***CALL FOR SHORT FILMS (UNDER 20 MINS)***

(MAIN CINEMAGIC FESTIVAL)

PLEASE NOTE: THE INFORMATION BELOW IS FOR MAIN FESTIVAL SUBMISSIONS NOT THE 2026 CINEMAGIC YOUNG FILMMAKER COMPETITION.

The 37th Cinemagic International Film Festival takes place in October 2026. We are looking for imaginative and original short films, made specifically for family and youth audiences, to be screened in venues throughout Belfast as part of the 37th Cinemagic Festival.

Cinemagic is an annual, competitive film festival presented by Cinemagic Ltd., a non-profit media arts charity dedicated to programming and exhibiting international film programmes for Young People. The festival now in its 37th year, is the largest film festival for young people in the UK and Ireland.

2026 COMPETITION STRAND 1
BEST INTERNATIONAL SHORT FILM FOR A CHILDREN'S AUDIENCE
This category is open to international filmmakers outside Ireland. We are specifically looking for new short films that are made for children's audiences.

2026 COMPETITION STRAND 2
BEST INTERNATIONAL SHORT FILM FOR A TEENAGE AUDIENCE
This category is open to international filmmakers outside Ireland. We are specifically looking for new short films that are made for teenage/youth audiences.

2026 COMPETITION STRAND 3
BEST IRISH MADE SHORT FILM FOR A FAMILY AUDIENCE
This category is only open to filmmakers from or living in Ireland/Northern Ireland. We are specifically looking for new short films that are made for family audiences.

PLEASE NOTE: THE INFORMATION LISTED HERE IS FOR THE MAIN CINEMAGIC FESTIVAL, NOT THE 2026 CINEMAGIC YOUNG FILMMAKER COMPETITION. PLEASE REFER TO THE SEPERATE CINEMAGIC YOUNG FILMMAKER PAGE FOR FURTHER DETAILS - https://filmfreeway.com/CinemagicYoungFilmmaker

PLEASE NOTE: WE ALSO ACCEPT FEATURE FILM SUBMISSIONS TO CINEMAGIC BUT THESE ENTRIES CAN ONLY BE SUBMITTED VIA A SEPARATE REGISTRATION FORM AVAILABLE BY VISITING THE CINEMAGIC WEBSITE (NOT FILM FREEWAY) www.cinemagic.org.uk. THE FEATURE FILM STRAND HAS IT'S OWN REQUIREMENTS AND RULES & TERMS.

Awards & Prizes

Cinemagic is a competitive festival with a monetary prize, physical award and certificate presented to winning filmmakers in the following categories:

1. BEST INTERNATIONAL SHORT FILM FOR A CHILDREN'S AUDIENCE
2. BEST INTERNATIONAL SHORT FILM FOR A TEENAGE AUDIENCE
3. BEST IRISH MADE SHORT FILM FOR A FAMILY AUDIENCE

Please note: We have x 2 international categories and a bespoke category for Irish made films only.

We reserve the right to change award headings/strands & create additional awarded strands.

Film themes and subject matter must be suitable for a youth audience (ages 18 and under).

Rules & Terms

Cinemagic is an annual, competitive film festival presented by Cinemagic Ltd., a non-profit media arts charity dedicated to programming and exhibiting international film for Young People. The festival now in its 37th year, is the largest film festival for young people in the UK and Ireland.

The 2026 Cinemagic Belfast Festival will be organised and managed by Cinemagic Ltd working with an advisory committee of exhibitors, educationalists, and young people from Northern Ireland.

In cases of dispute of these regulations the decision of Cinemagic Ltd is final. Entry to the festival implies acceptance of these regulations.

Cinemagic 2026 will take place between 1-31 October. The exhibition programme will take place in venues throughout Belfast.

The short film programmes are competitive with a monetary prize, physical award and certificate presented to winning filmmakers in the following categories:

1. BEST INTERNATIONAL SHORT FILM FOR A CHILDREN'S AUDIENCE
2. BEST INTERNATIONAL SHORT FILM FOR A TEENAGE AUDIENCE
3. BEST IRISH MADE SHORT FILM FOR A FAMILY AUDIENCE

Film themes and subject matter must be suitable for a youth audience (ages 18 and under).

Please note: We reserve the right to change award headings & create additional awarded strands.

RULES & TERMS 2026
*Deadline for entries is 24th July 2026.
*All entries/submissions should be in English or in their original language with English subtitles.
*Entry to the festival is free of charge.
*Shorts must be less than 20 minutes in duration.
*Cinemagic accepts all kinds of ‘in competition’ films as long as they are suitable for a youth audience (ages 18 and under).
*All films entered for competition must have been made within the 2-year period 2025 – 2026.
*Films made before 2025 are not eligible for ‘competition’.
*Films must be available for screening as HD files.
*It is your responsibility to obtain all permissions and releases from the persons who appear in the film and who appear in any associated photo/still images.
*It is your responsibility to ensure that you have the right to show the film to a public audience in the UK/Ireland (e.g. secured all music & image rights).
*If you do not have permission to use the music/images or any other copyrighted content in you film you cannot submit the film into competition.
*All submissions will be watched and judged by the Cinemagic Festival’s Selection Committee. The Cinemagic Selection Committee is made up of film specialists, educators, and a panel of young people (‘Young Consultants’), who will decide which films will participate in the festival. The committee’s decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into.
*The festival management may invite films for the competition and programme.
*Successful submissions will be informed before 14th August 2026. If you have received no communication from Cinemagic by this date then please assume that your film has not been selected for participation in the festival.
*Please make sure the spelling of all names of cast/crew are correct on the entry form.
*Please make sure all entry details are complete in your submission including: Country of Origin, Filmmaker D.O.B, Running Time, Full Synopsis/Overview, Completion Date and Contact Email/Mobile.
*Please where possible include Stills/Poster and Trailer Link for your film entry in your FilmFreeway submission.
*In submitting your film you agree to the competition regulations (Rules & Terms) and confirm that all the information you have provided is true and accurate.

HOW TO ENTER - Via FilmFreeway (Preferred)

HOW TO ENTER - Standard Alternative
Please email an online screening link to your film along with an entry form to chris@cinemagic.org.uk

Entry forms are available to download from the Cinemagic website - https://cinemagic.org.uk

The competition deadline is 24th July 2026.

For more information contact Chris Shaw at Cinemagic. Email: chris@cinemagic.org.uk