The Birmingham Short Film Festival is a vibrant celebration of creativity and talent, dedicated to showcasing independent short films from around the world. Since its inception, the festival has become an integral part of Birmingham's cultural landscape, providing a platform for filmmakers, film enthusiasts, and industry professionals to connect, collaborate, and celebrate the art of short filmmaking.

Every year, the festival brings together a diverse array of short films in various genres and styles, including narrative, documentary, animation, and experimental films. Our mission is to offer emerging filmmakers an opportunity to showcase their work while also providing audiences with a rich, innovative cinematic experience.

This year's festival will feature a variety of exciting activities, including screenings, masterclasses, industry networking sessions, workshops, and an awards ceremony, all aimed at exploring the art and craft of filmmaking and celebrating the limitless potential of short films.

Opening Day
Opening Film Screening & Q&A: The festival begins with the screening of a special short film, followed by an interactive Q&A session with the filmmaker, offering insights into the creative process behind the work.
Short Film Screenings & Creative Sharing
Short Film Screenings: A selection of outstanding short films from around the globe, featuring a variety of genres and styles.
Creative Sharing Session: Directors and producers will share their filmmaking experiences, discussing the inspiration and challenges behind their works.
Masterclasses & Industry Networking
Director’s Masterclass: A renowned filmmaker will host a masterclass, offering practical advice and exploring techniques in directing, storytelling, and overcoming creative challenges.
Industry Expert Panel: A discussion on the latest trends and developments in the film industry, providing valuable insights for filmmakers and industry professionals.
Workshops & Skill Development
Screenwriting Workshop: An interactive workshop focusing on the art of writing compelling scripts for short films, covering structure, character development, and dialogue.
Editing & Post-production Workshop: Learn how to enhance your film’s narrative and visual storytelling through editing and post-production techniques.
Documentary & Animation Day
Documentary Screenings: A collection of powerful documentary short films that explore real-world issues, human stories, and diverse perspectives.
Animation Short Films Screening: A showcase of creative and innovative animated short films that push the boundaries of visual storytelling.
Awards Ceremony & Closing Film
Awards Ceremony: The festival concludes with an exciting awards ceremony, where outstanding films are recognized in categories such as Best Short Film, Best Director, Best Cinematography, and Audience Choice.
Closing Film Screening: The final short film of the festival will be screened, marking the end of the celebration with a film that embodies the spirit of the event.
Closing Day
Festival Feedback & Reception: The final day will allow filmmakers, audiences, and organizers to reflect on the festival’s success. After a feedback session, join us for a casual reception to celebrate the festival’s achievements and look forward to the future.

This format ensures the event details are clearly laid out, showcasing the exciting and diverse activities throughout the festival. Let me know if you'd like to make any changes or add more information!

Best Modern Feature Film
Best Independent Novella
Best Independent Short Film
Best Short Film
Best Mini Short Film
Best Student Film
Best Independent Animation (Feature Film)
Best Indie Animation (Novella)
Best Indie Animation (Short Film)
Best Documentary (Drama)
Best Documentary (Novella)
Best Picture (Winner)
Best Web Series
Best Voice Acting in an Animated Film
Best Love Story (Screenplay)
Best Screenplay
Audience Choice Award
Best Emerging Talent Award
Innovation in Music and Sound
Best Director
Best Drama Short Film
...

ART. 1 - Submission
Registration for the competition must be made through the online platform. The organizer will pay a non-refundable fee according to the category of entry and the registration period.
The public call opens on November 20, 2024 and closes on November 20, 2025.

ART. 2 - Submission requisites
We accept submissions from all types, including narrative, documentary, animation, and experimental short films;
The length of the short film is 5-20 minutes;
The length of the mini video is 1-5 minutes;
Web series 1-30 minutes/episode;
The film must have been completed within the last two years;
Films in languages other than English must have English subtitles;
Accepted formats: MP4 or MOV with a resolution of at least 1080p;
Make sure that the documents are of high quality and suitable for screening purposes;
Films must be submitted online through the festival’s official website or email (admin@birminghamsff.com);
Fees are non-refundable. Depending on the filing deadline, the early filing fee, the regular filing fee, and the late filing fee apply;
Films must be submitted by the deadline listed on the festival’s website. Late submissions will not be accepted;
Filmmakers may submit more than one entry, but each film must be submitted separately.

ART. 3 - Selection
Prioritize movies that haven’t been previously aired, commercially released, or released online;
Films containing offensive, discriminatory or sexually explicit content will be disqualified;
Films will be judged on originality, storytelling, direction, technical execution, and artistic merit;
The decision of the Selection Committee shall be final;
Filmmakers will be notified of their inclusion status by email prior to the specified notification date;
Selected filmmakers may be required to provide additional materials such as press kits, promotional images, and director’s biographies.

ART. - 4 Acceptance of Rules and Regulations
By submitting your film, you grant the Festival the non-exclusive right to screen your work for the duration of the event;
The Festival reserves the right to use clips, stills and promotional materials from the selected films for marketing purposes;
Submitters must ensure that all content in their film (music, footage, etc.) is original or properly licensed;
Once a film has been selected, it cannot be withdrawn from the festival program.