Afterlight Film Festival is a monthly online film festival celebrating bold independent filmmaking from around the world.

Dedicated to showcasing emerging voices, cinematic storytelling, and distinctive creative vision, Afterlight welcomes films across all genres and styles, with a focus on strong direction, compelling performances, and memorable visual storytelling.

The festival was created to provide filmmakers with a modern and accessible platform for recognition, discovery, and celebration. Whether you are an emerging filmmaker, student creator, independent artist, or established filmmaker experimenting with new ideas, Afterlight aims to recognise work that leaves a lasting impression.

As an online-only festival, Afterlight Film Festival embraces the evolving landscape of independent cinema while maintaining a strong focus on quality storytelling and cinematic craft. Each month, selected projects are recognised through Official Selections, Finalists, and Award Winners.

Selected films and winners receive professionally designed laurels and digital certificates.

All submissions are reviewed by an internal panel of filmmakers and creatives.

Awards & Prizes

• Best Short Film
• Best Director
• Best Actor
• Best Actress
• Best Cinematography
• Best Editing
• Best Horror/Thriller Short
• Best Comedy Short
• Best Drama Short
• Best Proof of Concept
• Best Micro Short (Under 5 Minutes)
• Best Featurette (30–45 Minutes)
• Best First-Time Filmmaker
• Best Student Short
• Best Musical Score
• Best Animated Short
• Best Experimental Short

Eligibility notes:

• All films submitted to standard categories must be under 30 minutes in runtime.
• Only films submitted to the Best Featurette category may exceed 30 minutes, with a maximum runtime of 45 minutes.
• Best First-Time Filmmaker is open to directors submitting either their first or second completed short film.
• Best Student Short is open to filmmakers actively engaged in film studies during the production of the submitted film.

Selected projects may receive:

• Official Selection Laurel
• Finalist Laurel
• Winner Laurel
• Digital Award Certificate

Award winners and official selections are announced monthly through FilmFreeway.

Rules & Terms

• Afterlight Film Festival is an online-only monthly film festival.

• Films from all countries are welcome.

• All genres and styles are accepted.

• All standard short film submissions must be under 30 minutes in runtime, including credits.

• Featurettes submitted to the Best Featurette category must be between 30 and 45 minutes in runtime, including credits.

• Films must have been completed on or after January 1, 2020.

• Non-English language films must include English subtitles.

• Multiple entries are permitted, though each project must be submitted separately with its own entry fee.

• Entry fees are non-refundable.

• The submitter must own all rights necessary for exhibition and promotion of the submitted work.

• By submitting, applicants grant Afterlight Film Festival permission to use trailers, posters, stills, titles, and excerpts of submitted projects for festival promotional purposes.

• The Best First-Time Filmmaker category is open to directors submitting either their first or second completed short film.

• The Best Student Short category is open to filmmakers actively enrolled in film studies, media studies, or a related educational program during the production of the submitted film. Proof of student status may be requested.

• Films are reviewed by an internal judging panel. All decisions made by the festival are final.

• Submission does not guarantee selection.

• Afterlight Film Festival reserves the right to refuse entries deemed inappropriate or not meeting festival requirements.

• The festival does not provide written feedback unless otherwise stated.