Logo of International Otherness Film Festival

Deadline
24 Jul 2026


Published: 22 Jul 2026
 Has submission fees
Short films


Banner Festival Internacional de Cine de la Otredad

International Otherness Film Festival

León, Mexico


The Festival of Otherness provides space for authors’ voices that express their perspective on a world that could be.

Inclusion, sustainability, and youth are the transversal focus of the festival, with the aim of developing spaces that encourage critical thinking, dialogue, and community participation, while caring for the cultural and environmental context we inhabit.
The call will be open from March 16 to June 12, 2026.

Who are we calling?:

We invite production companies, distributors, filmmakers, students, collectives, emerging creators, and visual artists, especially young people from Mexico and around the world, to submit their works to the 2026 national and international short film competition.


International Festival

Short film festival


 Fiction  Documentary  Animation  Fantastic  Terror  Other  Experimental



 
Logo of Love, Sex & Cinema Film Festival

Deadline
24 Jul 2026


Published: 22 Jul 2026
 Has submission fees
Short films


Banner Love, Sex & Cinema Film Festival

Love, Sex & Cinema Film Festival

Berln , Germany


Love, Sex & Cinema Film Festival is an international, Berlin-based short film festival dedicated to cinema that treats intimacy as storytelling – not spectacle.

We showcase bold, thoughtful films that explore love, desire, vulnerability, and emotional closeness. From subtle gestures to raw encounters, the films we programme are unafraid to look closely at what it means to be human.

Love, Sex & Cinema was created to fill a curatorial gap. Films that engage openly with intimacy often fall between categories: too emotionally exposed or sexually frank for conservative festivals, yet misaligned with festivals that frame sex primarily through erotic spectacle, pornography, kink, or niche subcultures.

The festival exists for the vast middle ground, where intimacy is narrative, emotional, political, and deeply human.

We welcome narrative, documentary, and experimental short films (up to 20 minutes). Explicit sexual content – including real sex – is welcome when it serves a clear cinematic or emotional purpose, but sex does not need to be present. What matters is depth, intention, and how closeness functions within the film.

The inaugural edition will take place September 16–17, 2026, at Il Kino in Berlin, an independent cinema known for thoughtful programming and a strong film community.

Built by filmmakers, for filmmakers, the festival approaches stories of closeness, desire, and vulnerability with seriousness, openness, and respect.

What Kind of Films Are We Looking For?

We are looking for short films (up to 20 minutes) that engage seriously and thoughtfully with love, sex, intimacy, desire, and human connection.

Sex does not have to be present.

Films centred on love, longing, consent, self-love, coming of age, emotional intimacy, relational tension, etc. are just as welcome. What matters to us is not explicitness, but depth and intention.

We welcome:

Narrative shorts

Documentary shorts

Experimental work – as long as there is a clear story, idea, or emotional through-line.


Form, tone, genre are all flexible.


Explicit sexual content – including real sex – is welcome when it is used with intention. Sex can be provocative, confronting, sensual, unsettling, or even titillating. We are interested in work that understands sex as a cinematic tool, something that can carry meaning, tension, pleasure, power, or purpose.

What matters to us is that intimacy, bodies, and sexual acts are doing something within the film: shaping character, advancing an idea, challenging the viewer, or deepening the emotional or narrative experience, rather than existing in isolation or as empty spectacle.

We are less interested in work where sex is the entire point, and more interested in work where love or sex is part of a larger cinematic conversation. We are drawn to films that trust the audience, resist simplification, and approach intimacy with emotional honesty and cinematic intention.


International Festival

Short film festival


 Fiction  Documentary  Animation  Fantastic  Experimental



 
Logo of Lycian Way International Film Festival

Deadline
24 Jul 2026


Published: 22 Jul 2026
 Has submission fees
Short films
Feature films


Banner Lycian Way International Film Festival

Lycian Way International Film Festival

Antalya, Turkey


The Lycian Way International Film Festival is an independent film event open to national and international short and feature-length films of any genre (including animation and experimental films) related to the theme of "the road".

Held over three days, the festival hosts film screenings alongside seminars, director meet-ups, and open-air events. All activities are free and open to the public.

Inspired by the ancient lands of Lycia, the deep blue of the Mediterranean, and the unique harmony of history and nature along the Lycian Way, the festival carries the universal language of cinema from Antalya to the world.

As the first thematic film festival in Türkiye to focus on the concept of “the road,” the Lycian Way International Film Festival brings together not only cinephiles but also hikers, travelers, historians, and cultural producers.

The festival aims to reinterpret the historical, cultural, and geographical richness of the Lycian Way—an ancient route that has connected civilizations for centuries—through the lens of cinema. It showcases films built around themes such as migration, journey, endurance, nature, cultural heritage, and sports.

The festival also seeks to foster interdisciplinary dialogue among young filmmakers, hikers, historians, and art enthusiasts, making visible the intricate connections between road, migration, and culture through the medium of film.


International Festival

Short film festival

Feature film festival


 Fiction  Documentary  Animation  Fantastic  Other  Experimental



 
Logo of Short Movie Club Film Festival Nefiltravanae Kino

Deadline
23 Jul 2026


Published: 21 Jul 2026
 Has submission fees
Short films


Banner Short Movie Club Film Festival Nefiltravanae Kino

Short Movie Club Film Festival Nefiltravanae Kino

Warsaw, Poland


The purpose of the festival refers to awareness of both the external filters on the screen, including censorship (commercial, ideological, aesthetic), and the internal filters of screen perception and projection, including self-censorship. NEFILTRAVANAE KINO is an exploration of aestheticization and commodification in art. The next aim of the festival is to expose the complexity, manysidedness, and variety of filmmaking.

NEFILTRAVANAE KINO (NoFilter Kino) is a film festival that is held by the Short Movie Club, the platform for cinematic projects. NEFILTRAVANAE KINO is ADAMI Media Prize qualified festival. The International Film Studies Conference is held at the same time as the film festival. In this way, film theory and practice are integrated together at the NEFILTRAVANAE KINO.

Originally the festival was held in Belarus, but because of political repression and publicly stated anti-war stance, screenings and events can be held in different countries. First of all in Poland (Warsaw), Germany (Berlin, Hamburg), Lithuania (Vilnius). For example, the 11th and 10th Nefiltravanae Kino took place in Warsaw, Berlin, Hamburg, Vilnius and Helsinki. The content of past years' film programs can be found on the website https://shortmovie.club/programmes/

The festival will be held in a hybrid format. We will have a part of live screenings and online screenings on a video platform https://film.nofilterkino.org/ . The video is cryptographically secured. In addition, we pay attention and promote films from our previous years that are released to the public on the Internet after their festival curcuit.

Nefiltravanae Kino involves theater, artists to interpret symbols and history. We work with the audience's reaction and participants' as well.

--------------------------------------------------------
The concept of the NEFILTRAVANAE KINO (NoFilter Kino):

ALIENATION PROBLEM

We live in a world of malls and cinema multiplexes. We see that indie cinema and non-commodity art go to the periphery of public attention. Primitive attractions replace the cinematography. The escape audience is alienated behind the big screen. So modern mainstream cinema is part of a manipulating tool that leads to the society of alienation. Thus the tendency is that indie cinema becomes more unreadable for the wide audience. We should understand the context of the filmmaker to understand the independent cinema. That is why the NEFILTRAVANAE KINO concept implies the physical presence of filmmakers.

FILM SELECTION PROBLEM

Filmmakers shoot millions of movies. And thousands of short film festivals organize screenings all over the world every year. On average, several thousand films are submitted to a film festival. So various good films can be neglected for whatever reason. Often selecting probability is like winning a lottery. As a result, filmmakers are left with no feedback. It is a paradox that no one can hear you in the age of the Internet! The mainstream culture prefers attractions and casual viewing.

Also, this idea is based on the film selection problem. Perhaps it’s no surprise one person, i.e. programme director at best, or even students of film schools make a preliminary decision to select a movie. Сoncordance of judges or previewers is more seldom thing than the difference of background, tastes. So selection or judging can be one-sided or perfunctory. It is not bad as the programme director has a good taste and aesthetic sensitivity, of course. But we’ve discovered another conception of “unfiltered cinema”. We matched it against “the best of the best” way. This way aids to perceive cinematic idiom without the dictate of art-curators.

CELEBRATION OF INDIE CINEMA

So the NoFilter Kino tries to avoid “the best of the best” way but it does not ignore it completely, sure. The festival selects fiction, animation, documentary, experimental and virtual reality sections. A jury awards the best film in every section. The festival holds the screenings at cinema theatres, the National Centre for Contemporary Arts, and art-spaces.

Our aim is to gather people in art, to have a dialogue to be happy with smart communication.

Cinema is art but not sport. The key point of our project is to establish communication between the filmmaker and the audience.

Please, read about the festival history through the link to the festival's website. http://shortmovie.club/history/


International Festival

Short film festival


 Fiction  Documentary  Animation  Fantastic  Terror  Other  Experimental  Music Video



 
Logo of ’El Meteorito’

Deadline
23 Jul 2026


Published: 21 Jul 2026
 Does NOT have submission fees
Short films


Banner El Meteorito: Festival de Cine de Molina de Segura

’El Meteorito’

Molina de Segura, Spain


In the early hours of December 24, 1858, a meteorite fell on Molina de Segura—the largest ever recorded in Spain to this day. That unexpected and fortunate collision has, over time, become one of the defining features of this historic, industrial, and enterprising municipality in the Region of Murcia.
From that impact a legend was also born, one that endures to this day. It is said that the crater opened by the meteorite emits a joyful, fertile, and inextinguishable radiation that would explain the disproportionate proliferation of artists—of every kind and background—who today maintain some connection, however slight, with the town.

Taking that mythological motif as its pretext, more than a century and a half later "El Meteorito," the Molina de Segura Short Film Festival, was born: an initiative of the Department of Culture of the Molina de Segura Town Council, conceived to endure over time.

Its ultimate purpose is to select six short films that share the same nature as the Meteorite: brief stories of indelible impact on the viewer and of a social character. Even before that goal, the festival aspires to become a recurring point of reference for national short filmmaking, as well as to awaken the appreciation of a non-specialized audience for this cinematic form.

The theme, genre, and format of the works are open. Special consideration is given to those stories that address matters of an eminently social nature.


Short film festival


 Fiction  Documentary  Animation  Fantastic  Terror  Experimental



 
Logo of Iran Open-Air International Film Festival

Deadline
23 Jul 2026


Published: 21 Jul 2026
 Does NOT have submission fees
Short films


Banner Iran Open-Air International Film Festival

Iran Open-Air International Film Festival

north of Iran, Iran


The Iran Open-Air International Film Festival is an international open-air film festival held annually in northern Iran.

Dedicated to cinema inspired by travel, road movies, adventure, ecotourism, environment, indigenous life, and human connection with nature, the festival presents narrative, documentary, animation, experimental, VR, and AI-based works in a unique open-air cinematic setting.Through open-air screenings, filmmaker bootcamps, VR filmmaking programs, masterclasses, workshops, and side events, the festival brings filmmakers and audiences together in the natural landscapes of northern Iran, creating a cinematic experience rooted in nature, community, and creative exchange.
Programs
•competition section includes:
-Narrative, Documentary, Animation,Experimental
-Immersive Competition: VR and AI based works
•Filmmaker boot camp
•Masters classes and workshops


International Festival

Short film festival


 Fiction  Documentary  Animation  Other  Experimental



 
Logo of Barichara Green Film Festival FESTIVER

Deadline
22 Jul 2026


Published: 20 Jul 2026
 Does NOT have submission fees
Short films
Feature films


Banner Festival De Cine Verde De Barichara FESTIVER

Barichara Green Film Festival FESTIVER

Barichara, Colombia


The Barichara Green Film Festival FESTIVER, created by Colombian actors Toto Vega and Nórida Rodríguez, seeks to build a new generation of artists and audience commited to the environment. Through its screenings and a continuous search for resources to create environmental film content, FESTIVER aims to educate and entertain by developing academic, artistic and recreational activities which enrich the Colombian cultural landscape and help build a better world. The 16th edition will take place on September 24-27, 2026 in Barichara, Santander, Colombia.


International Festival

Short film festival

Feature film festival


 Fiction  Documentary  Animation  Fantastic  Music Video



 
Logo of Rodando Film Festival

Deadline
21 Jul 2026


Published: 19 Jul 2026
 Has submission fees
Feature films


Banner Festival de Cine Rodando

Rodando Film Festival

San Luis Potosí, Mexico


CALL FOR ENTRIES

The RODANDO Film Festival invites filmmakers to participate in the First International Showcase of its 14th Edition, to be held in the city of San Luis Potosí and the Magical Towns of Real de Catorce and Xilitla, Mexico.

INTERNATIONAL SHOWCASE

FICTION FEATURE FILM

Fiction films from any country, completed between 2024 and 2026, will be considered.

The showcase is aimed at works with a strong authorial vision and social commitment that address contemporary cultural realities through themes such as: gender perspective, masculinities, childhood and youth development, migration, memory, community, as well as sexual, functional, linguistic, and ethnic diversity.

Selected films will receive official recognition from the Rodando Film Festival.


International Festival

Feature film festival


 Fiction



 
Logo of Northeast Film Festival

Deadline
21 Jul 2026


Published: 19 Jul 2026
 Has submission fees
Short films
Feature films


Banner Northeast Film Festival

Northeast Film Festival

Teaneck, United States


Now in its fourteenth year, the Northeast Film Festival showcases top independent films from filmmakers, as well as new talent. The diverse array of films, selected by a committee, includes features and shorts from all genres, as well as documentaries and screenplays. The festival is hosted in Teaneck New Jersey at the historic Teaneck Cinemas; with planned parties to kick off the festival in style and spirit. In addition, we offer an atmosphere for the film enthusiast to interact with filmmakers as well as filmmakers being able to interact and network with each other and industry professionals.

The festival includes after parties, to offer opportunities for interacting and networking with other filmmakers, actors, and film festival goers. In past years, Harry Lennix, Lloyd Kaufman, Danny Roebuck, Matthew Modine, Vinnie Pastore, David Harris, Robert Clohessy, Brian O'Halloran, Fatima Ptacek, Gianni Russo, Duane Whitaker, Jefferson White, producers from NBC, among many others attended the festival's after parties (and festival).


International Festival

Short film festival

Feature film festival


 Fiction  Documentary  Terror  Other  Experimental  Music Video



 
Logo of Lights Cameros Action

Deadline
21 Jul 2026


Published: 19 Jul 2026
 Does NOT have submission fees
Short films

Promotional card of Lights Cameros Action

Banner Luces Cameros Acción

Lights Cameros Action

El Rasillo, Spain


LUCES CAMEROS ACCION is a short film festival with two sections.

1 – “Rural World" Section
International section of short films in Spanish or Spanish subtitles.

Recorded in villages in rural areas or dealing with rural idiosyncrasies.

Premiered from January 1, 2025.

2 – “Cameros" Section
The works submitted will be original pieces that are not accessible through Internet.

With 30% of the "footage" recorded in recognizable places of Cameros (New and old Cameros located in La Rioja Spain).

Deadline for submission of works:
"Rural World" section: before April 16, 2026.
"Cameros" section: before July 21, 2026.

Screenings and Awards Ceremony:
18, 19, 20, 21 and 22 of August in villages of Cameros, La Rioja, Spain.


International Festival

Short film festival


 Fiction  Documentary  Animation  Fantastic  Other  Experimental



 
Logo of Rurales. Festival De Cine Y Cortometraje En El Medio Rural Y Natural

Deadline
21 Jul 2026


Published: 19 Jul 2026
 Does NOT have submission fees
Short films


Banner Rurales. Festival De Cine Y Cortometraje En El Medio Rural Y Natural

Rurales. Festival De Cine Y Cortometraje En El Medio Rural Y Natural

Espinama, Spain


Ruido Interno, performing and visual arts, organizes the 4th Rural Film and Short Film Festival, which will be held in the town of Espinama, in the Camaleño Valley, Cantabria, from August 27 to 30, 2026.

The competitive section is announced according to the following rules:

Three categories are established:

. Fiction and animation short film section.

. Documentary section.

. Video art and other languages ​​section (virtual reality, 360 videos, etc.)


Submissions may not exceed 30 minutes.

Each author may submit one entry in only one category.

All entries must refer to at least 70% of the rural and natural environment, environmental issues, and environmental awareness and conservation in their storytelling. Audiovisual productions that showcase or reflect on social, cultural, and anthropological aspects of the rural world will be considered.

All works produced after January 1, 2023, may be submitted. Any individual or group of individuals directly associated with the organization or sponsors are excluded. Likewise, productions with advertising or tourism content may not be submitted.

There are no language restrictions for submissions; Spanish subtitles are an essential requirement, whenever applicable.


International Festival

Short film festival


 Fiction  Documentary  Animation  Experimental



 
Logo of One Minute Story Film Festival

Deadline
21 Jul 2026


Published: 19 Jul 2026
 Has submission fees
Short films


Banner One Minute Story Film Festival

One Minute Story Film Festival

Teaneck, United States


Any genre: Drama, Action, Comedy, Horror, Animation, Music Video, PSA, or other. Film must be no longer than 60 seconds, including credits.


International Festival

Short film festival


 Fiction  Documentary  Animation  Fantastic  Terror  Other  Experimental  Music Video



 
Logo of San Diego International Kids Film Festival

Deadline
21 Jul 2026


Published: 19 Jul 2026
 Has submission fees
Short films
Feature films


Banner San Diego International Kids Film Festival

San Diego International Kids Film Festival

Rancho Palos Verdes, United States


The San Diego International Kids' Film Festival promotes the idea of entertainment with education. Supported by many across the world, the festival supports the entertainment and education industries by showcasing international films, and gives young, aspiring filmmakers a channel to communicate to an international community. The resulting collaboration produces a unique multicultural experience, engaging young viewers with positive media, as a diverse education.


International Festival

Short film festival

Feature film festival


 Fiction  Documentary  Animation  Fantastic  Other  Experimental



 
Logo of Vertical Shorts Festival

Deadline
20 Jul 2026


Published: 18 Jul 2026
 Has submission fees
Short films


Banner Vertical Shorts Festival

Vertical Shorts Festival

Sherman Oaks, United States


Vertical Shorts Festival is the first international film festival dedicated exclusively to vertical filmmaking (9:16 aspect ratio) a bold and modern format reshaping how stories are told and experienced. We celebrate creators who embrace the mobile-first world and use vertical video not as a constraint, but as a canvas for innovation.

Whether it’s a gripping drama, a supernatural thriller, a heartfelt romance, or a daring fantasy, we’re looking for bold voices and fresh perspectives across genres, as long as they’re vertical.

Our mission is to spotlight emerging and established filmmakers who are pushing visual storytelling forward. We welcome smartphone filmmakers, experimental creators, and anyone exploring this unique format with purpose, passion, and cinematic craft.

Join us and be part of a new movement in cinema, where your vertical vision takes center stage.


International Festival

Short film festival


 Fiction  Documentary  Animation  Fantastic  Terror  Other  Experimental  Music Video



 
Logo of Architecture from different perspectives | FILMOHZ 2026

Deadline
20 Jul 2026


Published: 18 Jul 2026
 Does NOT have submission fees
Short films


Banner I Open House Zaragoza International Short Film Festival

Architecture from different perspectives | FILMOHZ 2026

Zaragoza, Spain


FILMOHZ 2026 aims to promote dialogue between architecture, the city, and audiovisual language through the selection, screening, and recognition of cinematic works that explore new forms of representation, interpretation, and narration of built space.

The festival seeks to establish itself as an international meeting point for filmmakers, architects, visual artists, researchers, and creators who understand architecture as a narrative, emotional, cultural, and social dimension.


International Festival

Short film festival


 Fiction  Documentary  Animation  Experimental



 
Logo of CONCURSO CORTO-JOVEN CIUDAD DE TOLEDO

Deadline
20 Jul 2026


Published: 18 Jul 2026
 Has submission fees
Short films

Promotional card of CONCURSO CORTO-JOVEN CIUDAD DE TOLEDO

Banner Concurso Corto-joven Ciudad De Toledo

CONCURSO CORTO-JOVEN CIUDAD DE TOLEDO

Toledo, Spain


Only for Spanish filmmakers.


Short film festival


 Fiction  Documentary  Animation  Fantastic  Terror  Other  Experimental  Music Video



 
Logo of FESTIVAL OF FUTURE STORYTELLERS

Deadline
20 Jul 2026


Published: 18 Jul 2026
 Does NOT have submission fees
Short films


Banner Festival of Future Storytellers

FESTIVAL OF FUTURE STORYTELLERS

München, Germany


Festival of Future Storytellers has been one of the most important festivals for young filmmakers worldwide since 1981. Each year, it offers young filmmakers from all over the world a platform for presenting their own short films and exchanging ideas about filmmaking. Each November, Munich becomes the focal point of up-and-coming international filmmaking — a place for lively exchange, networking, and discussion.

The short fiction, documentary, and animated films screened in international competition are eligible for valuable prizes, which are awarded by an independent festival jury. In addition, Festival of Future Storytellers presents a DACH Short Film Competition, in which short films from the DACH region will be programmed. An extensive supporting programme with panels and masterclasses complements the film programme.


HIGHLIGHTED!

International Festival

Short film festival


 Fiction  Documentary  Animation  Experimental



 
Logo of Norte de Santander International film Festival

Deadline
20 Jul 2026


Published: 18 Jul 2026
 Has submission fees
Short films


Banner Festival Internacional De Cine De Norte De Santander

Norte de Santander International film Festival

Cúcuta, Los Patios, Pamplona, Colombia


Frontera Films Corporation from the city of Cúcuta is organizing the 8th International Film Festival of Norte de Santander.

Welcome to the participants of this edition in 2026. We are seeking enthusiasts and professionals in the audiovisual world who want to take part in the call for entries for the 8th International Film Festival of Norte de Santander.

The 9th International Film Festival of Norte de Santander is organized by Frontera Films Corporation. It emerges from the need to create a film industry in the region, from the Colombian-Venezuelan border and from an educational and training perspective. Our goal is to promote cinema in the department of Norte de Santander and the border region, making it the most important festival in the northeastern part of Colombia.

With the aim of showcasing Norte de Santander as a department that engages in audiovisual dynamics, we will have hybrid and semi-presential events in the cities of Cúcuta, Los Patios, Pamplona, and Villa del Rosario, as well as virtual events. Therefore, similar to last year, the festival will feature in-person screenings of short and feature films.

CONVERSATIONS, WORKSHOPS, AND JURIES:

There will be conversations, workshops, and talks with professionals from the national film industry.

The juries will consist of qualified individuals and professionals in the national film industry, as well as representatives from the festival organization.

More events will be announced soon.


International Festival

Short film festival


 Fiction  Documentary  Animation  Fantastic  Terror  Other



 
Logo of Escenario Music Film Festival

Deadline
20 Jul 2026


Published: 18 Jul 2026
 Does NOT have submission fees
Feature films


Banner Festival Escenario (Cine + Musica)

Escenario Music Film Festival

Buenos Aires, Argentina


Escenario: Cinema + Music, is the first musical documentary film festival in Argentina.

In 2026, it will mark its seventh edition and return with its international feature film competition.


International Festival

Feature film festival


 Documentary



 
Logo of Cardós Film Festival

Deadline
20 Jul 2026


Published: 18 Jul 2026
 Does NOT have submission fees
Short films


Banner Cardós Film Festival

Cardós Film Festival

Ribera de Cardós, Spain


CARDÓS FILM FESTIVAL 2026
International Mountain Film Festival

PRESENTATION

The City Council of Vall de Cardós, in collaboration with the Cultural, Civic and Sports Association of the Valls de Cardós, announces the celebration of the second edition of the CARDÓS FILM FESTIVAL that will take place from October 10 to 12, 2026, in Vall de Cardós (Pallars Sobirà) and will have, as a nerve centre, the historical Sociocultural venue La Boïga, in Ribera de Cardós, with complementary activities around the town.

We are pleased to announce an important novelty in this year's edition of our short film contest. With the aim of reflecting the richness and diversity of the mountain territories, the contest adopts a new official theme, opening the call for works that explore any aspect that revolves around the thematic axis of the mountains.

We want the contest to be a global showcase of mountain identity, without borders, convening this year's International Short Film Competition with the following TERMS AND CONDITIONS:


International Festival

Short film festival


 Other