Blog: Film festivals

The International Youth Film Festival "Light to the World", jointly organized by the Rybinsk Diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church and the Presidential Grants Fund, began its history in 2011.

Today, by geography and number of participants, "Light to the World" is one of the largest youth film festivals in Russia.

Paradox Film Production, in association with Appleton Private University, invites you to participate in the first Paradox Film Festival, a short film competition that celebrates imagination, social and anthropological approaches in film.

What are we looking for?

Short films that explore human diversity, give voice to stories that promote social justice and equality, and invite us to reflect on the world around us. We are looking for films that use cinema as a tool for social change and transformation.

The third edition of the Chihuahua Film Festival (FECCH) will take place from June 3 to 7, 2025.

The FECCH arises from the need to broaden cultural and artistic perspectives in the north of the country, through cinematographic images.

Bringing together a variety of genres, from documentary to fiction, the productions that are exhibited accompany the FECCH's intention to promote cinematographic art.

From that point of view, we firmly believe that the FECCH will be a space for the creation of quality audiovisual content.

The Enfoque Diverso collective welcomes you to the second version of the Diverse Film Festival. This festival aims to celebrate the multiplicity of experiences and perspectives that enrich our society around the LGBTQ+ population.

In this inclusive space, we are pleased to provide a platform to share a wide range of voices and narratives that reflect the complexity of the human condition in all its manifestations. Each short film presented at our festival offers an opportunity to explore, learn and connect with stories that challenge social conventions, promote empathy and advocate for equality.

FENACIR Film Festival prepares the first sample of horror and horror films.

The exhibition will take place on Halloween dates this year.

The FENACIR Film Festival aims to provide a space for the exhibition of quality cinema. At the same time, it seeks to bring together those who make films and those who wish to join this group of creators to provoke a meeting and a union of forces.

The Happy Valley Animation Festival takes place in State College, PA (Happy Valley) and is an open international animation competition that seeks to showcase animated works in a range of categories. HVAF is screened and exhibited locally and throughout the Pennsylvania State University (University Park) as well as online. We encourage submissions by students, early career, and practicing professional artists, designers, and filmmakers in any of the three categories that include: Animated Short Films, Experimental Animation, and Animated Motion Graphics & Design.

HVAF is a collaboration between organizers and volunteers and is sponsored by the Digital Arts & Media Design (DART) Program and the School of Visual Arts at Penn State, and the Animation Club at Penn State.

It is a vibrant and exciting celebration of the film industry whose main objective is to provide a platform for emerging filmmakers and encourage interaction between filmmakers and audience.

This annual event brings together industry experts and film professionals, with seventh art enthusiasts and movie lovers from the central zone of San Luis Potosí.

We strongly believe in the importance of giving young filmmakers a voice and visibility, providing an invaluable platform for these emerging talents to showcase their work.

In the official selection, there is a careful curation of the best contemporary Mexican and Latin American films.

The film festival Zinema sin Cinema, is a festival created by the film website Zine sin cine. This festival welcomes all types of films except video clips.

All kinds of themes, characters and forms will be welcomed. Equality and respect will always be sought.

JOIN THE WORLD'S BIGGEST SUSTAINABILITY FILM FESTIVAL LED BY OSCAR-, BAFTA- & EMMY-WINNING CELEBRITIES. GET YOUR FILMS SCREENED ON EUROPE'S BIGGEST SCREEN - LONDON'S ICONIC PICCADILLY LIGHTS.

OUR FILMS HAVE BEEN AWARDED AND NOMINATED FOR THE BAFTAS, OSCARS AND EMMY AWARDS. THE FILMS HAVE REACHED MILLIONS IN 120+ COUNTRIES. ALL WINNERS ARE FEATURED ON EUROPE'S BIGGESTS SCREEN, LONDON'S ICONIC PICCADILLY LIGHTS - AN EXCLUSIVE PRIVILEGE AND HONOUR!

ALL FILMS COMPLETED AFTER 1 JAN 2022 ARE ELIGIBLE FOR SUBMISSION.

2025 (7th ) EDITION IS NOW OPEN FOR ENTRIES.

FILMS WITH SUSTAINABILITY-THEMES, INLCUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO:

CLIMATE ACTION
PEACE & JUSTICE
MIGRATION
INEQUALITY
INCLUSION & DIVERSITY
DISCRIMINATION
MARINE LIFE
LIFE ON LAND
BIODIVERSITY
GENDER EQUALITY
MENTAL HEALTH
POVERTY
HUNGER
HEALTH AND WELL-BEING
EDUCATION
CLEAN WATER AND SANITATION
AFFORDABLE AND CLEAN ENERGY
SUSTAINABLE INNOVATIONS

The festival and gala awards is organised by the Big Syn Institute, a part of the Centre for Big Synergy, which is a CSO of the United Nations. The festival educates and inspires millions to act on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs).

FIVE REASONS TO SUBMIT YOUR FILMS.

1. Be part of history; inspire action, create change.

2. Get recognition from OSCARS-, BAFTA- and EMMY-winning Grand Jury.

3. Screenings across the world and the UK.

4. Red carpet gala awards in London; meet celebrities, industry, press & TV. (TBC)

5. Covered by major UK and international news and media including the BBC.

Please follow us on all SM to be informed of more details and special prizes.

IMPORTANT

If your film has an important message for the world, this festival is for you. All films should touch upon or cover major issues faced by the planet and the people; around social, economic or environmental sustainability.

Entry fees paid are not refundable under any circumstances, so please read rules before submitting your films.

The following types of films (premiered and unpremiered), are eligible for the festival.

- Features
- Shorts
- Animations
- Series/web
- Documentaries
- CSR videos
- Charity films
- Public Service announcements

The Soul Center of Art & History is a community led museum that centers the Black experience across the African Diaspora. It is a cultural hub for the social, political, educational, and creative scholarship that will allow us to apply what we have learned from our past in a way that moves us closer to a more just and equitable future.

The Soul Center does everything that a traditional museum does. We:

-conduct research and disseminate information

-curate exhibits

-host community led workshops/classes

-preserve and display history, art, and culture

We are unique because we:

- are a model for communities of color to steward their own history and culture

- are entirely community led and center lived experience and direct impact

- utilize film and storytelling as a way to continue our oral traditions

- intentionally implement what we learn from the past to advance our community

Our first annual film festival is dedicated to celebrating the creative voices of Black filmmakers. This festival aims to provide a platform for thought-provoking films that shed light on critical social issues (equity, justice, labor, housing, climate change, immigration, and interpersonal relationships).

The Soul Center Film Fest is dedicated to:

1. Showcasing a diverse range of films that tackle social justice issues, from racial equity to environmental justice and beyond.

2. Amplifying the voices and stories of Black and Brown filmmakers, both emerging and established.

3. Encouraging dialogue, collaboration, and action by connecting filmmakers, activists, and audiences.

4. Fostering a space for critical reflection and empathy through the art of storytelling.

Objective

Marere Fest's main objective is to promote and screen feature films related to art in any of its major artistic forms (cinema, painting, sculpture, architecture, music, dance, literature, and their derivatives), as well as other audiovisual and cinematic works that bring culture closer to the public.

Dates and Venue

The first edition of Marere Fest will be held from March 18 to 23, 2025, in Jávea. The central location will be the Jayan Cinema, located at C/ Santísimo Cristo del Mar 14, CP 03730 Jávea (Alicante).

TITAN International Film Festival is a competition of films from around the world, celebrating cinema and its creativity, its art and its freedom.

We are a festival dounded in 2021 and registered as a Not-For-Profit with the Australian government and are IMDB qualified, running competitions throughout the year, which ends with the Annual Gala in Sydney, Australia.

TIFF is a challenge for all filmmakers to produce and promote the cinema of the future.

The Festival takes place 4 times a year and registration is always open. This increases the chances of winning for filmmakers. At the end of the year, our jury will select the best film of each category amongst the four edition winners.

It's a free and open to all short film festival based in Paris (France). Concept is simple : submit 2min20 shortfilms about an imposed theme each year. For this 15th edition, it'll be "A human superpower". To participate, you must register on our website www.festivalnikon.fr/en until January 10, 2025

IMPORTANT: PLEASE NOTE THAT FILMS OVER 2MIN20 WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED INTO THE COMPETITION AND WILL BE IMMEDIATELY EXCLUDED WITHOUT VIEWING.

Swinburne Film and Television Graduating Students' Screening and Industry Awards.

Settimo International Short Film Festival Seventh edition. Organized by Pro Loco Settimo Milanese with Association Semeion Teatro, Auditorium Settimo Milanese, in partnership with Fedic and under the patronage of the City of Settimo Milanese.

An evening dedicated to international short films of less than 15 minutes.

Short films can be based on any subject or concept.

The event will be held from 9 to 10 May 2025 at the Anna Marchesini film theater, via Grandi 12 Settimo Milanese.

The Women and Diversities Film Festival (FESTMYD) will celebrate its fourth edition this year in a self-managed manner with the support of the Film School of the University of Valparaíso and the Ovalle Film Festival. The main objective of the festival is to give visibility and promote national and international cinematographic works directed by female (cis/trans), trans or transmasculine men, non-binary, gender fluid or intersex filmmakers, who address issues from a gender perspective.

On this occasion, FESTMYD will take place in person in the region of Coquimbo and Valparaíso, linking the activities to the territories where they are developed, seeking to generate a reciprocal relationship with the audiences we address, in order to be a contribution to the collective construction of intangible cultural heritage. FESTMYD 4th will take place in the month of November from the 19th to the 22nd in Valparaíso and from the 27th to the 30th in Ovalle.

In the fourth version of FESTMYD, we want to once again give space to the voices and teams of women and gender diversities, maintaining the commitment acquired in our previous versions, giving a showcase to their works in both regions for school audiences and adults.

This year all slots will be non-competitive and the official selection will come from a selection of short films made in educational contexts (formal and informal) made throughout the national territory.

The Festival reserves the right to change the venues and dates mentioned, if it deems necessary for the correct execution of the project.

Film-makers from all over the world are welcome to partcipate.

The Rabat-Comedy International Film Festival is among the biggest festivals in the world exclusively dedicated to comedy. The festival offers an opportunity for unique feature and short comedy films from around the globe, to compete and share their messages in front of a live comedy lovers audience and a prestigious international jury. In addition to the screenings, meetings with film the directors, actors and other professionals are also organized . The festival offers also special screenings, training sessions and masterclasses related to the art of comedy in cinema.


(En français)

Le Festival International du Film Rabat-Comedy est parmi les plus grands festivals au monde qui est exclusivement dédié à la comédie . Dans ce sens, le festival offre une opportunité unique pour des longs et des courts métrages de comédie, provenant du monde entier, d'être en compétition et de partager leurs messages devant une audience de cinéphiles amoureux de films de comédie et d'un jury international . En marge des projections de la sélection officielle, le festival organise des rencontres avec des réalisateurs, acteurs et autres professionnels. Le festival organise aussi des projections spéciales, des formations professionnelles et des master classes qui traitent de l'art de la comédie au cinéma.

Prokuplje Short Film Festival, founded in 2011, is the youngest film festival in Serbia. In Prokplje is event where audience can see the best from the field of documentary, experimental, animated and fiction from around the world. Thousands of films from all over the world arrive at the festival's address, and it has been reflected by the numerous audiences in Prokuplje, but also in other cities in Serbia and the region,because the team organizes Tour in which the best films are presented in over 30 cities. The lack of the Cinema, as well as the lack of a movie as a subject at school, prevents young people from learning about this art.

In order to see something of this content, the young people must go to Nis, or even to Belgrade. This is an opportunity to see the latest short film achievements from all around the world in Prokuplje. In recent years, according to research, there is a decline in audience attendance at the festivals all over the world. So because of that and because of the introduction of the film to young people, we brought the work with them, in all primary and secondary schools, which are potential audiences and will be animated by the presentation of festival films and the discussion on the significance of the Festival. In addition to work with young people in Prokuplje,the Film Club Prokuplje is the first to start animating the audience from the rural areas, which are completely excluded from all events, especially cultural events.

HARD:LINE International Film Festival aims to present the various faces of extreme cinema.

The question as to what is meant by the term “extreme” can be understood by looking at the content of our wide selection of fantastic films. “Extreme” is often defined by an explicit splatter aesthetic but it can also be represented by unusual story-telling methods or an exotic visual language. Thus, we are meticulously selecting such examples that could be important in the future of the genre. We have not set any boundaries in our search and whether a film is a pearl of the independent scene, fun splatter or no-brainer, H:LIFF loves special films!

HARD:LINE International Film Festival is no warehouse festival where the priority is to show as many films as possible but rather concentrates on presenting a few glowing examples of everything that extreme film can be.

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THANK YOU FOR BEING A FILMMAKER!

You and your work are the reasons why we do exist!