Blog: Film festivals

INDEPENDENT CINEMA IN THE HEART OF MEDIEVAL ITALY

The Cultural Association Aedon is pleased to present the 5th Festival dei Lumi, an arts festival that takes place annually in Soriano nel Cimino, in the heart of the Cimini mountains, in the province of Viterbo.

A PLACE FULL OF HISTORY, LOVED BY ARTISTS

A place steeped in history, which belonged to the greatest families of the Italian papal aristocracy (Orsini, Colonna, Albani), it retains a strong tradition and in its recent history was the creative residence of world-famous Italian artists such as PierPaolo Pasolini, who lived in the of Chia, or Luigi Pirandello who also dedicated a poem to the beech forest of Soriano nel Cimino, from which he was greatly entranced.

WE ARE LOOKING FOR YOUR ART

Festival dei Lumi aims to propose independent Italian and international cinema to the Soriano audience.

We are looking for spontaneous films, created by artists who have the courage to use their intelligence and put their essence into their work. We are looking for sincere works, we don't care about the budget, the genre, the nation, the medium used for filming.

We are looking for artists who care about their work, who love the creative process and who don't make art out of vanity.

XV PIÉLAGOS SHORT FILM FESTIVAL (Only fiction works)

We are IMDb qualifying festival

https://www.imdb.com/event/ev0002609/2024/1/?ref_=ev_eh

The Department of Culture of the City Council of Piélagos launches the 15th edition of the Piélagos International Short Film Festival ‘Piélagos en Corto’.


SHORT FILMS

Works of a maximum of 30 minutes and production date after 1st January 2023 will be accepted.

CATEGORIES fiction only

1- CANTABRIA short film produced by a production company based in Cantabria and/or directed by a Cantabrian director born or adopted with a minimum of 2 years of residence in Cantabria.

2- NATIONAL SPAIN (Only Spanish production)

3- INTERNATIONAL

The 35th Message to Man International Festival of documentary, short fiction, animated, and experimental films will take place from 17 to 25 October 2025 in St. Petersburg, Russia.

Over the years, the Festival has hosted distinguished figures of world cinema, including Werner Herzog, Ulrich Seidl, Claude Lanzmann, Isabelle Huppert, Fanny Ardant, Agnès Varda, Mira Nair, Paolo Sorrentino, Alan Berliner, Eric Roberts, Jonathan Rosenbaum, Abdellatif Kechiche, Udo Kier, and many others.

With its history spanning three decades of cinema development, Message to Man was founded in 1989 in Leningrad by filmmaker Mikhail Litvyakov, who now serves as the Honorary President of the Festival.

In 2010, Alexei Uchitel, a renowned director of documentaries and feature films, assumed the role of the Festival's President.

The Festival programme revolves around three competitions: international, national, and experimental, providing a platform for both full-length and short films to vie for the Festival's Grand Prix. Message to Man consistently draws thousands of cinema enthusiasts to St. Petersburg each year.

Welcome to the 1st International Photography and Short Film Contest MIRADAS QUE PERDURAN organized by BAYER, dedicated to AMD (age-related macular degeneration) and DME (diabetic macular edema). The contest is aimed at photography and film enthusiasts, as well as health professionals. We want you to be creative, to interpret what it means to you, in a symbolic way, to suffer from a disease that limits your vision when the reality around you is blurred and distorted. Explore your creativity. Express yourself with freedom and emotion. Put yourself in the shoes of a patient, a family member, a caregiver, a nurse, a doctor or a friend of a person with vision problems ... and through your eyes, surprise us. Find out what it means to suffer from AMD or DME, and send us your work, we are waiting for it!

Marbella International Film Festival brings together artisits and creators to present their talents to the commercial world of film professionals, financiers and distributers.

MIFF is the place for a film makers who want to achieve commercial success as well as displaying their artistic work.

Marbella in the southern coast of Spain is Considered among the most exclusive cities in the world, thus a perfect location for the high calibre MIFF, conveniently placed for film makers looking to show case their work in the glamour and glitz of Marbella while networking with some of the hight net worth international individuals who call Marbella their homes.

What’s on offer?
Five days of screening in the state of art cinema.
Opportunity for red carpet screening of your film
Networking events.

Expert panel discussions and workshops.
Nightly VIP theme parties.
Charity benefit events.

The festival concludes with a black-tie awards ceremony which is the high light of the Marbella social calendar attracting visitors from all over the world, thus offering endless networking opportunities to pitch for your next project, while screening your film as a red-carpet premier event, a great opportunity for promotion and distribution of your work.

Chinh Youth Film Festival is a celebration of Youth culture, it is a platform to connect and express through cinema and give voice to the meaningful, thought-provoking, and brutally honest narratives from young people across the globe.

We aim to encourage independent artists and provide a grandstand for youth to channelize their creative energies.

CYFF experience is a stage for all of us to share YOUR STORIES and create new ones.

CYFF is where youth decides, a place where youth is encouraged to bring out their ideas on cinema, with emphasis on developing the right cinematic language in them.

Helping youth see beyond the basic elements of the cinematic experience and provide an opportunity to engage, evaluate, critique, asses and appreciate the best cinematic expressions from across the globe.

Festival films will be judged by YOUTH JURY.

The Association 400 Colpi is a non-profit organization created with the aim of promoting films that, thanks to their language, style, story, and themes, are intended for both young and adult audiences.

vvfilmf is synonymous with film quality and represents a window into the youth world. It is not just a film festival. It's an experience. It's a significant cultural moment for young people that unites and cultivates.

Over the years, vvfilmf has created events that discover spaces for young people, workshops for the study of new forms of visual expression. #vvfilmf presents itself as an initiative aimed at the entire country and internationally, with the intention of meeting the expectations of both a young population and adult viewers.

The goal is to bring the general public closer to quality cinematic forms. Despite the festival's programming having a preferential audience of children, school-age youth, and university students, it enthusiastically opens its doors to adults and all those interested in cinematic art, fascinated by artistic and visual culture, passionate about education, pedagogy, educational fun, and simple entertainment.

The festival represents an excellent opportunity to showcase new educational paths, offering a constantly renewed program of cultural activities, and to propose, through the cinematic medium, respectful skills and fruitful reflections open to all school members.

vvfilmf boasts the High Patronage of the European Parliament, the Patronage of the Italian Council Presidency, the Ministry of Culture, Labor and Social Policies, Tourism, and almost all Italian Regions, many Provinces, and Municipalities.

Among the multi-year collaborations developed by #VVFILMF are those with RAI Cinema, the Foundation for Entertainment, and Lancia Europa, as well as with RAI Radio 2 and RAI Educational.

Thanks to the high quality of the film selection in competition and the professionalism demonstrated over the years, vvfilmf has been chosen by the President of the Biennale Foundation, Paolo Baratta, and the Director of the Venice International Film Festival, to select a group of young jurors and accompany them into the world of international cinema during the Venice International Film Festival.

Welcome to the Swedish Cinema House Film Festival, a special event dedicated to celebrating and promoting independent filmmakers from around the world. Held in the heart of Stockholm, our festival offers a unique platform for filmmakers to showcase their work and connect with an eager audience.

This festival will have two sections: Short Films and Feature Films. Currently, the Short Film section is open for submissions, and you can submit your films for this category. The Feature Film section will take place in the second half of the year, and submissions for this section will be accepted then. You will have the opportunity to participate in either or both sections and present your films to a panel of industry professionals and cinema enthusiasts.

Why You Should Participate:
Winner Participation at the Festival: Winners will have the opportunity to attend the live award ceremony and celebration of the festival in person.

Screening in Stockholm: Selected films will be screened at a special venue in Stockholm, where filmmakers and film lovers can enjoy the outstanding works up close.

Live Event Competition: Winners from each category will compete against other film winners in a live event, where the films and top works will be directly showcased for public and jury attention.

Don't miss the chance for an unforgettable experience. Submit your film now and join us for the first edition of the Swedish Cinema House Film Festival!

Why You Should Participate:
Winner Participation at the Festival: Winners will have the opportunity to attend the live award ceremony and celebration of the festival in person.

Screening in Stockholm: Selected films will be screened at a special venue in Stockholm, where filmmakers and film lovers can enjoy the outstanding works up close.

Live Event Competition: Winners from each category will compete against other film winners in a live event, where the films and top works will be directly showcased for public and jury attention.

Don't miss out on the opportunity for an unforgettable experience. Submit your film now and join us for the first edition of the Swedish Cinema House Film Festival!

The International Horror Film Festival in Banfield was born with the central idea of disseminating and promoting independent horror genre cinema and at the same time with the intention of creating a space for cultural exchange between lovers of this genre.

Horror in Banfield is a space for the screening of films, short films and video clips as well as a meeting point to enjoy a comprehensive experience that includes directors, actors, producers, students and lovers of horror culture.

The selected films will be part of the official competition in the following categories.

. Best International Feature Film.
. Best Argentinean feature film

. Best International Short Film.
. Best Argentinian Short Film.
. Best horror video clip.

. Best director.
. Best actor/actress .
. Best Production .
. Best Cinematography .
. Best FX.
. Best Trailer.
. Best graphic/poster
. Best soundtrack .
. Best post production .

. Honourable Mention .

The Bari Puglia International Film Festival takes place in one of the most fascinating regions of Italy. Bari is a place where ancient and modern meet. Its suggestive locations, its rich gastronomic culture and the hospitality of its inhabitants create a welcoming and vibrant atmosphere.

The province of Bari, surrounded by its small municipalities, promotes the film industry and enriches the cultural experience of all participants.

Choosing the baronial castle of Bitritto as the location for the Bari Puglia International Film Festival means immersing yourself in a unique context. With its history and charm, it represents an ideal setting to celebrate the cinema and cultural heritage of Puglia.

The final award ceremony will take place in December. It will be a stage for local and international talents.

The festival does not set any genre limits, each participant can propose their own idea of cinema free from any constraint.

During the ceremony, the winners will be announced and the most noteworthy short films will be screened.

Our internal jury is always on the lookout for new cinematic identities and can't wait to get to work.

Histeria International Fantastic Film Festival in Costa Rica brings together a current international selection of feature films and short films framed within the horror, science fiction and fantasy genre. It is a window in Central America for fantastic movies. Not only for Latin America, but for the rest of the world. A point where filmmakers with their films meet, so that they can be exhibited and seen.

NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION
OF SHORT FILMS
2ND EDITION - YEAR 2025

INTRODUCTION

AQUICORTO is promoted by Abbo Production S.R.L., registered office in Via Appia 130 Venticano (AV) operational headquarters In Via Nino Bixio 49 Putignano (BA). The event is curated by Katiuscia Tomei.

PURPOSE OF THE REVIEW

The review, dedicated to the selection of the best short films, aims to support Abruzzo, national and international talents who want to try their hand at the art of filmmaking, expressing their skills and knowledge through the form of short film. The festival aims to showcase the most deserving.

MODE OF SELECTION OF WORKS

Pre-selection by the Examining Board:
The works received will be viewed and pre-selected by an Examining Board, whose judgment will be unquestionable. It will operate independently and following the guidelines of these regulations.
There are five sections in which to participate: International, National, Abruzzi, Environment, No to Violence. Authors born and resident in Abruzzo can only and exclusively participate in the Abruzzi section. The Commission will be made up of the Executive Board of Abbo Production S.R.L. and other experts in the field. It will have the task of making the selection on the basis of both the technique of realization and the mode of expression adopted by the author in dealing with the themes.

The Messina Film Festival – Cinema&Opera is a meeting and discussion place for delving into the relationship between cinema and opera through various artistic perspectives and trends. The Messina Film Festival is the only event in the Italian cinematic landscape that addresses this interaction and offers the public a diverse cultural program consisting of screenings, concerts, presentations, and exhibitions. The entire program is exclusively dedicated to the relationship between the Seventh Art and one of the greatest Italian cultural traditions, Melodrama. There are non-competitive sections and a section dedicated to short films, which is competitive in nature. The competition is thematic, and only works with a maximum duration of 15 minutes (including titles) are admitted, which must feature stories inspired by operatic works or their characters, or that include music or arias from operas, or a setting in an opera theater.

Turicine Film Festival (FECT), organized by Grupo Turicine aims to promote and showcase Ecuadorian cinematic production by fostering interaction between local talent and the general public in order to reach, encourage and develop new audiences across the country. The 2025 edition of FECT is supported by Ministerio de Cultura y Patrimonio and Instituto de Fomento a la Creatividad y la Innovación.

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

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

The 3rd CINE RO – Rondônia Film Festival, to be held in August 2025, is a cinematic event that celebrates the diversity and richness of national and international cinema. This festival provides a platform for filmmakers from across Brazil and around the world to showcase their work, with a special focus on productions that reflect the various facets of society.

With a hybrid format, the festival will be held both in-person and virtually, offering broad access to a diverse audience through its official website and social media channels. This format enables the festival to reach viewers beyond the geographic borders of Rondônia, fostering a more inclusive and accessible cinematic experience.

CINE RO welcomes a wide range of works, including fiction shorts, documentaries, animations, experimental films, student projects, music videos, and national feature films. With diverse categories, the festival highlights the creativity and talent across different genres and formats, from short works to more extensive narratives.

The festival is also distinguished by its thematic showcases, addressing topics and experiences related to femininity, Black culture, Indigenous identity, and more. This reflects its commitment to tackling and bringing visibility to relevant social issues and promoting cultural diversity.

Submissions for the festival are made online via Google Forms, and Festhome, ensuring a transparent and accessible selection process. Selected films will not only be screened during the festival but will also compete in various categories, with awards aimed at recognizing and honoring excellence in each segment.

Initiated in the backdrop of 60th year of India's Independence, CHINH INDIA KIDS FILM FESTIVAL and FORUM is an initiative to celebrate knowledge,ideas and perspectives on culture, development and education in context of children programming.

The objective of the CHINH INDIA KIDS FILM FESTIVAL is to inculcate taste for quality children programme and to generate awareness about new genre, innovations, and formats linking education with culture & development issues among children.

The highlight of CHINH INDIA KIDS FILM FESTIVAL is intelligence exchange sessions of children with experts to share, voice and express their views.

In CHINH INDIA KIDS FILM FESTIVAL, childrens' opinion matters and they decide the winners.

The video clippings of the children jury and judgement process is uploaded on www.chinh.in

"Migration in Transit. International Film Festival" is a cultural initiative that uses cinema as a tool to raise awareness about the complexities of migration in Latin America and the world. Through film screenings, educational workshops and roundtables, this festival promotes respect, inclusion and critical reflection, aligning itself with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).

With venues in Peru (Piura, Trujillo, Moquegua, Lima) and international screenings in key cities such as Colombia, Brazil, Venezuela, Argentina, Spain and the United States, the festival combines a local and international approach, ensuring that the voices of migrants resonate in multiple cultural contexts.

“Social World Film Festival” is the most emotional festival in the world with events, movies, previews, innovative activities, jury of young people and professionals, workshops, competitions, presentations and thousands of visitors.

The fifteenth edition of the International Social Cinema Festival “Social World Film Festival” will take place from 22 to 29 June 2025 in Vico Equense (Sorrento Coast - Italy) between activities in presence and innovative streaming modes aimed as always to ensure the interaction, direct and in connection, of the authors with the audience of the event.
The winners of the competitive selections are awarded during the Gala Night scheduled for the fifteenth edition in Vico Equense (Sorrento Coast - Italy).

Participating to the International Festival of Social Cinema “Social World Film Festival” offers some specially selected works the exclusive possibility to be presented in events organized worldwide thats in the last ten years, we have involved 28 cities in 40 events on five continents including Los Angeles, New York, Rio de Janeiro, Wien, Washington DC, Seoul, Busan, Berlin, Barcelona, Amsterdam, Cannes, Monte Carlo, Paris, Istanbul, San Francisco, Tokyo, Sydney, Marseilles, Palma, Tunis, Hong Kong, Jakarta.