Drama International Short Film Festival (DISFF) is an Oscar® and European Film Award qualifying festival dedicated to showcasing the boundless potential of the short format.

For nearly half a century, it has served as a leading hub for filmmakers, producers, and industry professionals of the short film circuit in the Balkan region and beyond. A meeting place where inspiring connections and fruitful collaborations have emerged from and materialised into notable innovation across the medium.

It is in our DNA to discover the filmmakers of the future and support their first steps. Great directors that have since marked the current discourse on contemporary cinema, such as Yorgos Lanthimos and Denis Villeneuve, presented their earlier works in our film programmes.

Today, the scope of Drama International Short Film Festival goes beyond that of film screenings; it offers an environment for creativity, networking, training, and development. With the Short Film Hub and the Pitching Lab, we aim to incubate young talent, offering a vast array of workshops, panels, professional meetings, networking events and a new screenwriting residency.

DISFF48 reached an audience of more than 500,0000 people across five sold out venues and online, and handed out award prizes, in cash and in-kind prizes, worth approximately 60,000 euros.

Moving forward and into DISFF49, which marks the eve of the Festival’s 50-year anniversary, we are more excited than ever and look forward to being inspired by your projects!

GENERAL FESTIVAL INFORMATION
www.dramafilmfestival.gr/en/submissions/

Awards & Prizes

Drama International Short Film Festival is committed to providing tangible support to its selected filmmakers across its five competition programmes. At the last edition of DISFF, the Festival awarded approximately 60,000 euros in cash and in-kind prizes.

Oscar® Qualifying
The recipients of the International Competition’s GRAND PRIX and the National Competition’s BEST FILM AWARD - GOLDEN DIONYSUS become eligible for nomination in the Live Action Short Film, Documentary Short Film or Animated Short Film categories at the Academy Awards®, provided that they comply with the Academy’s regulations.

European Film Award Qualifying
As a member of the European Film Academy Short Film Network, DISFF is eligible to submit one film for consideration at the European Film Awards. The candidate is selected by the International Competition Jury from the films participating in said programme. This submission is contingent upon the film's adherence to the EFA rules.

The awards are given to the director of the film unless specified otherwise in the Festival Regulation. The Juries may also award other honorary distinctions for specific artistic achievements.

It is expressly provided that awards may not be shared.

At DISFF49 the following awards shall be attributed and will be accompanied by a monetary prize, provided that sponsorships are secured:

● INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION AWARDS ●

- GRAND PRIX
- BEST DIRECTOR AWARD
- BEST SOUTHEASTERN EUROPEAN FILM AWARD
- BEST PRODUCTION AWARD “TV5 MONDE”

● INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY COMPETITION AWARDS ●

- BEST DOCUMENTARY FILM AWARD
- SPECIAL JURY PRIZE

● INTERNATIONAL STUDENT COMPETITION AWARDS ●

- STUDENT GRAND PRIX
- SPECIAL JURY AWARD

● NATIONAL COMPETITION AWARDS ●

- BEST FILM AWARD - GOLDEN DIONYSUS
- BEST DIRECTOR “TONIA MARKETAKI” AWARD
- SPECIAL JURY PRIZE
- BEST SCREENPLAY AWARD
- BEST MALE PERFORMANCE AWARD
- BEST FEMALE PERFORMANCE AWARD
- BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY AWARD
- BEST EDITING AWARD
- BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN AWARD
- BEST COSTUME DESIGN AWARD
- BEST ORIGINAL MUSIC AWARD
- BEST SOUND AWARD
- BEST MAKE UP DESIGN AWARD
- BEST SPECIAL EFFECTS AWARD

● NATIONAL STUDENT COMPETITION AWARDS ●

- BEST STUDENT FILM “FRIDA LIAPPA” AWARD
- BEST DIRECTOR AWARD
- BEST DOCUMENTARY FILM AWARD
- BEST SCREENPLAY AWARD
- BEST MALE PERFORMANCE AWARD
- BEST FEMALE PERFORMANCE AWARD
- BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY “NTINOS KATSOURIDIS” AWARD
- BEST EDITING AWARD
- BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN AWARD
- BEST SOUND AWARD

The following award shall be attributed to a film in any of the Competition category:

- SHORT & GREEN AWARD

The following award shall be attributed to a film in the International, International Documentary or National Competition categories:

- DRAMA QUEER AWARD

The following award shall be attributed to a film in the International Student or National Student Competition categories:

- DRAMA QUEER STUDENT AWARD

● INDEPENDENT AWARDS ●

The following award shall be attributed to a film in any of the Competition categories:

- AUDIENCE AWARD

The following awards shall be attributed to films in the International Competition category:

- “HUMAN VALUES” AWARD
- FIPRESCI AWARD

The following awards (TBC) shall be attributed to films in the National Competition category:

- ONASSIS CULTURE AWARD
- "TECHNICAL ADEQUACY" AWARD BY THE ASSOCIATION OF GREEK FILM AND TELEVISION TECHNICIANS
- GREEK FILM CRITICS ASSOCIATION AWARD
- FEDERATION OF CINEMATIC CLUBS OF GREECE (OKLE) AWARD

The following award shall be attributed to a film in the National or National Student Competition categories:

- GREEK SOCIETY OF CINEMATOGRAPHERS (G.S.C.) AWARD

The following award shall be attributed to Greek director participating in any of the Competition categories:

- "FROM DRAMA TO CLERMONT" AWARD

Rules & Terms

49th DRAMA INTERNATIONAL SHORT FILM FESTIVAL
06 -12 September 2026
#DISFF49

● GENERAL REGULATIONS ●

- The 49th Drama Short Film Festival will take place from September 6th to 12th, 2026.

- Films shall be screened at the Festival’s physical venues, as well as online on the DISFF platform, with geo-blocking restrictions limiting access to Greece.

- The festival aims to invite one director or representative of each film selected to be participate in competition. Hotel accommodation and daily meals are provided. These provisions are subject to change without prior notice, due to budget controls.

- Greek Premiere is required for the submission of films. Therefore, prior public presentation, screening, broadcasting or rebroadcasting of the works to the public by radio and television by any means to the public in Greece or on-demand access in any way before or during the days of the Festival are not allowed.

- The screening copy to be presented at the Festival shall be available in one of the formats provided for in this Regulation for film screening and in one of the formats provided for in this Regulation for online screening.

- Applicants must submit a non-public password-protected preview link to the film via FilmFreeway, which must be available until the results of the preliminary selection process are announced.

- Each director may participate in the Festival with only one (1) film, and shall declare the type of film.

- Films that have participated and/or submitted and rejected in previous editions of the Festival may not be resubmitted.

- The deadlines and submission fees vary depending on the program and submission date, as specified.

- The Festival reserves the right to provide discounted or full fee waiver codes to film or educational institutions or directors unable to pay the submission fees. Waivers may be provided upon request before the Festival, and at the sole discretion of the Festival Management.

- Payment is due with submission. Once the digital submission is finalized, fees may not be refunded.

- The submitter is responsible for clearing rights and permissions concerning each submission. The festival holds no liability.

* Materials of the films for the final screening should be submitted at latest by July 20th, 2026 *
** See the complete regulation on the website of the festival **
____________________________________ . ____________________________________

● INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION REGULATIONS ●

1. Eligibility

To be eligible for participation in the International Competition, in addition to the general regulations, films shall meet the following conditions:

- Films shall be completed after January 1st of 2025.

- Their duration should not exceed forty (40) minutes with the end credits. In exceptional cases, with a reasoned opinion of the Artistic Director and a decision of the Board, the Festival reserves the right to accept a longer film.

- All film genres may be submitted.

2. Application Deadline and Fees

- The application form, the materials and a digital copy of the film shall be submitted by April 30, 2026, via FilmFreeway. Upon its discretion, the Festival may announce the submission of application through other platforms.

- A submission fee of twenty-five (25) euros per film submitted until the 20th of April is required. For films submitted from the 21st to the 30th of April, the submission fee amounts to thirty (30) euros.
____________________________________ . ____________________________________

● INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY COMPETITION REGULATIONS ●

1. Eligibility

To be eligible for participation in the International Documentary Competition, in addition to the general regulations, films shall meet the following conditions:

- Films shall be completed after January 1st of 2025.

- Their duration should not exceed thirty (30) minutes with the end credits. In exceptional cases, with a reasoned opinion of the Artistic Director and a decision of the Board, the Festival reserves the right to accept a longer film.

- Film genres that may participate: documentary films and hybrid documentary films.

2. Application Deadline and Fees

- The application form, the materials and a digital copy of the film shall be submitted by April 30, 2026, via FilmFreeway. Upon its discretion, the Festival may announce the submission of application through other platforms.

- A submission fee of eight (8) euros per film submitted until the 20th of April is required. For films submitted from the 21st to the 30th of April, the submission fee amounts to twelve (12) euros. Greek films may be submitted free of charge using a fee waiver code provided by the Festival upon request.
____________________________________ . ____________________________________

● INTERNATIONAL STUDENT COMPETITION REGULATIONS ●

1. Eligibility

To be eligible for participation in the International Student Competition, in addition to the general regulations, films shall meet the following conditions:

- Films shall be completed after January 1st of 2025.

- Their duration should not exceed twenty (20) minutes with the end credits. In exceptional cases, with a reasoned opinion of the Artistic Director and a decision of the Board, the Festival reserves the right to accept a longer film.

- Films shall be produced as part of a study course or education program in film or other related studies.

- All film genres may be submitted.

2. Application Deadline and Fees

- The application form, the materials and a digital copy of the film shall be submitted by April 30, 2026, via FilmFreeway. Upon its discretion, the Festival may announce the submission of application through other platforms.

- A submission fee of ten (10) euros per film submitted until the 20th of April is required. For films submitted from the 21st to the 30th of April, the submission fee amounts to twelve (12) euros.
____________________________________ . ____________________________________

● NATIONAL COMPETITION REGULATIONS ●

1. Eligibility

To be eligible for participation in the National Competition, in addition to the general regulations, films shall meet the following conditions:

- Films shall be completed after January 1st of 2025.

- Films shall be Greek productions/co-productions or directed by a filmmaker from Greece or Cyprus.

- Their duration should not exceed thirty (30) minutes with the end credits. In exceptional cases, with a reasoned opinion of the Artistic Director and a decision of the Board, the Festival reserves the right to accept a longer film.

- All film genres may be submitted.

2. Application Deadline and Fees

- The application form, the materials and a digital copy of the film shall be submitted by May 8, 2026, via FilmFreeway. Upon its discretion, the Festival may announce the submission of application through other platforms.

* Για να διαβάσετε στα Ελληνικά τον Κανονισμό μπείτε εδώ: www.dramafilmfestival.gr/submission/ *
____________________________________ . ____________________________________

● NATIONAL STUDENT COMPETITION REGULATIONS ●

1. Eligibility

To be eligible for participation in the National Student Competition, in addition to the general regulations, films shall meet the following conditions:

- Films shall be completed after January 1st of 2025.

- Films shall be Greek productions/co-productions or directed by a filmmaker from Greece or Cyprus.

- Their duration should not exceed twenty (20) minutes with the end credits. In exceptional cases, with a reasoned opinion of the Artistic Director and a decision of the Board, the Festival reserves the right to accept a longer film.

- Films shall be produced as part of a study course or education program in film or other related studies.

- All film genres may be submitted.

2. Application Deadline and Fees

- The application form, the materials and a digital copy of the film shall be submitted by May 8, 2026, via FilmFreeway. Upon its discretion, the Festival may announce the submission of application through other platforms.

* Για να διαβάσετε στα Ελληνικά τον Κανονισμό μπείτε εδώ: www.dramafilmfestival.gr/submission/ *
51 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Eirini Karagkiozidou

    One of the most important festivals worldwide—very well organized, friendly, truly welcoming, and innovative. Very happy to be part of it!

    April 2026
    Helpful
  • anna ieong

    A very interesting experience to meet with all the creators from the world and also get to feel the vibe of the Greek film makers. Thank you for having KEEP LOOKING? as part of the International Student Competition section!!

    January 2026
    Helpful
  • Jan Mocka

    Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to attend the festival in person. However, my short film was screened at your festival in 2025, and the communication with your team was excellent throughout. I followed much of the festival via Instagram, which gave a strong impression of a well-organized and vibrant event. Although I couldn’t watch any films on-site, my overall impression was very positive — highly professional, and in many ways even more smoothly run than some festivals I’ve experienced in Germany.

    I gave no stars for Hospitality and Networking since I can not base it on any facts.

    January 2026
    Helpful
  • shortlisted. festival strategies & submission

    Amazing festival with superb communication and sense of community! The team of SKIN ON SKIN was really proud to be selected and we can recommend this festival :-)

    January 2026
    Helpful
  • Myrto APOSTOLIDOU

    The festival works on so many levels. It sparks true passion for film and really honors the people working for it. It also tirelessly attempts to premote the creation of a web, connecting and educating the creators.

    January 2026
    Helpful