Blog: Film festivals

Around International Awards ✈ Barcelona ✈ Paris ✈ Amsterdam ✈ Berlin.
Annual Independent event with 4 major programs for all Features, Shorts, Documentaries, Experimental, Commercial, Music Video, Animations, Student Films, TV, Series, and New Media. The international community evaluates the all-genre creations to serve ARFF Official Laurels and to certify the awarded filmmakers at the end of the annual festival run. Thus, all the ARFF Finalists will be mentioned multiple times to have the best out of the entire year altogether. Submit today to participate in all 4 programs, regarding the unique system of ARFF International. Submissions made via Festhome are getting evaluated and selected, directly for the yearly festival run and participating in the Official Certificate Program exclusively. Monthly selection is available on other associated platforms.

See you Around & Fest Regards

We are LISBIFF • Lisboa Indie Film Festival, an international film festival with screening events from the enchanting Lisbon, Portugal, and member of the IBERIFF • Iberia Indie Film Festivals, which celebrates and showcases new productions and independent artists from all over the world in Lisbon (LISBIFF), Madrid (MADRIFF), Barcelona (BARCIFF), València (VALÈIFF), Seville (SEVIFF) and Montpellier (MONTIFF), that you can also find them here in Festhome.

LISBIFF shares the mission of its associate festivals of supporting emerging talents, encouraging artistic exploration, fostering networking, promoting cultural exchange and engaging the local community by providing a platform to present the work of independent filmmakers.

Fiction films, animation, documentary and experimental works of any genre and subject are welcome!

The International Film and Human Rights Festival - HUMANS FEST, developed in Valencia since 2008, is one of the main activities promoted by the Fundación por la Justicia that aims to bring audiovisual culture closer to both the general public and especially vulnerable audiences, as well as such as the defense of human rights and the denunciation of their violations throughout the world and at the same time carrying out a series of activities with a social content.

The Festival reaches its XV edition to be held in June 2024.

FICCUE was born from the need to promote local, national and international cinema in Cuenca and its province of a genre as yet unexploited as comedy. Addressing this genre as the exclusive objective of this festival makes it unique both on a national and international scene, making Cuenca the headquarters of comedy cinema.

Our principle is anthropophagic and cannibalistic. Kinesyphilis is a disease that we suffer from and with which we commit ourselves. Our interest: to eat and digest cinema from the south.

This festival was founded to open another door in the festival scene in Colombia. To think, watch, listen and read the cinema of the past, present and future. Our limits will be reflected in each of our editions. In addition, we adhere to a tradition of our arts and cultural movement, since the impulse that motivated the magazine Ojo al Cine founded by Andres Caicedo viciously influences the creation of this festival.


Call "Poetics of Resistance".

Curatorial proposal:

This exhibition aims to convene cinematographic, audiovisual and videoclip expressions of any genre that were made around the social outbreak in Colombia between 2019 and 2021. We are interested in compiling and creating a bank of artistic memory about the creations that thought through image and sound all the social process that took place throughout the country.

Likewise, due to diverse political processes of resistance at an international level, we consider it important to open our doors to creations from all over the world. Therefore, we will have our call open to cinematographic, audiovisual and videoclip expressions of any genre made between 2019 and 2023 in any country or town that are linked to the concept "Poetics of Resistance".

Descubierto Film Festival emerges as a meeting place between spectators and audiovisual creators of the fantasy genre.

The competitive selection of short films will be interested in bringing together works with fantasy themes with risky visual languages ​​and innovative proposals. On the other hand, there will be a regional film show where the filmography of local authors will be exhibited. In this way, we seek to be a window for stories told from different perspectives.

Additionally, the Festival will organize parallel activities aimed at complementing the cultural programming.

Moritz Feed Dog is the first festival in the state that combines film and fashion.

Premieres, iconic documentaries and titles full of content on the big screen. Stories that come from different countries and also works that are the result of national talent in the field of production and direction.

Moritz Feed Dog is held in person in Barcelona, and for 2021 a hybrid festival is planned that includes a face-to-face and an online part. In addition, the Festival is also held in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Although they have their own artistic team there, the documentaries selected in Barcelona are automatically also valued by the Brazilian committee.

Cuarta muestra de cortometrajes realizados por mujeres. sólo cortometrajes realizados y pensados por ellas.

International queer film festival Merlinka is organized every year from 2009 in Belgrade Serbia. For five days we screen short, documentary and featured LGBT-themed films.

Only gay, lesbian, bisexual, trangender, transsexual-themed films.

Cerdanya Film Festival, Festival Internacional de Cinema de Cerdanya, is a Festival specialized in the documentary, fiction and animation genre, short and feature films, consisting of competitive international sections, non-competitive sections and parallel activities. All the films that are part of the different sections will be selected by the Festival programmers.

Cerdanya Film Festival qualifies for the 2024 Premios Goya – Spanish Film Academy in Best Spanish Shortfilm, in both Fiction and Documentary categories.

The 16th edition of the Cerdanya Film Festival will be held from 1st to 15th August 2025.

The largest independent film festival in the state of Kansas. A hallmark of the region’s cinematic landscape and an internationally recognized, multi-day platform for world-class cinematic programming, the festival is a program of the Tallgrass Film Association, a 501(c)3 arts organization that fosters an appreciation of the cinematic arts by creating shared experiences around the international medium of film.

A cool Midwestern city that truly represents the spirit and hospitality of America's Heartland, Wichita is also home to a large art and music community, a growing filmmaking community, and generous patrons of the arts making Tallgrass audiences a hallmark of the festival. Sophisticated movie-goers of all ages and backgrounds - hungry for quality independent film - audiences are receptive, opinionated, and genuine. Screening a film at Tallgrass is a catalyst for generating awareness and buzz in the epicenter of the country that radiates throughout the region. Also accessible at Tallgrass, are the visiting filmmakers. Due to the city’s authentic nature, it’s common to find an Oscar-winning filmmaker deep in conversation with a high school documentarian or an avid movie-goer.

1. Brain Film Fest

The Brain Film Fest (BFF) is an international film festival dedicated to highlighting and promoting the creation and dissemination of feature films and short films about any aspect of the brain, from its amazing abilities and conditions to its pathologies. The BFF is jointly organized by the Pasqual Maragall Foundation and Minimal Films. In addition to being a film competition, the BFF will also organize throughout the festival other in-person and online social, cultural and/or scientific events that focus on the brain.

The 8th edition of the Brain Film Fest will be held from March 12 to 16, 2025.

Getafe en Corto is a short film festival organized by Onda Vecinal Getafe, in collaboration with the Getafe City Council.

It will be held on March 27, 28 and 29, 2025, at 8:30 p.m., at the Getafe Market Space. Pl. de la Constitución, 5, 28901 Getafe, Madrid

In 2021, “The Biggest Little Fest In Europe” was heralded as "One of the World's Leading Indie Film Fests"- The Hollywood Reporter

Rated among the top 5 Film Festivals worldwide for Independent Films by American film critic Chris Gore in his esteemed “Ultimate Film Festival Guide”, and ranked “Top 25 Coolest Festivals in the World” by MovieMaker, Oldenburg has fostered its success with a strong commitment to innovative and Independent filmmaking.

“If there's anything that could be considered the Promised Land of Independent Cinema in Europe today, it is Oldenburg.” - Accred - L'actualité des festivals de cinéma

Labelled ‘the German Sundance’ by Variety, Hollywood Reporter, and Screen International, amongst others, Oldenburg has evolved while preserving its intimate atmosphere and founding purpose: to celebrate and support the diverse voices and visions of independent filmmakers, to honor the creativity of the artists upon which the Festival depends, and to create a unique experience and inspiring meeting place for filmmakers, audiences, and media professionals.

“Oldenburg - renown for its determination, cinephilia, and openness for the extremes - impresses with its brilliant programming.” - GRIP

Additionally, in an effort to raise awareness and build bridges between worlds through the common language of film, Oldenburg is the only Film Festival in the world that annually screens part of its regular program to incarcerated individuals who share the experience with members of the general public in an actual high-security Prison environment, known as ‘The Alcatraz of the North’.

“Oldenburg thrives as a discovery channel.” - Screen International

In addition to supporting the discovery of new artists, Oldenburg has hosted the German Premieres of films by such acclaimed filmmakers as Darren Aronofsky, Brian De Palma, Steven Soderbergh, Michael Polish, Johnnie To, Chan-wook Park, Monte Hellmann, & Takeshi Kitano amongst others. Guests of honor have included Jim McBride, Larry Clark, Philippe de Broca, Andrzej Zulawski, Ken Russell, Jerry Schatzberg, James Toback, Radley Metzger, Ted Kotcheff, Phedon Papmichael, George Armitage, Christophe Honoré, Edward R. Pressman, Bruce Robinson, William Freidkin, Ovidio Assonitis, and Peter & John Hyams who have all attended the festival for Retrospectives of their work.

“Just as impressive as the films was the festival itself, which, under the inspired direction of Torsten Neumann, combined intelligent cinephilia with a laid-back atmosphere of democratic equality.” - Sight and Sound

Nicolas Cage, Seymour Cassel, Asia Argento, Keira Knightley, Deborah Kara Unger, Mira Sorvino, Bobcat Goldthwait, Michael Wadleigh, Joanna Cassidy, Luke Wilson, Ben Gazzara, Stacy Keach, Amanda Plummer, Keith Carradine, Matthew Modine, Sean Baker, Andrea Rau, Mattie Do & Noémie Merlant are amongst many who have attended as honored guests or for Tributes in their honor.

“Alongside Venice and Toronto, Oldenburg is considered one of the most important Autumn Festivals for Independent Cinema” - de Telegraaf

Rated #1 in Germany on The Most Important Autumn Film Festivals List for and by the German Film Industry (Blickpunkt Film), and #3 internationally after Venice & TIFF, Oldenburg is regarded as “one of the most important European festivals for independent cinema" (Tagesschau).

“Oldenburg is a pilgrimage for cineastes.”- Die Zeit

During one week of the year over 100,000 film-lovers gather in over 400 Cinemas across 6 Continents to view and vote on the Finalists Films' in the Annual MANHATTAN SHORT Film Festival - MANHATTAN SHORT is more than just one of the largest short film festivals in the world....it's the World's First Global Film Festival.

If making short films is about getting your work out there, nothing compares to MANHATTAN SHORT.

Every Film Selected is eligible to enter the Oscars:
MANHATTAN SHORT does a full week's run in a cinema in Los Angeles, California. This theater booking means all ten finalists in the 2020 MANHATTAN SHORT Film Festival will be eligible to enter the Oscar competition for 2021.

MANHATTAN SHORT is now in compliance with the rules governing the Oscar Awards set forth by the Academy of Motion Pictures of Arts and Sciences

Featured Musical Artist
We are excited to announce that the MANHATTAN SHORT will be featuring a Musical Artist or Band leading up to and throughout the duration of the Festival each year.

The selected Musician or Band will have his/her music featured in over four hundred venues and to over 100,000 people worldwide during the MANHATTAN SHORT intermission and in all promotional materials leading up to the festival dates, including exclusive headline billing on our website. This is a tremendous opportunity for new or unknown musical talent to have their music broadcast to our ready-made worldwide audience of eager festival attendees. It is also a unique chance to gain name recognition and immediate exposure. Check ManhattanShort.com to enter the Musical Artist Comp.

Saraqusta Film Festival is a film and tv series festival about the historical genre in its broadest sense. It was created with the aim of exhibiting and promoting feature films, documentaries and series using the past and the historical context as a common thread.

Submissions are open to Spanish and International works, real-image or animated that deal with the historical genre or whose theme, context or set design are historical or refer to a period of the past.

“African in films” is the International African Film Festival and of television during which various filmmakers meet for the presentation of the best current productions, with competitions in all categories dedicated.

“We are dedicated to identifying new talent and the making-of of African movies. The Paris International African Film Festival is an emblematic cultural event, well received by professionals, awaited by a curious and enthusiastic public, supported by many partners and personalities” according to Blaise Pascal Tanguy, its General Delegate.

The specific objectives are among others:

- Promote professionalism in the cinema profession among Africans and;
- Promote the involvement of advertisers and sponsors within the framework of the AFSC;
- Encourage the networking of African and Afro-descendant professionals of all persuasions having a link with the profession of filmmaker.

Today, the existence of numerous festivals organized on and outside the continent to promote films from Africans and Afro-descendants are a step decisive towards the development of a true cinematographic industry local. Festivals held outside the continent are, in this respect, encouraging experiences of an Africa that meets other cultures, enriched by the contributions of Afro-descendants, for the great “rendez vous of giving and receiving”. It is in line with this noble ambition that “African in films” which will be at its 5th edition in October 2023 at Paris, was born.

The festival's mission is to exhibit the best films from the around the world and create a safe haven festival event for filmmakers and cineastes to co exist and learn from each other. Our vision is to be the festival that links independent films to the proper audience and to find distribution during our event.

Accepting full-length features, short films and documentaries from professionals and amateurs alike, SohoFilmFest will hold screenings, panels and host social events and other networking opportunities for everyone involved. Leading figures from all disciplines of the film industry including distributors and media will be in attendance.

The Wildlife Conservation Film Festival attracts an international representation of film, filmmakers, advocates and scientists dedicated to the preservation of global biodiversity. Visitors come to New York from across the globe to attend this unique film festival. Opportunity for the filmmaker and visitors exist to interact and engage is discussion.

Representatives from multiple distribution companies are invited to review films in the festival for television listings on their respected networks.

The WCFF takes place in New York the third week in October for ten days of film screenings, receptions, workshops and parties. In addition the WCFF hosts a monthly film screening series to accommodate films that can not fit into the the October schedule.

All films accepted are qualified to participate in the WCFF Channel. An online film festival, reaching a global audience that is a subscription platform that pays the filmmakers.

THE INTERNATIONAL FILM AND TELEVISION FESTIVAL ”SIMFEST” - 2024

SIMFEST is a TV and film festival – competition, the only one of this kind in Romania and one of the few in Europe. It is organized every year by "SIMFEST Cultural Association", which supports and promotes the creators in visual arts.

SIMFEST stands for professionalism and for the freedom of expression of the journalists and the media producers. The festival promotes, at the same time, local journalism and community mass-media.

It is a complex manifestation for electronic mass-media. It is the annual meeting point of the TV's and film’s world specialists from Romania and from other countries, of students, independent producers, and of media enthusiasts; it is a competition that it's designed to find and form values and talents, to give them the needed validation and for connecting them with the medium in which they can develop. It is a competition and, at the same time, a media school and a cultural event.

The SIMFEST components are:

- The Competition
- The Summer School for journalists and media creators
- The official program of the festival

The Competition is opened to all the media creators, reporters, cameramen and media producers from Romania but also from other countries, but is also opened to freelancers, to students and territorial correspondents of central televisions, production houses, as well as to all multimedia creators. It has eight sections.

- PUBLISHING (REPORTAGE/ DOCUMENTARY/ INQUIRY/ ESSAY / TALK-SHOW etc.)
- ENTERTAINMENT
- VIDEO
- MULTIMEDIA
- STUDENT PROJECTS FICTION
- STUDENT PROJECT NONFICTION
- TOURISTIC MOVIE
- FICTION SHORT MOVIE
- FICTION FEATURE FILM (LONG MOVIE)
- ANIMATION

The jury of the competition consists out of well-known personalities in the field of journalism, TV and cinema from Romania and from other countries.

The Summer School for journalists and media creators was founded and included within the festival in 2007, and through it, SIMFEST became in the past few years the only institution in the country of non-formal education of media creators, especially from the audiovisual section.

The journalists Romeo Couți and Brândușa Armanca (TVR), the writer Bogdan Hrib, Assoc. Prof. PhD. Ion Stavre (SNSPA), Assoc. Prof. PhD. Lucian Ionică (West University of Timișoara), the director Ștefan Fischer (Germany), Charles Fletcher, MBE (Scotland), TV producer Codruț Pânzaru, TV producer Tamas Barok (Hungary), the director Copel Moscu (UNATC Bucharest), Iulia Badea Gueritee and Raymond Clarinard (Courrier International Paris), Beata Biel (Google expert, Poland), Ovidiu Gyarmath (Director of photography), Prof. PhD. Laura Baron (UNATC Bucharest), great Romanian actors like Marcel Iures and Dan Puric and many others held lectures and led workshops or held masterclasses within the Summer School.

The official program of the festival is available for the public with the purpose to, on one hand, construct a way of communication between the creators of media and those whom they serve: the consumers of information in order for the audience to correctly understand the messages transmitted through mass-media. On the other hand, it offers a space of free expression and a non-formal platform for professional development for the journalists and filmmakers. Therefore, SIMFEST is a festival not only a TV and film competition but also a cultural complex. The 2024 program consists of – beside others:

• Public projections of the productions sent in for the competition in the presence of the creators, followed by debates

• Online screening of the submitted productions (with the allowance of the owners)

• Public projections of Romanian movies inside of The Days of the Romanian Cinematography

• Public projections of movies and documentaries made by special guests of the festival

• Anniversary events dedicated to the supporters (sponsors, partners, volunteers etc)

• Gala of the laureates including musical recitals and poems (streamed online)

International recognition: SIMFEST is known and recognized in the Romanian mass-media as a role model in the promotion of artists' free expression and for the promotion and being an advocate of real media professionalism. Most of the creators attending SIMFEST for the past years, have also won international recognition at competitions organized in Sibiu, Prague, Belgrade, Bucharest, London, Kishinaw and Tel Aviv. SIMFEST is also in collaboration or in partnership with other similar manifestations: CRONOGRAF Chishinaw, DETECTIVEFEST Moskow, CINEPOLITICA Bucharest etc.