Blog: Film festivals

The CINE AZUL FESTIVAL OF INTERNATIONAL CINEMA began as a showcase of environmentally themed films with a vision to advance public understanding of the environment through visual arts, challenging the way people think about nature, inspiring them to discuss and jointly explore different alternatives to become part of the solution on environmental issues.

The 10th International (environmental) “CINE AZUL” Film Festival “SURrealidades”, celebrates 20 years of walking in awareness and harmonization with the environment. Exhibiting, Circulating and contributing to the Formation of Audiences through Cinema committed to issues such as Climate Change, Food Sovereignty and Spiritual Crisis among others.

The Film Festival is environmental in nature, for this reason we consider that the implicit theme is already there, now we invite you to reflect in a sense from the different Parcelas (sections) of the Festival and it is from those Chagras where we develop a dialogue. To celebrate these 20 years of journey in our 10th version, we look at the Theme of PALABRAS MAYORES.

From the “CINE AZUL” perspective we observe this an ideal historical moment, to listen again to those ancestral words, those aboriginal languages, those uses and customs that maintained harmony and balance with their environment, with Mother Earth, with PachaMama, those words that spoke of prophecies that are fulfilling today.

After Ten editions in (2004, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2014, 2016, 2018 and 2020) SURrealidades “CINE AZUL Festival” is now a consolidated biennial contest in Colombia breaking new ground in promoting the circulation, screen and production of the environmentally and human rights-themed International audiovisual.

The Creators for Identity and Memory Association (ACIM) organizes the V Festival of Short Films for Identity, and calls authors to participate with their works. The Festival will take place in Barcelona the 30th of November and the 1st and 2nd of December. It will bring together short films dealing with identity robbery, its recognition and recovery, and the personal and social consequences. ACIM promotes activities that denounce the robbery of identity, mainly when it affects children and It is closely related with the Grandmothers of the Plaza de Mayo Association. Children abduction and forged identity were a systematic policy during both the last Argentine military dictatorship, Spanish Franco’s regime and other “the facto” governments. ACIM considers that stolen identities should be restablished as this is an inherent human right.

The CFF is a festival dedicated to audiovisual theme environmental and natural. Aims to collect the most interesting images and reward the efforts and talent of the young, but not only, that invest their energy in telling the green that still surrounds us. The Festival through the art of film aims to focus attention on what is happening in our world, with particular reference to all that is now environment.

Place of complaint and reflection: the cinema on the environment as a medium of international communication, comparison as well as container criticism, development and promotion.

Never before, in particular in our region comes an obligation to advertise, support, advertise "material" that can move us to reflection, that can make us stop and think about everything that surrounds us. Environment stolen, but also regained. As a physical space but also spiritual.

The films must draw an unusual path that begins "from the works of the complaint and the testimony of brave men and women involved in the defense of their territories, to get to the proposal of new models of sustainable living or hypothesis of dire future scenarios" .

Festival films will follow two main criteria: great attention to the works of 'our home' and fictional stories, trying to put together the reality cinema, the documentary, which so far has been the 'official spokesperson' of environmental concerns. The Festival is held in Caselle in Pittari in Province of Salerno, enchanting landscape setting, historic, cultural and natural in the heart of the National Park of Cilento and Vallo di Diano on Bussento river.

Major players in the national cinema will participate in the event, meet the young protagonists actively debating with them giving valuable advice. Participation in the survey, the entrance to the screenings of films and events scheduled are free until all the seats available.

KFF was launched in 2013, as International Short Film Festival. From the very beginning, the essential part of our mission was to bring the audience closer to different kind of films and to provoke interest in film art, and furthermore in understanding its impacts in everyday life.

Festival is held annually during September in the city of Kraljevo (meaning "the King's Town"), where seven Serbian kings are said to have been crowned. Because of our historical heritage, we decided to name our festival “Kraljevski filmski festival”.

KFF is offering a filmmaker-friendly environment with a casual vibe, which is the reason why during the last 6 years we have had filmmakers flying in from the Netherlands, Sweden, Germany, Brazil, Hong Kong, Finland, France, Switzerland, Russia, Montenegro, Croatia, Macedonia, Bulgaria…

In 2019, Kraljevski filmski festival had significant changes both on programming and management level by evolving to Post-production Film Festival. Our main goal besides showing great Short films will be to promote the art and craft of Post-production as well as the creative people from behind the camera. To achieve this, the KFF will invite postproduction artists from across the globe for masterclasses or workshops, and organize filmmakers meetings at KFF.

Only for filmmakers from Malaga or living here. Shortfilm must be filmed after 1 Jan 2019.

£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).

UGUFF was initiated as one of the Sollywood Films Pty Ltd’s social responsibility programmes in 2013 under the direction of Senzo Zindela.

The event screened 2 films on its first year, 4 films on its second year accompanied by 3 workshops (script writing, acting & editing) which were conducted by local industry experts, & had around 400 audience in 2014.
It also had an international workshop (action & stunt coordinating) held by Hollywood veteran/Hall of Fame, Steve Lambert known for Indiana Jones, Robocop, Rambo etc.

On its 3rd year, it received 60 international films, screened 23 altogether including local films, had around 5 international guests who came on their own expenses, & had around 1000 audience.

We are proud to be the first festival that managed to identify and award the best international films that continues to receive awards after our event. The following films were chosen and won best awards in our 2015 festival and never stopped from there:
Candela: Spanish Film awarded around the world: South Africa, India, Romania and USA. Nominated in Spain, Singapore, Canada, India, UK, Los Angeles and China.

Palm To The Sun: Japanese Film awarded around the world: South Africa, Spain and nominated in more.

Our Goals are as follows:

-To recruit and expose talented individuals.
-To provide information about the film industry.
-To create sustainable employment.
-To change perspectives, motivate, uplift & give hope to disadvantaged communities.
-To heal mental crippled youth who are victims of previous massacres like Shobashobane.
-To upgrade local film industry by bringing international experts to share their knowledge & experience each year.

ORGANIZERS

Senzo Zindela (Filmmaker)

This festival only admits submissions from SPANISH NATIONALS. No film-makers from any other nationalitiy will be allowed to submit their films to this festival.

International Fantastic Film Festival , terror and gore.

Only for Spanish filmmakers // Solo para cineastas españoles.

Live Entertainment, LLC, Russia in co-operation with EVENT FILM, Canada proudly present an annual festival event – International Horror, Action and Fantastic Film Festival & Awards "DROP".

The festival is being annually held in the city of Moscow since the year 2011 and contains 4 events:

- opening screening

- closing awards ceremony

- master-class and Q&A with movie stars

- film festival competition program screenings in cinema theatres

The Awards ceremony takes place in a big concert venue (changing every year) and consists of the show program and the ceremony of granting awards which is divided into the following jury voting categories:

- awards granted to local film distribution companies for the blockbusters screened in cinema theatres of Russia in the reported year;

- awards granted to young directors and producers as competition program. The category is called “Hope for Survival”;

- awards granted to World stars for the contribution to horror genre

The Awards ceremony is always visited and recorded by a large number of mass media.

The Master-class is a so-called Q&A horror convention held in a cinema theatre in a form of a question-answer session between the star guests of the festival and the audience + autograph session. The event usually ends with a premier film screening.

The festival program is a week non-stop screening of new movies in several Moscow cinema theatres. The films-participants of the competition program are being selected by the festival’s jury. Submissions are being analysed and accepted by the festival's organization committee during the whole year.

The festival's schedule usually also contains a pre-party and an after-party arranged for the honored guests and winners.

The TV version of the festival is televised by Tricolor TV platform.

The festival specializes in all sub-genres of horror and action film industry, i.e.: cartoon horror, comedy horror, psychological thriller, trash horror, zombie horror, giallo, slasher, suspense, detective, action, fantasy, sci-fi etc. Starting from the year 2013 the festival also specializes in survival horror video games sphere.

The festival is annually visited in person by World-known honored guests. The previous years’ guests were: Eric Roberts, Stuart Gordon and Bryan Yuzna, Jodelle Ferland, Costas Mandyllor & Tobin Bell, Lloyd Kaufman, Akira Yamaoka, Marco Ristori and Luca Boni, Preity Uupala, Yeppe Laursen, Silje Reinaamo, Daniel Licht, A.J. Annila, Leonid Kuravlev, Igor Zhizhikin, Oliver Robins, Corbin Bernsen, Lauren Esposito, John Kassir, James Russell, Mick Garris, Shawn Hall, Liesl Ahlers, Kyle Catlett, Lina Leandersson, Richard Cutting, Helen Crevel, Javier Botet, SWERY, Adnan Koc, Naomi Grossman & Ben Wolf, Sergio Stivaletti
...and many others

A great number of star winners also annually send their exclusive video messages which are being screened during the ceremony.

A more detailed information about the festival can be found on the English version of our web site, on Wikipedia and in social media.

The Cineminha Project includes free samples of short films aimed at children from public schools (05-12 years), teachers, families and the community in general.

The free shows aims to approach the film and animation in a playful way through the show short films. In addition to shows, the project also does animation workshops and production of audiovisual content, thus arousing children's creativity and interest in audiovisual and other forms of artistic expression.

In recent decades, and at one time to the emergence of new technologies that have ended up scanning most of the processes of the film, the documentary has known a notorious and systematic growth around the world. In our country, and for more than one decade, a production before linked almost exclusively to fiction has been swelling their ranks with new topics, new approaches, new geographies, new dilemmas.

It is in this context that FIDBA is proposed as the 1st. International Film Festival dedicated to this genre which films with the same fans - as long as we believe that the forms and the doings of the documentary film are different from those of the fiction - may meet and dialogue among them and with the public. If the documentary is a meeting point for the FIDBA, it is insofar as it proposes an interpellation to the little-known memoirs, disturbing present and (our) future in suspension. FIDBA will then be an approach not only among audiences, filmmakers and thinkers linked documentary but also in relation to the always stimulating possibilities that allow you to open this space to other border and heterodox expressions framed inside of what we would call "non-fiction" and that encourage us to dialogue with contemporary expressions that go beyond even the scope of the film.

FIDBA will pay special attention to those filmmakers for whom cinema is linked to a form of research and knowledge of the world that surrounds us as to the portrait of human beings whose conditions of life, in certain historical and social contexts, allow you to ask us about our. It is, therefore, authors who not only reflect reality but also ethical and moral relationship which involves filming the other.

FIDBA aims to become a point of support for filmmakers seeking to widen the perception of reality and to films which represent a step forward in the effort to understand it and anticipate it. So, it will make focus on films whose aesthetic originality put at risk not only an idea of the documentary but also a thought about the same film and its possibilities. Since this focus implies questioning the status of the real front of the camera or of the film in relation to reality, this is as inseparable from the mediations that arises.

KRAFTA DOC International, Art Making Film Festival is the first international documentary film festival about making art. We love makers. Contemporary art, design, craft, food or industry, KRAFTA DOC loves people who change the world with their own hands and their own ideas. Behind the materials there is history and memory, a lively network of partnerships and professions, a commitment, very often lived as a vocation.

In a world of great change and fast information, we wanted to stop to listen to the voices of those who work in the world of art, design and architecture. We are fascinated to know where things come from, and documenting the traditions, we will open infinite possible worlds. Reinvigorating the past can create a debate to develop new sectors for the future or rediscover the forgotten ones, in a more conscious way.

KRAFTA DOC considers any type of filmmaker, independent, established, groups or collectives, commercial or educational institutions.

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► imdb official list
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► IMPORTANT NEWS !!!
Turin Underground Distribution is born.

For its 12th edition, the festival event will last 12 days, allowing more time for in-depth discussions with the authors. TUC12 will take place in a very important location for the Turin "Cinema" universe, located in the heart of the city, at the wonderful Cinema Baretti.

The 12th Torino Underground Cinefest, taking place from September 26th to October 7th, will continue this year's partnership with Sooner.de, aiming to increase the distribution of independent films it receives each year.

Films selected at Torino Underground 2025 will automatically be considered for potential distribution through Sooner. Torino Underground Distribution is an opportunity for directors to take their work to the next level. It's the real chance to distribute your film on Sooner.de and consequently on Amazon Germany and Amazon UK. In recent years, many of the films selected at TUC have been distributed by the German company with whom we have strengthened our partnership. This includes, for example, the Danish film "Needle boy" by Alexander Bak Sagmo, the Iranian "Numb" by director Amir Toodehroosta, "The Exam" by Iraqi director Shawkat Amin Korki, "SOMEHOW" by the German collective Aki T. Weisshaus, and many others.

Sooner.de features the best of independent cinema from: Achtung Berlin, DOK Leipzig, Diagonale, FILMFESTIVAL MAX OPHÜLS PREIS, MEC film, RAPID EYES MOVIES, SWISS films, Kinoherz, Film Academy Baden-Württemberg, Märchenfilme, alles Kino, and more...

Cash prizes will be awarded for Best Feature Film, Best Short Film, and Best Documentary. In addition, special awards will be presented for Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Cinematography, Best Editing, and Best Sound Design. An Audience Award and mentions from our media partners are also planned.

The festival is supported by media partnerships and cultural organizations from the region.

*IMPORTANT:* *FOR SALES AND VARIOUS CATALOGUES: NO SCREENING FEES ARE EXPECTED!*

“It is obvious that art cannot teach anyone anything, since in four thousand years humanity has learnt nothing at all.”
― Andrei Tarkovsky

Terror Film Festival is a blood-chilling, alien-probing, international film festival that is unlike any other film festival, because we are designed specifically for filmmakers and screenwriters. TFF runs every October and being an online film festival allows us to remove all of your shackles from traditional venues. Problems like...capacity limits, late starts, rude staff, bad audio, lobby noise, projection snags, parking fees, ticket mishaps, etc...who needs them?! They are all designed to ruin YOUR screening. Well, no more!!

We have removed these problems, and with them now gone, TFF can offer you MORE people to see YOUR film (imagine 25 people vs 25 Million people). TFF increases the potential for you to gain more loyal fans. Plus, we offer the one and only, Claw Awards, for film and screenplay. And, our world-class screenwriting competition is a great feather in the cap for any screenwriter. We do our best to let you know that it is all about YOU. And, yes, we do accept Music Videos in any of the genres.

“TFF believes that it is through a legion of fans that a filmmaker or screenwriter can build a solid career in entertainment.”
~ Fel Angel, Filmmaker/Screenwriter/Festival Director/Terror Film Festival

Terror Film Festival was founded by filmmakers and screenwriters, and we know how difficult the road to success can be. That’s why we screen short films during the festival, but not the feature films. We only screen the feature film "trailers". The reason being that the integrity of your feature film must be kept intact if you expect to get a distribution deal. This way, your project can still be reviewed, you can still compete in the Claw Awards competition, and you can still have the opportunity to sell your film to fans during the festival. But, you do not suffer any interference with any distribution deal offers! Plus, All films and screenplays are reviewed by our selections committee, and all selected films and screenplays then become nominated for the coveted Claw Awards. Who knows, perhaps YOU will win the next Claw Award!

Terror Film Festival considers both short and feature length films and scripts (completed and Works-In-Progress), and we offer exposure, prestige, recognition, amazing exposure, and the Claw Awards. And we are completely driven by love of the craft. That's why TFF is committed to the filmmakers and screenwriters who bring great genre movies to the world. TFF is Halloween Cinematic!

Terror Film Festival is run like no other festival, because it is designed to help promote YOUR PROJECT, and more importantly, YOU. Our innovations are all designed to further YOUR career. Such as: Princess Horror, the first-ever film festival icon who is loved and followed by a legion of fans; The Claw Awards, the first-ever full-blown genre dedicated awards (heralded as "The Oscars of Indie Filmmaking"); Free Submitted Film Listings, the first and only listing of submitted films on a festival website in our massive stand alone section as an additional promotional vehicle for our creative artists as a thank you JUST FOR SUBMITTING A PROJECT.

Terror Film Festival also pioneered placing video interviews of our creative artists on our website. These are all unique marketing ideas that no other film festival in the world had ever explored before TFF. And we do it all because it brings more attention to YOU. TFF pioneered all of these concepts in 2006 to better serve our filmmakers and screenwriters, and we are proud to continue to offer them to our creative artists.

Thank You and Good Luck from Terror Film Festival.

MoDive-Se is a short film festival and feature films in the city of Campinas, to show films with LGBT themes.
On the first edition was held in 2014, sponsored by the State Government of São Paulo.
In 2015 it was performed independently. The same will occur in 2016, but this year, in addition to film the show will expand its activities with exhibitions of theater and performance.

Independent.

Ransäter Filmfestival is short film festival that will be held for the 4th time 4-6 april 2019. Our main purpose is to bring quality short to the small village of Ransäter. We think that it´s important that everyone has the possibility to enjoy and experience film close to where you live so you don't need to go all the way to Stockholm-, Gothenburg- or Uppsala Filmfestivals.

The first day will be a workshop held by Kaisa El Ramly (won best short 2018) the workshop will be dedicated to aspiring young actors. The second day we will screen the selected shorts that are in competition. The third day we will have a retrospective with a director who made the difficult transition from short and feature. The price ceremony will also be held on the third day and we end the festival with a live music act

A jury of three will decide one winner and the audience will decide one winner. If you win you need to be present to receive the price money. At least two of the filmmakers that are selected will be invited to this years festival.

The objective of the festival is to arrange a meeting of young filmmakers, to introduce the work of local and international film schools, and to award films chosen for the competition by the international jury. The festival is organized by Filmfest Písek, The Independent Film College in Písek and The Film Academy of Miroslav Ondříček in Písek in cooperation with the town of Písek.