Cinema is an art form that needs to be simultaneously nourished and challenged and ÉCU - The European Independent Film Festival provides the perfect arena for indie filmmakers to express authentic cinematic storytelling in the most compelling ways possible.
As one the World’s truly stand out independent film festivals, ÉCU embraces innovation and creativity and allows directors in competition to showcase their films to audiences who appreciate and love independent cinema. Filmmakers who are selected into ÉCU’s Official Selection join an active community of creatives who continually push the boundaries of indie cinema.
"It is always an absolute joy to present one's work at ECU. The team are fantastically helpful, the jury extremely competent, and the selection of the highest quality. I would recommend participating to anyone who's in love with indie filmmaking!" - Celina Liesegang, producer of Viscera: Autopsy of a (non)human body, ÉCU 2022 Official Selection
"It's always a pleasure having our films at ÉCU, especially this year with our awarded short film "Useless"! The communication has been great during the whole process and our filmmakers are so excited to be part of this competition. See you again next year with new projects!" - Marta Salvador Tato, distributor of USELESS, the winner of the Best European Independent Dramatic Short award 2022
Since its inception in 2006 ÉCU has forged a path for independent film and the scope of its presence has grown to a global scale with the festival often being referenced as the European equivalent of Sundance, an honour that we don’t take lightly.
Spring is not only a fabulous time for Paris but an exciting time for ÉCU because that is when we showcase roughly around 100 of the World’s very best independent films. Although ÉCU emphasises European talent, it also recognises the genius of international filmmakers with several categories allocated to non-European films.
The next ÉCU, the 19th edition, will take place on the 19th, 20th and 21st of April, 2024 in Paris, France.
ÉCU isn’t just all about screening an amazing slate of films over its three-day event in Paris in April. There are also professional workshops led by experts in the industry, Q&A’s held with the attending filmmakers after every screening session and a chance to network with fellow filmmakers, producers, agents, industry representatives, prospective film buyers and, of course, the cinema-loving public. At ÉCU, there is a continual dialogue celebrating and critiquing the world’s best indie cinema of today.
Though ÉCU’s main event IS the three-day festival in Paris each spring, there is even more! Thanks to our over 50 partner festivals, partner organizations, film centres and film commissions, ÉCU’s goes on an annual world tour called ÉCU-On-The-Road, which gives award-winning films (as well as many of the Official Selection films) the opportunity to have their films screened to a broader, global audience. ÉCU-On-The-Road showcased films in over 80 countries around the globe in 2016 - 2023 at special ÉCU mini-festivals, partner festivals, cultural institutions and film schools, including an amazing seven day special festival in São Paulo, Brazil. The event was made possible through the support of Caixa Cultural, São Paulo and was a huge success. ÉCU also held special events in Berlin (Germany), Cannes (France) and was part of festivals in Lebanon, Italy, Russia, USA, Romania, Austria, Denmark and other countries. This gives ÉCU filmmakers great exposure to audiences that they may never have reached.
Since 2006, ÉCU has helped the careers of literally hundreds of independent filmmakers, actors, DPs, editors, screenwriters and is honoured to be firmly established as one of the World’s eminent indie film festivals.
Above all, we are proud to be a filmmakers’ festival!
Comicron is a unique experience in the international scene, as it is devoted exclusively to short audiovisual productions belonging to the comical genre. The Comicron seventh edition aims at confirming the original meaning of the kermesse, which is the discovery of new talents and the pursuit of an evolution in the cinematographic language, promoting the short film as an autonomous expressive form. Comicron Film Festival was founded by Ugo Gregoretti.
GIFF Edition 5, 2024 (Online)
Get ready to experience the magic of cinema like never before at the Gandhara Independent Film Festival 2024, Ed 5 (Online) Pakistan's pioneering digital film festival brought to you by Cirque Films
Launched in 2020, GIFF has been a trailblazer in connecting filmmakers with a global audience through its innovative hybrid format. Over the past four years, we have become a beacon for diverse storytelling, offering a unique platform where creative voices from around the world converge.
This October 2024, we’re back and more determined than ever to showcase the finest #shortfilms that will captivate, move, and inspire. From heart-stirring dramas to laugh-out-loud comedies, from thought-provoking art films to unforgettable emotional journeys. This year's festival promises an unforgettable ride through the world of cinema.
Mark your calendars, because this is an event you won't want to miss.
Join us online via our website, and stay tuned for more updates as we prepare to take you on an extraordinary cinematic adventure. The Gandhara Independent Film Festival is about to begin.
Categories
Narrative Shorts
*there is no submission fee to submit a film
INTRODUCTION
The Festival considers entries of all genres from shorts to full-length features, and is held in 'Festival City, USA' right after the Utah Shakespeare Festival in Southern Utah. Within a 20 min. drive is Kolob Canyon of Zion National Park, Cedar Breaks National Monument, Brian Head Ski Resort, dry desert, sheep herders, ranches, red mountains, green mountains, and UFO sightings. The location is ideal for the vacation-seeking filmmaker. It is an artist's retreat for film, cuisine, parties, and workshops with approachable professional people. This emerging festival is held each Fall in Cedar City.
MISSION & OBJECTIVE
To encourage the production of media in both the independent and professional market that portray the human race in a positive light, and to applaud original works that redefine media through innovation, creativity and sensitivity that both enlightens and educates audiences from around the world.
ABOUT THE FESTIVAL
The International Red Rock Film Festival. The Red Rock Film Festival was formed in 2007 in Southern Utah, and quickly became a internationally recognized festival with award-winning judges and rigorous pre-selection process. It made MovieMaker Magazine's list of "Top Festivals Worth the Entry Fee" in both 2009 and 2013.
DEMOCRATIC FILM SELECTION
All films are reviewed by members of our previewing committee and scored in Directing, Screenplay, Acting/Talent, Production Values and Post-Production Values. Local or international, friend or stranger, pretty or plain, famous or not: all films are given equal treatment and go through the same democratic film selection.
DEMOGRAPHIC
The demographic is well educated, consisting mostly of empty-nesters, college students and senior citizens. The festival also aims to find new films for the wise as well as quality films for youth, sports films and films with a message.
GENRE
All genres are considered. Although documentaries have been a predominate focus at the Red Rock Film Festival, festival audience often compliment the variety and diversity of films selected for the festival in Utah. Animation, arts, children, comedy, documentary, drama, experimental, fiction, narrative, romance, sports, student, horror, suspense, mystery, musical, music videos, war themes, women's issues, family, and humanitarian films are all taken into consideration. Cultural diversity is also a highlight at the festival; African, American, Asian, European, Indian, Indigenous, Islander, Latino, Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, Muslim, Spiritual, Yogi, and other philosophical, governmental, historical, and artistic cultures are to be explored.
COMPETITION:
All genres are considered including animation, documentary, experimental, fiction, music video and student-made films. The festival has several categories of competition, including unique subcategories of featurette and short-short.
The Program Directors may also select additional categories at their own discretion, depending on how many qualified entries are received.
ALL FILM DESERVES A HOME
It's all about how much we like a film and where we place them. We just want good, original film that showcases our mission. We expect some films would be great to release to the theaters, others for television, some for the classroom, for our film series, or a great premiere. To encourage the independent spirit, Red Rock strives to find a home for all films that qualify in competition. This gives the filmmaker a chance to give their work exposure even if they may not make the festival finals. The festival also hosts a mini-film market, special screenings throughout the year plus we make recommendations to other festivals.
FILM MARKET
The Utah Film Market is a small section from the festival where filmmakers and other industry professionals can view films on their own in the festival library or in special industry screenings given to select finalists and other favorites from the festival.
Moscow International Children’s Film Festival invites children, teenagers, youth, parents and teachers to get acquainted with the best films for children, teenagers and youth and films made by children and teenagers (under 18) under the guidance of adults.
The film festival presents to the public the best films from all over the world made by adults for a children’s audience, as well as films made by children and teenagers from different cities and countries, trying themselves as producers, screenwriters, actors, directors, animators.
The extensive program of the Moscow International Children’s Film Festival is designed for children (6+), teenagers planning to go to the film and art schools, their parents and teachers.
The film festival brings together filmmakers making films for children with young filmmakers who make their first steps at film and video creation. Our goal is to inspire and support young filmmakers, and give wide audiences the opportunity to get acquainted with modern films for children and teenagers.
The Moscow International Children’s Film Festival is a large-scale festive event with an extensive and vibrant program of films on the big screan for children and teenagers, as well as parents, a series of meetings with directors and master classes from leading film experts representing various film schools.
All best films that were selected for the screening, will be shown on the big screen during the solemn final ceremony on April 15 – 19, 2025 in Moscow, Russia and will be able to struggle for the main prize and the title of the “Best film”. As well as for the prizes in the standalone nominations.
Rueda Libre (Freewheel) is the official call of shortFilms to Cine Libre FilmFestival, we take for symbol THE WHEEL that evokes the hills of Fredonia where children running down with wheels and tires. Now cinema is taken Fredonia and the concept of roll changes cinematically .
VRE - Virtual Reality Experience (VRE) is the international festival entirely dedicated to Immersive Technologies (VR, AR, MR) and their use and impact in the Arts, Cultural Heritage, Science and Medicine, Learning, Industry.
The fourth edition will be Oct 6-9, 2022 in Rome and welcomes VR/AR artworks and XR performing arts.
The Shortfilm Festival "San Rafael in short" aims dissemination, disclosure and the screening of cinematographic works as well as the knowledge of these by the audience. The works presented not opt to a prize or award, only the assessment of the audience.
FILMSCHOOLFEST MUNICH - 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, FILMSCHOOLFEST MUNICH will also present a DACH Short Film Competition for the first time in 2024, in which short films from the DACH region will be programmed. An extensive supporting programme with panels and masterclasses complements the film programme.
O OUFF en Curto busca estimular o formato da curtametraxe no ámbito da Comunidade Autónoma galega como expresión básica da creación audiovisual. É a sección de curtametraxes do Festival de Cine Internacional de Ourense.
SF3 - the SmartFone Flick Fest is Australia’s international smartphone film festival.
Open to filmmakers of all ages from every country; from first-time filmmakers to professionals. As long as your film is shot entirely on a smartphone or tablet, your film is eligible for submission. Our 2022 Festival Ambassadors are Hollywood legend Phillip Noyce, Kerry Armstrong, Christopher Stollery, Kriv Stenders, Nicole da Silva, Jason van Genderen, Emily Prior, Stan Grant, Kara Rose, Jon Bell & Wanuri Kahiu. Our esteemed judging panel consists of the cream of the Australian and Hollywood film industries.
We have 5 categories in 2022. They are:
1. The SF3 Best Film for short films 20 mins and under. The films must be entirely shot on smartphones or tablets, with the exception that a very minimal amount of Drone footage is allowed. The films can be edited on any device and with any program and external equipment like lenses and mics can be used. Within this category we will also award the #FILMBREAKER Award for first-time filmmakers and the Luma Touch Finished on Mobile Award for films both shot and edited on a mobile device as additional prizes. The Official Selection from this category will be screened in our 2022 Gala Finals and will vie for our top prizes.
2. The SF3 Best Feature Film. This is for feature films shot entirely on smartphones and tablets. A minimal amount of drone footage is allowed. Films must be from 40 mins and no maximum.
3. The SF3 Kids Award for filmmakers 16 and under at the time of filming. All films must be shot entirely on smartphones and tablets. A minimal amount of drone footage is allowed. The time limit is up to 10 mins. Longer kids film that are really fantastic and justify being longer will be accepted with permission from us at sf3@sf3.com.au
4. The SF360 Award for 360 and VR videos up to 20 mins.
5. The SF3 Mini Award is for films up to a maximum of 3 minutes in length.
Everyone has a great idea for a short film and a potential movie camera in their pocket, so no excuses. Here’s your chance to start filming and be in the running to share in over $50,000 worth of prizes awarded annually, and have your film screened on one of Australia's premiere screens in front of a global audience at our 2022 Festival, in the Australian Spring. The festival will be both live and online, current Covid restrictions depending.
Our finalist films and one feature film will be selected from all the entries to screen at SF3 2022. We will be holding live screenings and awards in Sydney, Australia and our festival will include live screenings, red-carpet events, VIP party, networking events and masterclasses.
Our 2021 Festival was pushed to early 2022 due to an ongoing lockdown in Sydney and was held in partnership with Palace Chauvel Cinemas and the Actors Centre Australia. In 2019 and 2020, SF3 was held at Event Cinemas, George St, right in the heart of Sydney, Australia. We were one of the few festivals to go live in 2020 in a sell-out Sydney show! Our 2018 Gala Finals were also a complete sell-out at the Sydney Opera House and our SF3 Kids and Shortlist Screenings were held at Event Cinemas Bondi Junction. From 2015-2018 we held our Gala Finals at the iconic art deco Chauvel Cinema in Paddington, Sydney. We are passionate advocates for the showcasing of the best smartphone films from all around the world, show up on Sydney's top big screens.
Many of our past Gala and other finalist films have been invited to screen around the world at our partner film festivals including the International Mobil Film Festival in San Diego, MINA, the Dublin Smartphone Film Festival and more. The opportunities are endless for smartphone filmmakers.
All films MUST be shot entirely on a smartphone or tablet, meet our time requirements and you can use any editing software, apps and phone additions, and you can edit on a PC, laptop, tablet or your phone.
So, pull your phone out of your pocket and start filming, it really is that easy!
Greek mythology Gelos is the divine personification of laughter, the most welcome of the gods, always owes its success to some novel subterfuge. This deity favourably and affectionately accompany everywhere the person who arouses and enacts his laughter, and he will never allow you to grieve in mind, but will implant continual joy on your countenance with his sunny elegance.
We hope you will join us in a days full of fun and endless laughs! We will highlight comedy short and feature films, web series, TV episodic, filmed sketch comedy, Dark Comedy, music video and animation with the goal of screening the best comedic content from around the world for a wide audience! Our dual emphasis is on “discovering” great comedic talent with the purpose of promoting it to both the entertainment industry and the Moscow public, as well as, showcasing the works of seasoned professionals and well-known stars. We are proud to showcase, connect and promote talented comedy filmmakers from all over the world.
Mega Art Festival is one of the leading platforms of international musicians, filmmakers, dedicated to artists who embody diversity, innovation and creativity. MAF gives artists the original platform to express their vision of World celebrating based on their personal experiences and observations.
Whether you are a professional or art worshiper, you’ll be eligible to be part of the Mega Art Festival
Mega Art Festival is a global industry event held Online.
Mega Art Festival began in 2017.
Each year, the MAF brings to Audience projects from around the globe, and gives our audience unique opportunities to discover international Artists.
Architecture Design Art Film Festival (ADAFF) aims to create an atmosphere and opportunity for both creators and admirers of the arts to gather in an amazing setting where the essence of architecture, design and the arts is appreciated and fostered.
AmDocs is one of the largest Documentary and Animation only festivals in the United States. We are located in beautiful Palm Springs, not far from the media capital of Hollywood. We take pride in sharing the best viewing environment for both our audience and filmmakers.
AmDocs is very progressive in education outreach, market sharing and doing all we can to help our filmmakers realize their goals.
