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 is 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

Aspen Shortfest

Submission deadline: August 4 (early bird deadline)
Festival dates: April 2-7, 2024

Aspen Shortsfest is an Oscar®-qualifying film festival recognized as one of the premier short film festivals in North America. Each April, enthusiastic audiences, filmmakers and special guests from around the globe gather to participate in public screenings, panels, workshops, and other festivities that spotlight the art and craft of short form cinema. Following in the festival's long tradition of Oscar® success, The Martha Mitchell Effect by Anne Alvergue and Beth Levison became the latest Shortsfest selection to be recognized by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences when it was nominated for Best Documentary Short Film in 2023. [Read more]

London Short Film Festival

Submission deadline: August 7 (late deadline)
Festival dates: January 19 - 28, 2024

The 21st London Short Film Festival will be held in January 2024. LSFF exists to spotlight a multiplicity of filmmakers, visual artists and creatives, across intersections and with a commitment to peripheral voices. Each January, the festival hosts ten days of short form, conversation and multidisciplinary curation. We present up to 500 British and international films, collaboratively selected from 5000+ open submissions, alongside Special Events and an industry programme of workshops, panels and discussion for filmmakers and cinema workers. [Read more]

Leuven International Short Film Festival

Submission deadline: August 15 (international deadline)
Festival dates: November 24 - December 2, 2023

Leuven International Short Film Festival is the yearly place to be in December for film lovers and professionals in Belgium and abroad. As Academy Award Qualifying festival since 2012, BAFTA recognised since 2016 and European Film Award nominating since 2017, it is the main Belgian gateway to the most renowned award ceremonies worldwide. [Read more]

Tampere Film Festival

Submission deadline: August 31 (early bird deadline)
Festival dates: March 6 - 10, 2024

During 5 days approx. 400 short films in over 100 screenings, approx. 800 film professionals attending and altogether approx. 30 000 visitors attending film screenings, industry programmes and events. The passion for short film joins everybody together in relaxed atmosphere. One of the oldest and the biggest short film festivals in Europe. Academy Award®, Bafta and European Film Academy qualifying festival, recognised festival by International Federation of Film Producers Associations FIAPF and member of Short Film Conference ISFC. [Read more]

Funding

Dutch Deadlines

Nederlands Film Fonds:

- Netherlands Film Production Incentive High-End Series

- Netherlands Film Production Incentive

For all deadlines, visit Filmfonds.

Belgian Deadlines

Flemish Audiovisual Fund:

- Leadship and Ownership in Film 

For all deadlines, visit VAF.

German Deadlines

For updates, visit the official NRW-website.

Are you up-to-date?

You don't want to miss any deadlines or activities from the region? Then check our program.