How to choose the right short film festivals
How to build a festival list that fits your short film, from award-qualifying festivals to genre, local and student events, without wasting your budget.
There are thousands of film festivals, and most accept short films. Picking the right ones for your film saves money, avoids disappointment and gives the film its best chance of being seen by the people who matter for your career.
Start with what your film is
Before you look at any lists, answer three questions honestly:
- What kind of film is it? It might be drama, comedy, documentary, animation, experimental, horror, music video or something in between. Programmers think in these categories.
- Who is it for? A general festival audience, a genre crowd, a children’s audience, a community or a niche?
- How strong is it? Compare it with the shorts you have seen at the festivals you admire. A clear-eyed answer helps you balance ambitious targets against likely selections.
The 2013 Greenhorn festival held a whole panel on the line between short film and artist moving image, and it is a useful exercise. If your film sits closer to the gallery than the cinema, festivals such as Oberhausen and artist moving image programmes may suit it better than a mainstream short film festival.
The four kinds of festival on a good list
1. Award-qualifying festivals
Some festivals can make their winners eligible for the Academy Awards, the BAFTA short film awards, the British Independent Film Awards or the European Film Awards. In the UK, BAFTA-qualifying festivals include Encounters in Bristol, the London Short Film Festival, Aesthetica, Leeds International and Glasgow Short Film Festival. Internationally, Clermont-Ferrand, Tampere, Annecy, Palm Springs ShortFest and many others give Oscar-qualifying prizes.
These are the most competitive festivals, and qualification usually depends on winning a named award, not just being selected. Treat them as ambitious targets. The lists change every year, so check the BAFTA and Academy rules.
2. Genre and specialist festivals
Horror, animation, documentary, LGBTQ+, comedy, dance, climate, children’s film and many other specialisms have dedicated festivals. A good genre short has a much better chance at a festival devoted to its genre, and the audiences there are often the most enthusiastic.
3. Local and regional festivals
Festivals in your city or region are more likely to programme local filmmakers, and you can attend. That matters, because meeting other filmmakers and programmers is a large part of what festivals are for.
4. Festivals for new filmmakers
Some festivals exist specifically for first films, student films or early-career filmmakers. This was Greenhorn’s purpose. These festivals understand what a first film is and often offer workshops and networking alongside screenings.
Red flags
- Festivals that seem to exist mainly to collect fees. Warning signs include dozens of award categories, “winners” announced every month, no physical screenings and no programme from earlier years that you can look up.
- No information about past editions. A real festival can tell you where and when it screened, and which films it showed.
- Pay-to-play laurels. A laurel from a festival nobody has heard of does not impress programmers or funders.
How many festivals?
For most first shorts, a list of 15 to 40 festivals works well. Make it a mix of ambitious targets, good fits and a few safe bets. Submit in waves, starting with festivals that require a premiere. Our submission guide explains the order.
Browse our festival directory to start your list.
Questions people ask
What is an Oscar-qualifying festival?
It is a festival whose winners in specified categories become eligible for the Academy Awards short film categories without needing a cinema run. Usually only the top prize or a named award qualifies, not every selected film.
Are small festivals worth it?
Yes, especially for a first film. Smaller festivals tend to programme more first-time work, look after filmmakers better and give you a real audience and conversations. They also help you collect selections and reviews.