The festival features top films from the world’s filmmakers as well as introduces new, talent from around the world. Our mission is to discover high quality and ambitious films, to promote filmmakers’ works and to help them realize their dreams.

The certificates are given in the following categories:

BEST INTERNATIONAL SHORT FILM
BEST INDIAN SHORT FILM
BEST STUDENT SHORT FILM
BEST DOCUMENTARY SHORT FILM
BEST EXPERIMENTAL SHORT FILM
BEST ANIMATED SHORT FILM
BEST HORROR SHORT FILM
BEST THRILLER SHORT FILM
BEST WOMEN'S SHORT FILM
BEST DIRECTOR
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
BEST EDITOR
BEST SOUND DESIGN
BEST ACTOR
BEST ACTRESS
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
BEST INTERNATIONAL FEATURE FILM
BEST INDIA FEATURE FILM
BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE FILM
BEST POSTER
BEST TRAILER
BEST SHORT SCRIPT / SCREENPLAY
BEST FEATURE SCRIPT / SCREENPLAY

Besides the BEST OF THE CATEGORY AWARDS, there are also OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS, CRITICS CHOICE AWARDS, AUDIENCE CHOICE AWARDS and HONOURABLE MENTION AWARDS, which are given, in all categories

Please read these Rules & Terms carefully before you submit your film.

By submitting your film into competition in the CIFA you expressly acknowledge and agree that you shall be bound by the terms of these Rules & Terms.

All the winning films will receive an award or certificate.

We treat every filmmaker equally.

Do not submit industrial or instructional works.

1. Films made in languages other than English must have English subtitles otherwise they will be summarily rejected.

2. The CIFA reserves the right to refuse entries.

3. The CIFA will not refund any fees if the filmmaker fails to submit the film in the correct category. Films submitted without the correct fees or proper submission media may be deemed ineligible at the discretion of the CIFA programming director or executive director. The festival does not cover any of the expenses incurred by the filmmaker.

4. After a film has been an official selection, the filmmaker will be notified, and eventually the film will be listed on the festival website under Official Selections. The Official Selection status doesn’t mean that your film will be screened at the festival. It means that your film has been appreciated by our judges of panel and you can use the festival logo on your poster.

5. A nominee will be privately screened for the CIFA judging panel, and will not be screened initially to the public.

6. A filmmaker’s submission fee will not be reimbursed if they decide to withdraw their submission. All entry fees are non-refundable.

7. CIFA may without advance notice amend these Rules & Terms from time to time. Each and every such amendment shall become effective immediately. It is your responsibility to periodically check for updates of these Rules & Terms.

Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Mark Lund

    Thank you for your outstanding organization and communication. I can’t thank you enough for awarding First Launch Best Feature Script/Screenplay. It has truly been an honor to work with you. Looking forward to submitting my next project!

    February 2024
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    Response from festival:

    We deeply thank you for your kind review. Waiting to see you again! Thanks!

  • Ben Harl

    Terrific festival! Very accommodating and the communication with me was great!

    February 2024
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    Response from festival:

    Thank you Ben Harl! We wish to see you again.

  • Cuckoo International Film Awards has been a wonderful thing to be a part of, and I was thrilled to receive an award with my film "My Choice Points". Although I won a physical award, I unfortunately couldn't afford the requested high postage fees to receive it. Besides this, there was great communication throughout the process. It was lovely to be a part of the screening via video call to see the wonderfully happy and enthusiastic audience, and really nice to see some fellow filmmakers there too.

    February 2024
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    Response from festival:

    Thank you so much Katy! We wish you all the best.

  • Such a fantastic festival run by wonderful people! Great experience!

    February 2024
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    Response from festival:

    It's our pleasure to have such film makers like you in our festival and we hope the journey keep goes for a long time.

    Thanks.

  • Thank you very much lovely people ❤️ strongly recommend this festival

    February 2024
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    Response from festival:

    It's our pleasure to have such film makers like you in our festival and we hope the journey keep goes for a long time.

    Thanks.