Blog: Film festivals

£2,500 in CASH PRIZES for the EMERGING TALENT from our sponsor Katie Partridge, CEO of the Saphira Group, to support a new generation of filmmakers/artists.

NEW RENAISSANCE LONDON #8

Apart from a high number of UK and International films, NRFF London has a category for EMERGING TALENT (debut or early stage filmmakers embarking on their careers in the film industry).

Previous winners and nominees have gone onto win major international prizes or have directed their first feature film.


ABOUT NEW RENAISSANCE LONDON

Our friendly and welcoming art-house festival based in London is genuinely passionate about promoting the highest calibre of independent cinema around today. New Renaissance has been described as “One of the UK’s top film festivals,” alongside Raindance and Aesthetica (London METRO, O1.08.16), appeared in reputable publications such as Vogue, GQ and iD magazine, and we are a registered IMDB film festival.

Filmmakers are a discerning audience and the 100+ five star reviews from filmmakers around the world is proof of our commitment and respect for the hard work and care that goes into making a film. Since 2021, we have been awarding cash prizes to support talented up-and-coming filmmakers we believe in thanks to a generous sponsor (see below).

SUCCESS STORIES

We have premiered and screened films that went on to win an Oscar (The Silent Child, 2017) or later received a major distribution deal (A Bird Flew, 2022; Avi, 2022; Roy, 2022; A Living Dog, 2021; Into The Mirror, 2019; You Go To My Head, 2019; and Phantompain, 2018) to name just a few.


Despite the festival's relatively small size, there are each year many gems to be found among the many short and feature films in the programme. Furthermore, many filmmakers and actors are traditionally present - and a lot of productive networking takes place.

OUR CURATION: ARTISTICALLY-DRIVEN FILMS, INSPIRING STORIES

Film is a unique medium, and NRFF’s mission is to support and champion inspiring, independent artists and storytellers. This includes experimental work, emotional drama, music, dance, and emerging talent (see below).

Our festival is built around ARTISTS and their STORIES. By doing so, we aim to establish an international COMMUNITY of inspiring storytellers. We are not interested in following current fashions or being politically divisive. We seek out stories that are genuinely imaginative, emotional and life-affirming. At the heart of what we do is our passion to tell great stories.

Curating a festival is never easy but we strive to put together a great programme each year in an environment that is warm, inclusive and truly dignified. You can visit last year's programme online at ww.nrff.co.uk to get a feel for the quality of curation we are known for.

NEW RENAISSANCE LONDON 2025

2025 will be our tenth year in London, a city known for its diversity and innovation in the creative arts. For 3 days in September, we will screen around 100 outstanding films in the heart of London. The programme will include narrative shorts, features, documentaries, animations, dance and music videos, a NETWORKING party and AWARDS CEREMONY.

Running alongside the festival will be a SCREENWRITING COMPETITION, a series of MASTERCLASSES by film industry experts, a filmmaker's PANEL DISCUSSION, Filmmaker Q&A's, and other networking opportunities.

EMERGING TALENT AWARDS

Apart from a high number of UK and International films, NRFF London has a category for EMERGING TALENT (debut or early stage filmmakers embarking on their careers in the film industry). Those selected can win CASH PRIZES. We found a sponsor for this in 2021 and are happy to announce that they continue supporting these cash prizes for emerging talent in 2025.

Please read our Rules & Terms before making your submission.

Key Dates:

Submissions for 2024 will be open. The festival will take place in October 2024, and all contestants will be notified at least 4-6 weeks prior to the event.

SUPPORTING THE INDEPENDENT FILM COMMUNITY

It is our passion to not only provide a stage for our filmmakers but also to strengthen the INDEPENDENT film community, by building an engaged audience through social media - especially Instagram and Facebook. We actively encourage directors, screenwriters, producers and actors to network during the festival and after the event. By doing so, new artistic collaborations have occurred.

NEW RENAISSANCE ALUMNI

Former New Renaissance attendees and or winners include: Oscar winning couple Chris Overton and Rachel Shenton (The Silent Child); Oscar winning actress Whoopi Goldberg (Palace); BAFTA and Emmy winning actress Anna Friel (The Sea); Great Expectations and Top Boy director Brady Hood (Sweet Maddie Stone); Oscar winning writer/director James Lucas (Paint The Dragon's Eyes); BAFTA winning actress Sophia Myles (All That Glitters); BAFTA winning actor George MacKay (Infinite); Ivor Novello winning musician Gary Kemp (InSolo); BAFTA winning and double Emmy nominated documentary director Zoe Dobson (The Cunning Man); BAFTA winning animator Catriona Black (You Are At The Bottom Of My Mind); Emmy winning actress Tatiana Mislany (Souls of Totality); Oscar nominated cinematographer Jarin Blaschke (A Million Eyes); BAFTA nominated director Shona Auerbach (Rudy); Actor Tom Cullen (Souls of Totality); BAFTA nominated actress Celine Buckens (Prangover); Silent Witness actress Emilia Fox (The Ghost); Chicago actor Darren Day (Rudy); Rag Doll actor Ali Cook (The Cunning Man); Olivier Award nominated actress Amy Lennox (Near); student Oscar winner Tristan Holmes (The Fragile King); and student Oscar winner Ariel Heller (Mammoth).

The 26th International Festival "Corti da Sogni - Antonio Ricci" is organized by Circolo del Cinema Sogni – Antonio Ricci APS (hereafter referred to as Circolo Sogni), in partnership with the Municipality of Ravenna / Department of Culture and in collaboration with UICC, the company Cinemaincentro, and the cultural association Solaris.
1. Condit

Associazione Circolo del Cinema Sogni – Antonio Ricci.

Pequecinema is a Touring Children's Film Festival that in 2025 will visit several towns across Spain, showcasing the best short films aimed at a young audience (from 2 to 15 years old).

Organized by CortoEspaña - Premios Fugaz (the main short film awards in Spain, chosen by more than 1,500 industry professionals), the event seeks to give visibility to works directed at younger audiences, while also promoting short films and fostering a love for the format among the youngest members of the household.

The Pirineos Mountain Film Festival (Mountain, Adventure and Nature Film Festival of the Pyrenees) was born in Huesca (Spain) as a film competition focused on mountain and Biosphere.

This film event held its first edition in sample format in February 2022, to give way in 2023 to an international competitive festival around mountain, adventure and nature short films.

Photopolis Agrinio Photo Festival, announces a film competition and invites you to submit your work in the category: Short Films.

Participation is €10.

Participants are requested to submit their project(s) electronically, which must be downloadable, with a maximum duration of twenty minutes (20'), as well as a short descriptive text of the project and a bio of director.

If the official spoken language is not Greek, then the necessary Greek subtitles material should also be submitted.

The results will be announced by April 1, 2025 on the festival website (www.photopolis.gr), on social media, while the creators of the selected works will also be informed by e-mail.

Independent.

*AN OLYMPIAD FOR FILMMAKERS!*

We desire to see your film! We want to see your dreams, empathise with your heroes, laugh with your jokes, cry with your drama!

Over 900 films from 87 countries participated in a total of 11 Grand Prix competitions and 90 films have been screened in 7 different cinemas across Athens, including Oscar nominated or other highly acclaimed films.

We are one of the few festivals offering money prizes - over 1.500 euros per year - plus an estimated 20.000 euros on services.

oin an exciting Film Festival with unique features;

1) FEEDBACK FOR ALL FILMS, NO MATTER IF SELECTED OR NOT
You DESERVE feedback for your hard work. Film Olympiad is probably the first and only festival to give constructive feedback to everyone - free of any extra charge.

2) RADICAL HONESTY & TRANSPARENCY
You can see how exactly the Jury rated your film in 5 categories and how you compare to other films. We watch films with empathy and love. We believe that filmmakers want to know the truth about how their film was rated, and this will only make them better.

3) MONEY PRIZES & FILM OLYMPIAD MEDALS - EVERY MONTH
The only film festival to award Film Olympiad Medals. 30 categories, 6 nominees, 3 medals (Gold, Silver & Bronze). Every month, National and Individual Medal Tables are updated.

We also have cash prizes, which will be at least:

500 euros for the Best Film Short
100 euros for the Audience Award
100 euros for the Best Director
100 euros for the Best Screenplay
100 euros for the Best Leading Actor
100 euros for the Best Leading Actress
100 euros for the Best Greek Film

of the annual Film Olympiad 2024 Gold Medalists on the categories above

plus 100 euros on every Best Film Gold Medalist, of each Grand Prix

4) NETWORKING & RECOGNITION
With 100 films per month, you have an actual chance to get selected and win a medal. Moreover, you can make your participation viral to your audience, fans and community.

"Yeah, buddy, on Thursday we are up against a film from Japan, and if we win, we qualify to the quarterfinals against either a film from Russia or a film from Germany!".

5) EXCITING COMPETITION SYSTEM - ACTUAL CHANCE
A sports-like competition system. We want an exciting event for our audience and your fans. The Jury gives a new rating to films after every round.

Phase 1 - 100 films are selected every MONTH for the Film Olympiad Grand Prix. All of them are eligible for nominations and medals. We have 6 bi- monthly Film Olympiad Grand Prix every year and an annual Film Olympiad.

Phase 2 - The films are divided into 20 groups of 5. The best films from each group qualify for the knockouts. The audience can watch live the results of the rating in each group, through online live streams with online screenings of some films.

Phase 3 - 32 films get paired in knockouts. This means that if you win 5 matches (Rounds of 32, 16, Quarterfinals, Semifinals, Final), you win the Best Short Gold Medal and the monthly cash prize.

Phase 4 - At least the best 8 films from each month are publicly screened in monthly screenings with a live audience and qualify for the annual Film Olympiad.

With these innovative features, we feel sure that Film Olympiad will soon become a prestigious and established Film Festival. Submit now to represent your country in the Film Olympiad with your film. We can't wait to see it!

Welcome to our 7th ANNUAL live edition of the Ravenheart International Film Festival (RIFF), held in the heart of Oslo, Norway!

We are Norway's only film festival focusing solely on fantastic cinema—the only film festival in Scandinavia. RIFF's growth has been exciting and mind-blowing every year.

Aiming to connect all domestic and foreign filmmakers through film's universal language.
Celebrating all cinema but particularly spotlighting fantastic genre films (Sci-Fi, Horror, Fantasy, Thriller, Dark Comedy and more.) RIFF is an event where all filmmakers, fans of the art of cinema, and creatives can come together to share their experiences and love for fantastic cinema genres.

RIFF submissions are open to all genre films. We are looking to showcase the best in genre film. The live event will include guest speakers, Q&As, booths, and networking opportunities. We also invite aspiring filmmakers and students to inspire one another and others to become better filmmakers.

Please visit our website for more information and updates as we get closer to the event. (www.ravenheartfilmfestival.com)

So, if you love high-quality genre films and want to join the Northern Flock, send us your film, pack your bags, leave your nest, and FLOCK ON over to Norway!

We are the FLOCK...

WE ARE RAVENHEART!

Zinegoak is organized by Zinegoak Association and will take place in the city of Bilbao, Spain, June 2025.

All films which have an approach to sexual and gender diversity and LGTBQ+ families, which have been produced after January 1st, 2023 and never had been broadcasted or commercially released in Basque Country.

The Bergamo Independent Short Film Festival is dedicated to promoting short film culture in the beautiful city of Bergamo, with a special emphasis on works by independent and emerging filmmakers. Most of our team, including the Festival Director, are passionate volunteers who contribute their time and energy driven by a deep passion for cinema and storytelling. Our primary mission is to help you gain the recognition your work deserves and provide the opportunity for it to be appreciated.

What distinguishes our festival is its distinctive format, featuring two distinct selection processes for the Screening Catergories and the Non-Screening Category. The first process is more selective, designed for independent filmmakers who wish to have their films screened live in front of an audience. The second offers a higher chance of selection but without a public screening. In both cases, all submissions will be carefully reviewed to recognize the talent and artistic merit of each film.

The Bergamo Independent Short Film Festival offers a supportive and inspiring environment for you to share your stories. The event will take place at the historic Conca Verde cinema, located at Via Mattioli 65, Bergamo. We invite you to visit our website for more detailed information, and we look forward to celebrating your work and welcoming you to our festival community.

Categories: Fiction, Animation, Documentary, Student, and DF.

Each film may only compete in one category. Student, or DF films may compete in other categories, but not in their specific category simultaneously.

Student Films: Films whose key members (producer, screenwriter, director, cinematographer, sound engineer, editor) were students enrolled in a cinema, communication, or audiovisual arts program at the time of production.

DF Films: Films whose key members reside in Brasília/Brazil or surrounding areas.

Habitar el cine, Caracas International Contemporary film festival is an annual event that seeks to connect the different audiences in the country with the best national and international contemporary films.

The festival celebrates and promotes the diversity of cinematography creation, committed to extensive programme, activities, special events, meetings and discussion groups that mark the bridge between the work, author and audience.

This event is not a competitive meeting, instead, it's conceived to see, enjoy and delve into the cinema in a healthy way, far away from the attractive market and closer to findings and the avant-garde.

"Ciak Film Festival" is a cinema and entertainment event dedicated to Feature Films, Short Films - Italian and foreign.

The 2024 edition will have special prizes dedicated to music video clips, documentaries, feature films, short film shot in Lazio.

The Artistic Direction is curated by Stefano Madonna and Alfonso Chiarenza.

The Festival will be held in Fiuggi (FR) 11-12 September 2021 and will see the participation of well-known celebrities.

Prizes will be dedicated to the best feature films, short films and their artistic and technical figures.

There will be special prizes for famous faces and new faces of the show.

https://www.facebook.com/ciakfilmfestival

Welcome to FirstCut, one of India’s premier international student film festivals, organized by FLAME University, Pune.
FirstCut provides a dynamic platform for young filmmakers across the globe, encouraging them to explore film as a medium of growth and change.

In 2024, FirstCut Take 10 received 565+ submissions from students representing 55+ countries.

At the final event, shortlisted films will be screened for a live audience and evaluated by a distinguished jury from the Indian film industry. The screenings will be followed by engaging panel discussions and talks with renowned film personalities.

We believe creative freedom is essential, which is why participants have complete freedom in choosing their themes and styles.

In addition to categories in fiction, animation, and non-fiction, FirstCut offers the unique "Nano" film category, challenging students to create super short films.

A TOTAL OF 21 AWARDS AND 1 SPECIAL MENTION HAVE REWARDED SHORT FILMS AND FEATURE FILMS COMPETING IN THE FIRST EDITION OF THE MOONLIGHT ONLINE INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL [MOIFF], WHICH TOOK PLACE BETWEEN 10 – 15 SEPTEMBER 2024. (The Festival Palmares is available on the The Festival Website.)

TWO SUBMITTED BUT NOT SELECTED FILMS AND TWO SELECTED FILMS HAVE ALSO BEEN CHOSEN FOR DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT PROPOSALS, AS PART OF OUR FESTIVAL’S MISSION OF PROMOTING VALUABLE FILMS ON THE MARKET.

Now, Festival President and Artistic Director Gabriel Daniel Dorobantu and Festival Head Manager Irina Tolokolnikova are having the pleasure of welcoming you to The Second Edition of The Moonlight Online International Film Festival which is organized and administered by the Swedish creation, production and distribution company Dorobantu Film & Television.

The Festival aims to promote original feature films and short films of high artistic quality and to support independent cinema worldwide.

In addition to the long lists of awards in the Feature Film Section and in the Short Film Section, The Moonlight Online International Film Festival is presenting the Trans-Section award Great Moonlight Award for Best Film in the Festival – which is the Festival’s supreme award (physical trophy and cash prize) and is awarded by the festival jury either to the winner of the Moonlight Online Award for Best Film in the Feature Film Competition or to the winner of the Moonlight Online Award for Best Film in the Short Film Competition.

Again, in this Second Edition of the Festival, both among the films submitted to the Festival but not selected and among the films selected for Festival participation, feature films and short films with high market potential may also be selected for film sale and / or distribution agreement proposals. (In such cases, the rights holders of the respective films will be contacted by the festival management office within three months after the festival.)

"Andimotion – Bogotá Animation Film Festival" is one of Colombia's and the central region's film festivals specialized in animation as a hybrid form. It creates a platform for the best projects of graduate students and offers opportunities to connect with the animation industry.

Since its first edition in 2016, ANDIMOTION has consistently provided a platform for screening and awarding animated projects across various media, including video games and mixed realities.

An evening of Indy-based short dance films followed by a filmmaker Q&A.

After selling out its inaugural year, the Indy Dance Film Night is back at the Kan-Kan Theatre. Presented by the Indy Dance Council, this film night exists to highlight and promote the incredible talent that exists in and around the Indy area.

Highlights include:

• Screening with an enthusiastic audience of local dance supporters

• Post-Screening Q&A/Discussions (in-person)

• Connecting/Networking

• Active Social Media Account and promotion through @indydancecouncil

Toronto Tamil International Film Festival (TTFF or TTIFF) is conducting a innovative international film festival and invites participation from aspiring and upcoming independent filmmakers. A unique film Festival, focusing on opportunity creation for global filmmakers.

[The purpose of Toronto Tamil film festival is to promote new movie makers, exchange of knowledge, information, ideas & culture between Tamil & other nations in context of their social and cultural ethos. TTIFF also promotes friendship and co-operation among people of the world through the medium of films & documentaries.]

Our festival supports independent cinema across formats and aims to showcase the best talent & cinema from across the globe.

Also, The Toronto Tamil Film Festival is an annual showcase of Tamil Cinema created by Tamils internationally. Films include short, feature, documentaries and Social & Music which explore the culture, history and tradition of Tamils. It is a unique festival to honour both artistic and technical excellence of professionals in the Tamil film industry from Canada, USA, Europe, Asia and other parts of the world.

Created with a sole purpose to highlight its diverse population, rich tradition, struggles for democracy and equity, the Toronto Tamil Film Festival highlights outstanding work in the industry and celebrate it.

Reaching a potential audience of 500,000 Canadians of Tamil descent, as well as millions of Toronto-based movie lovers, TTFF (Toronto Tamil Film Festival) provides a unique cultural destination for Toronto and Ontario based ex-patriots to connect with the culture of home through the magic of cinema.

Toronto Tamil Film Festival (TTFF) is one of the most significant festival of Tamil films held anywhere outside of Indian subcontinent.

Our Vision:
“Bringing the World to Toronto, Canada through a shared passion for film and the power of storytelling.”

Our Mission
The Toronto Tamil Film Festival is dedicated to the discovery and promotion of Film Makers, Story tellers and Artists and sharing with audiences. Everyone has a story to tell, our goal is to inspire and encourage people to share their stories using the media of film and to create events that enable the sharing of those stories across communities and beyond.

"Visões Macabras: Cine Terror" is an international horror short film festival, focusing on films up to 20 minutes long, covering all parts of the world. The festival will host fiction and animation shorts, highlighting the creativity and talent of filmmakers who use the short format to explore fear, suspense and the supernatural. The goal is to bring together productions that challenge the limits of horror, providing the audience with an intense and immersive experience.

The 5th Greece International Film Festival is coming with screenings of the best films. The GIFF is a screening festival that will take place in a live audience in Athens.

We are a team of filmmakers, producers and distributors and we have been professionally involved in cinema and theater for over 25 years.
The Best Short, Mid-Length and Feature Film of the Festival will win the Greek Trophy's and will be awarded to the directors at the closing ceremony.

The ultimate goal of the GIFFestival is to make it accessible to everyone.

Greece International Film Festival provides Trophys, Honorable Mentions and Laurels to the best projects of the participants.

Films
Music Videos - Dance Videos
Screenplays - Theatrical Plays

Laurel

The tradition of awarding a laurel wreath to the winner began in the Pythias at Delphi in Greece in, the 6th century BC.

They were organized in honor of the god Apollo, who usually appeared with a laurel wreath in memory of the nymph Daphne who transformed herself into a plant to escape his amorous moods. The plant was named "Daphne".

The International Film Festival of Greece opens its doors to the audience for the fifth time to present domestic and international films, videos and screenplays .

The last events of the festival took place on 28th of September in the center of Athens with screenings at the historic Cinema "Iris" (Cinema Sector), and hosted short and feature films from around the world. The festival screened fiction films, documentaries and animations by Greek and foreign directors with free entrance. A significant number of films had their world, European and Greek premieres in Greece.

The Greece International Film Festival aspires to function as a channel of communication between artists, directors, screenwriters and producers of the international and domestic film industry.

A special place in the activities of the GIFF is held by the Competition Department of Greek and International Short, Mid-Length, Feature Films, Music Video, Dance Video, Screenplays, Theatrical Plays, which supports new works of art to find their way and get to know their audience.

Το Διεθνές Κινηματογραφικό Φεστιβάλ της Ελλάδος θα ανοίξει για 5 φορά τις πόρτες του στο κοινό και θα παρουσιάσει ταινίες της εγχώριας και παγκόσμιας παραγωγής. Οι τελευταίες εκδηλώσεις του φεστιβάλ έλαβαν χώρα την 28η και 29η Σεπτεμβρίου στον Κινηματογραφικό Τομέα στην "ΙΡΙΔΑ", και φιλοξένησε μικρού, μεσαίου και μεγάλου μήκους ταινίες απ’ όλο τον κόσμο. Στο φεστιβάλ προβλήθηκαν ταινίες μυθοπλασίας, ντοκιμαντέρ και animation Ελλήνων και ξένων σκηνοθετών με δωρεάν είσοδο. Σημαντικός αριθμός των ταινιών έκαναν την παγκόσμια, την ευρωπαϊκή και την ελληνική πρεμιέρα τους στη χώρα μας. Επίσης, στο φεστιβάλ συμμετείχαν Music Video, Dance Video, Κινηματογραφικά Σενάρια και Θεατρικά Κείμενα.

Το Greece International Film Festival φιλοδοξεί να λειτουργήσει ως δίαυλος επικοινωνίας μεταξύ των καλλιτεχνών, των σκηνοθετών, των σεναριογράφων και των παραγωγών της διεθνούς και εγχώριας κινηματογραφικής βιομηχανίας.

Μια ξεχωριστή θέση στις δράσεις του Greece International Film Festival καταλαμβάνει το Διαγωνιστικό Τμήμα Ελληνικών και Διεθνών Ταινιών Μικρού, Μεσαίου και Μεγάλου Μήκους, Κινηματογραφικών Σεναρίων και Θεατρικών Κειμένων, το οποίο υποστηρίζει τα νέα καλλιτεχνήματα ώστε να βρουν τον δρόμο τους και να συναντήσουν το κοινό τους.