Blog: Film festivals

The BELLAVISTA FILM FESTIVAL (BVFF) seeks to inspire, empower, and unify our audience through cinematographic art of social impact.

The festival is a space in which the community and cinema converse through cinematographic works of art selected with great artistic value and a theme of representative and relevant social impact. Thus promoting social impact cinema as a tool to stimulate critical thinking and motivate social action to catalyze agents of change in their communities and beyond.

As a development of a social project for cultural growth, the festival seeks to promote exhibition spaces for the curated works, in addition to movie theaters, cinematheques and cultural institutions, also in neighborhood and rural locations and on an itinerant basis in representative cultural spaces in the rest of the country and Latin America.

We trust in the power of cinema as a commitment to social transformation and high-quality cultural reflection.

The Santiago International Documentary Film Festival (FIDOCS) is the main broadcasting, diffusion, and competition event for documentary cinema in Chile and Latin America.
Focused on the promotion of dialogue and reflection, as well as in training audiences towards the appreciation of documentary film in a context of permanent transformation, FIDOCS seeks to explore the multiple paths available in documentary making as well as in the drifts proper to nonfiction works. In its program, FIDOCS incorporates the works of both experienced and emerging directors in order to address the question of “THE REAL”, and in doing so, it considers the various dimensions, disciplinary frontiers, and tensions that the question “what is real?”, as well as the documentary genre itself, has to offer us.

Throughout its history, FIDOCS has positioned itself as one of the most distinguished documentary film festivals in Latin America, standing as a privileged platform to screen contemporary cinema and to promote critical thinking. Year by year, under its selective curatorial approach, FIDOCS not only calls for important exponents of national and international audiovisual sectors to exhibit their work in Santiago, but also, in using this city as a film hub, it calls on such exponents to question, interpret, and re-write the status of contemporary documentary film practice today.

For the promotion, positioning, and exhibition of Chilean and International films, FIDOCS displays three main competitions. These sections include: INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION; CHILEAN COMPETITION, and EMERGENT SHORT COMPETITION FOR NATIONAL FILMS.

In addition, FIDOCS has the main industry activity, DOCS IN PROGRESS, for Latin-American works in progress where the jury (editors, directors, sound designers, producers, programmers), in addition to choosing a winner, feeds the filmmakers to carry out the post-production of their films and encourage their diffusion and transmission. This section is jointly run together with WIP section of CHILEDOC CONECTA.

The festival also has important training and extension activities in its FIDOCS SCHOOL, where students from film schools and communications from all over Chile so that its most outstanding students are in an intergenerational and interdisciplinary space with international and national festival guests; attending Master Classes, workshops, dialogues, among others.

In addition, in keeping with its interdisciplinary vocation, FIDOCS intends to accompany its screenings of other artistic interventions such as installations, exhibitions, performances, that from their own expressive means dialogue with the documentary concept. This is how FIDOCS EXPANDED section arises, where various artists, video-artists and filmmakers, all of them linked to the fields of sound or visuals, exhibit their work.
Finally, the chosen films will be screened after the completion of the festival, in different regions of Chile and abroad, at BEST OF FIDOCS section. The purpose is the cultural extension of the festival at a territorial level, putting emphasis on the circulation of the films at the regional level, being able to program replicas in the national territory as well as abroad.

*FIDOCS will be held with theatrical screenings.

International Competition, International Panorama, Argentine Competition and Argentine panorama of short films made in Super 8mm format.

The Xilitla International Film Fest aims to promote nationally and internationally the cinema of the fantastic genre.

The most surreal site in Mexico proudly presents the second edition of its International Film Festival of Xilitla, also known as Xilitla Film Fest.

Located in the magical town of the Sierra Madre Occidental, with its lush tropical forest, this place captivated Edward James, who built his surrealistic garden here, a monument to boundless imagination.

In 2024, this festival dedicated to the fantastic genre—fantasy, horror, magical realism, science fiction, experimental, and its derivatives—will be held once again.

The festival is organized by the James Center, James Brewery, and the Edward James Museum, with the support of the Arts Center S.LP, the Municipality of Xilitla, and the State Tourism Secretariat of San Luis Potosí; in partnership with the Ibero-American Festival Network. As part of the festival, there will be competition screenings, showcases, tributes, professional training workshops, and holistic activities.

The call for submissions will be open from May 15th to September 30th, 2024.
The festival will take place from November 27th to December 1st, 2024, and will feature two sections: showcase and competition, as well as workshops, lectures, and tributes aimed at fostering the film industry.

CreaSport is a short films contest that have to do with the beauty of sport activities, their stories, their moments of glory or failure, their educational wealth… highlighting the capacity of penetration of physical activity in society.

The Rani Durgavati International Film Festival is designed to celebrate Cinema.

RDIFF is committed to Showcase films from amazing filmmakers across the globe. The festival welcomes films from around the world.

RDIFF is a Jabalpur, India based international film festival with screenings and Q&A and a twice-yearly awards event. One event is totally dedicated to Short Films and other event is for Full Length Films.

Our First Edition SUCCESSFULLY launched on 5th October 2023 for Short Films.
in June 2024 our Full Length Films Edition was a success.
Now we are heading towards our 3rd edition.
There will be two events every year.

Our main focus is to celebrate Cinema of Independent Filmmakers. We have a separate section for Indie Makers with less entry fee.

Note for Independent Filmmakers
As there are many films which did not get a release and makers did not get a good platform to showcase their cinema. RDIFF will provide them an online platform where they can schedule it and show it to the world. RDIFF will promote those films in the market (for that RDIFF will connect with the independent filmmakers separately, for query email us with Subject: RDIFF Play)

All projects officially selected will receive the official laurel and the custom certificate of achievement according to their final status in the competition through email.

The competition is open for professionals as well as students with separate section for student filmmakers.

Since we our guided by valour of Braveheart Queen Rani Durgavati, we will have a special category for Women Independent Filmmakers.

RDIFF is a festival with difference.

7th Amazonía del Plata Film Festival arises from the homonymous plastic / audiovisual exhibition that was held in Tigre in 2019 and seeks to address audiovisual works of inhabitants and contexts of basins, islets, cenotes, meanders, coasts and all those amphibious territories resulting from the conflict between hydric nature and its relationship with civilization.

The 7th Amazonia del Plata film festival will be held in Tigre and Quilmes in 3-6 April 2025.

The L'Hospitalet Short Film Festival is an outstanding cultural event in the city of Hospitalet, which offers a chance to promote the talent of young filmmakers committed to human rights, cooperation and the culture of peace.

Introducing the brand-new Voices and Visions Film Festival, an integral part of the second annual New England Voice Over (NEVO) Casting & Coaching Conference on Saturday, October 26th!

Our festival is dedicated to celebrating a diverse range of voices and visions that can breathe life into the world of cinema. With 20 distinct film categories, we provide a platform for both emerging and established storytellers to share their unique narratives.

At Voices and Visions, we believe in fostering an inclusive environment that showcases artistry from every corner of the industry, all over the globe. From sci-fi to docu-shorts to horror and beyond, our festival encourages exploration and discovery of the rich tapestry of diverse voices and visions that shape the world of film.

Our Children & Family Friendly section will be presented earlier in the day, separate from the adult offerings. It will be celebrating the voice and vision of film creators under the age of 18, giving them their own unique spotlight.

Secure your spot for this unforgettable weekend, as we showcase an array of stories that transcend genre and form. Join us in celebrating the power of diverse perspectives and the boundless potential of storytelling. If your submission is accepted, we guarantee it will be shown at some point during the NEVO weekend. If you have registered for a ticket to NEVO, your film festival entrance will be free. If you do not come to NEVO, you will have to purchase a ticket separately to the festival only.

If you have questions, email us at laulapidescompany@gmail.com

Mecal Pro, the Barcelona International Short and Animation Film Festival, will celebrate its 27th edition. The long history of MECAL PRO has consolidated it as one of the most important short film festivals in Europe and the world, thus receiving the support of local, national and international institutions. We have screened in 2024 more than 300 short films in 29 sections that we program.

Mecal is strongly committed to promoting the exhibition and dissemination of audiovisual creations in the short format, not only with the public, but also in having creators and distributors meet through different activities. Mecal is also devoted to foster emerging talent, by holding events and awards specially aimed at young creators. In this sense, it also works as a short film dissemination network, organising screenings both at a national and an international level, collaborating with festivals, embassies, and institutions around the world.

The Human Rights Film Festival Brazil is an international festival of short films of up to 25 minutes that address the theme of Human Rights in their plot. Whether it is the fight to guarantee the rights of humanity or denouncing disrespect for these universal rights.

This cultural proposal takes place within the framework of the commemoration of a new anniversary of Punta del Este, celebrating the best independent cinema from around the world. It began as a Mercosur cinema and grew to become an international festival. Cine del Mar has been declared of Presidential Interest and is sponsored and supported by the Ministry of Tourism, the Municipality of Maldonado, the Municipality of Punta del Este, the Ministry of Education and Culture through ACAU (Uruguayan Film and Audiovisual Association), and the embassies of the participating countries.

We love horror and we're very excited to watch your films!

The Dark Scream Film Festival (DSFF) is an international festival seeking for the best horror films.

The Selected films will be recognized and awarded in various categories.

DSFF has made a point to keep our entry free as to give everyone the chance to enter, and we offer number of award categories!

DSFF's panel of judges is set in different parts of the world and comes with a variety of horror film expertise.

Your drive, your vision and the often seemingly insurmountable challenges that you face bringing your ideas to life are what makes us proud to champion your films and bring them in front of a highly appreciative audience.

Submit your film to us today and let us help and support you to gain true recognition and become a celebrated winner of the Dark Scream Film Festival.
We're very excited to see your creations!

Welcome to Wellsboro Film Festival, where independent cinema meets small-town charm. Founded by collaborating filmmakers who first worked together at their boring corporate video jobs, Thomas Smith and Thomas Verdi want to help others bring their stories to the screen. Having attended many film festivals, they've learned that some festivals care about their filmmakers' experience, and others see them as numbers or dollar signs. That's why they're going the extra mile to make Wellsboro Film Festival not just about the films, but about the entire filmmaker experience. At Wellsboro Film Festival, every accepted filmmaker will enjoy two nights' lodging at the historic Penn Wells Hotel. All accepted films will screen at the Arcadia Theatre, located right next to the hotel. Wellsboro, PA, with its quaint Main Street, embodies the essence of small-town USA—literally—as it's served as the setting for the Hallmark movie Christmas Comes Twice and comes with its very own Grand Canyon. Join us in February 2025 for a celebration of indie cinema, community, and camaraderie in this picture-perfect mountainside town.

Lunigiana Film Festival is a festival dedicate to shortfilms that takes place in the "Città Nobile of Fivizzano", an ancient village in Tuscany on the Via Francigena.

The festival is divided into three categories: - Free theme - Environmental theme - Human rigts

India Cine Film Festival has its roots almost a decade back in northern India. The festival was launched in Meerut and was concluded successfully in Noida with participation from almost 18 countries. In year 2014 the Miniboxoffice has adopted the festival officially from its organizers and Indian Cine Film Festival are now moving with passionate minds of Miniboxoffice. The ICFF-24 aim is to give momentum to the independent cinema.

The ICFF objective is to create a platform for the meeting, sharing & development of great cinematic ideas. The festival along with international competitive films screenings also holds a film market & industry oriented master classes & discussions. The festival will provide a central point where industry people can share business and new opportunities shall be created for new talent.

The 12th edition of Indian Cine Film Festival is aimed to set new milestone and it’s an endeavor of Miniboxoffice to make it relevant for each & every participant. With this I welcome you all & see you at ICFF-24 with your cinematic craft.

Would you like to discover brand new forms of storytelling? Are you interested in topics such as transmedia, videogames or other innovative media linked with audiovisual field? This is your festival.

Second edition of the "independent film festival in Toluca".

The Bollywood USA International Film Festival is a prestigious event that celebrates the vibrant and diverse world of Indian cinema in the United States. It serves as a platform for filmmakers, actors, and industry professionals to showcase their work and connect with audiences from around the globe. The festival showcases a wide range of films, including feature films, documentaries, short films, and music videos, all highlighting the rich cultural heritage of Bollywood. Through this festival, it promotes cross-cultural understanding and appreciation for Indian cinema on an international scale.

From the creators of the Depth of Field International Film Festival, Docs Without Borders Film Festival, and the WRPN.tv Women’s International Film Festival (among a few other successful festivals) and, under the umbrella of the WRPN.tv Network, we bring you the Bollywood USA International Film Festival (BUIFF)

Don’t forget feedback, the one element most festivals ignore.

We don't just charge you a fee and ignore you if you're rejected.

With us, rejected films have access to feedback, the one element most festivals ignore.

Instead of paying submission fees and getting nothing in return,
EVERYONE who submits to BUIFF will receive EITHER OF TWO benefits:

Either 1) your film is already competition caliber and becomes an Official Selection,

OR 2): You’ll receive a letter outlining exactly what prevents it from being accepted.

If you can make corrections, you can resubmit for FREE.

First-time filmmakers: when have you ever received a letter and had the festival explain WHY your film was rejected?

Much less let you resubmit for FREE, even the following season (In case you did not have enough time to fix it)

Il Festival Internazionale del Cinema di Salerno was founded in 1946 by CINECLUB SALERNO.

Since its inception, the Salerno Festival has been characterized as a competitive event for Italian and international productions, thus proposing a continuous comparison on the developments of world cinematography.

The Festival assigns to cinema an important social function and its finality is to constantly adapt its line with an eye to the evolution of technologies and new "audiovisual" media.

The 78th Salerno International Film Festival will take place in Salerno from 25th to 30th of November 2024. To increase the viewing of the films taking part in the Event more widely available, these films will also be visible on a dedicated VOD platform, subject to the authorization of the competitor.

Films uploaded on to the platform will only be visible to those who register on the site and cannot be downloaded. Those who register on the site to view the films have the possibility of voting for their favorites for the purpose of the "PUBLIC AWARD".

If one does not wish to be present on the platform VOD, the registered film will be viewed by the jury. The screening of the films participating in the Competitions in the Festival locations will be scheduled at the discretion of the Festival Management and in any case in relation to the date and the regular method of submitting the films.

In addition to the Competitions for the various Cinematographic Sections, the Festival also proposes Reviews, Retrospectives and collateral activities (Exhibitions, Conferences, Round Tables, etc.) as a contribution to the dissemination of the History of Italian and International Cinema.

On the final evening of 30 November 2024, prizes will be awarded to the winning films and awards to prominent personalities in the artistic, social and cultural fields. The Award Ceremony can also be divided into two specific evenings: an evening dedicated to "Specialised Cinematography" (documentaries, cartoons, etc.) and another evening dedicated to Feature and Short Fiction Films and various awards.

Both the side events and the awards ceremony will be streamed on the Festival's social channels.