Competitions, Jury Awards & Live Screening

Apply via FilmFreeway

Creative Workshops

• Short Film Directing: Hands-on sessions or discussions led by experienced directors on the art ofshort film directing, including tips, techniques, and personal experiences.
• Short Film Screenwriting: Workshops focusing on script development, storytelling techniques, and character development.
• Cinematography: Technical workshops on camera work, lighting, and visual storytelling. Signup

Arthouse Film

• Aesthetics & Visual Style: Exploring unconventional cinematography, narrative structures, and artistic visuals.
• Thematic Depth: Developing films with rich, symbolic themes, often touching on existential issues.
• Character-Driven Stories: Crafting complex, nuanced characters and minimalist performances.
• Experimental Techniques: Integrating avant-garde editing, sound, and hybrid genres, integration European cinema aestetics.
• Auteur Filmmaking: Emphasizing personal voice and creative vision in directing.
• Distribution & Audience: Strategies for reaching niche audiences and navigating arthouse film distribution.

These workshops aim to inspire and equip filmmakers to create unique, artistically-driven films. Signup

Distribution Programs

• Market Access: Affiliated film markets where accredited industry professionals can buy, sell, or license films. Our festival is committed to assist filmmakers and audiences to find each other. We network with a wide variety of distributors, VOD platforms, wholesalers, DVD labels, digital downloads, limited theatrical, mobile streaming, online merchants and retail chains. We continue to search for original content, contemplating a wide range of prospects for the festival alumni. We provide a co-producer service to help you get your film distributed on about 30 platforms such as Prime Video, Netfilx, Apple TV, HBO, Hulu and more. You would get the revenue share of 75% with no upfront cost. Email your project info.
• Festival Badges: badges that provide access to industry-only screenings, events, and networking lounges.
• Sales Markets: Venues where distributors and buyers can view and acquire films. Signup

Q&A Sessions

• Filmmaker Q&A: After screenings, filmmakers often participate in Q&A sessions to discuss their work, creative process, and the challenges they faced during production.
• Cast & Crew Discussions: Sessions where actors, producers, and other key crew members discuss their roles and experiences on projects.
• Industry: Discussions featuring producers, distributors, agents, and other industry professionals on topics of financing, distribution, and marketing. Signup

Cinema Beyong Borders

• This category is dedicated to celebrating the resilience and creativity of filmmakers from countries facing economic sanctions that restrict their access to international payment systems. We recognize the unique challenges these filmmakers encounter in bringing their stories to the world stage, and we applaud their unwavering commitment to artistic expression.
• We invite submissions from filmmakers residing in countries currently under comprehensive or selective sanctions, where financial transactions and international collaborations are severely limited.
• We believe that cinema transcends borders, and that every voice deserves to be heard. Filmmakers must reside in a country currently under comprehensive or selective economic sanctions. Submissions must be accompanied by a statement from the filmmaker explaining the challenges they faced in making the film due to sanctions.

Thematic Panels

• Diversity and Inclusion: Discussions on representation in film, both in front of and behind the camera, and how the industry can be more inclusive.
• Environmental Films: Panels that focus on films dealing with environmental issues and how filmmakers can use their platform to advocate for change.
• Social Justice: Conversations around films that tackle social issues, exploring the impact of these films and the responsibilities of filmmakers. Signup

Technical Workshops

• Sound Design: Workshops focused on the art and technology of sound in film, including recording, mixing, and effects.
• Visual Effects (VFX): Detailed sessions on creating visual effects, from CGI to practical effects, led by industry professionals.
• Production Design: Exploring the role of production design in creating the visual world of a film, including set design, costumes, and props. Signup

Emerging Technologies

• Virtual Reality (VR) & Augmented Reality (AR): Workshops exploring the use of VR and AR in storytelling and film production.
• Artificail Intelligence Workshops: AI technology is transforming the post-production phase of filmmaking by enhancing the editing and enhancement process. AI algorithms analyze footage, identify key moments, and suggest edits that improve pacing, storytelling, and visual aesthetics.
• Interactive Media: Sessions on the future of interactive storytelling, including gaming and transmedia projects. Signup

Networking & Mentorship Events

• Cocktail receptions and social gatherings: connect with peers, industry professionals, potential collaborators.
• Emerging Filmmaker Programs: Initiatives aimed at supporting new or underrepresented filmmakers through mentorship and professional development.
• Talent Labs: providing filmmakers with mentorship, workshops, and networking opportunities. Signup