LISBIFF • Lisboa Indie Film Festival (4)

Festival start: 13 December 2025      Festival end: 13 December 2025

We are LISBIFF • Lisboa Indie Film Festival, an international film festival with screening events from the enchanting Lisbon, Portugal, and member of the IBERIFF • Iberia Indie Film Festivals, which celebrates and showcases new productions and independent artists from all over the world in Lisbon (LISBIFF), Madrid (MADRIFF), Barcelona (BARCIFF), València (VALÈIFF), Seville (SEVIFF) and Montpellier (MONTIFF), that you can also find them here in Festhome.

LISBIFF shares the mission of its associate festivals of supporting emerging talents, encouraging artistic exploration, fostering networking, promoting cultural exchange and engaging the local community by providing a platform to present the work of independent filmmakers.

Fiction films, animation, documentary and experimental works of any genre and subject are welcome!

• All submitted films compete in the extra categories of BEST DIRECTION, BEST ACTRESS and BEST ACTOR with no extra fee.

• All winning films will receive the LISBIFF trophy; any honourable mentions will receive the LISBIFF-IBERIFF certificate.

Below, you’ll see the rules and terms that you accept when submitting films, videos and other materials to our festival.

Submissions

1.1 LISBIFF accepts both Portuguese and foreign films with Portuguese or English subtitles, or without subtitles if the language of the film is Portuguese or English;

1.2 All submitted films are viewed by LISBIFF;

1.3 Entry fees must be paid through our submitting platforms at time of submission and they are non-refundable (films made by native Portuguese-speaking directors are offered a discount in the entry fee – submission via "Realizadores Lusófonos" category);

1.4 Multiple entries from the same submitter are accepted. A separate submission and a separate entry fee must accompany each entry;

1.5 Films can be resubmitted in case they were not selected in the previous editions;

1.6 Films can only be submitted through our submitting platforms and must be available to view through such platforms. No postal submissions are accepted;

1.7 We accept works of any country in the world produced from January 1st 2023 onwards;

1.8 LISBIFF does not send out discount waivers or free entries.

Categories

2.1 All films must be submitted in a digital format in the correct category respecting its length:

• Supershort (documentary, fiction, experimental): up to 5 minutes;
• Short Film (documentary, fiction, experimental): up to 30 minutes;
• Short Documentary: up to 30 minutes;
• Short Animation: up to 30 minutes;
• Featurette (animation, documentary, fiction): from 30 to 60 minutes;
• Feature Film: +60 minutes;
• Feature Documentary: +60 minutes;
• Music Video.

• Best Director (All submitted films compete in this category with no extra fee)
• Best Actor (All submitted films compete in this category with no extra fee)
• Best Actress (All submitted films compete in this category with no extra fee)

Official Selection • Awards

3.1 Every trimester a number of films from each category is selected for the competition;

3.2 Our team will choose, at their discretion (among the selected Supershorts, Short Films, Short-Animation, Short Docs and Music Videos), the works to be screened at the quarterly events; such an election bears no relation to the selection of the winners in December. Featurettes, Feature Films and Feature Docs participate in the contest but are not screened in the quarterly events;

3.3 In the last week of November, the jury will select the winners, from each category, to take part in the awards event in Lisbon - Portugal, in December;

3.4 All winning films will be given The LISBIFF trophy at the LISBIFF Awards;

3.5 Submitting does not guarantee your film as an official selection of LISBIFF, a selection does not guarantee your film to be screened and a selection does not guarantee your film as a winner;

3.6 LISBIFF selection committee and jury's decision are final, the status of submissions will be disclosed through our submitting platforms and it is the submitter’s full responsibility to track the status of their submission;

3.7 LISBIFF does not offer feedback on the submitted films nor the jury's decision.

Liability

4.1 LISBIFF does NOT publish films on its website or social media channels;

4.2 LISBIFF does not pay screening fees nor travel expenses;

4.3 LISBIFF may use your film frames, trailer and press pack material for promotional purposes on its website or social media and adapt it to its visual identity;

4.4 The releases for all content including, but not limited to, music and talent must be obtained by the filmmaker;

4.5 LISBIFF is not liable for any copyright infringement or unauthorised usage;

4.6 By submitting a film, you agree to indemnify and hold harmless LISBIFF from and against any and all claims, liabilities, losses, damages, and expenses (including but not limited to attorney’s fees, and costs of the court) which may be incurred by reason of any claim involving copyright, trademark, credits, publicity, screening, and loss of or damage to the screening videos entered;

4.7 LISBIFF reserves the right to make any changes in the festival configuration without prior notice if it is necessary.

Disqualification

5.1 Films submitted in the incorrect category are automatically disqualified;

5.2 Failure to meet the eligibility requirements or delivery of material requested by the organisation will lead to disqualification in whatever phase of the competition (submission, selection or awards);

5.3 LISBIFF may disqualify a selected film and erase the promoted content from its website and social media if the submitter is involved in legal issues concerning the submitted film or anything that may diminish the credibility of the festival;

5.4 Disqualification will not entitle a submitter to a refund of the entry fee;

5.5 If a film is withdrawn from the festival, we will not be liable to refund any entry fee.

Acceptance of the bases

6.1 Participation in the LISBIFF • Lisboa Indie Film Festival implies acceptance of these rules.