Short films are a great way to kick start ones filmmaking career. international film festivals still remain the best option for young short filmmakers to get their work seen by the world at large. It will expose filmmakers to a diverse set of audiences and their opinions. Short film festivals are the best place for young filmmakers to get feedback and improve oneself.
There are hundred’s of festivals around the world and it requires immense hard work from a filmmaker to decide where to send his/her short film. We have short-listed some of the best short film festivals from around the world that every filmmaker with a short film must know of. Remember there are other festivals which accept both feature and short films that we’ve not included here. These are festivals that accept only short films. These festivals are not arranged in any order. Some of them are currently open for submissions. Do check and submit your short films.
Top 19 international film festivals
1. Chicago international film festivals
Click here to know more about the festival details.
2. Curtacinema – Rio de Janeiro International Short Film Festival
Click here to know more about this festival details.
3. Cork Film Festival
Click here to know more about the festival details.
4. Festival Del Film Locarno
Click here to know more about the festival details.
5. Encounters Short And Animation Film Festival
Click here to know more about the festival details.
6. Foyle Film Festival
Click here to know more about the festival details.
7. HollyShorts Film Festival
Click here to know more about the festival details.
8. Montreal Film Festival
Click here to know more about the festival details.
9. Miami Short Film Festival
Click here to know more about the festival details.
10. THESS international film festivals
Click here to know more about the festival details.
11. Toronto international film festivals
Click here to know more about the festival details.
12. Clermont-Ferrand international film festivals
Click here to know more about the festival details.
13. Palm Springs international film festivals
Click here to know more about the festival details.
14. Leuven international film festivals
Click here to know more about the festival details.
15. Short Shorts Film Festival & Asia
Click here to know more about the festival details.
16. Kerry Film Festival
Click here to know more about the festival details.
17. Aspen Shorts Fest
click here to know more about the festival details.
18. International Short Film Festival Oberhausen
click here to know more about the festival details.
19. Hamburg International Film Festival
Click here to know more about the festival details.
These are the top list of best International Film Festivals that you should submit your short films.
Submit Short films FAQ
Here is a list of 10 film festivals, both domestic and international, that are worth submitting to in the upcoming year:
- Sundance Film Festival
- Cannes Film Festival
- bangalore film festival
- Mumbai film festival
- Shortfundly summer international film festival
- Tribeca Film Festival
- Los Angeles Film Festival
- Raindance Filmfestival
- Berlin Film Festival
- Slamdance Film Festival
- Toronto International Film Festival
- Venice Film Festival
- Austin Film Festival
- SXSW Film Festival
- BFI London Film Festival
We’ve collected some of the best short film websites below where you can see & list short films.
- FilmShortage – Free & Paid short film listing.
- Shortfundly – Paid short film OTT release with FREE promotion.
- pocketfilms – Paid short film Submission.
- Viddsee – Free short film listing. No Promotion.
Yes. you can make money in these 3 different ways.
- Use your short film as a proof of concept to sell a feature idea. Use your short film in a short film festival event to network with indie producers, agents, or managers.
- Release in OTT platform (like shortfundly) and get revenue share as return on investment.
- Submit to film festival events – Get awards & Cash price.
To submit a short film, go to shortfundly OTT release page and specify title, film category. Once approved, you’ll receive an automated email with instructions for release in OTT platform.
- Creating & Making short films gives you the practical experience on the set you need to become a successful director in film industry. Take short filmmaking as a proof of concept for you and your career.
- Every time you make a short film you become more confident in yourself and your abilities in making and distributing it across the globe to reach wider audience.
- Short filmmaking helps you to form your team.
- In Short note, the short film and web series, independent filmmaking market is bigger than ever before. Everyone seems to be busy either making shorts, watching them in OTT platforms.
- Short Film festivals too play a key role in helping short films find an audience
- If you are still submitting to short film festivals consider holding off because releasing your short film online may make your short film ineligible. This will differ from festival to festival.
- OTT release help you to take your short films online with good revenue generation options. So, try it out.
About Shortfundly
Shortfundly is an online technology and design-focused, data-driven OTT platform company that curates and shares the best short films and stories through our global multi-platform network. Our video and editorial platform enables a global audience to easily discover, watch, and share unique stories anywhere on their desktop and mobile devices.
Our vision is to continually grow the community of short film audiences to enable a wide and accessible market reach for short films and become the leading micro-cinema/short film platform.
If you plan to release and promote in OTT platform. Learn how to distribute short film via shortfundly
For publishing an advertorial article about your digital news/product launch/ short film/web series/album song on our website, drop an email at [email protected]
We accept guest blogging on our platform. Do let share your article with us
Check out our YouTube channel for other interesting podcasts & interviews with filmmakers.
Or join our Telegram group to interact with other filmmakers.