian Indigenous Work, Animated Features, Animated Shorts, Student Work and Music Videos.

Whether you are chosen for screening or not you entry may be selected for U.S. TV broadcast on The Mini Movie Hour.

The purpose on the show is provide filmmakers exposure on U.S. broadcast television. The series reaches approximately 50 million households throughout the U.S. and can also be view on OTT platforms. You can view four of the episodes at www.minimoviehour.com/watch.html.

We would like to let you know in advance that we do not charge to be featured on the Mini Movie Hour and we do not pay a licensing fee. Also, our license is non-exclusive.

Proudly, we have no other restrictions on your work. This includes your works premier status, it's age and/or whether your work has been made available online.

We look forward to your participation as either filmmakers, actors, musicians, industry judges, sponsors and theatre venues.