BIFA is a new festival located in Berlin, big city with rich history and culture. The purpose of the festival is to find new talent and promote them. We are interested in getting submissions from all countries and from filmmakers with different budget. The films with low budget are also interesting for us, because the most important are new ideas, your vision and approach. Send us your film and the jury will watch it. Selected films will be screened in the cinema Babylon. Apart of the screenings program will include different events which will help filmmakers to get to know each other and share their ideas. The culmination of the festival is an awards ceremony and a party/ We are open to new ideas. Just be creative! It will be appreciated. Berlin is waiting for you!

Awards & Prizes

Feature Film

Crystal Obelisk and certificate is awarded to the Best Feature Film
Short Film

Crystal Obelisk and certificate is awarded to the Best Short Film
Animated Film

Crystal Obelisk and certificate is awarded to the Best Animated Film
Music Video

Best Music Video - Crystal Obelisk and certificate
There will also be the following awards for:

Best Actor (Male) - certificate.

Best Actor (Female) – certificate.

Best Director – certificate.

Best Screenplay – certificate.

Best Cinematography – certificate.

Best Original Music Score – certificate.

Rules & Terms


We encourage the submission of international film or video entries, but all entries must be in English or have English dubbing or subtitles.
All entries must be available for screening during the festival. We welcome Feature Films and Short Films.
You may submit as many entries as you like. Each entry requires its own entry fee. Fees are not refundable.
We accept online submissions.
Please submit films using FilmFreeway.
All films should have been completed within 2016-2018.
All awards are based on the overall merit of the entry. Decisions by the judges are final.
Festival does not deal with any copyright issues. All copyright issues should be resolved by the film authors.
Filmmakers and screenwriters retain 100% all of the rights to their projects and materials that they submit to the Berlin Independent Film Awards.
You agree to indemnify and hold harmless us, our officers, affiliates, employees, and partners from any and all claims and liability arising out of entering or transmitting your film to the Berlin Independent Film Awards.
Filmmakers are not paid for screening at the Festival and Berlin Independent Film Awards does not provide submission fee waivers
At least one representative of the team should be present at the award ceremony.