Twenty-five years ago, we started looking for short films with a voice of their own, a distinctive character, and that certain something that makes them impossible to forget. We are still looking. Submissions are now open for the International Short Film Competition at the 25th CINEMAFORUM.
If you want to bring your short film to an international audience in 2026, this is your chance to present your work to filmmakers, industry professionals, and audiences in Warsaw.
Is your film one of the best shorts in the world? Submit it and find out.
The deadline for submissions is August 28, 2026.
WHAT KIND OF FILMS ARE WE LOOKING FOR?
We invite submissions from all over the world. Eligible films must:
- be fiction films (including animated films), representing any genre or subject matter;
- have been produced within the 24 months preceding the submission deadline;
- have a runtime of less than 40 minutes.
We welcome different styles, genres, themes, and approaches to storytelling.
What matters most is the film itself.
You can find all the detailed requirements in the Rules and Regulations.
HOW TO SUBMIT A FILM?
Submitting your film to the 2026 competition is simple.
To take part in the selection process, fill out and submit the online entry form.
Film submission is free of charge, and one applicant may submit more than one film.
For the preselection process, the film should be made available online via a password-protected link.
WHAT HAPPENS AFTER YOU SUBMIT YOUR FILM?
All submitted films are reviewed by the Selection Committee, which chooses the titles that will be presented in the International Short Film Competition.
The selected films will then be evaluated by the festival Jury, consisting of professional filmmakers, television professionals, and experts working in the field of culture.
The best film in the competition will receive the GRAND PRIX.
The Jury may also award Special Awards and Honourable Distinctions, while the festival audience will choose its own winner.
SUBMIT YOUR SHORT FILM BY AUGUST 28, 2026
We do not yet know which films will become part of the programme of the 25th CINEMAFORUM.
And that is exactly what makes this open call exciting.
The best films are still waiting to be discovered.
Yours could be one of them.
Show it to us.
Submit your film to the International Short Fiction Film Competition at the 25th CINEMAFORUM – International Short Film Forum in Warsaw.