“MASTER OF ART” FILM FESTIVAL 2026
MISSION
Master of Art Film Festival is unique cultural event and the only in Eastern Europe international film festival for Documentaries on Art. It takes place in Bulgaria – Sofia, Plovdiv and Varna.
The festival focuses on different artistic approaches on Art.
Its program is dedicated to Documentary cinema that represents the artistic vision both on history of Art, Contemporary Art forms and to celebrate the multicultural diversity in our time.
Our goal is to show documentaries that manifest the talents and the creative process in the following categories:
Architecture, Design and Fashion, Art and Power, Contemporary art, Culinary art, Fine Art, Photography, Literature, Music and Dance, Theatre and Cinema.
Documentaries released after January 1, 2024 are eligible to the competition of Master of Art Film Festival.
The mission of Master of Art Film Festival is to create an alternative platform to the mass culture. We want to create an opportunity and to contribute a dialogue and cooperation between artists. The festival is the biggest forum in Eastern Europe for young documentary filmmakers, tempted to tell inspiring stories about the Art.
Master of Art Film Festival is organized by Spotlight Production Company, The National Palace of Culture and ‘Master of Art’ Foundation with the financial support of Municipality of Sofia, AURUBIS BULGARIA, Bulgarian National Film Center and etc.
The festival funds are raised by participation fees, financial subsidies, donations, sponsorship and tickets.
The 11th edition of the festival will take place in а three forms:
• Winter edition (competition) - 6 -26 February 2026 in Art cinemas in Sofia, Plovdiv, Varna, Stara Zagora.
• Spring edition (online) - April 2026 on a special Festival geoblocked platform available only from Bulgaria
• Summer edition - July/August 2026 in open air places.
The OFFICIAL SELECTION laurel is given to all films selected in the following categories:
“OFFICIAL SELECTION – COMPETITION” laurel
COMPETITION CATEGORIES – DOCUMENTARIES
I. ARCHITECTURE - documentaries for architects, past and present architectural achievements and historic buildings.
II. ART and CHILDREN - documentaries about the relationship between the art and children
III. ART and POWER - documentaries about the relationship between the artists and totalitarian regimes and politic.
IIII. CONTEMPORARY ART - documentaries about contemporary art the art of XX and XXI century.
V. CULINARY ART - documentaries on the art of preparation, cooking and serving food.
VI. DESIGN and FASHION – Interion designers, fashion designers and their works.
VII. FINE ART - documentaries about the Fine Art from different eras, galleries and exhibitions.
VIII. LITERATURE - documentaries about writers, poets, their works and libraries.
IX. MUSIC and DANCE - documentaries about music, composers and musicians - opera, classics, folk, jazz, pop and rock; dancers and choreographers - ballet, folk, traditional and contemporary dance.
X. PHOTOGRAPHY - documentaries about the Art of Photography, photographed historic events and Photographers.
XI. THEATRE and CINEMA - documentaries about theatre, acting challenges on stage; notable filmmakers and actors.
XII. ART MUSEMS - documentaries about art museums and the life in museums
COMPETITION CATEGORY – VIDEO ART and ART ADVERTISING
(This category has a separate Award and the submitted videos are not competing with the documentaries and video games in the other categories.)
XII.VIDEO ART and ART ADVERTISING – video art, experimental videos, art advertisings and Advertisement.
“OFFICIAL SELECTION – OUT of COMPETITION” laurel
OUT of COMPETITION CATEGORY
XV.ART HORIZONS - Documentaries that are highly appreciated by the preselecting committee.
Ti-Kreyollywood is a quarterly event dedicated to short films, held before and after the Kréyol International Film Festival (KIFF) to which it is affiliated. The aim is to provide a second chance for short films that were not selected for KIFF and to offer a new opportunity for older productions that deserve to be seen in this context.
Please note that if your film is produced after January 1, 2020, you will participate in the Kreyol International Film Festival (KIFF2026), which will take place from September 26 to 30, 2026, in Paris.
Join us in celebrating the art of filmmaking!
We believe that film is not just entertainment; it is a powerful medium for artistic expression that challenges norms and inspires change. We are committed to highlighting films that push boundaries, utilizing innovative film language to create immersive experiences that resonate deeply with viewers.
Join us in this dynamic journey as we celebrate exceptional filmmakers who pour their heart and soul into their work, ensuring that every frame is a testament to their vision. Our screenings will not only feature unique films but also include interactive Q&A sessions, discussions, and encourage an ongoing exchange of ideas between creators and audiences.
Be a part of our community, where every film is a conversation starter and where every voice matters. Together, let’s explore the transformative power of cinema and elevate the artistic narrative in our culture!
We eagerly invite submissions every month through Festhome. Whether it's Short, Feature, Experimental, Animated, or Documentary films. We want to see your creativity come to life!
The Stars of the short film were created in Pau in 2007 by Vidéo Tout Tendance. They were then "transferred" in 2010 to Mourenx and then "died out".
With the agreement of the founding members Didier LABAN and Jean LASSUS-PIGAT, the city of Cabestany and Image In decided to continue the adventure by organizing since 2012, the Étoiles du court in the André ABET cinema hall.
This concept, unique in France, allows the best award-winning films to be presented at the biggest events (César, Clermont-Ferrand, etc.) and the various partner short film festivals.
Short Cuts International Short Film Festival is launched with the idea of building and promoting a healthy film culture.Our mission is to provide film lovers with access to global cinema and create a cultural exchange.
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/
The IV Les Corts International Short Film Festival is a film event organized by students from the Cultural Management Research Project at Institut les Corts, with the support of cultural professionals from Barcelona.
The screenings will take place at different venues: the Josep Maria Trias i Peitx Civic Center, the Pere Quart Civic Center in Les Corts, the La Panarra Youth Center, and the District headquarters in Plaça Comas, during the months of May and June 2026.
The selected short films will be screened (provided the authors give their consent) in three showings: one aimed at students of the Institut Les Corts, another aimed at the general public, which will be screened at the Josep Maria Trias i Peitx Civic Center, and a third, also aimed at the general public, which will be screened at the Les Corts district headquarters in an open-air cinema format.
The festival awards four prizes: three audience awards, one for each showcase, and a special jury prize. In this edition, the special jury prize will be awarded to the best short film among all those dealing with the theme of loss. The jury will interpret the treatment of loss broadly, whether dramatic, comedic, or otherwise, and will reward originality and excellence.
All participating short films are eligible for any of the four awards.
In addition, the winning short films will be programmed (provided their authors agree) in the Pantalla Barcelona cycle, organized by Barcelona City Council.
VerSonar – Music in Film Festival.
VerSonar celebrates the power of music in cinema. We invite short, medium, and feature-length films in categories such as music video, fiction, documentary, and biopic, offering space for new perspectives and promoting local identity.
The selected works will be presented in official screenings and a variety of festival-related activities.
VerSonar is a meeting point for creators and audiences, where music and image intertwine to tell stories that can be both felt and heard.
Welcome to The 2nd Film Tuition International Festival — a festival by filmmakers, for filmmakers.
After a successful debut season in Islamabad from March 9–10, 2024, where we screened 74 National and International films and hosted 4 hands-on workshops, TFTIF is proud to return for its second season. Our inaugural edition celebrated cinematic excellence with vibrant participation and honored outstanding work with awards and certificates across multiple categories.
Held in the heart of Pakistan’s capital, TFTIF is a celebration of global filmmaking, offering a platform for both emerging and established storytellers to showcase their creative visions. Our goal is to connect filmmakers with diverse audiences from across Pakistan and beyond, fostering a space where stories transcend borders.
At The Film Tuition, we believe in the power of film to educate, inspire, and spark dialogue. That’s why TFTIF isn’t just a festival — it’s an immersive experience featuring powerful screenings, industry-led workshops, and collaborative panel discussions. From passion projects to bold new voices, our festival reflects the rich tapestry of international cinema while embracing the cultural heritage and artistic spirit of Pakistan.
Join us as we continue this cinematic journey — to explore, engage, and celebrate the magic of film.
For queries and questions, email us at festival@thefilmtuition.com.
Požarevac Film Festival or simply POFF is a valuable alternative local cultural event held in famous TARANTINO PUB i Požarevac, small town in eastern Serbia.
We screen short films by young authors, and authors who feel young. Basically everyone.
We are not funded by any institution or sponsors.
Our ideology is good films for good audience. We focus on long talks and Q&As after each short film (no blocks of films and than shorts Q&As after. We put our effort to bring all the authors to the festival, but if that is not possible, we organise an online Q&A.
The San Isidro Young Film Festival is an initiative whose aim is to give visibility to independent short films created by young filmmakers. We are aware of how difficult it is to gain recognition in the film industry, as well as the frustration that this situation can generate. Therefore, the FCSI offers a platform for all young filmmakers in the province of Alicante to have the opportunity to present their projects to the public.
Aswan International Women Film Festival (est. 2017) is the first annual Egyptian film festival that focuses on cinematic works representing women’s issues, celebrating their success stories and supporting female filmmakers in Egypt and the MENA.
In the city of culture, art, and Bollywood. FFM is dedicated to celebrating world-class cinema.
Film festival of Mumbai is home to independent cinema from around the world. FFM puts filmmakers first and provides the opportunity for recognition and publicity for quality films and documentaries. Our aim is to be an advocate for filmmakers with a unique vision and to promote their work by showcasing it to a large audience. which is why our mission is to carefully consider and select a wide range of films to promote to the indie film-loving crowd.
FFM will be a global adventure of the premiere, screenings, nightly red carpets, daring documentaries, eye-opening short films, We also focus films under special categories such as LGBTQIA+ films, Women Empowerment films, Students Films,
We invite you to add your voice to the conversation. At FFM filmmakers are invited to the festival to participate in a variety of programs, Q&A sessions and a series of panel discussions, Press Conferences. masterclasses where filmmakers have the opportunity to discuss their work and careers with a new generation of content creators.
FFM will be host to Opening & Closing Night Gale, Opening & Closing night Red Carpet , Press Interaction for participants, Official Portraits for nominated filmmakers, Festival Interviews of Nominated filmmakers, nightly parties, live music performances, filmmaker panels, award presentations, and an enhanced filmmaker hospitality program that includes city tours and more.
Jha Jha International Film Festival brings to its audience, acclaimed documentary works from across the world of different region. Audiences are given the chance to experience a film festival from miles away.
From the peak of Everest to the penguins of Antarctica, #JhaJhaIFF brings the Nouthern and Southern hemispheres together. Because the love for cinema stretches beyond borders. The focus is to showcase unseen stories from across the regions to our viewers.
HALO International Film Festival is festival with live screenings. Every season we're selecting best works that will run in program and screened in the famous cultural space of Machty in Sevkabel port, St. Petersburg
On December 22, the Halo Festival will host a screening in Sevkabel port
The main goal of the Halo Festival is to create a space for introductions and future collaborations.
We want viewers and filmmakers to meet in person, so every season we hold Q&A sessions with the authors of the films. And after the screenings, we organize after-parties, where you can socialize and make new connections in an informal atmosphere.
Submit your applications and we'll see you at the festival!
●❂ IMDb Qualifying Festival ❂●
https://www.imdb.com/event/ev0032078/2023/1
XVI Piélagos Short Film Festival "Piélagos en Corto"
The Piélagos City Council presents the 16th edition of its film festival, a showcase for local and international talent.
With competitive categories for Cantabria, Spain, International, and the UNESCO Costa Quebrada Geopark, the event celebrates the best in short films (fiction, up to 30 minutes).
Selected films will compete for awards including Best Cantabrian, National, and International Short Film, along with technical recognitions and the prestigious Geopark Award, honoring works connected to this natural heritage.
Submissions open until December 20, 2025 via Festhome.
The 2026 closing gala will feature screenings, professional meetings, and accommodation for nominees.
An essential event for emerging cinema, where landscape and storytelling come together!
Porto Femme - International Film Festival is a place for the exhibition and dissemination of multiple and diverse artistic visions. A concrete action in the struggle for equal representation, focusing on new identity representations that seek to deconstruct stereotypes and erase invisibilities. The Festival aims to create a visibility space for women and/or non-binary identities in the cinematographic world, uniting them internationally.
Feminist solidarity is our guiding thread, and we want to continue creating feminist spaces through an innovative, intersectional, and intergenerational way of working characterized by support, diversity, creativity, and experimentation, serving as a point of sharing, debate, and creation for all those who love cinema.
These films intend to educate and inform the public about social and political issues that affect women and minority identities worldwide and give voice to several groups and struggles.
Our curation aims to reflect the diversity of genres, themes and languages. PORTO FEMME is a festival with a varied and appealing offer to the public, including competitive sessions, exhibitions, workshops, debates, Q & A sessions, exhibitions, among others.
The 9th edition of the Skyline Benidorm Film Festival will take place in the city of Benidorm, from March 29 to April 5, 2025, in the city of Benidorm (Spain).
Saturnalia Fest, the last international film festival of the year, will take place on December 27th and will feature Uruguayan, Paraguayan, Venezuelan, Colombian, Chilean, and Argentine productions. One or two local productions (short films and feature films) will also be screened daily, directed by and starring Paraná residents.
Screenings will begin at 9:00 PM in a climate-controlled theater. There will also be a cafeteria service, and a specialized collectors' fair will be held daily, where the public can purchase records, comics, and toys from Marvel, DC, and Star Wars.
We are pleased to announce the opening of the call for entries for the film festival "Celebrate the World: Holidays in Film". This festival aims to explore and celebrate the diversity of festivities and rituals around the world through the art of cinema.
We are looking for films, documentaries and short films that capture the essence of celebrations and traditions from different cultures, showing how people from different regions of the world commemorate their most significant events. Whether it is a traditional festival, a vibrant carnival, an ancestral ritual or a religious holiday, we want your work to be part of this unique experience.
