The EICFF is located in the old quarter of Heilbad Heiligenstadt - a town with over a thousand years of history right in the center of Germany. Held in the French garden between the town's biggest Gothic church, the former Jesuit school (now a museum) and the old town hall (now an art studio), it's one of the latest additions to the Eichsfeld region's growing and buzzing cultural life.

We want to give filmmakers all over the world the opportunity to show their work to an audience that loves film as much as we all do. And what could be better than enjoying those precious gems on a warm spring night with fresh popcorn and a cold drink from our bar?

You can submit your short films under 30 minutes and feature films over 60 minutes. We believe that any genre is worth watching. We don't care whether your budget is big, small or non-existent.

Do you want to change the world or do you want to tell a silly story? Do you want to make your audience laugh or cry? It doesn't matter - there's only one rule:

Don't be boring! 🎆

Awards & Prizes

🏆 Best Feature Film
🏆 Best Short Film
🏆 Best Short Documentary
🏆 Lokalhelden / Local Heroes

🎟️ All selected filmmakers will receive a free submission waiver for the next year's edition

📽️ We'll pitch the three best feature films to our cinema distributor in Germany

Rules & Terms

0.) General

We don't put limitations on production year, budget, premiere status or genre.

Submissions must include:
+ short synopsis
+ poster
+ at least one still frame
+ trailer (for films longer than 20 minutes)
+ online screener OR download link
+ subtitles in either English or German (if necessary)

By submitting you declare that you obtained all the necessary licenses and permits for publicly presenting your work.

Additionally you grant us the rights to use and / or alter the material included in your submission (synopsis, trailer, poster, still frames) for promotional purposes only.

1.) Feature Film

Any film over 60 minutes in length.

Only the winning film will get a screening during the festival. The three best films will be pitched to our cinema distributor in Germany. However, a distribution deal is not guaranteed.

2.) Short Film

Any film under 30 minutes.

3.) Short Documentary

Any documentary under 30 minutes.

4.) Lokalhelden / Local Heroes

This category is reserved for projects that have any connection whatsoever to the Eichsfeld region. The submission MUST contain an explanation for said connection.