International Short Film Festivals And International Short films are prominent all around the globe because of their astounding features.

We have listed down the top 10 international film festivals.

• Festival de Cannes

The Cannes festival has been celebrated in France since 1946. Despite the fact that the celebration initially existed from eight years back since 1938 yet its legitimate celebration began in 1946. Until 2003 it was known as an international film festival. This year it will be their 73rd edition of the festival. They say their mission is to draw attention to raise the profile of films with the aim of contributing towards the development of cinema, boosting the film industry worldwide, and celebrating cinema at the international level. It is also among the “big five” film festivals. It is celebrated every year in or around may. In the wake of the covid19 pandemic during 2020, the festival was first postponed to October, and later on, it was called off. It is mostly reserved for only film industry professionals and is off-limits to the general public. Well, the good news is that this year’s event dates are out, from 6th July 2021 to 17th July 2021. The last date for submission of short films is on 2nd April 2021. To participate you can first read rules and regulations and then set up your account here. 

• Sundance film festival

The Sundance film festival is organized in  Park City, Utah, Salt Lake City, Sundance resort every year in the month of January by the sundance institute. It is one of the largest independent film festivals in the United States. It features both short and long films in different categories. This festival has been running since August 1978. This year the festival was celebrated on the online platform from 28th January 2021 to 3rd February 2021. You can check the highlights of the 2021 event here. Sundance film festival’s early submission date for short films is the 7th of august whereas the last date is the 14th of September and charges depend on the date of submission, the earlier the submission the lower the cost. You can read the regulations and submit them. 

• Palm spring international festival of short films

It is one of the largest international short film festivals in the country and is celebrated every year in the month of June in Palm Springs, California, United States. It’s a 7 days long event in which they feature more than 350 short films and they also hold the short film market with over 3000 new short films every year. Assigned by AMPAS, BAFTA, BIFA, and Goya Awards as an honor qualifying celebration, and licensed by the International Short Film Conference, the Palm Springs International ShortFest and Short Film Market is perhaps the most acclaimed short film exhibit on the planet. This year the palm spring international festival of short films will start on 22nd June 2021 and end on 28th June 2021. Read all the eligibility criteria for the event and then you can submit your work on the film freeway. The last date for submission is on 19th February 2021.

• Clermont-Ferrand international short film festival

After the Cannes festival, the Clermont-Ferrand international short film festival is the 2nd largest film festival of France with respect to crowd and expert participation, bragging more than 160,000 participants and 3,500 experts yearly. It is also the biggest international film festival dedicated to short films for 40 years. In 1986  Clermont-Ferrand international short film festival came up with a short film market, with the expectation to raise the financial profile of the short movies. Due to the covid19 pandemic, the festival has moved to an online platform. Registration for this year is closed now and will soon open in March. You can check out the entry procedure here. 

• Aspen shorts fest

Aspen shorts fest stepped its foot in 1979. It is an annual Oscar-qualifying film festival recognized as one of the best international short film festivals. It is celebrated every year in the month of April. Every April energetic crowds, producers, and uncommon visitors from around the planet assemble to partake in open screenings, boards, workshops, and different merriments that spotlight the workmanship and art of short movie making. Aspen takes the passage of just short movies under 40 moments of time. This year’s late submission date was on 2nd December and the festival is set up from 6th April 2021 to 11th April 2021. For further information about rules click here. 

• Berlin international film festival

Berlin international film festival also known as Berlinale has been celebrated every year in the month of February since 1978. It is located in Berlin, Germany. With around 300,000 tickets sold and 500,000 affirmations every year, it has the biggest public participation of any yearly film celebration. Berlin international film festival showcases many other sections along with shorts. You can send your entries by setting up an account here. The Berlinale Talents, seven days in length arrangement of talks and workshops, is a social event of youthful producers held in association with the celebration.

• London short film festival

They say “(LSFF) is an international short film festival not afraid to take creative risks and nurture new talent, something rarely seen in this age of austerity and conformity.” — i-D. The London Short Film Festival began in 2002. It is a BAFTA-associated celebration, empowering acknowledged UK producers to apply for the 2020 BAFTA grants. It is conducted every year in the month of January at different places in London. Awards Are presented in 5 different categories: best international short film, best documentary short film, best animated short film, random acts award, and best low budget short film. LSFF successfully completed its 2021 event in January and dates for 2022  are out. The late deadline to submit your work for 2022 is 9th august 2021. You can check further details about the rules and submission here. 

• Drama international short film festival

Drama international short film festival was started in 1978 by the drama film club of Greece. Later on, looking at its significance it was adopted by the municipality of drama and then by the Greek state. By the time of 1995, it was an international short film festival. 

It is a 6-day event organized every year in September in Greece. In short, The celebration presents a yearly International Competition demonstrating the best new movies from Greece and around the planet, just as equal occasions including interviews, book introductions, boards, and systems administration for producers and experts. This year the submission deadline is 31st March 2021 and the event will commence from 18th to 26th September. You can submit your short film here. 

• Athens international film+video festival

Athens international film festival was founded in 1974. The AIFVF has been screening best in international films for 47 years. The 2020 AIFVF was postponed to 2021 due to the rise of the covid19 pandemic. This festival is celebrated every year in the month of April in Athens, Greece. This year the program will begin on 9th April and end on 19th April 2021. The submission deadline for the same was closed on 10th December 2020. Click here to get further details.

• Bermuda international film festival

The Bermuda International Film Festival (BIFF) is a yearly spring occasion that features the best in world film. The celebration highlights top movies from the world’s driving producers just as presents new abilities from around the planet. The Bermuda international film festival started its work in 1997. Notwithstanding the authority choices, the celebration incorporates exceptional occasions, movie producer Q&As, board conversations, masterclasses, and the sky’s the limit from there. The last deadline to submit your work for the Bermuda international film festival is 31st march 2021. You can submit it here.

You can check our previous blog for the Top 10 short film festivals in India.