In this edition of our monthly column you will find interesting festival- and funding options with submission deadlines in February. Have a look!

Finding your way

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

That's why 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

BlackStar Film Festival

Submission deadline: February 1 (early)
Festival dates: August 3 - August 7

The BlackStar Film Festival is an annual celebration of the visual and storytelling traditions of the African diaspora and of global Indigenous communities, showcasing films by Black, Brown and Indigenous artists from around the world.

Films must be directed by a person of African descent or who otherwise identifies as Black, Brown or Indigenous, and feature persons of African descent, or tell a story of Black, Brown or Indigenous experiences.[Read more]

Fantasia Film Festival

Submission deadline: February 14 (earlybird)
Festival dates: June 14 - August 3

Fantasia is a legendary 3-week blow-out of worldwide fantastic cinema taking place each July in the heart of Montreal. An event hell-bent on showcasing the most exciting, innovative and individualistic examples of contemporary international genre cinema from every corner of the globe.

While predominantly a fantasy/action/horror festival, Fantasia has always embraced works whose sheer individuality puts them in a genre of their own. We’ve showcased everything from captivating dramas, eccentric comedies, provocative documentaries, mind-blowing experimental works, even atypical children’s films.[Read more]

Galway Film Fleadh

Submission deadline: February 18 (regular)
Festival dates: July 5 - July 10

Galway Film Fleadh is Ireland’s leading film event, a six-day international film festival taking place every July on the very edge of Europe. ‘Fleadh’ is the Irish word for a feast or a celebration, and like Galway itself, our festival is compact, bohemian, informal and fun. After hosting an online edition in 2020 and an outdoor one in 2021, we are looking forward to a triumphant return to the theatrical experience in 2022. [Read more]

Sydney Film Festival

Submission deadline: February 25 (regular)
Festival dates: June 8 - June 19

Since its inception in 1954, the Sydney Film Festival (SFF), recognised by the Federation Internationale des Associations de Producteurs de Films (FIAPF), has increased in size and reputation to become a leading international film festival in Australia. The festival takes place each June at venues across Sydney. The SFF program celebrates the best of world cinema, screening features, documentaries, short films, retrospectives and a series of industry and public talks. In 2019, just under 270 productions from over 60 countries were selected for the festival, attracting an audience of over 180,000.[Read more]