The Cardiff Mini Film Festival has been taking over unusual venues to screen film since 2012. To ensure any newcomers to the industry aren't obliterated by any high budget production companies we separate our fiction programming into high budget and low budget, so please ensure you tell us what your budget was for the actual making of the film (marketing and distribution excluded).

You can expect to watch a film in a coffee shop vault, a shopping centre basement, an antiques market, themed bars and any other fantastic unusual venues we can get our hands on. This is a festival for those that like to mingle with a drink throughout the day whilst enjoying the best up and coming short films.

All kinds of people come to our festival, from actors to musicians, as well as special guests from within the industry which in the past have included Boyd Clack (Twin Town, Satellite City, High Hopes), Kirsten Jones (Satellite City, High Hopes), Philip John (Being Human, Kevin Allen (Twin Town), Downton Abbey) Ryan Eddleston (Prevenge), Kevin Allen (Twin Town), S4C, Ffilm Cymru Wales, Creative Skillset, Festival Formula, Cult Cymru and many more people to meet to discuss your career in the industry.

We also screen many special under distributed films for those film lovers out there, in underused spaces such as bars and empty shops.

We are supported by Ffilm Cymru Wales and the BFI.

Awards & Prizes

Best International Fiction Short Trophy (Low budget)
Best Welsh Fiction Short Trophy

Best International Fiction Big Spender Trophy (High Budget)
Best Welsh Fiction Big Spender Trophy

Best International Female Director Fiction Trophy
Best Welsh Female Director Fiction Trophy

Best International Documentary Short Trophy
Best Welsh Documentary Short Trophy

Best International Music Video Trophy
Best Welsh Music Video Trophy

Best International Twisted Tale Trophy
Best Welsh Twisted Tale Trophy

Best International One Minute Wonder Trophy
Best Welsh One Minute Wonder Trophy

Audience Choice Award Trophy
The winner of this category will receive software courtesy of Adobe

There is also a pitch competition with £6000/$6650 worth of prizes and mentor assistance available for the winner.

Rules & Terms

Films must have been made after January 2018.

Our panel comprises of industry judges who are not connected with the festival. Their decision is the final decision.

We may use a short clip of your film in our festival trailer. By submitting you are allowing us to also screen your film at the festival.

There will be no refunds to those who have not read the rules for entry and find out they are not eligible to be considered.

54 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Michael Enzbrunner

    Unfortunately I wasn't able to attend the festival in person, but I'm very honoured that my short was screened AND won the category 'Best International Animation'. Hope to participate again in the future. Thanks Cardiff Mini Film Festival!

    July 2019
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  • Bloody Bandit

    Thanks so much for selecting Leagues Apart! We will be submitting again for you next year for our next project!

    July 2019
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  • Sarah Galloway

    Well run festival; easy to navigate website and submission process. I was not able to attend, but my Welsh cousin was and I loved it that the organizers asked her to speak before the screening of my short documentary, BIKE RIDDIM.

    July 2019
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  • Jonny Eveson

    A very friendly and welcoming festival! We were honoured to have Meteorlight screened alongside some wonderful animated short films, and it was a lovely touch to have a quick introduction to each film beforehand, rather than having them all play in a row. The awards ceremony in the evening was a fun, relaxed event – really enjoyable. Thank you so much for having us!

    July 2019
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  • Tathagata Ghosh

    An incredible festival that is a must for any filmmaker. Thrilled to have our short "The Demon" screened at this year's fest! If you have a film, this is where you submit!

    June 2019
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