innsbruck nature film festival (inff) is an IMDb Qualifying Event.

inff is an international film competition on the topic of nature, environment, climate, sustainability and good life. We are offering filmmakers from all over the world a platform for presenting their latest work. We show documentary, fictional and animated films in order to honor different narrative styles – from short to feature length.

Our 24th edition will take place from October 8-12 2025.

During the Festival we screen around 60 curated films and invite filmmakers to take part in Q&A’s and/or panels. We also organize a high-quality side program in and around the alpine city Innsbruck: scientific talks, networking events, producer/distributor/industry meetings, mountain excursions, art exhibitions, a Director’s Lunch etc. in order to engage an on-topic, ecological and creative discourse.
The main venue is the Metropol cinema, where we show films on large screens or in the ‘Couch Room’ and where we can exchange in our ‘Directors’ Café’.
In 2024 the festival had overall ~ 12.640 visitors including all side events (excursions, workshops, exhibitions,...) and on tour sessions. ~ 5.000 visitors audience at the film competition.

Awards & Prizes

Our juries, composed of international high-profile members, select the winners of the following prizes & awards:

• GRAND PRIZE for the best NATURE DOCUMENTARY worth 3.500 €

• GRAND PRIZE for the best ENVIRONMENTAL DOCUMENTARY worth 3.500 €

• BEST GREEN FICTION FEATURE, worth 3.500 €

• BEST SHORT GREEN FICTION, worth 1.500 €

• BEST SHORT DOC worth 1.500 €

• BEST ANIMATION SHORT worth 1.500 €

Special Awards:

• BEST BIODIVERSITY FILM worth 2.000 € – Illuminates the topic in an outstanding way.

• BEST SOIL FILM worth 2.000 € – Emphasizes the importance of healthy soils.

• WILD WOMEN AWARD worth 2.000 € – Highlights female directors.

• Best Film “QUALITY OF LIFE IN THE ALPS” ­worth 2.000 € – About people and/or projects that make a difference for the better in the European Alps.

• Best Film "GLACIERS" worth 2.000 € – About the threats posed by climate change in mountain regions around the world and activities that support a careful approach to the mountain environment.

• CHRISTIAN BERGER CINEMATOGRAPHY AWARD worth 2.500 € (non-cash-prize) – Signature award personally selected by Christian Berger, Academy-Award nominated cameraman and producer.

• BEST SHORT4KIDS worth 1.000 € – Audience award

Prizes and awards may change.

Rules & Terms

Please submit your film only if it is related to the topics of NATURE / ENVIRONMENT / CLIMATE / SUSTAINABILITY / GOOD LIFE.

• All films must have been made in or after 2023 (production year).

• Short films should not exceed 20 minutes. The Curator reserves the right to deviate from this rule for individual films.

• Films may be submitted in any language. Films submitted in a language other than German or English must have either English and/or German subtitles.

• Please make sure that at the time of judging (summer 2025), your video file is accessible and has English subtitles (if in a language other than English).

• For the category “Short4Kids” German language/dubbing is mandatory.

• We prefer Austrian Premieres.

• The Curator of the Festival will select the films to be shown to the public and those eligible for prizes.

• The Curator reserves the right to place entries into alternative categories if she feels it is to the benefit of the title.

• The application is only valid with the submission and acceptance of a fully completed online-application form including synopsis, photos, trailer (if available) and with all details regarding your film....

• … and with successful payment of the submission fee. The submission fee is non-refundable.

• By submitting a film you agree with the terms of participation.

• Please make sure that access to an online-screener (via FilmFreeway, YouTube, Vimeo etc.) will work until the end of the Festival.

As inff organizes a competition with prizes, we do not pay screening fees.

SHORT LIST / SELECTED FILMS

We are happy to invite filmmakers of the selected films to our Festival! We support travel costs to Innsbruck within our financial possibilities and encourage to travel as environmentally friendly as possible.

Withdrawal from the competition is no longer possible after the shortlist has been published end of August 2025.

GENERAL TERMS

Submission of a film for inff implies acceptance of these conditions of participation:

• Entrants automatically consent to the submitted film being shown at inff. The Festival also includes the „inff on tour” program we organize in collaboration with selected institutions after the main Festival. The Festival and these additional events are non-commercial, their purpose is educational or to provide a forum for the genre of nature and environmental films that will open up new audiences. We will contact the filmmaker before any additional screening.

• With submission of the film you grant the Festival permission to use photos, stills and excerpts of up to 59 seconds of your film to promote the Festival online, in print media, TV, radio, and cinemas. Any other use not mentioned in these Terms of Participation will be agreed with the submitter. The Festival also reserves the right to make a password-protected copy of the film available to jury members, selected representatives of the press, panelists or selected professional visitors. 

• If the film wins a prize in 2025, the prize money and/or prize and the trophy will be sent out until the end of 2025.

• By submitting the film, the entrant confirms that she/he possesses all the rights necessary for the film to be screened at a public film festival (e.g. music, film excerpts from other productions …). She/he affirms that its use does not infringe any copyrights or performance rights of third parties and undertakes to indemnify and hold the organizer free from any liability regarding claims of third parties in this context.

• Any film containing racist, sexist, religiously derogatory or inflammatory content will be excluded from the competition.

• In case of changes in the execution of the event or if the event is cancelled, the organizer is not liable for damages to the participant. This agreement does not constitute a service or company relationship between the participant and the organizer. All disputes arising from this agreement shall be settled before the competent court in Innsbruck.
22 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Tatiana Skorlupkina

    It was really cool to participate in this festival. The communication was great! It's a bit of a pity that I couldn't come at the invitation of the festival and see the whole program. ("Bo and Trash" Nomination)

    October 2024
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  • Catherine Marciniak

    Thank you, Innsbruck Nature Film Festival, for honouring us by selecting Follow the Rain for the 2024 screenings and for championing the global conversation about our planet's most fascinating and often overlooked organisms. We are grateful for the immense energy and commitment your team brings to showcasing films about nature and supporting us the makers. I highly recommend this Festival.

    October 2024
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  • Magnus Klammer

    It was such a great and perfect festival!!!

    October 2024
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  • Tania El Khoury

    Really lovely team and beautiful location for a festival! Thank you for the invitation and the great hospitality.

    October 2024
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  • Niobe Thompson

    Thank you for selecting TWO of our films for the 2024 edition of the festival! Innsbruck Nature FF is a boutique nature and conservation oriented festival, with a professional, dedicated and very welcoming staff supported by a large team of enthusiastic volunteers. They bring in terrific audiences, run really thoughtful discussions and engagements, and ensure filmmakers feel special. To top is off, INFF happens in one of the world's most beautiful settings - the Austrian Tyrol - and it's hard to get your jaw off the floor, looking out the window. Such a pleasure!

    October 2024
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