Finding your way

As a filmmaker, some things are very important: making films, obtaining funding and showing the film to the rest of the world out there! Around the globe there are so many great festivals and events that it is easy to lose track of what is happening. Among everything that is going on, it can be difficult to realistically assess which festival is the right one for your film.

Because of that CineSud Magazine started publishing monthly articles with the most interesting and promising international film festivals that you can submit to the following months. Next to that we give an overview of interesting funding options in the heart of the Netherlands, Belgium as well as Germany.

Film Festivals

Slamdance Film Festival

Submission deadline: October 1
Festival dates: January 22 - January 28

The Slamdance Film Festival is a showcase for raw and innovative filmmaking that lives and bleeds by its mantra: By Filmmakers, For Filmmakers. Filmmakers who first presented their work at the festival are now amongst the biggest names in the entertainment industry. Alumni who have shown their early short films and debut features at Slamdance include Rian Johnson (Star Wars: The Last Jedi), Ari Aster (Midsommar), Gina Prince-Bythewood (Love and Basketball), The Russo Brothers (Avengers: Endgame), Bong Joon Ho (Parasite), Lena Dunham (Girls), Jon M. Chu (Crazy Rich Asians), Lynn Shelton (Little Fires Everywhere) and Christopher Nolan (Dunkirk). [Read more]

Sundance Film Festival

Submission deadline: October 2 (Features)
Festival dates: January 21 - January 31

Every winter in Utah, the Sundance Film Festival becomes the ultimate gathering of original storytellers and audiences seeking new voices and fresh perspectives. The annual program includes dramatic and documentary features and short films; series and episodic content; and New Frontier, showcasing emerging media in the form of multimedia installations, performances, and films. On top of that daily filmmaker conversations, panel discussions, and live music events are being hosted. [Read more]

Clermont-Ferrand Short Film Festival

Submission deadline: October 5
Festival dates: January 29 - February 6

Today, the Clermont-Ferrand Short Film Festival is the world's largest film festival dedicated to short films. In term of audience and professional presence, it is the second largest film festival in France after Cannes. The festival is at the heart of many activities and missions conducted all year long by the collective Sauve qui peut le court métrage. [Read more]

Miami International Short Film Festival

Submission deadline: October 15
Festival dates: March 5 - March 14

Miami Film Festival is a world-class platform for International and Ibero-American films. Presenting its 38th edition next year, the Festival showcases the work of the world's best emerging and established filmmakers to the diverse cosmopolitan community of Miami. The Festival has had the privilege of hosting a noted group of filmmakers and talent over its four decades, including Pedro Almodóvar, Abel Ferrara, Spike Lee, Andy Garcia, Patricia Clarkson and many more. [Read more]

Funding

Dutch Deadlines

Nederlands Film Fonds:
- Teledoc (October 5)
- Teledoc Campus (October 12)
- Ontwikkeling mainstream speelfilm en lange animatie (October 13) 
- Realisering mainstream speelfilm en lange animatie (October 13)
- Realisering Screen NL (speelfilm, documentaire, animatie) (October 13)
- Netherlands Film Incentive (October 19)
- Realisering minoritaire coproductie (October 19)

Belgian Deadlines

Flemish Audiovisual Fund:
- Projecten 2021 (October 15)
- Microprojecten 2021 (October 15)
- Projecten regionale spreiding 2021 (October 15)
- Conceptatelier voor animatiereeksen October 19)
- Internationale promotiesteun Filmfonds (October 30)

German Deadlines

Medienstiftung NRW:
- Graduation Film (October 15)