The 2027 American Pavilion Emerging Filmmaker Showcase presented by IndieWire will be the nineteenth juried competition for The American Pavilion. Since 1989, The American Pavilion has offered unparalleled experiences in Cannes to film students and emerging filmmakers from around the world. The Emerging Filmmaker Showcase provides an opportunity for filmmakers to have their works seen by Cannes Festival and Film Market attendees.

We accept short films and documentaries with a runtime of 25 minutes or less. 20 to 30 short films and documentaries from around the world are chosen for competition. A panel of industry judges selects winners in each category (Gold House Cultural Impact Award, Emerging Filmmaker Showcase, Emerging Student Showcase, and LGBTQ+ Emerging & Student Showcase). The official selections will be screened in a final competition in May during the 2027 Cannes Film Festival. Awards are presented at The American Pavilion in Narrative, Documentary, and LGBTQ+ categories.

Visit ampav.com/student-programs to learn more about The American Pavilion’s opportunities for film students in Cannes, Venice, Austin and London.

Awards & Prizes

Certificate and prizes from various prize award sponsors. We have six jury award categories:
- Gold House Cultural Impact Award
- Best Emerging Filmmaker Short Film
- Best Emerging Filmmaker Short Documentary
- Best Emerging Filmmaker Student Short Film
- Best Emerging Filmmaker Student Short Documentary
- Best Emerging Filmmaker or Student LGBTQ+ Short Film or Short Documentary

Rules & Terms

1. Films accepted for the American Pavilion Emerging Filmmaker Showcase will be projected in a Cannes Palais screening room via a digital link prepared for a DCP upload.
2. Non-English language films must have English subtitles or be dubbed in English.
3. The number of screenings, date, time and location of the screenings of the film are at the discretion of the American Pavilion Emerging Filmmaker Showcase.
4. If you wish your exhibition hard-drive or thumb drive returned, you must send a self-addressed stamped envelope.
5. The American Pavilion reserves the right to complete any information not supplied by the filmmaker from whatever source available and will not be responsible if incorrect information is entered.
6. Make sure you include your film synopsis.
7. For Student Films, please make sure the name of your film school is noted in the cover letter or one of the sections.
8. We accept films that are 25 minutes or less.
9. Copyright 2027, 2026 and 2025. No Premiere requirements.
10. Submission fees are non-refundable.
11. Entrant(s) confirms and warrants required legal authority to submit the entry into the Showcase and to use all music, images and content in the entry.
12. Filmmaker(s) accepts responsibility for obtaining any and all clearances necessary to exhibit your film at The American Pavilion Emerging Filmmaker Showcase in-person or online; (II) warrant that you have the rights necessary to exhibit your film at The American Pavilion Emerging Filmmaker Showcase in-person or online; (III) indemnify and hold harmless The American Pavilion, all sponsors, affiliates, and subsidiaries and any of their respective directors, officers, employees, staff, volunteers, and representatives against any claim, including attorney's fees, arising out of exhibition, or non-exhibition of your film at The American Pavilion Emerging Filmmaker Showcase, and (IV) you warrant the submission of your original work and warrant that there are no disputes regarding the ownership of the submission in question.
13. The American Pavilion provides
 one general Cannes Festival Accreditation 
badge per film that will allow access
 to the Cannes Film Festival 
competition films, Cannes ticket database, and International Pavilions. 
This is a professional film Industry event that is 
not open to the public so you cannot purchase 
tickets to individual screenings for family or 
friends. All additional team attendees must secure Cannes 
Film Festival accreditation in advance. Everyone attending the Cannes Film Festival must secure a Cannes Film Festival Accreditation Badge in order to get beyond security and attend the emerging filmmaker showcase screenings. Participants attending the Cannes Film Festival must be 18-years-old.
14. Participation in the American Pavilion Emerging Filmmaker Showcase implies understanding and acceptance of all terms included in this application.
17 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Tatiana Blackington James

    There really is no place like Cannes and every filmmaker should experience it at least once. In addition to packed screenings and parties right on the beach, the panels were first rate. Monika Skerbelis was an attentive Mother Hen, making sure we were all well cared for. IndieWire has taken over management of the Pavilion and I hope they grow it. Literally every other country's pavilion is government sponsored and therefore free, unlike AmPav, which charges for membership. We indie American filmmakers have no state support and must rely on the sponsorship of businesses like Penske Media. A special shout out to the hardworking student filmmakers who put in long hours staffing.

    June 2026
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  • Anne Koolen

    This was a really really awesome experience! Huge thanks to everyone from American Pavilion for offering me and my crew this opportunity to showcase our film at the Cannes film festival. The communication with the organisers went very smooth and they were always willing to answer our questions. The other films in the showcase were very good too, making me proud to screen alongside them.

    May 2026
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  • Daniel Talbott

    I could write a book about my love for Monika and the American Pavilion! This entire experience is incredible and absolutely submit your film. Cannes is magic and crazy in the best way and the ocean there is life restoring.

    xo and thank you so much for including us.

    May 2026
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  • Sydne Horton

    I am still beaming over the experience my SATURDAY RITUAL team and I had with the American Pavilion Emerging Filmmaker Showcase! Monika took care of us filmmakers every step of the way from top notch hospitality and communication to building an exceptional showcase of films and panels. There were also ample networking opportunities and there was a great sense of an artist forward community. This really was a festival dream come true and I'll be cherishing it for years to come!

    June 2025
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  • Beck Williams

    What an incredible experience! Thank you so much to Monika and the whole team for a truly unforgettable and special time in Cannes. Being part of this showcase and invited to screen our film at Cannes has been a dream come true. I was floored by the selection of films in this showcase, and it was an honor to be among them. I don't think it quite hit me the extent of how significant this all was until I was there. Along with the showcase comes accreditation and a badge for both the whole festival and access to the American Pavilion which easily became a favorite hub during the week – right on the beach, it was stunning. It's hard to sum up into words, but being part of Cannes, meeting so many awesome and kind people, going to great panels at AmPav, everything was magical. I felt truly at home, cared for, and part of something wonderful. Thanks again, Monika and team – your passion and championing us filmmakers means a lot.

    June 2025
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