The sole purpose of BEFF is to develop a film culture that inspires and brings together all types of film makers, irrespective of their film making genre. BEFF also aims to appreciate and promote creativity in all forms, be it a film or photography to the world and to a diversified audience.
The event is a glamorous red carpet event in Kolkata. The participants have excellent opportunities to exchange their ideas, ideologies and cultural innuendos. The winners have a chance to meet with the audience after screening.
What’s your Genre?
The Threadbare Film Festival is an eclectic and eccentric celebration of genre, inter-genre, and underground cinema, here in the tell-tale heart of Michigan.
As the Michigan Film and Digital Media Office said:
"Think of the Threadbare Mitten Film Festival as the anti-genre, but all-genre film festival, if that makes any sense. Truly a grassroots festival if ever there was one." - June Newsletter 6/12/18
We won't push you into a box:
Horror, Sci-Fi, Absurdist Comedy, Exploitation and Grindhouse, Documentary and Mockumentary, Experimental and Non-Narrative, Animation and Puppetry, Noir and Neo-Noir, Fantasy and Magical Realism, Surrealism and Liminality, Contemporary Western or Samurai, Psychological or Sex Thriller, 80s Action Homage, Splatterpunk, Creature Feature, Zombie/Everything, Road Trip, Afrofuturism, Underground, and genres not mentioned or yet to be celebrated... whatever weird quirks and kinks spark your camera rolling, we want to give you an exhibition home to exorcise them with an appreciative audience (…and if being pushed into a box is your thing, well ok, show us that!).
We categorically reject festivals that require filmmakers to sort their submissions by genre, pay multiple submission fees for awards, or don’t even screen films for an audience! It’s our job to categorize and program films, not yours. We take great pride in our thematic programming, each film block sequenced like the songs on an album. Every year’s festival is guaranteed to be different than what came before, based upon the characteristics of the films received.
We particularly advocate work that articulates across the ineffable gap between genres, films that surprise, that do not have precedent or prior comparables.
Our Festival Director personally watches every submission and makes all selection decisions. There is no selection advantage for early submission deadlines; we have and will select films submitted on the final day.
Threadbare is an ethos. Whether your budget is $10 or $10 million, your stars are old high school friends or SAG actors, your camera a potato or an Arriflex, we’re focused on the artistry of the work on screen, not any seams that may occasionally show. Independent film production requires a punk mentally to ignore the gatekeepers and go your own way, to make your art personal and powerful.
While we do not put limits on when a submitted film was completed, for this edition we are generally interested in films made since we went on hiatus at the end of 2021.
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NEW FOR 2027:
A GUY A GIRL AND A GUN FILM COMPETITION: we are launching our own film competition inspired by Jean-Luc Godard’s famous quote: “All you need to make a movie is a girl and a gun.” Competition films must be shot and finalized during the month of June, with top films screening in a special program at the Threadbare festival. Separate competition trophies will be awarded at the screening.
More details here: threadbarefilmfestival.org/competition
Registration link: https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/a-guy-a-girl-and-a-gun-film-competition-registration
SHOT ON A POTATO: We are introducing a new discounted category for films shot on unusual formats, including Super 8 and 16mm celluloid film, VHS and DV video, still and pinbox cameras (basically anything outside the typical digital cinema camera, handicam, or cellphone aesthetic). Films must still be submitted, and will be screened, in digital format as per our Rules.
DISABILITY FILMMAKER DISCOUNT: Any filmmaker with a disability may email director@threadbarefilmfestival.org for a submission fee discount code. As a working filmmaker with a neuromuscular disability, our Festival Director is offended by the existing disability focused festivals that seem only interested in films explicitly centered on the experience of disability, rather than supporting the vast community of disabled filmmakers and the art we make. If your film is a fit for us, please take advantage of this discount.
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HISTORY: For five years, the original Threadbare Mitten Film Festival developed a wonderful community of oddball filmmakers and cineastes, with unique thematic programming in a variety of venues, free community events, live band accompaniments, and filmmaker discussions. We pivoted to secure online screenings through a local company during the pandemic, before enduring a lengthy hiatus. Now we’re back with a slight rebrand and regular theatrical screenings, with the same focus on independent and Great Lakes filmmakers, and the same core of dedicated and experienced volunteers. Why bring it back? Because too many established and storied Michigan film festivals have folded in the interim, and our community needs what we can offer.
We’ve exhibited films in an independent cinema, listening room theatre, and arts gallery, with special screenings in a public park, pub, coffee shop, under a pole tent in an alley, and online through Festivee.
We’ve screened films from established filmmakers like Oscar winning director Jonathan Glazer and nominee Yorgos Lanthimos, with recognizable stars like Will Ferrell, Matt Dillon, Margaret Cho, and William Jackson Harper, and from local luminaries like Devin Cameron, Jackson Ezinga, Bret Miller, and Michael McCallum. Hell, we turned down more films with ‘names’ than most regional festivals have the luxury to judge. We are especially partial to filmmakers from Michigan, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, and Ontario, collectively the Great Lakes Region states and provinces.
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ABOUT US: The Threadbare Film Festival is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, because we don't operate to maximize revenue off the backs of independent filmmakers.
We are passionate filmmakers, dedicated to growing our film community and providing a viewing experience worth the time and effort of everyone involved from ourselves to the filmmakers and the ticket buyer. We respect the film and the filmmaker, the cast and the crew, as does our audience. We support local and regional film, student film, international film, diverse voices, and quality craft regardless of budget or thematic content. We take an expansive view of what a genre festival can be, pushing the boundaries of expectations to include the most gripping and unusual documentaries we've seen.
About the only thing we DON'T want are straight-up 'indie' dramas and serialized content that does not provide a complete narrative.
As the Lansing City Pulse commented:
“When Kofoed talks about the films playing at the festival, he was unceasingly enthusiastic. His passion for film - especially locally produced, DIY films - is immediately apparent.” - September 4, 2020.
Our festival is neither a vanity exercise nor a party for ourselves, and we do not screen our own films or shower our friends with prizes. We strive for quality of presentation and experience across all our venues.
OUR HOME: We are proudly of and from Lansing, Michigan’s oft overlooked capital city, a vibrant rustbelt dystopia full of creativity and festivals. Our opening night will be hosted by Stage One at Sycamore Creek, a newly renovated performance space next to the Eastwood Town Center on the Northside. Our all-day Saturday screenings will take place in The Fledge, a wonderful nonprofit community hub tucked away in the Eastside neighborhood just off the downtown core. Both venues are within easy travel of numerous restaurants, bars, and shops in the Lansing metro. As is tradition, we’ll pregame the festival with a free community program on Thursday at a surprise local business.
Awards & Prizes
Unique laurels and hand-crafted Trophies for each of 10 Award Categories. Award nominations are made by the Festival Director, with award winners determined by an independent panel of judges.
___Juried Category Awards___
Best Short Film (all short/micro films eligible)
Best Feature Film (all feature/mid-length films eligible)
Stranger than Fiction (all documentary films eligible)
___Audience Award___
Michigan Masterpiece (all Michigan made films eligible)
___Juried Special Recognition Awards___
A+ B-Movie (for the best 'bad' movie)
Bloody & Brilliant (for fluid fun)
Eye of the Beholder (for exceptional visuals)
Not Just a Pretty Face (for acting excellence)
Subversive Selection (for defying formal or social expectations)
Special Jury Award (for anything else that grabs our attention)
See our Wall of Fame for past years' Award Winning films: www.threadbarefilmfestival.org/awards
San Diego Underground Film Festival (SDUFF) is San Diego's premier showcase of experimentation in video, film, and audio based mediums. A strong DIY ethos, combined with an art school brain and a punk rock heart makes the San Diego Underground Film Festival a unique place for films, videos, and audio pieces that strive to push the boundaries of accepted form and content. Films and videos that dissent radically in form or technique will be our priority in selections. Narrative films and documentaries that expand on narrative structure, or cover subjects related to subcultures or esoteric topics; animations both narrative and experimental; experimental films and video art; all will be considered for selection. Films and videos must show a strong sense of authorship.
Lo-fi films, punk rock films, skate/surf films, cooking shows, NO WAVE, glitter pop. Surprise us.
"In a middlebrow city like ours, such an event challenges the soft and conventional programming that has become the status quo. Yet Betschart and Nakawatase seem downright positive about their radical objective ...Ambition runs deep with these two, and it shows in their programming." - San Diego City Beat
This festival is non-competitive and is held in sunny San Diego, CA, USA.
**** Beyond Categories ****
※ If you are looking to submit an installation or expanded cinema performance, please see "Rules " for more information.
※ If your film is finished on film, please visit for more information.
4th edition of Fantástic Film Festival is mainly intended for short films and feature films of fantastic genre
Berriozar Films Kultural “Lantzeluze” announces the XVIII Edition of the “International Festival of Social Themed Short Films” in Berriozar, which will take place from October 14th to 17th, 2026.
Category:
Single category. Social theme.
ONLY FOR SPANISH AND LATINMAERICAN FILMMAKERS // SOLO PARA CINEASTAS ESPAÑOLES Y LATINOAMERICANOS
MACAU INTERNATIONAL SHORT FILM FESTIVAL (“FESTIVAL”) is an annual worldwide audio-visual festival that aims to motivate overseas and Macau short film and music videos productions to compete in this FESTIVAL.
The Festival was previously known as "Sound & Image Challenge" and was first launched in 2010 focusing only on an audiovisual competition for local talent. This initiative was co-founded with professionals in film, music, sound and image fields, with two priorities: to promote the Creative Industries in the audiovisual sector and highlight the local talents in the production of sound and moving image design. Over the years, it expanded across 5 continents, grew and gained recognition, and finally became a short film festival in 2015.
The Festival will be held from 6 to 12 December 2026. A series of cultural programs will be scheduled in venues throughout Macau during the Festival week, such as public screenings of “SHORTS & VOLUME” official selection, Masterclasses of film production, development, International Film Festival curatorship and organising; audience voting for “Audience Award”; as well as gala awards ceremony.
KINObrunch 2019: call for entries
To all movie-makers out there! The International Theater and Music Festival JULA welcomes young and talented film directors between the ages of 18 and 35 to participate in this year’s KINObrunch. The 2019 JULA festival will take place from 13-17 November 2019.
About KINObrunch:
JULA has been taking place in Munich annually since 2004. The festival is a five-day program consisting of theater, music, photography, and film. KINObrunch represents the cinematic part of the festival, providing a platform for a wide range of cinematography genres, namely fiction, documentary, experimental and animated short films.
Films selected by jury will be presented to an audience of film directors and critics. Following the performance, the audience has an opportunity to discuss artistic content as well as the subject of the shown works in the circle of experts and filmmakers. Best Director, Best Camera, Best Script, Best Soundtrack and an Audience Award will be granted to the winner as part of KINObrunch.
KINObrunch is open not only in terms of genres but also in chosen subject.
Interested?
Place des courts is a non-profit 1901 law association, our desire to promote and publicize short films by inviting them to rural areas, share our passion by organizing outdoor festivals, and discover the talent of directors and comedians. in places of conviviality.
MOONWATCHERS Association for Cinematographic Culture from Statte (Taranto, Italy) organizes the “Moonwatchers Film Festival” contest for Directors and Film-makers from all the world, who produced their works from January 1st, 2020 onwards. The deadline to send the movies is set to May 31st, 2023.
The 21 International Film Festival celebrates the art of film-making, helps support a community of artists and showcases Hong Kong as an entertainment and travel destination. The festival supports and nurtures emerging independent filmmakers and their stories from around the world not currently found in mainstream Hong Kong cinema.
The festival will screen narratives, documentaries, animation and music videos. No matter the subject, if the work has merit and the filming is well done – we are interested in viewing it. The festival is looking for all genres of narratives from comedy to drama and from thrillers to love stories. Your film will be viewed by our local audiences and will be judged by a jury of film professionals and a community of cinephiles.
Nova Frontier Film Festival and Lab is a timely, narrative, documentary and experimental film festival, passionately committed to enhancing the visibility of filmmakers from the African diasporas, Caribbean, Latin America and the Middle East, situated in Brooklyn, New York and Marseille, France - Cities which serves as a nexus between these regions. With a program of on-going film screenings, workshops, conferences, lectures, and concerts, we aim to create a hybrid film festival that promotes intercultural understanding and intellectual engagement through the art of cinema, while celebrating, deepening and expanding our connections to diverse communities, cultures and languages in New York and globally.
We accept short films and short films shot on smart phone or tablet. Stories have to be about African Diaspora, Middle East, Caribbean, Latin America and Maghrebian characters with the
theme Identity, and Immigration and interculturalism...
The Saturnia Film Festival seeks to discover, support, and inspire independent film and theatre artists from around the world and to introduce audiences (members of the industry and film lovers) to their new work. The Artistic Commettee of the Saturnia Film Festival will consider projects that tell stories about universal themes driven by an individual and authentic voice.
The Saturnia Film Festival takes place for five days, from 28 to 31th July 2022 in the square of Sorano, Manciano, Montemerano, and the Terme di Saturnia (Grosseto, Italy).
FAN Chile International Audiovisual Contest
FAN CHILE Audiovisual Festival for Children calls to participate in its international competition of audiovisual
quality productions for kids, from any country.
FAN CHILE 5th edition from September 10th to 14th, 2019.
FAN CHILE Audiovisual Festival for Children awards and promotes the debate on audiovisual content for children. Productions and co-productions in any language can entry, but only if they are dubbed or subtitled in
Spanish.
TV channels and independent producers can participate. The call is open to all kinds oftechniques, genders and formats.
Productions that have been completed or aired any time between january, 2017 and May 2019, will be accepted.
The 23nd International Documentary Film Festival OFF CINEMA (23nd IDFF OFF CINEMA) will be held from 15th to 20st October 2019 in Poznań, Poland. It is the Festival’s foremost aim to present a comprehensive review of achievements in the field of documentary film. IDFF OFF CINEMA presents documentaries in the international competition section.
Open Window International Film Challenge is an independent film competition with quarterly physical screening. Open Window International Film Challenge is open to all Organization /Agency /Independent /Producer/Directors aiming to inspire, motivate and award the true innovative and artistic geniuses of our time. Every independent artist hopes to one day emerge from the underground scene and share their talents with the masses. Hopefully the showcase platform we provide will help facilitate that dream. We’re excited to display a wide range of works from all genres that will have industry pros, filmmakers and film goers buzzing.
Every quarter, Judges will award the best films of each category. Every winner will be given the distinction of an Official Finalist of the annual event in which Judges and Audience will award the best films of each category. The physical screening event shall be in Kolkata
Venue Detail :
Jogesh Mime Academy Auditorium
95, SP Mukherjee Road,
Kalighat
Kolkata, West Bengal 700026
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.
