The island is getting ready for another year of the most enjoyable film festival in the heart of Oranjestad, Aruba. Where filmmakers and film lovers come together to celebrate the art of cinema. With different activities in Playa (Oranjestad), the festival will offer an immersive cultural experience: parties, fabulous food, movies, talks and fun.

Awards & Prizes

COMPETITION CATEGORIES
- Best International Narrative Short
- Best Narrative Feature
- Best Documentary Short
- Best Documentary Feature

The Kingdom of Shorts Competition:
- Best Short Film (Jury and Audience Awards)
Eligible countries: Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao, Sint Maarten, Sint Eustatius, Saba, and the Netherlands. Submissions must have a minimum Aruba premiere status, be no older than 18 months, preferably be 15 minutes long, and include English subtitles.

GENERAL INFORMATION
The categories for these awards are subject to change without prior notice. The recipients of the Jury Award are determined by a diverse panel of judges from various countries. The Audience Award is decided by the festival attendees, who vote using ballots collected at the theaters after screenings.

Rules & Terms

SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS
- We only accept submissions through FilmFreeway.
- Submissions are for consideration only, not guaranteed acceptance.
- Open to everyone. Unless otherwise stated in the categories.
- Films made between January 2025 and May 2026 are eligible.
- Non-English films require English subtitles.
- Films publicly screened in Aruba before the festival are ineligible.
- Online or televised films are not eligible for submission.
- World, International, Caribbean, or Aruba premieres are preferred.
- Short films 15 minutes or less are prioritized.

WAIVER REQUESTS
Given the nominal entry fee, waiver requests cannot be accommodated.

SCREENING FEE
No screening fees are paid for selected films.

RIGHTS
All rights for the film (music, story, people) must be held by the submitter.

OFFICIAL SELECTION
- Delivery of selected film files is due within one week of the announcement.
- Cinema screening is not guaranteed.
- Selection does not guarantee competition entry.
- The festival reserves the right to remove any selected film at any time.

DELIVERY FORMATS
- Digital Cinema Package (DCP) 2K or 4K and
- MP4 Full HD or 4K.
17 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Bruno Mourral

    Great film festival ! Warmly and professionally hosted by Juan Francisco and Adriano. I had the chance to enjoy some good short films while also relaxing at the beach and exploring Aruba with our amazing hosts.

    October 2025
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  • Sofian Chouaib

    We’re very happy that our short film Ya Hanouni was awarded Best International Short Film! Although we couldn’t attend in person, we truly appreciate the communication and the professional of the team. Thank you for this recognition, and I'm wishing you all the best for the future!

    October 2025
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  • Sulin Passial

    It was a great experience. the team was very accommodating and friendly. Thank you for selecting our short and having me at the festival. Looking forward to visiting again.

    October 2025
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  • Irmo Stijnberg

    For such a new festival on a small island Playa Film Festival is very professional. You can tell the organizers have roots in the industry. They really make sure you're informed, taken care of and have time to enjoy yourself and the island. The networking felt like gaining new friends. Thank you for selecting my film.
    Big love.

    October 2025
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  • Rebecca Roos

    Loved the 2025 edition. It had everything a filmmaker would want: great films and many of the filmmakers present. Resulting in inspiring conversations and new contacts

    October 2025
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