Blog: Film festivals

Inside Nollywood International Film Festival & Awards (INIFFAA) is a premier platform dedicated to recognizing and honoring the achievements of African creative minds in the entertainment industry. Through its annual awards ceremony and film festival, INIFFAA provides a vibrant space for filmmakers from around the world, particularly those of African descent, to showcase their talent and connect with industry professionals. The festival aims to foster collaboration, celebrate cultural diversity, and promote the advancement of African cinema on the global stage.

The Maiden edition of INIFFAA took place from the 25th of November to the 27th of November 2021 at Awka, Anambra State. It was a throng of cultural representations.

Apart from the Motion pictures that were rich in Culture, there were Masquerade displays, stage dramas that depicted virtuous culture and VIP Tours for our guests and Empress Models, to different cultural sites within Anambra state.

INIFFAA as the Festival is abbreviated , will continuously be a haven for film practitioners, Entertainers and lovers of entertainment. We will continue to invent new ways of keeping our followers engaged and excited.

The Festival was founded by Obinna Muoma, a prolific film maker and a Nollywood stake holder. He is the founder of Inside Nollywood.

Patrofest is a film festival where you can participate to see your work on the big screen and spend a relaxing time talking about cinema. We want to give a push to young authors who are taking their first steps in this world.

The festival will be held in the emblematic modernist theater "El Patronat", located in the old town of Premià de Mar.

We are the West Coast’s premier festival dedicated to showcasing fresh and innovative filmmaking, screening everything from festival favorites like Damsel (starring Robert Pattinson and Mia Wasikowska), to world premieres like Netflix favorite Abducted in Plain Sight.

We are committed to discovering and supporting emerging filmmakers. There’s a reason MovieMaker magazine has named Mammoth Lakes Film Festival as one of the “Top 50 Film Festival’s Worth Your Entry Fee” for the last nine years in a row: We put our filmmakers first! And now we are one of the "Top 25 Coolest Festivals in the World" named by MovieMaker Magazine — a true testament to the experience you will have with us.

We always secure top-level press to attend the festival in order to get exposure for our filmmakers. Attending press and industry professionals have included Variety, The Wrap, Indiewire, MovieMaker Magazine, Hollywood Reporter and more.

The 13th annual Mammoth Lakes Film Festival takes place on the five days leading up to Memorial Day, May 26-30, 2027.

MLFF captures the imagination of audiences and contributes to the vitality of film culture by providing emerging filmmakers with an opportunity to show their latest work in a vibrant and nurturing atmosphere. Visitors are drawn to the area to experience exciting new films by both new and established independent artists, and for the opportunity to mingle with them at fun and friendly daily events. The festival is also a forum for filmmakers to have their work seen by industry professionals who have the potential to provide mentorship and propel their careers.

We are committed to promoting film as an art form by focusing on personal, innovative, imaginative films by writers and directors with a unique style and point of view. We present these films in the beautiful natural setting of Mammoth Lakes — a perfect backdrop for an independent film festival and a premier tourist destination in its own right. Because we are a destination resort, just a 4 to 5-hour drive or a quick flight from Los Angeles, we have strong allies within the entertainment industry. Our jury members are acclaimed artists and professionals from the world of independent film. We give out multiple awards in the categories of Narrative Features, Documentary Features, and Short Films.

We award cash and prizes valued at more than $40,000.00. We provide housing and festival passes for our filmmakers. Our juries have included Tim Moore (Producer of AMERICAN SNIPER, INVICTUS), Allison Amon (Producer of THE QUEEN OF VERSAILLES), Rachel Winter (Academy Award winning producer of DALLAS BUYERS CLUB), and John Fiedler (Producer of SERIAL MOM and PECKER).

The Mammoth Lakes Film Festival is a DBA of the Eastern Sierra Arts Alliance and is a 501(c)3.

The Viña del Mar International Film Festival
is a municipal event that dates back to 1963. It is the oldest in the country and the second oldest in Latin America.

It was founded as an initiative of filmmaker and physician Aldo Francia and the Viña del Mar Film Club. It was the birthplace of the New Latin American Cinema and the New Chilean Cinema.

MAN!FEST is a unique film festival in Ciudad Real, inspired by the figure of Jorge Manrique and his famous "Coplas." Born in 2025 with a clear social and humanistic mission, it offers an open and free space that seeks the cultural transformation of the city, promoting equality and cultural plurality from its core, inviting reflection through short and feature films committed to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), such as zero hunger, health, quality education, gender equality, clean water, or sustainable communities.

Brussels Short Film Festival is an exhibition intended for cinema lovers, both audience and professionals. The purpose is to promote and circulate short films and to generate contacts between audience, young directors and professionals.

The winner of the Great Prize of the International competition is eligible for consideration in the Animated Short Film/ Live Action Short Film category of the Academy Awards® without the standard theatrical run, provided the film otherwise complies with the Academy rules. It also automatically qualifies the film for the César Awards, provided that it complies with the eligibility requirements established by the Académie.

IFF ZOOM - ZBLIZENIA (Jelenia Góra) is one of the largest and most important independent cinema festivals in Poland. Its aim is to present the author's cinema, ambitious, high artistic value, moving independent and original subject matter, as well as promotion of independent film art.

Ladies and Gentlemen,
due to the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine, we would like to inform you that the Russian films which will be submitted to the 30. IFF ZOOM-ZBLIŻENIA 2027 will not be eligible for competitions.

We recognize that cinema is one of the most influential artistic disciplines in society; the language of film transcends the boundaries of the big screen, leaving an indelible mark on the memories and imaginations of every viewer.

For this reason, the 9th edition of the Chiloé International Film Festival (FICH 2026) stands as the only active film-focused cultural event in the Los Lagos Region (Region X). It showcases Chilean and international cinema across various programming strands, featuring retrospectives of established national filmmakers alongside activities designed to foster engagement with film content and language, thereby broadening participation among the island's residents.

This ninth edition will feature seven distinct programming strands to showcase the films. These include five competitive categories:

International Feature Film, National Feature Film, International Short Film, National Short Film, and Regional Short Film; a Retrospective Focus; and a Children's Strand.

Slash Eyes International Film Festival (SEIFF) is a festival that is open to all cultures and all different ways of looking at reality. We will accept your proposal with the respect and dignity it deserves. If you are a creator with an original and different vision, then this is the ideal place for you.

We place a high value on originality and champion the work of creators who may not be understood by the more traditional circuits.

We are based on the island of Mallorca, one of the places with the greatest potential for recognition and exposure in the world. You can take advantage of this opportunity to showcase your work and to promote yourself as a film maker.

The festival has been held for more than twenty years in the Russian Far East.

Amur Autumn is one of the region's major cultural events.

The festival includes two film competitions and one theatre competition.

Film Competitions
Feature Narrative Competition
Short Narrative Competition

Whenever possible, filmmakers are invited to attend the festival and present their films in person. The festival covers most of the participants' travel expenses.

Each competition is judged by an international professional jury.

Screenings take place in a cinema, where the jury watches the films together with the audience.

To be eligible for participation, films must have Russian Premiere status.

The festival's main award is the Amur Crane.

The Grand Prix in both film competitions also includes a cash prize.

Each year, the festival receives more than 1,000 submissions.

In accordance with the legislation of the Russian Federation, films with LGBTQ-related themes cannot be screened at the festival.

In 2024, the Indian film The Unyielding Girl won the festival's top prize. Other award-winning films came from Russia, Chile, China, Turkey, France, Kazakhstan, Iran, and Switzerland.

In 2025, the Chinese film Strangers We Do Not Know won the award for Best Feature Film. Other prize-winning films came from Russia, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Turkey, and South Korea.

The 2025 competition programmes featured 37 films from 21 countries.

The “TEATRO D’EUROPA DON FERDINANDO RENZULLI” Cultural Association, under the patronage of the Municipality of Cesinali, announces the 3rd edition of the FESTIVAL CORTO D’AUTORE CITTA’ DI CESINALI – DON FERDINANDO RENZULLI AWARD, to be held on September 12 and 13, 2026, at the Teatro d’Europa in Cesinali (AV).

Our mission is to promote the talent of emerging young filmmakers within the Italian, European, and international film scenes, with the goal of blending culture, local heritage, and tourism, while paying particular attention to innovations in the field of cinema, including those supported by new technological tools.

The call for entries is open to short films of any theme and genre. It ranges from drama to comedy to thrillers, and so on. Stories may be fictional, adaptations, or inspired by real events, as well as documentaries or reportages of any genre.

The Bujaraloz Short Film Competition is a film festival in the heart of the Los Monegros region. The first edition took place on 9 December 2008, organised by the cultural association ‘Monegrinos Amigos del Séptimo Arte’, whose aim is to promote culture in rural areas, whilst, through the Seventh Art, raising the profile of our town and, more broadly, the entire Los Monegros region.

The topic of the work will be the violence of gender, in any of its manifestations, its prevention and sensitization against it, being able to present documentaries and short films of plot fiction.

The jury will have special consideration for those works that address this issue by focusing on the youth world.

GIGGLE FILM FESTIVAL - the biggest comedy short film festival in London!

We screen the funniest comedy short films around from the UK and International filmmakers to our lively audience in a huge 500-seat converted warehouse venue in North East London.

We're seeking the best and funniest short films around, from live-action to animation, dark comedy to slapstick, and everything in between!

This is a chance to screen your comedy film to a whole new audience, whether your film is hot off the press or has previously done the festival circuit, we'd love to see it.

Giggle Film Festival is run by filmmakers, for filmmakers.

The CINALFAMA FILM OBSERVATORY, held in a historic neighborhood, emerges as a transformative cultural initiative that strengthens the community network. By showing independent films, the project not only widens access to alternative and innovative narratives but also stimulates cultural engagement among residents, fostering a sense of identity and belonging.

This regular event, which takes place at Museu do Fado Auditorium, becomes a meeting point where generations cross paths, sharing experiences and reflections that transcend mere film viewing. In addition, by being located in a neighborhood with a rich historical heritage, the observatory revitalizes the urban space, attracting visitors and enhancing the appreciation of the local heritage, generating a very positive cultural dynamic

The Cinalfama Film Observatory is a regular cinema competition in January, April, and October.

The winning films of each of the three editions (Jan, Apr, Oct), will be showcased in our annual outdoor cinema event, Cinalfama Lisbon International Film Festival.

New York Short Film Tuesdays OFFERS GREAT SCREENINGS TO SHORT FILM LOVERS in Brooklyn, New York.

One of our new venue is in Downtown , Brooklyn. It is a perfect venue and artsy area in the heart of New York City.
We have more than 70 seats and Huge SCREEN.

DO YOU WANT TO SCREEN YOUR SHORT FILM in NYC ? IF SO, SUBMIT TODAY. INVITE YOUR CREW AND FRIENDS. IT IS A GREAT PLACE TO SEE ALL INDIE SHORTS.

NY Short Film Tuesdays has been organized since 2014 and each month we have more than 9 films have been screening at the festival.

We have reached to our 135th Event recently and we screened over 1.400 short films.

We do a Q & A session with filmmakers who is in attendance for their film screenings.

ALL GENRES WELCOME. - FİCTİONS- DOCUMENTARİES- ANİMATİONS- EXPERİMENTALS AND MUSİC VİDEOS. No year & No country limitation.

All COUNTRIES & LANGUAGES ACCEPTED!

See you at the screening with all film lovers!!!

New World AI Film Festival(NWAIFF) is a global, international platform dedicated to creators of AI-driven films and videos, providing an independent space to showcase innovative work from around the world.

We welcome AI films of all genres, styles, and formats, embracing diversity and creativity without limitation. From narrative storytelling to experimental works, from short-form videos to hybrid creations, all forms of AI-driven expression are encouraged.

There are no boundaries to imagination, we invite creators to push the limits of creativity and bring entirely new worlds to life through AI.

The Latin American Women Filmmakers Observatory (Observatório Latino-Americano de Realizadoras, OLAR) is a platform that fosters dialogue between critical thought and audiovisual production across Latin America through a gender perspective. It supports initiatives dedicated to the circulation, preservation, and memory of films made by women, non-binary, and trans filmmakers from all countries and territories of Latin America and the Caribbean.

The third edition of our biennial festival, OLAR 3 – Latin American Women Filmmakers Observatory, will take place in November 2026 as an in-person event in the city of Carpina, Pernambuco, Brazil. The program will include open-air screenings, cinema screenings, school screenings, as well as educational activities and panel discussions.

OLAR does not provide airfare for participating filmmakers. However, we will seek to host filmmakers who are in Carpina during the festival screenings.

We invite you to participate in the 14th Navarra, Land of Cinema Short Film Contest — the festival that challenges your creativity in our natural filming locations.

Your originality could win one of six awards, along with accommodation, filming insurance, production support, distribution opportunities, and more...

What are you waiting for to put yourself to the test? Send us your script by August 10th and become one of the 10 finalist teams selected for the filming phase.

8th Ooty Short Film Festival (Ooty SFF)

December 25-27, 2026

The NilgirisNext Foundation for Arts & Culture (NXF), formerly known as Nilgiris Film Club (NFC), is thrilled to announce the 8th edition of the Ooty Short Film Festival (Ooty SFF), scheduled to take place from December 25th to 27th, 2026. We cordially invite filmmakers from across the globe to join us in celebrating the art of independent short films in the picturesque mountains of the Western Ghats.

About the Festival

Since its inception, Ooty SFF has grown into a vibrant platform for showcasing exceptional short films. Our carefully curated sections feature some of the most remarkable experimental and artist-made short films, ensuring a diverse and inspiring cinematic journey for all attendees.

In 2026, we are excited to announce an initiative: Citizen Jury, A citizen jury at our short film festival evaluates films from a public perspective, offering a crucial non-industry viewpoint.

Our Vision

At Ooty SFF, we strive to curate a program that embodies unique and original artistic visions. Our focus is on short films that boldly push the boundaries of both form and concept, opening up numerous avenues for interpretation and understanding.

We have a special interest in works by emerging filmmakers and artist-made shorts, believing that these voices bring fresh and innovative perspectives to the cinematic landscape.

Opportunities for Filmmakers

Ooty SFF is more than just a screening platform. We provide filmmakers with:

* A platform to share their work with a discerning audience
* Exposure to diverse filmmaking styles and narratives
* Opportunities to be part of a growing community of independent filmmakers
* Recognition through our Golden Elephant Awards for Indian filmmakers and digital awards (NFTs) for international filmmakers, ensuring both physical and modern digital forms of recognition

Submit Your Film

We welcome submissions from filmmakers of all backgrounds and experiences. If you have a short film that challenges conventions, explores new territories, or tells a compelling story in an innovative way, we want to see it!

Join us for the 8th Ooty Short Film Festival and be part of a celebration of cinematic creativity in the heart of the Nilgiris.

The Ooty Short Film Festival is produced by the NilgirisNext Foundation for Arts & Culture (NXF), formerly known as Nilgiris Film Club (NFC).