CortoCircuito Film Festival Milano - 2nd Edition

The team behind Rassegna CortoCircuito, Milan’s monthly short film screening event, is thrilled to present the second edition of the CortoCircuito Film Festival Milano!

Join us on July 2026 (tbd), at Anteo Palazzo del Cinema, one of Milan’s most prestigious venues, for a three-days celebration of independent short films.

If you have created an independent short film under 25 minutes with a budget of up to 20,000 euros, this is your chance to showcase your work on the big screen!

All selected films will be screened during our in-person event, followed by a Q&A session where any member of the film’s crew is welcome to participate and engage with the audience.

Submissions are now open! Apply today, and we’ll notify selected filmmakers by June 2026. If your film isn’t chosen for the festival, don’t worry — we may still consider it for one of our monthly screenings (if you would like to participate).

About Us

We are a collective of passionate cinema lovers who have been hosting Rassegna CortoCircuito — a monthly short film showcase — for the past four years at Corte dei Miracoli, a vibrant cultural space in Via Mortara 4, Milan.

At Rassegna CortoCircuito, directors, screenwriters, actors, and producers come together to share their work, interact with the audience, and forge new creative collaborations. Each edition features the screening of four short films centered around a common theme, followed by a Q&A session and a DJ set to continue the conversation in a relaxed atmosphere.

Once a year, we also organize a competition where winners earn a direct screening slot at festivals like the Monza Film Festival, Lago Film Festival and The CortoCircuito Film Festival Milano.

We can’t wait to experience your stories on the big screen — see you at CortoCircuito Film Festival Milano!

The CortoCircuito Team

Awards & Prizes

[ITALIAN SHORT FILM COMPETITION]

- Best Italian Short Film
Awarded by the jury - Prize: 500€ + Trophy + Festival Laurel

- Best Director (Italian Short Films)
Awarded by CortoCircuito jury - Prize: Festival Laurel

- Best Cinematography (Italian Short Films)
Awarded by CortoCircuito jury - Prize: Festival Laurel

- Best Actor (Italian Short Films)
Awarded by CortoCircuito jury - Prize: Festival Laurel

- Best Actress (Italian Short Films)
Awarded by CortoCircuito jury - Prize: Festival Laurel

- Best Screenplay (Italian Short Films)
Awarded by CortoCircuito jury - Prize: Festival Laurel

- Best Editing (Italian Short Films)
Awarded by CortoCircuito jury - Prize: Festival Laurel

- Best Soundtrack (Italian Short Films)
Awarded by CortoCircuito jury - Prize: Festival Laurel

- People Choice Award (Italian Short Films)
Awarded by the audience - Prize: Festival Laurel

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[BEST INTERNATIONAL SHORT FILM]
Awarded by TBD

- People Choice Award (International Short Films)
Awarded by the audience - Prize: Festival Laurel

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[BEST ANIMATED SHORT FILM]
Awarded by TBD
Prize: Festival Laurel

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[BEST SHORT DOCUMENTARY]
Awarded by TBD
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[BEST MICRO SHORT]
Awarded by CortoCircuito jury
Prize: Festival Laurel
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[BEST AI SHORT]
Awarded by CortoCircuito jury
Prize: Festival Laurel

Rules & Terms

SHORT FILM SELECTION & COMPETITION

We welcome short films of up to 25 minutes, with a budget of no more than 20,000 euros, from all over the world and across all genres. Films that have already been showcased at other festivals are also eligible.

RULES & REGULATIONS

- Submission Deadline: May 22th, 2026

- Film Length: Maximum 25 minutes

- Budget: Maximum 20,000€

- Film Age: The film must not be older than 5 years (produced in 2021 or later)

- Completion Requirement: Unfinished films will not be accepted; all entries must be fully completed.

- Subtitles Requirement: All international short films not in English must include English subtitles.

- Promotional Use: By submitting your film, you grant CortoCircuito Film Festival Milano the right to use an excerpt from your work for promotional purposes on our platforms.

- Scheduling & Fees: The festival reserves full discretion over the scheduling of screenings. CortoCircuito does not pay screening fees, and by submitting your film, you acknowledge this policy.

SUBMISSION FEES

- Italian Shorts Category: By submitting your short film in this category, your film will automatically be considered for all other sub-categories, requiring only a single submission fee.

5€ (Earlybird, until March 1st)

10€ (Regular, until April 15th)

15€ (Late, until May 22nd)

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- Micro Short Films (under 90 sec):

Free (Earlybird, until March 1st)

1€ (Regular, until April 15th)

3€ (Late, until May 22nd)

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- All Other Categories (Short Documentaries, Animated Shorts, International Shorts):

5€ (Earlybird, until March 1st)

10€ (Regular, until April 15th)

15€ (Late, until May 22nd)

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- Gold members are eligible for an exclusive discount across all categories.

- No refunds will be issued after submission.

SELECTION PROCESS

The official selection will be announced by June 2026 (TBD), and published on our website: www.rassegnacortocircuito.it

AUTHORIZATION & LEGAL TERMS

By submitting a film to the 2026 CortoCircuito Film Festival Milano, you confirm that your work is cleared for festival exhibition and that you accept full legal responsibility for its intellectual property. The submitter and all filmmakers involved must indemnify and hold harmless CortoCircuito Film Festival Milano and its representatives from any claims regarding copyright, trademarks, publicity, screening rights, or any legal issues related to the film.

For further inquiries, contact us at CortoCircuitoFilmFestMilano@gmail.com
3 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Isabel Stub

    Excellent festival showcasing talented and diverse filmmakers. Fantastic communication and a wonderful experience. Insightful Q&A.

    July 2025
    Helpful
  • Andrii Makarchenko

    A wonderful film festival! It is obligatory to submit your films. The organizers have done a great job. The screenings were held in a warm, friendly and sincere atmosphere. I wish the film festival success and prosperity!

    July 2025
    Helpful
  • Allegorie film

    Thank you for selecting "Lovers’ Story: fragment(s)" and for awarding it. Such a warm welcome heartfelt thanks for everything!

    July 2025
    Helpful