The 7th Aaaargh Retro Film Festival stands out for its unique atmosphere and captivating programming style. The event celebrates retro and cult genre cinema, providing cinephiles with an immersive experience into the world of classic films, hidden gems, and beloved cult favorites.

The festival takes place at Quai 22. This cultural center, located at the heart of the University of Namur, is perfectly situated just a few steps from the city center, easily accessible with ample parking. It boasts a beautiful screening room as well as a bar and exhibition space. The bar, designed in a lounge style, provides visitors with the opportunity not only to refresh themselves but also to meet others, engage in discussions, and network.

As dedicated fans of genre films, our selection at ARFF is strictly genre-based. We do not accept any other type of short films than the ones that fit into the “genre category” (sci-fi, horror, fantasy, thriller,…)

Best International Short Award
Best Belgian Short Award
Audience Award - determined by audience votes for the best short film from all categories

The winners from each category will receive an Indie-Clips Original Interview: directors will be invited online to discuss the behind-the-scenes of their short film, and share their story to a large audience. This special interview will be published and promoted on indie-clips.com. (https://indie-clips.com/original-interviews).

THE FESTIVAL

1. The aim of ARFF is to showcase emerging talents in genre cinema. The selection will feature the best of genre films: science fiction, horror, fantasy, thriller, etc. Fictional or animated short movies that are strange or closely aligned with genre film will be considered for selection. Movies that don't respect these criteria will be automatically disqualified.

2. The 6th edition of ARFF will take place end of October (dates TBC) in Namur (Belgium).

THE SUBMISSION

3. The deadline for submission is Saturday, August 2, 2025.

4. The official selection will be announced on Saturday, September 6, 2025.

5. Once a movie has been submitted, it cannot be withdraw from the selection process.

6. Submissions must include:
- Film title;
- Running time;
- Country;
- Production end date;
- Director's name;
- Production company's name;
- Poster in HD;
- A synopsis in French or English;
- A minimum of two promotional images in HD;
- A link to the movie in HD password protected or not ;

Incomplete submissions will not be considered.

7. We accept films from any production year. Maximum running time is 20 minutes, including credits.

8. Movies must be in their original version. If the spoken language is not French, subtitles in French or English must be provided, even if the spoken language is English.

9. We accept short films that have already been screened at other festivals or are available online. We do not require exclusivity for screenings in our festival. However, if the movie has not been screened in Belgium at the time of submission and is selected for another festival in Belgium between submission and selection, please inform us. Please also let us know about the premiere of your film (worldwide, international, European, Belgian).

10. If submitting more than one film, a separate completed entry is required for each title.

11. All short films submitted will compete for the Audience Award.

TECHNICAL INFORMATION

12. Selected movies must be sent in DCP format by Sunday, October 12, 2025, at the latest, to avoid cancellation. We only accept unencrypted DCP in the following formats:
- 2K-DCI: 1998x1080p or 2048x858p.
- Audio: from stereo to 5.1.
Please ensure that if you share your DCP copy via a hyperlink, it is uploaded in a zipped format. The parent folder containing your DCP must be zipped.

13. The transportation (to and from) of the films will be at the expense, risk, and liability of the participants.

DIRECTOR ATTENDANCE

14. The festival does not cover expenses related to the transport, accommodation, or stay of guests related to selected movies. However, if the director attends the festival, they will receive a pass granting access to all screenings.

INSURANCE

15. The festival will not purchase insurance for the loss, theft, or damage of selected film copies, whether during transportation, storage or screening.

EXPLOITATION

16. Participants grant ARFF permission to use screenshots for promotional purposes. They also allow ARFF to reproduce a sample, not exceeding 2 minutes, for promotional purposes on television or the internet, or to create a teaser.

LEGAL NOTICE

17. Participation in the festival implies your agreement to adhere to the current rules. In case of conflict, only the French version of this regulation will be considered, and only the Belgian Court of First Instance will have jurisdiction.

18. All submissions not adhering to these terms will be rejected.

20. Rejected submissions will not be refunded

Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • very good festival, thank you 7eme Aaaargh

    December 2024
  • Matteo La Capria

    Superbe festival, très bon moment passé sur place avec une jolie sélection et un accueil chaleureux de Fréderic et toute l'équipe !

    November 2024
  • Serch Ssiruela

    Fantastic festival. Congratulations and thanks for the selection

    November 2024
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    Response from festival:

    Thank you Siruela for the feedback. We were delighted to showcase your short film at our festival, and we’re excited to follow your future projects.

  • Andrii Makarchenko

    A very interesting, original and respectable film festival. Live screenings, discussions, serious and competent jury. I recommend submitting films. I wish the festival success and prosperity.

    November 2024
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    Response from festival:

    Thank you, Andrii, for your rating. It was a joy to present your short film at our festival, and we look forward to seeing what you create next.

  • Bekim Vanbosche

    "I wasn't able to attend, but my brother went in my place, and he said the festival was very well-organized. Although it doesn’t have many sponsors, they do their best to create a great experience. The organizers are respectful and very kind, showing a lot of appreciation for the filmmakers. My brother mentioned that everyone he met was wonderful, and the festival showcased high-quality films. Communication was also good. Definitely worth submitting to!

    November 2024
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    Response from festival:

    Thank you, Bekim, for the rating. It was a pleasure to screen your short film at our festival, and we look forward to seeing more of your work in the future.