Blog: Film festivals

Welcome to Kino Manchester, we operate Kinofilm, the North West of England's longest running short film festival. The dates for our next Festival (16th edition) are provisionally 26th Feb - 1st March 2020. First read about our current offers:

*NEW SPECIAL OFFER for 2019 - open to all Kino Alumni filmmakers (directors) that have previously screened at Kinoflim. If you have previously had a film screened at Kinofilm you can submit for 20% off all entry fees - but you must submit to the Alumni section to get this discount. You will be asked to enter a code that you will receive after providing evidence of your previous film screened at Kinofilm. Please also put these details in a cover letter on your FilmFreeway entry to us stating the year, director's name (which should be the same), the film's title and the programme it was in (if you can recall). Fees open at just $10.00

* REDUCED ENTRY FEES for filmmakers from EASTERN EUROPE and the Russian Federation - apx 30% off, please submit under the Eastern European section to obtain this discount. You must first contact us to provide evidence of residence and country of production to obtain this code to submit to this section. Fees open at just $10.00 or $8.50 for Gold Members of FFW.

* REDUCED ENTRY FEES for filmmakers from GREATER MANCHESTER - 30% off, please submit under the GREATER MANCHESTER FILMMAKERS section to obtain this discount.. You must upload evidence to your entry of residence within Greater Manchester and the film must be produced within the region. Fees open at just $10.00

* REDUCED ENTRY FEES for STUDENTS anywhere - 30% off, please submit under the KINO EXPOSED "Student" section to obtain this discount. You must first contact us to provide evidence of student status to obtain the code to submit under this section. Please also attach evidence to your entry on FFW. Fees open at just $10.00

* REDUCED ENTRY FEES for MICRO SHORTS (5 Minutes and under) - 30% off, please submit under the MICRO SHORTS section to obtain this discount. Fees open at just $10.00

* REDUCED ENTRY FEES for MOBILE PHONE SHORTS (10 Minutes and under) - 30% off, please submit under the MOBILE PHONE SHORTS section to obtain this discount. Fees open at just $10.00

*****A special youth section dedicated to young people of 17 years old and under. Please contact us first providing evidence of age when applying for the code to submit to this section. Please note reduced fees start at just $10.00 for Youths and Community filmmakers where the film is produced with young people of 17 and under.

**SPECIAL OPENING EARLY BIRD OFFER. ok so you don't qualify for the Alumni offer or the Student and Youth offers? Fear not, we are now offering until the 14th APRIL 25% off to everyone else from 26th Feb - 31st March (now extended till 14th April). Just submit early to qualify for reduced entry. All standard entry fees are only $15 during this period.

***FREE ENTRY - Waiver code for Iranian filmmakers based only in Iran. We realise the difficulties Iranian filmmakers experience by Western imposed sanctions on their country. We also recognise the importance of new stories coming out of work by young filmmakers and we are thrilled to have the ongoing special section in the festival for Iranian Filmmakers. Therefor our only free waiver code this year is for entries from IRAN. Please contact us first providing evidence of residence for the code to submit under this section.

****1st and 2nd features being made by Kino Alumni that have moved on to features, We would like to screen a couple of features this year to show the progression of filmmakers from shorts to features. Similarly to above you must provide evidence in your application that you have previously had a short shown at Kinofilm Festival to receive a code to submit to this section.

Women in Film
Women play an important role in filmmaking and there are many talents out there and to celebrate Women in Film we have two categories. One programme is a focus solely on Women directors, the second programme category will focus the work of women practitioners in the roles of writers, actresses, producers and Directors of Cinematography but please note the film lead roles must be female led. If you have a film that has a strong female led role or strong female writer etc and you want to be considered for this sectin of the festival please submit to the Women Practitioners category. Film Directors should submit to the Women in Film (directors category).

General Information.
Established in 1995 the festival is now in it's 16th International Shorts edition. Kinofilm has a unique reputation for showcasing the best short films from around the world, whilst being renowned for seeking out diverse, challenging and groundbreaking new films. We welcome filmmakers that are pushing the boundaries of the short film art form. The festival maintains a high standard with many European & International award-winning shorts featured in the Festival. It includes special programmes in North West Shorts (UK), British New Wave, Euro Cine, International Panorama, Kino Exposed (student and youth shorts), low/no budget shorts, Animation and various themed programmes, giving new and emerging filmmakers the opportunity to have their work screened alongside that of critically acclaimed, established short filmmakers.

Please note for 2019, the festival will move dates to February 2020. We will further welcome short films and animations from Eastern Europe as we extend the Polish festival to include more Baltic countries. This year we welcome films for this section from Romania and Russia.

As part of out 16th anniversary we are introducing a features section called Transitions for those short filmmakers that have successfully made the transition from short film to feature. This section is for previous entrants of Kinofilm Festival and can only be entered if you have previously had a short film at Kinofilm Festival. You must provide the name of the short film and year of the festival it was screened in advance of submitting..

All short films should have been completed since January 2018 to present and be no longer than 20 mins (accept documentaries which can be up to 23 mins including credits). PLEASE NOTE FILMS SHOULD NOT BE ONLINE FOR PUBLIC VIEWING. ANY FILMS THAT ARE SEEN TO BE IN THE PUBLIC DOMAIN WILL FACE DISQUALIFICATION.

WE ARE OFFERING STUDENTS (world wide) , GREATER MANCHESTER FILMMAKERS, Youths and community groups, Eastern European Filmmakers and Alumni Filmmakers 20% OF ALL SUBMISSION FEES (please see offers at the top of this entry). The discount is automatically applied when you submit your film to the relevant sections, entry fees start at just $10.00 Please note PROOF OF ELIGIBILITY MUST BE SHOWN in all these categories in advance of submitting the film, you will then receive a code to submit your film.

IRANIAN Filmmakers can submit for free (see above details).

Please note, if your film is selected for screening in one of the cinema screenings you must be able to provide either a DCP or high-quality Bluray of your film. Please contact us if any issues with this and we will try to resolve it by showing the film in one of the other programmes not requiring either of these formats. If it playing in one of our other venues then we will require a digital version, details supplied if your film is accepted.

REFUNDS GIVEN ONLY IN THE FOLLOWING CIRCUMSTANCES: Please note if you make a genuine mistake and submit your film to us not realising that it does not fit all of the criteria, or you have to withdraw it for other reasons, we will refund your fee if the request is made only within the first two weeks from the date of submission. Films withdrawn later for other reasons such as you wish to withdraw it as your film has been accepted in another festival that requires premier status, will not receive a refund. (Please note that any refunds will be after FFW (8%) and PP (3.5%) commission fees already deducted from your fee, you will only be refunded the net amount that the festival receives).

Aims of the Festival:

1. To deliver a film festival of regional, national and international significance.

2. To nurture new talent and support the work of culturally diverse, emerging filmmakers.

3. To attract an industry base of filmmakers and media industry professionals, to encourage the exchange of ideas and development of partnerships.

4. To attract cinema goers and diverse audiences that would not normally experience the short film art form or film festivals.

5. To focus on the needs of the regions filmmakers, visiting filmmakers and the region’s audiences.

Can enroll only under 35 years old director.

Festival founded by Kharkiv Regional Council in 2009.

The Festival mission is to find and support children’s/youth studios and clubs, which are engaged in cinema and television creativity, talented children; development of the children’s/youth cinema and television in Ukraine.

The Festival objectives are:

– the establishment and development of contacts between children’s/youth studios, experience exchange and further professional development of the participants;

– communication to the general public of interesting, outstanding works and projects from different countries, presentation of the best global practices in the development of children’s/youth cinema and television industry;

– the setup of creative and communication platforms to exchange experience and present new projects during the Festival and between the Festival times;

– creative personal development, education of moral values and social activism;

– drawing attention of governmental, non-governmental organizations and commercial entities to the issues of the development of screen children’s/youth creativity, to the processes of personality forming via receiving information broadcast by electronic mass media, to the needs of children’s/youth creative clubs, the development of talented children and their future.

The Festival is held among children’s/youth television, animation, cinema- and radio studios, clubs, groups and individual authors, television and radio broadcasters and creative production entities, directors and producers’ centres, which produce programmes and films for children and youth.

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.

Sunscreen is known for its friendly atmosphere in a sun-kissed waterfront setting in the arts-centric city of St. Petersburg, FL. For 18 years the festival has screened top-notch indie films, provided our filmmakers with quality workshops and panels packed with Hollywood talent, hosted great parties, and has been the top film festival in the St. Petersburg, Clearwater, Tampa, Florida area. Sunscreen is consistently ranked among the top 100 reviewed film fests on Film Freeway out of over 9,000 festivals.

The Sunscreen Film Festival was one of 23 festivals sponsored by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences (the Oscars) in 2013-2014, named one of the top 25 “coolest’ film festivals by MovieMaker Magazine and Best Film Festival in the Tampa Bay Area by Tampa Bay Magazine.

The Sunscreen Film Festival is organized and presented by the Sunscreen Film Society., a nonprofit 501(c)(3) charity dedicated to education, economic development, informing the public about the art of visual storytelling, enhancing opportunities for local filmmakers to develop their craft and art, and increasing the public’s awareness and support of local filmmaking as a cultural and economic asset.

The Sunscreen Film Festival has grown from its first festival in a local art gallery in 2006 to an internationally recognized event in St. Petersburg, FL and Los Angeles, CA. The festival has become known for its commitment to diversity, taking chances on creative, edgy films; and being a filmmakers' film festival. Celebrating diversity is a core value of the city and the festival seeks each year to showcase that value.

One aspect that makes Sunscreen unique is that our celebrities and special guests participate in workshops, classes, or other events supporting the festival’s mission. Everyone that attends Sunscreen is accessible and easy to interact with. Many filmmakers love the collegial atmosphere during the festival and appreciate the chance to learn from one another. Sunscreen provides around a dozen workshops during the festival each year.

Our goal is to encourage the creation, production, and exhibition of creative, independent film in Florida through our educational programs and public screenings, thereby increasing awareness and support of local filmmaking as a cultural and economic asset.

Diversity Statement: Sunscreen Film Festival

At the Sunscreen Film Festival, we believe that diversity is essential to the vitality and creativity of the film industry. We are committed to fostering an inclusive and equitable environment where filmmakers from all backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences can showcase their unique voices and stories.

Our festival celebrates the richness of human diversity by embracing filmmakers of diverse races, ethnicities, genders, sexual orientations, religions, abilities, and socio-economic backgrounds. We strive to create a platform that reflects the world we live in and presents a diverse range of narratives and perspectives to our audience.

We are dedicated to promoting equal opportunities and breaking down barriers for underrepresented voices within the film industry. We actively seek out and support filmmakers who have traditionally been marginalized or underrepresented, including but not limited to women, people of color, members of the LGBTQ+ community, individuals with disabilities, and those from different cultural and socio-economic backgrounds.

To ensure a fair and inclusive selection process, we are committed to assembling a diverse panel of judges and industry professionals who understand the importance of representation. We continuously strive to eliminate any biases that may exist in the evaluation and selection of films, giving equal consideration to all entries based solely on their artistic merits and storytelling qualities.

In addition to our programming, we are dedicated to providing opportunities for networking, mentorship, and professional development to filmmakers from underrepresented communities. We actively collaborate with organizations and initiatives that share our commitment to diversity and inclusion, working together to create a more inclusive film industry.

We invite filmmakers, industry professionals, and film enthusiasts alike to join us in our mission to champion diversity, foster inclusion, and promote meaningful dialogue through the power of cinema. Together, we can create an environment where all voices are heard, respected, and celebrated.

Join us at the Sunscreen Film Festival, where diversity is at the heart of our programming and the driving force behind our commitment to shaping a more inclusive film industry.

Sunscreen Film Festival
St. Petersburg, FL

The Filadelfia Latin American Film Festival will showcase the extraordinary and innovative work of Latin American and Latino filmmakers. This is the first Annual Film Festival in the region to focus exclusively on the exhibition of Latin American and Latino film and media artists.

The Filadelfia Latin American Film Festival's mission is to showcase and nurture established and emerging creative Latin American and Latino filmmakers; to promote and celebrate the richness and diversity of Latin American/Latino cultures and experiences, and to foster cross-cultural understanding and dialogue.

The Filadelfia Latin American Film Festival will include screenings of ground-breaking works from all genres: short film, narrative, documentary, animation and full feature films. Festival programs will attract a diverse audience, developing a new space in the Philadelphia region where filmmakers, actors, producers can meet with other artists, engage with audiences and present and discuss innovative work.

Through screenings, public discussion groups (both virtual and in person), workshops, lectures and special events, The Filadelfia Latin American Film Festival will engage the region’s diverse communities through the universal language of film creating critical connections to shared experiences and cross cultural understanding at both the national and International Levels.

The Filadelfia Latin American Film Festival will enrich the cultural resources of the Greater Philadelphia region by increasing access to and appreciation of Latin American cinema, still mostly unseen outside of major film producing countries like Mexico, Brazil, Argentina and Cuba. For the first time, audiences in our region will have consistent access to a body of work drawing its subject matter from a rich historical, social, religious and political history and artistic legacy.

The Filadelfia Latin American Film Festival is spearheaded by Bia Vieira, founding Executive Director, and David Acosta, founding Program Director and founding board members Jose Benitez, Pedro Ospina and Nina Moreno.

Miniboxoffice International Film Festival is now Noida International Film Festival. After having three successful editions of Miniboxoffice International Film Festival which caters mainly for short films only is now turned bigger with the addition of feature films section to it. In year 2014 the management of Miniboxoffice has renamed it on the name of India’s fastest developing city ‘NOIDA’. It’s a tribute to the city where Miniboxoffice starts in year 2010 and the city itself is the house of North India’s largest Film City.



11th Noida International Film Festival-24 objective is to feature great cinema of worldwide filmmakers in a big way & at the same time providing professional networking & introducing current trends of cinema to the participants. The festival goal is to empower independent filmmakers and committed to become premium movie going event which foster the growth of independent filmmakers.



The 2014 to 2023 editions of NIFF was huge success with participation of filmmakers from more than 90 countries. The NIFF-23 is expected to achieve many milestones towards the development of Independent Cinema. With this I welcome all filmmakers to come and join the movement which brings highest level of thoughts & culture of different nations in the form of enriching & entertaining cinema.

Aullido International Video Show CONVOCA to present works to select those who will integrate their 9th International Video Clip to be held in March 2021 in Mexicali, Baja California, Mexico.

The main objective of the Festival is to open dialogues around contingency issues through cinema as a platform for mediation and engagement, in the Province of Colchagua, also assuming the role of exhibitor of national and Latin American cinema and independent works from different parts of the world.

Our motivation for this 2021 version lies in the social transformations focused on human rights and the conservation of the ecosystem, as well as the dissemination and enhancement of heritage, in order to consolidate the Colchagua International Film Festival as a space for intellectual, political and cultural turmoil.

Launched in 1980, our festival, the first of its category in South Korea, has grown and evolved from the Korean Short Film Festival, to become the Busan Asian Short Film Festival in 2000 and eventually the Busan International Short Film Festival in 2010 (www.bisff.org).

Taking place late April at the Busan Cinema Center, BISFF delivers a dozen awards in three competitive sections (International Competition, Korean Competition and Operation Kino) while also presenting several curated, non-competitive sections including: Guest Country, Korean Shorts, Asian Shorts, Prism, 3D Cinema, etc.

BISFF is a member of the Short Film Conference (http://shortfilmconference.com/) and of the NETPAC (Network for the Promotion of Asia Pacific Cinema https://netpacasia.org). In 2018, it became South Korea’s first Oscar®-qualifying festival.

Founded in 2010, China International New Media Short Film Festival (hereinafter referred to as “CSFF”) is the only nationally-recognized international short film festival in China, which is hosted by National Radio and Television Administration and Shenzhen Municipal People’s Government, supported by China TV Artists Association, Radio and Television administration of Guangdong Province, organized by Culture, Radio, Film, Tourism & Sports Administration of Shenzhen Municipality, Guangming District People’s Government of Shenzhen Municipality and Shenzhen Media Group, and executed by Shenzhen Shenguang Media Co., Ltd.

The CSFF aims to encourage the creation of outstanding new media short films across the globe, to seek and support young film and television talents, to incubate high-quality film and television creative projects, to facilitate the integration and development of film & television industry and new media industry, and to promote cultural communication, exchanges and cooperation internationally. 

The 12th CSFF will be held from 5 December to 12 December 2021 in Shenzhen.

Due to the pandemic Covid-19 Outbreak the festival will be POSTPONED TO SUMMER 2021.
The festival will take place from June 18th to July 2nd exclusively online at formulamundi.com.
The Deadline of August 31st, 2020 remains the same and all submitted Films stay in consideration.


Formula Mundi
Impact On Tomorrow

How do today’s actions influence YOUR future tomorrow?
Formula Mundi is an international film festival dealing with humanity’s consequences on its surroundings.
Its topic is inspired by the BUTTERFLY EFFECT: “The phenomenon whereby a minute localized change in a complex system can have large effects elsewhere.” According to this idea of chaos theory, a butterfly can flap its wings in Chicago and thousands of kilometers away a tornado occurs in Tokyo.

Climate change, wars, inequality, poverty, and religious conflicts are the main topics society struggles within this age. They are often associated negatively, therefore people tend to say that their voice alone wouldn´t make a change anyway. But viewed from a more optimistic perspective: A Choir is strong when many voices come together. One must take the first step and others will follow.
Every Individual can contribute his part to the future. Every individual´s action today can make an Impact On Tomorrow, may it be in a bad or good way, selfish or selfless.
We want to encourage you to take action no matter if big or small.

The event is split into three different categories, each screening takes place in its own unique location on three Saturdays in November/December 2020. More Information are listed in each category.

FM 2020 - The festivals reboot is organized by Guido Kühn and Christian Fischer, in collaboration with ambitious students from Hochschule Fulda.

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

On the Island of Malta, in the Mediterranean Sea, lots of creativity is happening and is inviting film makers and animators to join hands, and send us their best animation films so to be part of the Malta Animation Film Festival happening on the 21 22 23 February.

We are looking for all kinds of animation and no censorship whatsover! BE FREE and BE CREATIVE... make us laugh, cry , shiver but don't you dare to let us get BORED!!!

BuSho (Budapest Short) was established in the autumn of 2004 by a group of young Hungarian filmmakers and the first event successfully ran its course the following year. The festival became an international breakthrough in an exceptionally short period of time. We had plenty of festival screenings, selections of film academies, conferences, exhibitions, film-, and all-art workshops in the program. Our main target group is the generation of developing young filmmakers but we are very delighted at every entry. This film celebration takes place in Budapest in the late summer of 2019.

Sedicicorto started in 2004 and is held every year in the month of October in Forlì. The Festival aims at offering visibility to young authors and at representing an opportunity of meeting and exchange among film industry professionals.

Known for its quality programming and the friendly welcome offered to all guests and professionals attending the event, over the years Sedicicorto has proven to be the Italian short film festival with the largest number of submissions (over 5,000 films submitted from 125 countries in 2021). Thanks to its consistent presence at the Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival & Market with the Italian Short Film Corner - organized in collaboration with the Italian CNC and other Italian short film festivals - and thanks to the collaboration with the network of European short film festivals of the EuroShort Project, Sedicicorto is constantly strengthening its image all over Europe.
The event aims at drawing the attention of the general audience, paying particular attention to children and the young audience with screenings and film literacy activities held during the Festival and all year round.