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 a beautiful architectural ensemble between an old water mill and a big granary - one of the town's oldest remaining structures, 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 summer night with fresh popcorn and a cold drink from our bar?

All the festival work is done by film enthusiasts in their free time. We believe that the best film festivals are those that are organized and run by people who voluntarily pour their hearts and souls into it.

You can submit your short films under 30 minutes and feature films over 50 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 Short Film
🏆 Best Short Documentary
🏆 Special Award

The winners will receive a handcrafted trophy, made by a local artist.

📽️ A feature film may be selected for screening, but there is no competition.
If a feature film is selected however, we'll pitch it to our cinema distributor in Germany.

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

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.

If selected, you grant us the rights to publicly screen your work in front of a live audience without additional charge. 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.) Short Film

Any film under 30 minutes.

2.) Short Documentary

Any documentary under 30 minutes.

3.) Experimental Short

Any type of experimental short film under 30 minutes.

The motto for EICFF 2025 is "Food". The submission MUST contain a short explanation on how the film relates to the motto.

4.) Children's Short

Any type of family-friendly short film aimed at a younger audience.

5.) Feature Film

Any film over 50 minutes in length.

We may select a single feature film for screening, but there is no competition. If a film is selected, it will be pitched to our cinema distributor in Germany. However, a distribution deal is not guaranteed.

6.) 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.

7.) Awards

Our jury will nominate 2-4 short films and short documentaries for the "Best Short Film" and "Best Short Documentary" awards respectively. The special award is reserved for outstanding work regardless of submission category.

All awards will be presented during a ceremony on the last day of the festival.