Benin City Film Festival 2026
Theme: Stronger Together – The Power of Collective Filmmaking
The Benin City Film Festival (BCFF) 2026 is dedicated to fostering unity, collaboration, and Co-productions within the global film industry. Under the theme "Stronger Together: The Power of Collective Filmmaking," this edition highlights the significance of teamwork, industry solidarity, and the transformative power of storytelling when filmmakers join forces.
As one of Nigeria’s leading film festivals, BCFF serves as a platform for emerging and established filmmakers to connect, share ideas, and build meaningful partnerships. Through screenings, workshops, industry panels, and networking events, the festival aims to bridge gaps between filmmakers, producers, distributors, and other key players in the industry.
Whether you're an independent filmmaker looking for collaborations, a producer seeking co-production opportunities, or a storyteller passionate about uniting voices through cinema, BCFF 2026 is the space to connect and create.
Join us in Benin City from October 29 – 31 2026 as we celebrate the power of collective filmmaking and shape the future of cinema—together!
Benin City, Nigeria
Submit your films now on Festhome!
AAIFF Americas' 2026 offers 18 awards in 12 categories including Americas' Best Independent Film Director 2026 and America’s Best Independent Film 2026.
As the sister film festival of ÉCU—the European Independent Film Festival, which has been held in Paris for 21 years, the AAIFF Americas' has the ability to harness the rock-solid reputation of the ÉCU Film Festival Group as being one of the World’s foremost independent film festivals groups and to help bring global attention to Americas’ independent filmmakers.
Our objective is to offer excellent opportunities for all the Americas' independent filmmakers to find audiences for their films, to connect with peers, distributors and talent scouts – and importantly to provide them unforgettable film festival experience.
The Aguilar de Campoo Short Film Festival is consolidated as one of the most veteran and relevant film citations in our country in its genre. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts of Spain, includes it as one of the key festivals for the selection of short films that will compete in the Goya Awards. Throughout the last editions the festival has been making important decisions that commit it to the cinema of our country. In his thirteenth edition he published his manifesto where he exhibited his philosophy and commitment to film. He made the decision to pay for selection to the selected short films thus eliminating economic competition in order to encourage artistic creation and production. Its screening rooms are open to international cinema including all genres, fiction, documentary animation and experimental cinema. In 2016 the festival received recognition from the AIC (Short Film Industry Association). This certificate is an annual distinction to differentiate and reward festivals that perform an exemplary role in the dissemination, protection and professionalization of cinema and its industry, and especially of the short film. This is the first time this certification has been granted and is the result of more than a year of work tables and conversations with festivals, filmmakers and other professionals from across the country in order to develop a guide to good behaviors towards the short film and its creators. The basic objectives of this distinction are to educate new generations of filmmakers and protect model festivals, recognizing their dedication and rigor. We seek the encounter and exchange between professionals and the public as a form of cultural enrichment.
Retrospective14 is an international student and independent film festival based in Vilnius, Lithuania, focused on showcasing emerging filmmakers and contemporary moving image practices.
The festival presents a curated program of short films across several categories, including fiction, documentary, experimental film, music video, and student works. We are particularly interested in bold, original voices and projects that explore visual storytelling in innovative ways.
Retrospective14 aims to support early-career creators by providing a platform for their work to be seen by an engaged audience and peers. Selected films will be screened during the festival event in Vilnius.
Submissions are open to filmmakers worldwide.
All genres and styles are welcome, with a preference for short-form content and recent productions.
Turicine Film Festival (FECT), organized by Grupo Turicine aims to promote and showcase Ecuadorian cinematic production by fostering interaction between local talent and the general public in order to reach, encourage and develop new audiences across the country. The 2026 edition of FECT is supported by Ministerio de Cultura y Patrimonio and Instituto de Fomento a la Creatividad y la Innovación.
UrbanFest 360° Film Festival — Orlando, Florida
September 18–20, 2026 | AFRO TV Complex | International Drive
Submit your film to UrbanFest 360° and connect with industry legends, emerging creators, and a global community of fearless storytellers.
2026 Special Guests & Honorees Include:
Keith David — Hollywood Icon
Michael Polcino — "The Simpsons, Emmy-nominated Director/Animator
Marvin “Smitty” Smith — A Living Legend, One of the great jazz drummers
David Fortune — Variety’s “10 Directors to Watch,” 2025, Tribeca Winner
A special tribute honoring Chadwick Boseman, featuring stories from his collegiate alumni and stunt double from Black Panther and other films.
UrbanFest 360° is an international film festival celebrating bold storytelling where film, music, and culture collide.
Taking place in vibrant Orlando, Florida, UrbanFest 360° champions emerging voices and visionary creators from all backgrounds around the globe. From powerful independent cinema and documentaries to groundbreaking screenwriting and music driven storytelling, this festival is a platform for fearless artists ready to be seen and heard.
UrbanFest 360° will also feature a special tribute honoring the legacy of Chadwick Boseman, with stories from Howard alumni and crew who worked alongside him.
Selected filmmakers can expect:
Festival Screenings
Industry Panels & Conversations
Networking & Collaboration
Competition for the UrbanFest 360° Grand Jury Award
Big Finish Energy with an exciting Closing Night Awards Celebration.
SUBMIT NOW. ATTEND. TRANSFORM THE WORLD—ONE STORY AT A TIME.
UrbanFest 360° — Where Bold Stories Take Flight.t.
Responding to a changing world, show that your work rises to the challenge. Selected films are announced and promoted to distributors prior to the festival. Also all film submissions have the option to get distribution at inspire-tv.com with beneficial terms.
"The Best of the 1st!"
Cyprus International Film Festival's mission is to support the first shown filmmakers with their first short or feature film, to meet and exchange cultures for the further development of Cinematographic Art in Cyprus, to promote our historical and cultural heritage,to upgrade our tourism product and to internationally promote our alumni participants.
Cyprus International Film Festival (CYIFF) is one of the TOP 100 Best Reviewed Festivals among 5.500 film festivals worldwide according to Festhome and holder of the EFFE label, Europe’s quality stamp for remarkable arts festivals attributed for their work in the field of the arts, community involvement and international openness. It takes place annually with live screenings and parallel events on the beautiful Mediterranean island of Cyprus but also with various partnerships at Athens, Cannes, New York and Los Angeles.
Cyprus International Film Festival (CYIFF) is under the umbrella of Cultural International Festivals -a non-profit arts organization dedicated to promoting and supporting independent films and filmmakers that embody diversity, innovation and uniqueness of vision-. The main location of the event is Nicosia the capital of Cyprus. The festival celebrates once more the rising film stars and several artistic events will take place during the festival. The Pegasus/Aphrodite Cinema Lab workshop is very popular and we produce a short film during the Festival which will be screened at the Awards Ceremony. A Table Read with chosen scripts is held during the festival.
You can express your interest and apply with your artistic proposal regarding the "Goddess Aphrodite" and "Peace" theme categories to ciffprogram@gmail.com
History: The festival was inaugurated on March 23, 2006 by the Cypriot Minister of Education and Culture Mr Pefkios Georgiades and was held in three cities, Larnaca, Limassol and Nicosia with the cooperation of K-Cineplex.
The Cyprus International Film Festival is the biggest of artistic high value independent cinema event of the whole region, spilling over Cyprus boundaries and spreading over the whole region with repercussions reaching worldwide. CYIFF is the first internationally oriented film festival which offers new and upcoming directors in multiple sectors of entertainment (such as feature films, short films, animations, music videos, dance, experimental films and video art) the opportunity to showcase their talent in front of a jury of internationally acclaimed cinema experts, directors and actors. CYIFF has a competitive section.
Films produced the last 36 months, by emerging directors are selected for the screening program.
-Women filmmakers (director and/or producer) can submit their film to compete for the Aphrodite Cinematic Award. There is no restriction regarding the production year, the genre of the film in this specific category.
-"50/50" is a category with film credits 50% men and 50% women. No restriction in genre.
Highlights video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xYLfPp0qorI
REVIEWS:
Tiago Carvalho:
Lost Records was selected but we could be present unfortunately. But the online version of it was very professional and rich. Just by watching it, you can confirm that they are very concerned by the quality and importance of the festival, and the respect they have for the filmmakers.
Keith Barnfather:
Great festival, with a fantastic selection of films on show!
Christina Zorich - The Abolitionists:
Petra is awesome; she runs a terrific film festival! We were honored to be included.
Chao Wang:
An excellent and memorable film festival. Although I missed the festival because of my carelessness, I still appreciate the professional spirit of the film festival. It is my honor to be shortlisted.
DARWIN REINA:
This festival is one of the best festivals out there now days!! they organizers are just AMAZING this festival is the one that makes me do films every year!!! so I can submit to Cyprus International Film Festival! Thank you so much for the everything!!! and to RECAP all...THIS FESTIVAL IS AMAZING...Period! and 1 more thing a great place to make international connections!
Alain Deslongchamps:
Thank you Cyprus International Film Festival! Your Team did a.great job!
Alberto Zúñiga:
One of the best film festivals of the world. We really love CYIFF!!! Congratulations for the past edition. You really rock, people!!!
Gang Zhao:
Great film festival, thank you for choosing my film. Thank you!
KOSTAS LENIS:
Very good organization with a selection of excellent films. I believe we will be close in time.
Note 1: In 2025, the 20th Cyprus International Film Festival is scheduled to hold both of live screenings and events and online at inspire-tv.com .
Note 2: New film category: SMARD (Smart Art Advertisement) Up to 6 minutes in duration, with no restriction on the year of production. (Advertisements with a philosophical and/or comedic character)
Cash bonus
A cash reward of RMB 3,000 will be awarded directly to the winners.
offline screenings
An exclusive two-day screening experience hosted at a state-of-the-art cinema.
actual prizes
The Best Director Award winner will receive a prize worth RMB 10,000 provided by MOMA.
Each annual award winner receives a bespoke trophy (valued at RMB 2,000) exclusively crafted by leather artist Zhang Li.
The Best Cinematography Award winner will receive a RMB 10,000 rental package provided by VILTROX to support their creative endeavors.
IMDb qualifications
- 1st 33 International Film Festival Annual Winners List
Award Winner/Work Country
- Best Director Yang Chaojie (Farewell Tengger) China
- Best Short Film The Nameless Blade China
- Best Screenplay Gabriel Vilandré (Hammer, Wrench & Screwdriver) Canada
- Best Animation Jorge Morais Valle (In Half) Portugal
- Best Original Score Oskar Bells Poland
- Best Sound Design Petr Cikhart (Valet) USA
- Best Editing Sasa (Hunter Loading) Serbia
- Best Cinematography Anaïs (La Croix) France-Italy Co-production
top jury members guarantee that each film will be watched at least four times
ALL SUBMISSIONS ARE REQUIRED TO UPLOAD AN ENGLISH SUBTITLE.
Every quarter, we award the best independent short films curated from around the world, against a high standard of merit and a very competitive acceptance rate. The award winners of 4 quarter editions qualify for the Annual Awards.
We welcome projects from all genres, fictional or non fictional, linear or nonlinear, including non-English speaking, low or no-budget productions, and works from traditionally underrepresented countries in global film industry.
Main judging criteria: innovative and/or competent filmmaking, passionate storytelling.
The jury members are all senior filmmakers, who have been shortlisted for A-category film festivals, top independent film festivals, and participated in Hollywood film production.
The preliminary jury is made up of filmmakers, distributors, and media executives , and we will ensure that each film is viewed by at least three preliminary judges and one final judge.
We have many private theaters in different cities to host screenings, including Beijing, the capital of China and Chengdu, the hometown of pandas. In addition to the cash prize, the winners will also receive prizes from sponsors such as SmallRig, Rode, Aputure, etc. The winners of the Best Documentary and Best Short Film will receive a trophy, a certificate and an exclusive interview.
Number three is one of the most important and mysterious elements in Eastern culture.
In ancient times, there were the "Three Emperors", in the court, there were the "Three Lords", and the "Three Elders" in the prefectures, counties, and villages; religions that have a profound influence on the world are no exception. There are "Three Pure Ones" in Taoist mythology, and Confucianism proposed the "Three Pure Ones" or "Three Cardinal Guidelines", while Buddhism has "Three Worlds". In the "Tao Te Ching" there is also: "Tao gives birth to one, one gives birth to two, two gives birth to three, and three gives birth to all things." Even in traditional Chinese medicine theory, there is the so-called "three yin and three yang". The ancients believed that Taiyang, Yangming, and Shaoyang in the human body are the three yangs; Taiyin, Shaoyin, and Jueyin are the three yin. The locations of these important meridians are directly related to people's health.
Sima Qian wrote in "Historical Records·Lüshu": "The number begins with one, ends with ten, and ends with three." The "Three Jewels" of Buddhism: Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha. Confucius had three fears: fear of destiny, fear of adults, and fear of the words of sages. It means: “A gentleman should have three points of reverence: reverence for the will of God, reverence for the virtuous monarch, and reverence for the teachings of the saints.
Zeng Guofan has Zeng Guofan’s Three Precepts. The first is to abstain from saying too much, the second is to abstain from anger, and the third is to abstain from having an angry and seeking heart.
We also believe that within 33 minutes, you can tell a very exciting story and make the audience more focused in a limited time. We believe that the more restricted the stage, the better the performance. So I hope that at the 33rd International Film Festival, you can create works that shock Eastern culture.
"Bridging Creativity: From Local Short Films to Global IP"
The GTG International Shorts Film Festival provides an innovative platform for creators to express their unique stories through film and share them with a global network.
Through intensive training and workshops, it lays the foundation for outstanding creators to grow into world-class masters.
It discovers the potential of emerging directors and creators and provides them with practical opportunities.
We explore the possibility of overseas expansion and commercialization of excellent content.
XXIV CONCURSO NACIONAL DE GUION CINEMATOGRÁFICO GIFF
PARA CORTOMETRAJE Y/O LARGOMETRAJE DE FICCIÓN.
Con el fin de estimular la creación de guiones que contribuyan al fortalecimiento de la industria cinematográfica Nacional, el GOBIERNO DEL ESTADO DE GUANAJUATO, la FUNDACIÓN EXPRESIÓN EN CORTO A.C., ESCRIBE CINE A.C., CORPORACIÓN CINEFILIA, WABI ENTERTAINMENT y el INSTITUTO MEXICANO DE CINEMATOGRAFÍA convocan al XXIV CONCURSO NACIONAL DE GUION CINEMATOGRÁFICO GIFF PARA CORTOMETRAJE Y/O LARGOMETRAJE DE FICCIÓN, con las siguientes BASES:
BIG APPLE FILM FESTIVAL & SCREENPLAY COMPETITION
Celebrating 23 Years of Independent Film in the Heart of New York City
Big Apple Film Festival (BAFF) is a long-running NYC-based festival dedicated to showcasing innovative films and discovering bold new voices in screenwriting. Named one of MovieMaker Magazine’s "Top 25 Coolest Film Festivals" and "Top 25 Festivals Worth the Entry Fee," BAFF brings independent storytellers into direct connection with industry professionals.
WHY SUBMIT?
● Live NYC Theatrical Screenings with filmmaker Q&As
● Long list of critically acclaimed alumni films, including Academy-Award-Winning Alumni Projects including I'm Not a Robot and If Anything Happens I Love You, Academy-Award nominated projects such as Edith+Eddie and Feeling Through.
● Year-Round Virtual Networking and Mentorship — complimentary access for all submitters
● Alumni with Projects on Netflix, Amazon, HBO, Hulu, Disney+, and more
● Pitch and Network directly with agents, managers, producers and other industry reps through optional "Agents, Managers & Producers Pitch Forum" registration
● Industry jurors include producers, directors and writers who have developed projects released by major studios, productions companies and streamers, including: Netflix, Paramount, Warner Bros, Lionsgate, HBO, Starz, Fox, ABC, Amazon, Apple TV, Starz, Hulu and many more...
AGENTS, MANAGERS & PRODUCERS PITCH FORUM (VIRTUAL EVENT)
Add-On: All Access Pass – Agents, Managers & Producers Pitch Forum
Regular Price: $200 | Your Price: $130 with Film or Script Submission (35% discount)
Upgrade your festival experience with exclusive access to the Agents, Managers & Producers Pitch Forum— a premium industry networking and pitching event that runs VIRTUALLY alongside the festival. This event gives you direct access to top-tier Hollywood agents, managers, producers and industry decision-makers.
WHAT THE ALL-ACCESS PASS INCLUDES:
Access to All live industry info sessions and Q&As with Hollywood agents, managers & producers at no additional cost. These sessions include Insider discussions on representation, packaging, and selling your work, as well as networking opportunities with reps, producers and fellow creatives.
PITCH SESSIONS: All Access Pass holders will receive priority access to register for small group pitch sessions with agents, managers & producers (NOTE: at this time, pitch session registration will ONLY be available to All Access Pass Holders). Registration will open in the spring.
⏳ 95% of pitch slots sold out last season — early access is key
Pitch your project. Build industry connections. Learn what reps are looking for.
✅ Submitters who choose this option will receive a code approximately two weeks before the event to redeem their prepaid All Access Pass.
✅ NOTE: All submitters who register for the Agents, Managers & Producers Pitch Forum will automatically receive their All-Access Pass, even if their project is not selected for the festival.
Reserve your All Access Pass now — spots are limited, and pitch sessions fill up fast
PARTICIPANTS INCLUDE REPS FROM:
● The Gersh Agency
● Zero Gravity Management
● Innovative Artists
● Magnolia Entertainment
● WGA East
As well as producers, development executives, writers and industry professionals who have developed projects for:
● Netflix
●Universal
● Marvel
● 20th Television
● MarVista Entertainment
● Lionsgate
● AMC Networks
● Amazon MGM Studios
and more...
Last season approximately 14% of pitch session participants received script requests from participating agents and managers!
“Two of the agents I pitched requested my script. One called to discuss representation.” – Nate Bynum, screenwriter
PRODUCER'S NOTES
Submitters have the option to upgrade their film or script submission to include Producer's Notes. If this option is selected, the submitter will receive one page of notes from one professional accredited producer.
Participating producers include:
● Krushan Naik (producer of Oscar®-nominated film "Anuja")
● Emmy Award winning producer Ryan Cunningham (Paramount+, Hulu, Disney+, HBOmax)
● Crystal Holt (former Vice President of Series at 20th Television/Disney, previous Director of Scripted Programming at AMC Networks)
● Wade Sheeler (Netflix, CBS, Bravo)
● Devan Renea (Hulu, CW, OWN)
● Tim Curcio (CBS)
● Melinda Li (Warner Bros. Drama Development, Creative Executive JuVee Productions - Viola Davis and Julius Tennon’s production company)
● Aeryn Michelle Willams (Netflix, Marvel, Disney, Prime Video)
● Samantha Sharma (former Original Scripted Content Coordinator at Disney+, former Creative Executive at Marvel Studios, Franchise Asset Coordinator at LucasFilm Ltd.).
FILM SCREENINGS
Selected films are screened in New York City state of the art cinemas, with live post-screening Q&As. BAFF is committed to providing a platform for high-quality, independent cinema from NYC and around the world.
Previous official selections and alumni films have included:
● I'm Not a Robot – Academy Award Winner, Best Live Action Short
● Feeling Through - Academy Award Nominee, Live Action Short
● Until - directed by and starring Golden Globe Award winners Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick
● Sweetwater – Released by Universal Pictures, starring Golden Globe Award winner Jeremy Piven and Academy Award winner Richard Dreyfuss
● The Living Wake – Starring Academy Award nominee Jesse Eisenberg and Emmy Award winner Jim Gaffigan
● Killing Mary Sue - distributed by Samuel Goldwyn Films, starring SAG Award nominee Dermot Mulroney
● Last Ride - Executive Produced by Oscar® winner SPIKE LEE, distributed by Quiver Distribution
● Taste the Revolution - starring Academy Award winner Mahershala Ali (Moonlight, Green Book, House of Cards, The Hunger Games, True Detective)
● Thirsty - (Apple TV, Prime Video), starring Jamie Neumann (HBO's The Deuce), Image Award nominee Tyler Lepley (Harlem, Tyler Perry's Duplicity), Golden Globe Award winner Kyra Sedgwick, Golden Globe Award nominee Thora Birch
● The One Note Man - Shortlisted for Best Live Action at the 96th Academy Awards, Narrated by Academy Award nominee and Golden Globe Award winner Ian McKellen.
● The Herricanes – SXSW Audience Award Winner
● Amerikatsi – Armenian Oscar submission, NYC and LA theatrical release
● The Shepherd – Academy Award Shortlist, distributed by Disney+, produced by Academy Award winner Alfonso Cuarón, starring Academy Award nominee and Golden Globe Award winner John Travolta
● "Bad Survivor" (Oscars Shortlist, Short Film Live Action Category)
● "Deadly Vows", starring Shiva Negar, SAG Award nominee Billy Zane (Titanic), Shane West (A Walk to Remember), Academy Award nominee Shohreh Aghdashloo, distributed by Quiver Distribution, streaming on Prime Video and Apple TV
● And many more...
SCREENPLAY COMPETITION
The BAFF Screenplay Competition is open to feature-length scripts, shorts, pilots, and series. Finalists are read by our team of experienced industry professionals.
BAFF Screenplay Competition has received submissions from both emerging talent and established professionals. Participants have included:
● Douglas Raine (Line Producer "Reigns of Fire" starring Academy Award winners Matthew McConaughey and Christian Bale)
● Amy Kolquist (Writer of "Border Run" starring Academy Award nominee Sharon Stone and Billy Zane, distributed by Anchor Bay Entertainment and Paramount Pictures)
● Stephanie Drapeau (Writer and Producer of Wish Wizard starring Academy Award winner Morgan Freeman)
● Maia Henkin – signed with A3 Artists Agency; held meetings with Lionsgate, Starz, Anonymous Content
● Shia LaBeouf (Critics Choice Award and People's Choice Award nominee)
● Ron Friedman - Emmy nominee and WGA Award winner
● Elizabeth Reichelt - writers’ assistant for Bridgerton (NETFLIX), Inventing Anna (NETFLIX), and Physical(APPLE TV, AMAZON). Co-wrote/co-produced Full Picture, executive produced by Golden Globe and Emmy Award winner Rachel Bloom. Writer for the CBS Diversity Showcase.
● Caytha Jentis - written/directed/produced projects for HBO, Warner Bros., Amazon
● Kent Moran - Feature films have been released by Warner Brothers, Netflix, Showtime, Paramount+, Starz, Apple, Hulu, Amazon, Hallmark, Lifetime, LMN, Regal Cinemas
● Elizabeth Page - Six time Emmy Award and three time WGA Award winning writer and playwright (ABC, CBS, TBS)
● Matt Giacheri - produced projects for NETFLIX and Amazon
● Janet J. Lawler – finalist recognition helped place her on Coverfly’s Red List; later signed by a literary manager
● Stuart Feldman (BAFF Screenplay Competition winner) - WGA writer, has written for the NBC drama LAW & ORDER, the USA series ROYAL PAINS, and his teleplay for LAW & ORDER: SVU ("Justice Denied") ranked #21 on the TV Guide list of "Best Episodes".
"Since being a finalist with Big Apple, I was signed by A3 and have taken meetings with major studios..."
— Maia Henkin
YEAR-ROUND INDUSTRY ACCESS
ALL submitters receive complimentary access to select virtual mentorship and networking sessions throughout the year.
Past mentors and guests have developed or produced work for:
Netflix, Warner Bros., Hulu, Disney, Showtime, HBO, Amazon, CBS, FilmRise, and more.
See upcoming events:
https://bigapplefilmfestivalindustrynetworkingevents.eventive.org/schedule
NOTABLE GUESTS & HONOREES
Over the years, BAFF has welcomed acclaimed actors, filmmakers, screenwriters and industry leaders, including:
● Jesse Eisenberg (Academy Award, Golden Globe and SAG Award nominee)
● Kevin Bacon (Golden Globe and SAG award winner)
● Kyra Sedgwick (Golden Globe and SAG award winner)
● Cuba Gooding Jr. (Academy Award winner)
● Sawyer Spielberg
● James Sunshine (producer, FOX's "Hell's Kitchen" CBS' "Big Brother", "Project Runway", NETFLIX/HULU)
● Morgan Spurlock (Academy Award nominee, WGA Award winner)
● Olympia Dukakis (Academy Award and Golden Globe Award winner)
● Jeremy Piven (Emmy Award and Golden Globe Winner)
● Krushan Naik (Oscar-nominated producer)
● Bill Plympton (Oscar-nominated animator)
● Alan Cumming (Tony Award and Independent Spirit Award winner)
● Kwame Parker (Academy Award nominated producer)
…and many more.
INDUSTRY JURORS
Big Apple Film Festival industry jurors include writers, producers and industry professionals with credits at NETFLIX, AMAZON STUDIOS, DISNEY, MARVEL, HULU, CBS, 20th TELEVISION, AMC NETWORKS and more. (visit bigapplefilmfestival.com for the complete list of jurors).
???? ABOUT BAFF
Now in its 23rd year, Big Apple Film Festival remains dedicated to amplifying the voices of independent filmmakers and screenwriters. From live screenings and pitch opportunities to year-round virtual access, BAFF offers a unique platform to showcase your work and grow your career.
Whether you're an up-and-coming writer, an independent filmmaker, or a seasoned creative looking for new connections, BAFF provides opportunities to get your work seen — and to be taken seriously.
SUBMIT NOW
Join the next wave of acclaimed BAFF alumni.
Submit your film or screenplay today
Welcome to The Ring of Fire International Film Festival! We are excited to share with you our festival's history and what we offer to filmmakers like you.
Our festival was born in 2013 with the goal of promoting local and national artists. In our early years, we projected 31 to 41 works in each edition. In 2022, we return with a totally different concept: we are now an international festival with the addition of international producers, directors, and distributors.
Here's what we offer to our filmmakers:
1. Big Event: We move to one of the most important cinemas in Barcelona with rooms of +500 spectators to give independent filmmakers like you the exposure you need. We have agreements with institutes, film schools, and cinema clubs to fill +90% of all the projections we do. If no one sees your project, you don't exist.
2. The Artist is the Star: We believe that festivals should get more involved with filmmakers, both in screenings and in social media promotion. Our number one goal is to help you in any way we can.
3. Networking: Our team consists of many film producers and people with many connections within the film industry. We will work to help you connect with the film industry.
4. Ultra Low Fees: More than 50% of the registration fee is paid by us or our sponsors. We live in difficult times, and it is our way of helping you to continue doing the festival circuit.
5. Communication: We have an entire communication team that will be happy to answer any questions you may have. We believe that communication is key, and we strive to keep you informed every step of the way.
6. IMDb Film Festival: https://www.imdb.com/event/ev0049073/2023/1
Now, let's answer some frequent questions we receive:
1. What kind of premiere do you ask for? None. We will never rule out a project because it premiered in another country or festival. We don't believe in discarding projects just to have exclusivity.
2. Can I present a project premiered on YouTube? Yes, we support you 100%. We know how complicated it is to finish a project, and we are one of the few festivals in the world that accept projects uploaded to YouTube or other online platforms.
3. Can I submit a 2020 project? Yes, we do not rule out any project based on its production date. We believe that everyone deserves another chance.
We hope that you consider submitting your project to The Ring of Fire International Film Festival. We are excited to see what you have to offer and help you in your filmmaking journey. Thank you for your time!
UnShushed! Film Festival 2026
Washington, DC | November 2026
UnShushed! Film Festival is a celebration and showcase of fantasy, horror, Afrofuturism, Southern Gothic, and thriller films by Black women and emerging filmmakers.
Now in its third year, UnShushed! continues to amplify bold storytelling, visionary filmmakers, and genre-bending narratives centered on Black women.
For 2026, we are excited to expand our submission formats and now welcome vertical films (9:16 aspect ratio) alongside traditional horizontal formats.
If your film is strange, magical, terrifying, surreal, futuristic, or genre-blending — we want to see it.
The festival takes place November 2026 in Washington, DC and features:
Film Screenings
Awards
Filmmaker Q&A Sessions
Workshops
Networking Opportunities
UnShushed! is a space where genre filmmaking by Black women is celebrated, supported, and seen.
About UnShushed!
UnShushed! Film Festival was created to highlight genre storytelling by Black women, a space where horror, fantasy, speculative fiction, and surreal storytelling can thrive.
We celebrate films that are:
Bold
Experimental
Visually striking
Emotionally powerful
Unapologetically imaginative
Bring us your ghosts, monsters, futures, folklore, nightmares, and dream worlds.
We can’t wait to experience your films.
See you at UnShushed! Film Festival 2026.
Love, Sex & Cinema Film Festival is an international, Berlin-based short film festival dedicated to cinema that treats intimacy as storytelling – not spectacle.
We showcase bold, thoughtful films that explore love, desire, vulnerability, and emotional closeness. From subtle gestures to raw encounters, the films we programme are unafraid to look closely at what it means to be human.
Love, Sex & Cinema was created to fill a curatorial gap. Films that engage openly with intimacy often fall between categories: too emotionally exposed or sexually frank for conservative festivals, yet misaligned with festivals that frame sex primarily through erotic spectacle, pornography, kink, or niche subcultures.
The festival exists for the vast middle ground, where intimacy is narrative, emotional, political, and deeply human.
We welcome narrative, documentary, and experimental short films (up to 20 minutes). Explicit sexual content – including real sex – is welcome when it serves a clear cinematic or emotional purpose, but sex does not need to be present. What matters is depth, intention, and how closeness functions within the film.
The inaugural edition will take place September 16–17, 2026, at Il Kino in Berlin, an independent cinema known for thoughtful programming and a strong film community.
Built by filmmakers, for filmmakers, the festival approaches stories of closeness, desire, and vulnerability with seriousness, openness, and respect.
What Kind of Films Are We Looking For?
We are looking for short films (up to 20 minutes) that engage seriously and thoughtfully with love, sex, intimacy, desire, and human connection.
Sex does not have to be present.
Films centred on love, longing, consent, self-love, coming of age, emotional intimacy, relational tension, etc. are just as welcome. What matters to us is not explicitness, but depth and intention.
We welcome:
Narrative shorts
Documentary shorts
Experimental work – as long as there is a clear story, idea, or emotional through-line.
Form, tone, genre are all flexible.
Explicit sexual content – including real sex – is welcome when it is used with intention. Sex can be provocative, confronting, sensual, unsettling, or even titillating. We are interested in work that understands sex as a cinematic tool, something that can carry meaning, tension, pleasure, power, or purpose.
What matters to us is that intimacy, bodies, and sexual acts are doing something within the film: shaping character, advancing an idea, challenging the viewer, or deepening the emotional or narrative experience, rather than existing in isolation or as empty spectacle.
We are less interested in work where sex is the entire point, and more interested in work where love or sex is part of a larger cinematic conversation. We are drawn to films that trust the audience, resist simplification, and approach intimacy with emotional honesty and cinematic intention.
It's an international short film festival that stands out for its socially oriented themes.
The short films participating in this festival have only one admission category related to social and solidarity themes. Since 2018, we've been using the Festhome platform.
In all these editions, the awarded short film categories have been:
Best Social Movie
Best Actor under 17
The first edition took place in September 2017, in the evocative location of the Santuario del Sacro Monte in Varese, with Silent Movie projections via headphones, directly in front of the church.
In the editions from 2018 to December 2025, we received more than 2,500 short films from approximately 50 countries around the world. 2025 editions has been held in Lecce, at the Biblioteca Ogni Bene, former Augustinian Convent. Here are the winners. for the final.
FCTS: 21 Years Celebrating the Seventh Art, in the Heart of Todos Santos
The Todos Santos Film Festival (FCTS) is the undisputed epicenter of South Californian, Mexican, and Latin American cinema in Baja California Sur.
More than a festival, we are a cultural movement that has captivated audiences and film professionals alike.
Our selection of feature films, documentaries, and short films, many of them exclusive premieres and award-winning films at international festivals, is rigorously curated to offer you the best of contemporary cinema.
We have been honored by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (Golden Globes) for our programming excellence and commitment to the community.
Iconic figures such as Diego Luna, Dolores Heredia, and Tenoch Huerta have shared their talent and passion at our festival, enriching the cinematic dialogue.
Through our Leonardo Perel Film School and various community activities, we foster education, creativity, and a love of film among all ages.
The FCTS is more than a festival; it's a transformative experience.
We invite you to immerse yourself in the fascinating world of cinema, discover new voices, and become part of a vibrant community that celebrates diversity and creativity.
Be part of Baja California Sur's film history!
Check out our full program and find out how you can participate.
MACAU INTERNATIONAL SHORT FILM FESTIVAL (“FESTIVAL”) is an annual worldwide audio-visual festival that aims to motivate overseas and Macau short film and music videos productions to compete in this FESTIVAL.
The Festival was previously known as "Sound & Image Challenge" and was first launched in 2010 focusing only on an audiovisual competition for local talent. This initiative was co-founded with professionals in film, music, sound and image fields, with two priorities: to promote the Creative Industries in the audiovisual sector and highlight the local talents in the production of sound and moving image design. Over the years, it expanded across 5 continents, grew and gained recognition, and finally became a short film festival in 2015.
The Festival will be held from 6 to 12 December 2026. A series of cultural programs will be scheduled in venues throughout Macau during the Festival week, such as public screenings of “SHORTS & VOLUME” official selection, Masterclasses of film production, development, International Film Festival curatorship and organising; audience voting for “Audience Award”; as well as gala awards ceremony.
RURÉFILOS, International Film and Rural World Festival is a multidisciplinary meeting point in which, through audiovisual language, a space is provided for debate and creative reflection on the past, present and future of the rural world.
Horizons IA – Punta del Este International AI Film Festival – celebrates its first edition from May 27 to 31 at The Grand Hotel in Punta del Este (Maldonado, Uruguay). This new international event is dedicated to exploring the creative possibilities of cinema made with artificial intelligence and the new forms of storytelling that emerge from the dialogue between artists and generative technologies.
Over five days, Horizons IA will present a selection of short films from around the world, along with talks, meetings, and the participation of national and international guests linked to cinema, technology, and digital arts.
With free admission, the festival seeks to become an open space for discovering new perspectives, experimenting with the audiovisual languages of the future, and connecting creators who are expanding the horizons of cinema in the age of artificial intelligence.
