The 25th Belfast Film Festival will take place in November 2025. We are looking for submissions from the island of Ireland for our shorts programme and our NI Independents feature film strand.

SHORT FILMS
We only accept fiction shorts either made on the island of Ireland, north or south - or made by an Irish writer/director.

By submitting your short you are entering it into consideration for either the Short Film Competition or the New Cinema: Irish Shorts strands. If you want your film only to be considered for Competition, please make this clear in your submission on the custom form. If you have made a short documentary, please refer to BFF’s sister festival Docs Ireland (www.docsireland.ie) https://filmfreeway.com/DocsIreland

NI INDEPENDENTS FEATURE FILM
NI Independents hosts the best in new medium-length and feature films made in Northern Ireland. Please note the eligibility below and if you have a film which does not meet the criteria, but would like it to be considered, please contact rose@belfastfilmfestival.org

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

SHORT FILMS

1. Films must be 20 minutes or under.
2. They must have been completed between the following dates: 1st September 2024 - 31st August 2025.
3. Films must have been made in Ireland, or made by an Irish writer/director.
4. Films must not have been screened before publicly in Northern Ireland.
5. Your film must not be available in full online or have been shown on another medium e.g. TV. If your film is available in full on YouTube, etc. then it will be automatically withdrawn from the competition. Excerpts of your film, totalling no more than ten per cent of its running time are exempt from this rule.
6. Films must be available for screening as DCP or HD files
7. We want to make BFF25 as accessible as possible for younger filmmakers. To avail of our discounted 25 & UNDER submission rate, Director must be 25 or under at time of submission. Please provide DOB as proof of age.

No refunds will be given in the event of failure to comply with the terms and conditions.

If you have any questions about eligibility, please contact james@belfastfilmfestival.org.

The decision of the programming committee is final. Due to the large amount of submissions received BFF cannot enter into any discussion regarding films that are not selected for the festival.

By submitting your film you are acknowledging that you have cleared all rights for screening, and are happy for images to be reproduced for the purpose of promoting the festival.

NI INDEPENDENTS

1. Films must be at least 30mins in length (for short film submissions see above)
2. They must have been completed between the following dates: 1st September 2024 - 31st August 2025.
3. Priority will be given to films made and produced in Northern Ireland with key creative team and cast originating in Northern Ireland. It is important to note that this category focuses on Northern Irish film.
4. Films must not have been screened before in Northern Ireland or online.
5. Your film must not be available in full online or have been shown on another medium e.g. TV. If your film is available in full on YouTube, etc. then it will be automatically withdrawn from the competition. Excerpts of your film, totalling no more than ten per cent of its running time are exempt from this rule.
6. Films must be available for screening as HD files.
7. We want to make BFF25 as accessible as possible for younger filmmakers. To avail of our discounted 25 & UNDER submission rate, Director must be 25 or Under at time of submission. Please provide DOB as proof of age.

No refunds will be given in the event of failure to comply with the terms and conditions.

The decision of the programming committee is final. Due to the large amount of submissions received BFF cannot enter into any discussion regarding films that are not selected for the festival.

By submitting your film you are acknowledging that you have cleared all rights for screening, and are happy for images to be reproduced for the purpose of promoting the festival.

If you have any questions about NI Independents eligibility, please contact rose@belfastfilmfestival.org.

Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Maeve Murphy

    It was a really smooth pleasant experience in the run up and I loved the screening, really alive and buzzy and fresh.

    December 2024
  • mark mccausland

    The festival was extremely professional with super venues and the organizers couldn't do enough to meet our particular needs. We were able to sell out in a 250 seat theatre and this, together with the promotional work surrounding our event was so valuable to an indie film such as ours.

    December 2024
  • Great people, great films. Loved being in Belfast and seeing so many local talents.

    December 2024
  • It's always a treat when we can submit a client to this festival - their hospitality is great! We were thrilled to have our client BEST BEFORE screen in 2024.

    November 2024
  • Rachel Walshe

    Such a lovely, welcoming and well curated festival. I was delighted to be a part of it and hope to submit again.

    November 2024