Blog: Film festivals

Short Films for Childhood.

Cinema is an art form that needs to be simultaneously nourished and challenged and ÉCU - The European Independent Film Festival provides the perfect arena for indie filmmakers to express authentic cinematic storytelling in the most compelling ways possible.

As one the World’s truly stand out independent film festivals, ÉCU embraces innovation and creativity and allows directors in competition to showcase their films to audiences who appreciate and love independent cinema. Filmmakers who are selected into ÉCU’s Official Selection join an active community of creatives who continually push the boundaries of indie cinema.

"It is always an absolute joy to present one's work at ECU. The team are fantastically helpful, the jury extremely competent, and the selection of the highest quality. I would recommend participating to anyone who's in love with indie filmmaking!" - Celina Liesegang, producer of Viscera: Autopsy of a (non)human body, ÉCU 2022 Official Selection

"It's always a pleasure having our films at ÉCU, especially this year with our awarded short film "Useless"! The communication has been great during the whole process and our filmmakers are so excited to be part of this competition. See you again next year with new projects!" - Marta Salvador Tato, distributor of USELESS, the winner of the Best European Independent Dramatic Short award 2022

Since its inception in 2006 ÉCU has forged a path for independent film and the scope of its presence has grown to a global scale with the festival often being referenced as the European equivalent of Sundance, an honour that we don’t take lightly.

Spring is not only a fabulous time for Paris but an exciting time for ÉCU because that is when we showcase roughly around 100 of the World’s very best independent films. Although ÉCU emphasises European talent, it also recognises the genius of international filmmakers with several categories allocated to non-European films.

The next ÉCU, the 19th edition, will take place on the 19th, 20th and 21st of April, 2024 in Paris, France.

ÉCU isn’t just all about screening an amazing slate of films over its three-day event in Paris in April. There are also professional workshops led by experts in the industry, Q&A’s held with the attending filmmakers after every screening session and a chance to network with fellow filmmakers, producers, agents, industry representatives, prospective film buyers and, of course, the cinema-loving public. At ÉCU, there is a continual dialogue celebrating and critiquing the world’s best indie cinema of today.


Though ÉCU’s main event IS the three-day festival in Paris each spring, there is even more! Thanks to our over 50 partner festivals, partner organizations, film centres and film commissions, ÉCU’s goes on an annual world tour called ÉCU-On-The-Road, which gives award-winning films (as well as many of the Official Selection films) the opportunity to have their films screened to a broader, global audience. ÉCU-On-The-Road showcased films in over 80 countries around the globe in 2016 - 2023 at special ÉCU mini-festivals, partner festivals, cultural institutions and film schools, including an amazing seven day special festival in São Paulo, Brazil. The event was made possible through the support of Caixa Cultural, São Paulo and was a huge success. ÉCU also held special events in Berlin (Germany), Cannes (France) and was part of festivals in Lebanon, Italy, Russia, USA, Romania, Austria, Denmark and ot­her countries. This gives ÉCU filmmakers great exposure to audiences that they may never have reached.

Since 2006, ÉCU has helped the careers of literally hundreds of independent filmmakers, actors, DPs, editors, screenwriters and is honoured to be firmly established as one of the World’s eminent indie film festivals.

Above all, we are proud to be a filmmakers’ festival!

English version (Spanish & Portuguese versions below):

AAIFF Americas' 2025 offers 18 awards in 12 categories including Americas' Best Independent Film Director 2025 and America’s Best Independent Film 2025.

As the sister film festival of ÉCU—the European Independent Film Festival, which has been held in Paris for 19 years, the AAIFF Americas' has the ability to harness the rock-solid reputation of the ÉCU Film Festival Group as being one of the World’s foremost independent film festivals groups and to help bring global attention to Americas’ independent filmmakers.

Our objective is to offer excellent opportunities for all the Americas' independent filmmakers to find audiences for their films, to connect with peers, distributors and talent scouts – and importantly to provide them unforgettable film festival experience.

Español neutro :

AAIFF Las Américas 2025 ofrece 18 premios en 12 categorías, incluyendo Mejor Director de Cine Independiente de las Américas 2025 y Mejor Película Independiente de las Américas 2025.

Como festival hermano de ÉCU, el Festival Europeo de Cine Independiente, que se celebra en París desde hace 19 años, AAIFF Américas tiene la capacidad de aprovechar la sólida reputación del ÉCU Film Festival Group como uno de los grupos de festivales de cine independiente más importantes del mundo y ayudar a atraer la atención mundial hacia los cineastas independientes de las Américas.

Nuestro objetivo es ofrecer excelentes oportunidades para que todos los cineastas independientes de las Américas encuentren público para sus películas, se pongan en contacto con colegas, distribuidores y cazatalentos y, lo que es más importante, les proporcionen una experiencia inolvidable en un festival de cine.

Português brasileiro :

AAIFF das Américas 2025 entrega 18 prêmios em 12 categorias, incluindo Melhor Diretor de Filme Independente das Américas 2025 e Melhor Filme Independente das Américas 2025.

Como festival-irmão do ÉCU - o Festival Europeu de Cinema Independente, que é realizado em Paris há 19 anos - o AAIFF das Américas tem a oportunidade de aproveitar a reputação consolidada do ÉCU Film Festival Group como um dos principais grupos de festivais de cinema independente do mundo e ajudar a chamar a atenção aos cineastas independentes das Américas.

O nosso objetivo é oferecer oportunidades para que todos os cineastas independentes das Américas encontrem público para seus filmes, conectem-se com colegas de profissão, distribuidores e caçadores de talentos e, o mais importante, proporcionem a eles uma experiência inesquecível em um festival de cinema.

ONLY SPANISH PRODUCTIONS

Diversity Short Film Festival- Argentina
LGBT VIDEO ART- Anniversary Edition- 15 years

2025

Edition 15

cineversatil.com

The 15th edition will include a non-competitive exhibition dedicated to LGBT+ video art and parallel exhibitions of collaborating festivals.

The BLEU PARIS Short Film Festival is an international festival open to all filmmakers, of all ages and backgrounds, whether professional or amateur. It aims to highlight the cinema themed by the blue color. And thus bring together all the aficionados of this wonderful shade.

FCTS: 20 Years Celebrating the Seventh Art, in the Heart of Todos Santos

The Todos Santos Film Festival (FCTS) celebrates two decades as the undisputed epicenter of South Californian, Mexican, and Latin American cinema in Baja California Sur. More than a festival, we are a cultural movement that has captivated audiences and film professionals alike.

Our selection of feature films, documentaries, and short films, many of them exclusive premieres and award-winners at international festivals, is rigorously curated to offer you the best of contemporary cinema.

We have been honored by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (Golden Globes) for our programming excellence and commitment to the community.

Iconic figures such as Diego Luna, Dolores Heredia, and Tenoch Huerta have shared their talent and passion at our festival, enriching the cinematic dialogue.

Through our Leonardo Perel Film School and various community activities, we foster education, creativity, and a love for cinema at all ages.

FCTS is more than a festival; it is a transformative experience.
In its 20th anniversary year, as in recent years, the Todos Santos International Film Festival will also be presented, within the same dates, in Cabo San Lucas and La Paz, BCS.

We invite you to immerse yourself in the fascinating world of cinema, discover new voices, and become part of a vibrant community that celebrates diversity and creativity.

Let's celebrate 20 years of the Todos Santos Film Festival together and be part of the history of cinema in Baja California Sur!

Check out our full program and discover how you can participate in this special edition.

Short films

OZ ZINEMA ELKARTEA, in collaboration with the City Council of Errenteria, announces the 3rd DOCUMENTARY FILM AND HUMAN RIGHTS FESTIVAL OF ERRENTERIA, in order to promote and develop the audiovisual arts through visualization and the defense of human rights.

Patagonia Eco Film Fest, calls filmmakers from all over the world to participate in the 9th International Environmental Film Festival of Patagonia which will take place in Puerto Madryn city, Chubut, Argentina from September 5-10, 2024.

The festival will accept documentary, fiction, animation films, about environmental issues.

Florence Short Film Festival is an event dedicated to short films.

Born as a limelight for young independent directors, it quickly established itself as an international festival, counting among its guests and jurors great personalities from the world of academicism and film criticism, as well as renowned actors, dubbers and producers. Every year hundreds of directors from all over the world have submitted their works to be selected and run for the three categories of “Fiction”, “Animation” and “Documentary”, and thus compete for the Jury Prize (with cash prize) and for the Audience Award.

Throughout its eight editions, Florence Short Film Festival has received the patronage of the most important local institutions (the Municipality of the City of Florence and the Tuscany Region) and, more importantly, has been able to intercept a large transversal audience that has voted its loyalty to the festival every year: the audience of FSFF numbers hundreds of people and embraces both the university student who wants to live the cultural life of the city, and to the cinephile who wants to discover the directors of tomorrow, thanks to the varied proposal that the festival can offer.

Since the 8th edition Florence Short Film Festival is proud to offer masterclasses by guests of the caliber of Alessandro Roia, Giovanni Veronesi, Gianfranco Pannone and Alessandro Rak, demonstrating that teaching is a fundamental point for training the new directors of tomorrow and that the dissemination of cinematographic knowledge is at the basis of the intentions of the festival.

The 10th edition of the Florence Short Film Festival (6th, 7th, 8th February 2024 at the Cinema La Compagnia, Firenze) aims to bring the event to a further level by strengthening the internationality of the proposal, consolidating and expanding the public and involving famous personalities of Italian and international cinema.

Guests and jurors of previous editions:

Ugo Pagliai, actor, dubber
Alessandro Roia, actor, director, screenwriter
Paola Gassman, actress
Paola Randi, director
Daniela Morozzi, actress
Cosimo Calamini, screenwriter
Francesco Pannofino, dubber, actor
Antonio de Matteo, actor
Cinzia Th Torrini, director
Gianna Giachetti, actress
Antonio Frazzi, director, juror for the David di Donatello and European Film Academy
Alessandra Acciai, actress, producer
Cosimo Calamini, screenwriter and writer
Luigi Nepi, professor of Film Criticism at the University of Florence
Stefano Socci, Professor of History of Cinema at the Academy of Fine Arts in Florence;
Donatella Pascucci, Mibac - Ministry for Cultural Heritage and Activities
Simone Bartalesi, artistic director of OFF Cinema
Marta Innocenti, director
Caterina Liverani, journalist
Manfredi Lucibello, director

accordi @ DISACCORDI - International Short Film Festival welcomes films and filmmakers from all over the world, to share the art of independent short films with the local audience, to entertain and enlighten festival attendees, to provide filmmakers the opportunity for professional networking and development, and to encourage cultural tourism and film industry development in Naples and the surrounding area in Campania.

accordi @ DISACCORDI (Consonances and Dissonances) is an audience-friendly festival that focuses on quality programming of all genres of seventh art from comedy to drama, animation to documentary, and art to experimental movies. In addition to the film program, attendees can enjoy talks, Q&As, laboratories, workshops, exhibitions, seminars and conferences; the entrance to cultural events is free of charge. We want to give a heightened sense of the experience to all who participate and attend.

International Short Film Festival celebrates its 21st anniversary on November 11 - 17, 2024.
Submit your film to be in with a chance of screening at our International Short Film Festival and this could be your chance to win a nice acrylic or wooden plaque!

The festival "Rencontres du cinéma latino américain" organized by France Amérique Latine Comité Bordeaux Gironde is 42 years old.
The missions developed since the creation of this event are:

- To make the Latin American continent known: its cultures, its struggles, its peculiarities...
- To increase the visibility of little-known works.
- To share the political and artistic visions of Latin American countries.
The feature film program is divided into two categories: films in competition and those not participating in the competition. Depending on the year, the film committee reserves the right to add a category to the selection.

The film committee will decide the dates and times of the screenings of each film.

This information will be published on the website:
https://www.lesrencontreslatino.org/

The 15th edition of Arraial Cine Fest will be held from February 17th to 21st, 2025 online on the festival's official website.

Only for Spanish Filmmakers.

Rueda Libre (Freewheel) is the official call of shortFilms to Cine Libre FilmFestival, we take for symbol THE WHEEL that evokes the hills of Fredonia where children running down with wheels and tires. Now cinema is taken Fredonia and the concept of roll changes cinematically .

Ostia International Film Festival 2025, now in its 6th Edition, promotes, encourages and spreads all the activities relating to the world of Cinema, including through TV, Streaming, Theatre, the Web, Social Media.

Purposes:

in collaboration with public and private entities, the promotion and spreading of culture, cinematographic and artistic production and of the audiovisual works submitted every year to the Festival;

organize happenings, shows, events and exhibitions related to the Audiovisual, Artistic and Cultural sector at national and international level through the Festival;

bring together and promote the training of people and artists of any age and social background involved in creative film and audiovisual production;

Create works connected to the world of Cinema, Art, Photography and Culture in general.

Our mission is to spread the talent of young emerging directors in the panorama of Italian, European and international cinema, pursuing the objective of merging culture, territory and tourism, with a particular eye on innovations in the cinematographic field, also supported by new technological languages.

The call is aimed at short films of any theme and genre. It ranges from drama to comedy, thriller, etc. The stories can be invented or adapted or inspired by true events and documentaries or reportages of any kind.

FECIUCH is a public university film festival that aims to promote audiovisual and cinematographic culture at a national level, valuing audiovisual works not only for their artistic and social content but also for their treatment of language, form, and critical perspective.

Through this festival, we seek to bring together a broad community of students, professors, and graduates, creating a university, artistic, diverse, and open space for the community. We want FECIUCH to be a space for exhibition, discussion, and development for the emerging voices and perspectives that are arising in university and educational spaces.

In our upcoming editions, we aim to expand to promote and support the development of works in various stages of production, as well as to serve as a bridge between university creation and the industry, with the goal of becoming the most important university film festival in Chile in the future.

In 1998, the Benalmádena Cinematographic Youth Association (ACIBE) recovered the spirit of the defunct SICAB (Benalmádena International Author's Film Week, 1969-1989) to undertake the project of creating a film festival for the city. The result, after seventeen years of management, is the Benalmádena International Short Film and Alternative Film Festival (FICCAB), a meeting forum for lovers of quality cinema. More than four hundred short films are presented each year at a festival for all ages that unites the glamor of the stars to the best auteur, independent, alternative and unknown cinematographies, paying special attention to European ones.