The 2023 COMMFFEST will celebrate 18 years from September 14-22 2023 screening in movie theatres exhibition spaces, and ONLINE presented yearly by a group of dedicated volunteers. COMMFFEST a charitable corporation makes its home in one of Toronto’s most fast growing, economically diverse neighbourhood, Old Town Toronto, where many languages are spoken amongst an eclectic population.
Our screenplay competitions is spearheaded by 30 year filmmaker, writer, director and producer Vladimir Bondarenko who is an instructor at Toronto Film school,
COMMFFEST is a film festival that presents a broad range of local and international films representing current affairs and relevant issues that affect our society. COMMFFEST provides opportunities for emerging filmmakers, artists, musicians and global community stakeholders to express themselves freely and to connect with audiences on a more personal level. This unique blend of film, filmmakers and audiences creates a dynamic atmosphere to provoke thought and stimulate further understanding and exploration of ideas, attitudes, and emotions that can foster change – starting with the communities in which we live.
FILMS OF ANY GENRES ACCEPTED; independently produced films. Included in that mix are childrens issues, poverty, human rights LGBTQ, women's rights, third world struggles,
The last 18 years Commffest has built a valuable platform for introducing emerging and professional filmmakers to bring together communities, not for profit organizations with government officials in panel discussions to tackle pertinent issues often resulting in more funding and support for these groups.
Commffest is a cultural platform that strives to educate and create a hospitality environment where filmmakers and attendees can mix and mingle over food, drink and entertainment.
TESTIMONY , Eleanor Mc Grath’s
As an independent film-maker, you work often for a year or possibly years to direct, edit, produce a film and then comes the waiting game to be selected by a film festival.
COMMFFEST is more than a community film festival in Toronto; it is an art festival with a world perspective and I am most fortunate to have been part of the 2015 film festival programming with my documentary, "Forgotten". COMMFFEST's vision is to share stories that demonstrate the strength, struggles and beauty of humankind while providing a strong platform for independent film makers to showcase their perspective and vision of our world today and into the future. We need festivals like COMMFFEST who step away from the mainstream and champion works where the viewpoint is critical, enlightened or visionary in their approach to conflicts or issues that prevail throughout Toronto, Canada, North American and worldwide.
Behzad Sedghi Filmmaker
For me, COMMFFEST has been where my films have finally reached their maturity by connecting through the big screen with their audience. It is this connection that is essential for any artistic endeavour. As this may be the case with most other festivals, however, in my direct experience with COMMFFEST I clearly felt that each artist was given special attention, a chance to have a dialogue about their creation and ultimately was embraced in a celebration of their achievement. COMMFFEST founders and organizers are filled with the love of films and arts and clearly possess the vision and generosity to make this celebration happen every year. I look forward to being part of the next celebration either as an artist or a member of its community.
COMMFFEST mission statement:
To advance education by raising the cultural, artistic and aesthetic expression of the community and to advance the public’s appreciation of the arts through related artistic workshops and panel discussions, while promoting the works of filmmakers and artists alike.
The programming: The films are chosen by a jury of professionals from a globally solicited call for submissions. Once chosen, the programming is created to generate discussion around specific world events and themes, provoking dialogue and acceptance of others and their concerns.
More about COMMFFEST
COMMFFEST attracts educators, artists, politicians, business leaders, socially conscious organizations and trendsetters.
Local Educational engagement:
Over 6000 Children from local schools across the GTA that now include the COMMFFEST festival experience as part of their annual curriculum.
COMMFFEST’S unique diversity invites the world to one local community event over several days in Toronto
SITGES FANPITCH 2025
For the eleventh year in a row, the Sitges - International Fantastic Film Festival of Catalonia is organizing Sitges FanPitch, its feature film and series production project pitch competition.
Sitges FanPitch is the international pitch competition event focusing on feature films and series productions in development with horror, science fiction and/or fantastic genre themes. The initiative maintains its objective of discovering the very best genre projects and facilitating connections with leading industry companies. The event will take place in hybrid format on October 12 and 13, 2025 at the Sitges Film Festival.
Altogether, a maximum of five series and seven feature films from all around the world will be selected. These will be joined by the projects selected by the Festival at the collaborating Sitges FanPitch film markets and the project selected at Sitges FanPitch Catalunya Imaginària.
The people responsible for each of the selected projects will have the opportunity to make a sales pitch and meet with each of the participating companies. In addition, the five winning feature film projects will be eligible for travel grants for their international circulation and to be part of the next Feratum Residency.
In the series category, one winning project will be selected, which will be awarded a cash prize for its ongoing development.
Once again this year, we will be supporting local talent with the Catalunya Imaginària label, guaranteeing a place in the final selection for a project in Catalan.
For the fifth consecutive year, this edition will be complemented by the Showrunners LAB, an introductory and mentoring seminar on the role of the showrunner. The selected series projects will be able to benefit from individual mentoring sessions with the showrunners participating in this year's edition.
Mogilev State Enterprise "Kinovideoprokat" welcomes you and informs that in September 2025 in the city of Mogilev, Republic of Belarus, the XXVIII International Festival of Animated Films "Animaevka-2025" will be held.
Over the years, the festival has become a celebration of animation for children and adults. Events are held in all regional centers of Belarus.
For viewing, film screenings of competitive and non-competitive programs, creative meetings with the creators of animated films, master classes, exhibitions of children's fine and decorative and applied arts are organized.
As part of the treatment:
- competition of animated films;
- competition of children's animation creativity
- competition of children's fine and decorative and applied arts.
The Santiago International Documentary Film Festival (FIDOCS) is the main broadcasting, diffusion, and competition event for documentary cinema in Chile and Latin America.
Focused on the promotion of dialogue and reflection, as well as in training audiences towards the appreciation of documentary film in a context of permanent transformation, FIDOCS seeks to explore the multiple paths available in documentary making as well as in the drifts proper to nonfiction works. In its program, FIDOCS incorporates the works of both experienced and emerging directors in order to address the question of “THE REAL”, and in doing so, it considers the various dimensions, disciplinary frontiers, and tensions that the question “what is real?”, as well as the documentary genre itself, has to offer us.
Throughout its history, FIDOCS has positioned itself as one of the most distinguished documentary film festivals in Latin America, standing as a privileged platform to screen contemporary cinema and to promote critical thinking. Year by year, under its selective curatorial approach, FIDOCS not only calls for important exponents of national and international audiovisual sectors to exhibit their work in Santiago, but also, in using this city as a film hub, it calls on such exponents to question, interpret, and re-write the status of contemporary documentary film practice today.
For the promotion, positioning, and exhibition of Chilean and International films, FIDOCS displays three main competitions. These sections include: INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION; CHILEAN COMPETITION, and EMERGENT SHORT COMPETITION FOR NATIONAL FILMS.
In addition, FIDOCS has the main industry activity, DOCS IN PROGRESS, for Latin-American works in progress where the jury (editors, directors, sound designers, producers, programmers), in addition to choosing a winner, feeds the filmmakers to carry out the post-production of their films and encourage their diffusion and transmission. This section is jointly run together with WIP section of CHILEDOC CONECTA.
The festival also has important training and extension activities in its FIDOCS SCHOOL, where students from film schools and communications from all over Chile so that its most outstanding students are in an intergenerational and interdisciplinary space with international and national festival guests; attending Master Classes, workshops, dialogues, among others.
In addition, in keeping with its interdisciplinary vocation, FIDOCS intends to accompany its screenings of other artistic interventions such as installations, exhibitions, performances, that from their own expressive means dialogue with the documentary concept. This is how FIDOCS EXPANDED section arises, where various artists, video-artists and filmmakers, all of them linked to the fields of sound or visuals, exhibit their work.
Finally, the chosen films will be screened after the completion of the festival, in different regions of Chile and abroad, at BEST OF FIDOCS section. The purpose is the cultural extension of the festival at a territorial level, putting emphasis on the circulation of the films at the regional level, being able to program replicas in the national territory as well as abroad.
*FIDOCS will be held with theatrical screenings.
The Mexico City International Independent Film Festival STUFF MX celebrates its 10th edition in June 2025 and opens its official call to filmmakers from all over the world to register all their film materials, music videos; in all formats, genres and categories of any length, in animation, documentary, fiction and live-action, which will be valid from December 1, 2024 until March 31, 2025 at 23:59 CST (CST), Washington, D. C. time. CST (CST), Mexico City time.
The Tehran International Short Film Festival (TISFF) stands as one of Asia's most prestigious and widely recognized platforms for short films, celebrated for its dedication to creative excellence, innovation and the promotion of diverse voices in cinema. Over the course of its illustrious history, TISFF has evolved into a vibrant hub for global storytelling, attracting thousands of submissions from filmmakers worldwide—a reflection of its unparalleled reputation as a cornerstone for emerging talent and visionary cinematic voices.
To support emerging filmmakers and promote diversity, TISFF allows free film submissions; ensuring financial barriers never hinder talented filmmakers from sharing their unique visions.
Organized by the Iranian Youth Cinema Society (IYCS), a leading organization in short film production and education, TISFF benefits from an extensive infrastructure comprising 57 branches across Iran and a thriving network of filmmakers and alumni. The IYCS supports the production of countless short films annually and trains aspiring filmmakers each year. Many of its graduates have risen to prominence as some of the most celebrated filmmakers in international cinema, reinforcing its profound influence on the global filmmaking stage.
An OSCARS®-qualifying festival, TISFF is renowned for embracing innovation while celebrating cinematic tradition. For its 42nd edition, TISFF proudly showcases its established categories of fiction, documentary, animation, and experimental films—genres that have long been at the heart of its commitment to cinematic excellence, with the Grand Prize winner becoming eligible for Academy Awards® consideration. In addition, the festival spotlights its AI Competition Program, highlighting the transformative role of Artificial Intelligence in redefining storytelling and artistic expression, reflecting TISFF's vision for the future of filmmaking.
New this year, TISFF proudly presents the Emerging Horizons Award which reflects TISFF's enduring focus on emerging talent. This category is dedicated to first or second short fiction films from filmmakers in the MENA region, offering a platform for fresh and visionary voices from this dynamic part of the world.
As ever, TISFF remains a global platform for filmmakers to present their work, fostering the evolution of short film as a compelling artistic and cultural medium. We warmly invite you to join us in vibrant and culturally rich Tehran this autumn for the 42nd edition of TISFF.
The Itinerant Cinema in Mi Barrio festival is consolidated as a vital platform for the dissemination of national short films in the department of Cauca, giving audiences from various subregions the opportunity to enjoy cinema on a giant screen. The 2024 call is open to short films that, due to their narrative proposal, stand out and have the potential to reach diverse audiences.
Cinematographic works may address free themes, with special attention to aspects such as the environment, human rights, creativity and youth, arts and cultures, thus reflecting the richness of Colombian biodiversity.
This year, the festival's itinerant route begins in the Cauca Pacific, with stops in Timbiquí and Guapi. The mobile room will then move to the south, to the lands of Patía, and later to the north in Santander de Quilichao, in the Valles del Cauca. You will also visit the east of Tierra Distancia, known for its hidden treasures.
The festival will have special programming during the central week in Popayán, Cauca, where additional activities will be developed, including workshops, talks and official exhibitions. This itinerant not only seeks to showcase short films, but also promote dialogue and cultural exchange, reaffirming the festival's commitment to promoting national cinema locally and internationally.
The Toronto International Nollywood Film Festival (TINFF) is a film festival that embraces diversity and inclusivity! TINFF is a Telefilm Canada and IMDb-qualifying film festival. https://www.imdb.com/event/ev0010686/2019/1
The Toronto International Film Festival (TINFF) invites you to come to enjoy the diversity that brings local and international films, filmmakers, and artists to the beautiful city of Toronto every year.
The objective of TINFF is to be a prominent film festival in Toronto that celebrates the diversity that defines our beautiful city. The primary goal is to advance creative, independent filmmaking through diversity, innovation, and uniqueness by capturing a series of movements and experiences in a single film. We support, screen, and present music and films from around the world in order to help them find an audience and diversify the film industry as a whole.
The festival's programs and activities will initiate programs that address the capacity building of its organizational structure and personnel while also investing heavily in the development of its stakeholder group and providing support for strategic activities that address major challenges and opportunities.
This year's festival and activity projects will include conferences, screenings with Q&A, live music performances, stage plays, and dance, as well as several audience development activities involving workshop training and mentorship programs in various capacities geared toward increasing workforce capacity and putting diversity and inclusion at the center of its annual program and objectives.
The CBDFM Summit:
As part of the annual festival program, the TINFF-Market, also known as the "Canada Black & Diversity Film Market," will focus on business development, providing support to organizations for business-to-business (B2B) industry activities and business-to-consumer (B2C) audience development activities that bring opportunities for new business leads, collaboration, sales, distribution, and relationships.
Our programs and activities will be offered in three phases to ensure effective planning and execution:
• Festival programs will feature, among other things, screenings with Q&A, interviews, conferences, and seminars.
• Workshops and Training, Mentorship, and Masterclasses: Bridging the Gap in Skills Development Programs
• Acquisitions, networking, production collaboration, negotiations, sales, exhibition screenings, meetings (one-on-one or group meetings), and conferences are all part of the Film Market Summit.
Our initiatives, as a creative hub for filmmakers and industry stakeholders, are geared toward developing opportunities for all Canadians and international filmmakers and stakeholders, with a focus on the marginalized Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) groups.
The Toronto International Nollywood Film Festival (TINFF) is a year-round award competition and live screening festival held in Toronto each year. Every year, we hold a festival event and an award ceremony to celebrate diversity in film. We warmly welcome filmmakers from all around the world to Toronto.
Following the announcement and notification of the Official Selected Films, we will go on to the next stage of the selection process and announce the TINFF Festival Finalists who will compete at the live festival event in Toronto. The names of all Finalists will be published on the TINFF festival website and on the TINFF Facebook page.
TINFF is a music and film festival with an awards ceremony that honours and fosters filmmakers by recognizing, promoting, challenging, and building knowledge of equality, social justice, non-discrimination, diversity, and multiculturalism.
CURT’ARRUDA - Arruda dos Vinhos Annual Film Festival aims to present national and foreign cinema, stimulating film production through the attribution of awards for best rural short film and the best short film from Arruda dos Vinhos.
CURT’ARRUDA is a film festival focused on rurality. It is organized by Cultura deGrau – Cultural Association.
Lloret Negre is the first noir genre festival of the Costa Brava. It's objetive is to promote the noir genre and as well as Lloret de Mar and it's heritage.
The International Short Film Festival of Cali, with the opening of its call, is to be a space for the exhibition of professional and university short films from the city of Cali and the world to serve as a meeting point between the new filmmakers and the professionals of the short film.
The XVII International Short Film Festival of Cali will take place from september 23 to 27 of 2025, in the city of Santiago de Cali, Colombia.
The call for the competitive categories of the festival will be open from march 20 th of 2025 and we will close the registration period at midnight of 31 th may of 2025 Colombian local time (UTC-5).
Films sent to the following categories: National Official Selection, National Official University Selection, International Official Selection and International Official University Selection must have been completed after January 15, 2024.
The results of the call for the competitive categories will be announced on the festival’s official website www.cortoscali.com by july 31 th, 2025.
The purpose of the festival is to definitively promote film production in the region by inviting national and international figures to spend a few days in the Thames, thereby bringing knowledge of the region, its people and its culture closer together. It will be a regional and territorial festival that will have national and international categories and will transform Támesis and its rural areas into movie theaters for 4 days.
50 Film Festivals worth the entry fee - MovieMaker Magazine
20 essential International Film Festivals - MovieMaker Magazine
10 most exciting European Film Festivals - The Guardian
Mallorca International Film Festival enters its 13th edition, with a clear mission statement; BRIDGING CULTURES – BRIDGING PEOPLE. This is reflected in the film's storytelling, the shooting locations, or the cast and crew. The idea is to screen films that are inclusive, diverse, and invite the audience to experience a variety of languages and cultures.
MIFF is recognized as one of the fastest-growing international film festivals in Europe, using independent film to shape a creative community, allowing filmmakers to feel inspired, network, and thrive in this idyllic Mediterranean island paradise.
THE hub for networking, MIFF brings together the brightest local and international minds in cinema in Mallorca’s buzzing and the culturally rich city of Palma. For seven days EMIFF’s program is curated to showcase a culturally diverse, inclusive and provocative mix of feature films, short films, documentaries, music videos, films for kids, experimental films, animation shorts, student films and a feature film and short film screenplay competition.
Some of our resent programs included award winning films such as:
Triangle of Sadness
Corsage
Un Amor
Perfect Days
The Promised Land
With competitive screenings unfolding at the most striking island locations, MIFF is an ideal place for filmmakers to rub shoulders with industry professionals at the festival’s Producers Club, Cinematography Focus, Pitch Forum, and numerous workshops. Speakers and mentors have included Oscar Winners Erik Messerschmidt, ASC, Melissa Leo, Director Ruben Östlund, DP ED Lachman, Actor Mads Mikkelsen, Director Isabel Coixet and many more.
MIFF is proud to be part of MovieMaker’s list “TOP 50 Film Festivals Worth The Entry fee” SEVEN years in a row, as well as appearing continuously on the 100 Best Reviewed Film Festival list on Freeway, ranking in the top 1.5% of more than 10,000 film festivals and creative markets around the world.
This event seeks to show and create a culture around mountain cinema, so that people fall in love with their surroundings, learn to take care of the mountains, and see the number of alternatives that exist to enjoy them. Within this event, short films and feature films related to mountain sports and activities will be screened. The first event of its kind in the municipalities of Manizales and Villamaría.
Globale Uruguay is an autonomous collective that generates spaces for debate through the dissemination of documentary films.
Committed to the present, we organize an annual festival to support the different struggles that pursue an emancipatory horizon.
We intend to strengthen links with other social organizations to generate debates and share materials and different experiences.
We want to participate in the construction of a critical thinking that visualizes the effects of capitalist globalization and forms part of the reflections and struggles of the movements that everywhere resist the attacks of this system.
Globale has its origin in Berlin -Germany- where it has been held annually since 2003, an initiative that has been extended to other cities such as Warsaw -Polonia-, Montevideo -Uruguay- and since 2011 in Rio de Janeiro -Brazil- and Bogotá -Colombia.
Since the International Short film Contest Festival “Ciudad de Soria” considers at all times Short Films CINEMA in capital and appreciates as essential culture dissemination, our purpose is to promote as mean of audiovisual expression; the contribution to acknowledgment and dissemination. This format must be essentially and basically a part of CINEMA.
Fotofilm Internatıonal Short Film Festival is an innovative concept that aims to shine a spotlight on new generation world-language filmmakers and to give internet users across the globe the chance to share their enthusiasm for world cinema.
Our mission is to promote films, and be another step up in the filmmakers' careers.
Fotofilm International Short Film Festival is a festival open to filmmakers and film lovers. Is festival of world cinematography, where short films, videoclips, webseries and video arts from all over the world come together to compete for the various prizes of the festival.
