UFFS (Universal Film Festival Samothraki) is a global short film festival that has made its debut the summer of 2022 in the Greek island of Samothraki, an island in the north-east of Greece near the borders with Turkey. Our three-day festival will be annual and will take place each August bringing together creators and cinema lovers from all over the world. The fifth year selected films will be screened in July - August 2026 in Samothraki, Greece and will also be published on our social media (website, Facebook page, Instagram, FilmFreeway page). Our festival will also be advertised on T.V, radio and the press.

Samothraki is a natural heaven and a popular international destination for people of all ages and this is the reason why our aim is to cover all tastes and choices through a wide range of movie categories. Samothraki is also a wonderful place, rich in archeological sites, history, natural beauties, traditional tasty food, alternative nightlife and also picturesque landscapes.

Our mission and goal is to promote culture and discover and give talented young directors and film makers from all over the world the opportunity to present their work to a wider audience. We will select films created by all genders, various cultures and traditions dealing with matters that meet our past, present or future. Science fiction films will also be welcomed since imagination is the window to our souls.

Our judges are people that have dedicated their lives to art. In addition, the festival will host parallel activities before the screenings of films such as painting and photography exhibitions, speeches by local and relevant associations related to the festival themes, exhibition stands with handicrafts, jewelry and local products, theatrical performances, music concerts, etc. Finally, during the event, actors, directors, and other experts will be invited to talk about the field of the 7th art.

Our festival is supported by Unesco Peiraios and islands and by the municipality of Samothraki.

From now on, Prague actors and filmmakers festival is becoming a sibling FESTIVAL! Which means that the #shortfilm that get the "Samothraki Award" from the general content category is automatically screened on the Prague actors and filmmakers festival in Prague!
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Awards & Prizes


UffS Prizes and awards

Samothraki award (Best short film of general content)
Best Documentary award
Best Animation Film award
Penthesilea Award (best film by a female director)
Saos Award (Best Wildlife Film)
Border Award (Best Film about Borders and Immigrants)
Best Director (honor price)
Best Actor (honor price)
Best Actress (honor price)
Best Scenario (honor price)
Audience award (honor price)

More specifically, the first six prizes will be accompanied, in addition to the papyrus with the name of the film that has won and with a statuette depicting the Nike of Samothraki (general content film) or a surprise statuette for every other category.

4th UFFS AWARDS 2025

GENERAL CONTENT - SAMOTHRAKI AWARD
“Skeleton Tree”by Haris Zalavras Greece
FEMALE DIRECTORS - PENTHESILEA AWARD
“The Armchair on the Pavement”by Mary Kolonia Greece
DOCUMENTARIES - DOCUMENTARY AWARD
“YAREN”by mehmet ali poyraz Turkey
WILDLIFE (about animals and environment) - SAOS AWARD
“Forty Days Road”by Ali Ziani Germany
ANIMATION FILMS - ANIMATION AWARD
“THE FOREST OF THE HONEY BEES”by ERWAN LE GAL France
BORDER FILMS (about borders and immigrants) - BORDER AWARD
“The Adventurers”by Armando Avallone Belgium
BEST SENARIO AWARD
“Cats Have no Roots” by Anthoniy Hristov Bulgaria
BEST DIRECTOR AWARD
“Feel Nothing Inc.” by Zoë Greenbaum United Kingdom, United States
BEST ACTOR AWARD
“Miss Dress”by Panos Boras Greece - TZORTZIS PAPADOPOULOS
BEST ACTRESS AWARD
“Jasteece” by Christina Charcharidi Greece - NENA MENTI

HONORABLE MENTIONS
SAMOTHRAKITISSA MARIA VERVERI KRAUZE HONORABLE MENTION
“The treasure of Father Giorgis by Dimitra Margaritidou Greece

Mrs. SMARO HONORABLE MENTION
"ΚΑΤΟΧΗ - ΑΝΤΙΣΤΑΣΗ - ΑΠΕΛΕΥΘΕΡΩΣΗ"
by Ion. E. Eythymiou
“Martha”by Marcel Barelli Switzerland
(best animated wild life documentary)
“The Last Hunt”by Georgios Katsilidis Greece
(best cinematography)
“Wings”by Petra Terzi Greece
(best director)
“Make Art Not War”by Alexia Tsouni Greece
(best subject)
“The drowning pool” by Enrique Novials Spain
(best story)
“The original sin of animals”by ARIS DIONISIOS ZISIMATOS Greece
(best comedy)
“Whispers” by Lefteris Keteoglou - Voula Stampelou
(best plot)

UFFS AWARDS 2024

BORDER FILMS - BORDER AWARD
Tell me something nice by Amina Rosa Krami, Nola Anwar Germany
ANIMATION FILMS - ANIMATION AWARD
A guerra finita by Simone Massi Italy
DOCUMENTARIES - DOCUMENTARY AWARD
Giorgos Gounaropoulos from Sozopol by Elisaveta Stantcheva Bulgaria
WILDLIFE MOVIES - SAOS AWARD
Metropolis - A Day in Reef City by Luca Keller Germany
FEMALE DIRECTORS - PENTHESILEA AWARD
Days of Spring by Arianne Hinz Netherlands
GENERAL CONTENT - SAMOTHRAKI AWARD
If I Knew by Piro Gjylameti Greece
AUDIENCE AWARD
Shalom - Salaam - Peace by Alexia Tsouni Greece
BEST DIRECTOR
LYUBIMA by Maya Ivanova Vitkova-Kosev Bulgaria
BEST ACTOR
YIANNIS SAMSALAKIS - Soundtrack by Maria Karamanolaki Greece
BEST ACTRESS
Lydia Vyrla Lemons by Nikos Pavlineris Greece
BEST SCENARIO
IS, or: A beautiful, tiny, reddish hair, as thin as fiber by Kostas Bakouris Greece
HONORABLE MENTION
Shalom - Salaam - Peace by Alexia Tsouni Greece
HONORABLE MENTION
In Half by Jorge Morais Valle Spain
HONORABLE MENTION
Our Earth by Elaine Artemieff

UFFS 2023 Award Winners

SAMOTHRAKI AWARD (General Content)
LE BANC by Fotis Kelepouris - Greece
PENTHESILEA AWARD (films by female directors)
Sock’s Manifesto by Angeliki Pardalidou - Greece 4:00
SAOS AWARD (wild life films)
A Carousel in the Rain by Jaro Jääskeläinen - Finland
DOCUMENTARY AWARD (documentary films)
Hug 65+ by Xenia Tsilochristou - Greece
BORDER AWARD (border films)
Dajla: cinema and oblivion by Arturo Dueñas Herrero - Spain
ANIMATION AWARD (animation films)
The 7th Night by AhLoong - Malaysia
BEST SCENARIO AWARD
Inside the ark or all the things that are getting lost
by Noemi Vasileiadou - Greece
BEST ACTRESS AWARD
PORFYRI LEMONIA by Dimitris Andjus - Greece
Maria Halepli - Konstantina Matwali Koutoulaki
BEST ACTOR AWARD
Second Closed of the Reflex by Francisco Santos
BEST DIRECTOR AWARD
Brearth by Julio Del Alamo
AUDIENCE AWARD
Serpent in the West by Yessika Hurdago Martinez
HONORABLE MENTION (animation Award)
Strange Town (Poli Xeni) by Eftychia Maria Kondyli - Greece
HONORABLE MENTION (Border AWARD)
In Limbo by Tutku efe - Germany
HONORABLE MENTION (general content AWARD)
Going Home by Aineias Babulis

Award winners UFFS 2022
Samothraki Award (general content) - The Promenade by Nico Falcone Georgiadis
Documentary Award - Rebetiko Underground by Apostolos and Georgios Polymeris
Animation Award - The Boy and the Mountain by Santiago Aguilera Gabriel
Penthesilia Award (films by female director) - I am Hydra by Thale Blix Fastvold
Saos Award (films about animals and environment) - North :A love letter by Ellen Hemphill
Borders Award (films about borders and immigrants) - Evros by Kyriakos Anastasiou
Best Actress - Kill them all and don't come back alone (Emma Ros) by Enrique Novials
Best actor - Janko (Primoz Bezjak) by Aleksander Kogoj Jr
Best director - Spiritus Dei by Africa Munoz Lopez
Best scenario - Flik Flok by Angeliki Pardalidou
Audience Award - 80's Craze by Domniki Kastanaki
Best Actress Honorable Mention - Cell by Nasim Kiani
Audience Award Honorable Mention - The others by Nayada Sagri

Rules & Terms


UffS RuleS

All films must be acompanied by English subtitles. Otherwise even selected they will not be screened during the festival event.
Short films must be less than 30 minutes.
Films must have been completed within the past three years.
Multiple entries from the same submitter are accepted. A separate submission and a separate entry fee must accompany each entry.
The festival authorities will have the right to retain copies of each film and the material sent as part of our festival library and can be screened in for education, promotion, awareness and commercial purposes.
The films sent to UFFS can be shown on the Greek and International T.V.,local network, Internet etc. for promotion and publicity.
Films that are submitted must be the competitor’s original work and shall not infringe any copyrights or any other rights of any third parties. Contestants agree that they have obtained all required copyright permissions regarding music, sound & images etc. presented in their film.
UFFS organizers reserve the rights to change, cancel or re-schedule the dates, place, awards & categories.
Premiere status is not required and all films are qualified to submit.
Entry fees are not refundable.

From now on, Prague actors and filmmakers festival is becoming a sibling FESTIVAL! Which means that the #shortfilm that get the "Samothraki Award" from the general content category is automatically screened on the Prague actors and filmmakers festival in Prague!
https://www.facebook.com/groups/619478042428672/permalink/1024600531916419/
17 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Zoë Greenbaum

    This is a truly wonderful small festival on a gorgeous Greek island. We had the most wonderful time and are so grateful to Kleopatra for putting together a true haven for artists and auteur filmmaking.

    October 2025
    Helpful
    Response from festival:

    Thank you so much for honouring us by attending to our festival! We had a great time too!

  • Akiko Matsumoto

    I'm truly grateful to have received this award at the Festival.

    August 2025
    Helpful
    Response from festival:

    We thank you!

  • Denise Taylor

    I’m deeply honored to have had my film officially selected for screening at the Universal Film Festival Samothraki. Although I couldn’t attend in person, the daily lineup looked truly inspiring and thoughtfully curated. Wishing the festival continued success and an exciting future ahead!

    August 2025
    Helpful
    Response from festival:

    Thank you so much!!!!

  • Ali Ziani

    It has been an honor to premiere the film at a festival where the passion of the organizers matches that of its audience.

    August 2025
    Helpful
    Response from festival:

    Thank you!!!

  • Alexia Tsouni

    A great festival with a very interesting selection of films from around the world. Well-organised and with a high level of hospitality and networking too. Congratulations and thank you so much for including our film!

    December 2024
    Helpful
    Response from festival:

    Thank you so much!!! For your support and great film! We are looking forward to seeing you again!