The Independent Days International Filmfestival (IDIF) is one of Europe's most important festivals for independent filmmakers and part of the European Festivals Association.

Proud owner of the EFFE label (Europe for festivals - festivals for Europe) by the EU.
IDIF is an IMDb Award-listing qualifying festival!

The Festival is screening films of every length and genre from all over the world.

Awards & Prizes

Audience Award:
Film Award of The City of Karlsruhe, prize money 1,500 Euro and Award Trophy KARLINA

Special Jury Awards:
Film Award of the Cultural Foundation Sparkasse Karlsruhe, prize money 2,500 Euro
Best Short Shortfilm Award (shorts up to 5 minutes) 500 Euro and Award Trophy KARLINA
Indie Award for Best Feature Film 1,000 Euro and Award Trophy KARLINA
Newbie Award for Best First Time Movie 1,000 Euro
Female Award for Best Female Director 1,000 Euro and Award Trophy KARLINA
Best Independent Actor Award: 500 Euro and Award Trophy by Vollack Group
Best Independent Actress Award: 500 Euro and Award Trophy by Vollack Group
UNESCO Creative City of Media Art Film Award
Underground-Award: Award Trophy KARLINA
Best Film Composer Award: Award Trophy KARLINA

Rules & Terms

Films should be produced within the years 2017 to 2020. Raw preview versions of films completed by the end of 2020 or beginning of 2021 can also be recognized in exceptional cases. However, the preview version must be similar to the final version. Short films as well as feature films can be submitted.

All contents and genres are acceptable (except for advertisements, image and experimental films) as long as they do not imply any illegal exposures according to German StGB law (e.g. pornography, excessive violence or sedition etc.).

Low Budget production costs have to be below 2,500 Euro per minute run-time, feature films (60 minutes and longer) shall not have more than approx. 250,000 Euro total costs and short films up to 30 minutes not more than approx. 50,000 Euro. No Budget production costs have to be below 100 Euro per minute run-time, feature films (60 minutes and longer) shall not have more than approx. 10,000 Euro total costs and short films up to 30 minutes not more than approx. 2,500 Euro. Besides the actual production costs, other indications like production facilities or infrastructure (company or film academy) are considered as well for classification.

Screening copies (e. g. USB-Storage, harddisk, DVD), which you have sent to the festival will be delivered back to your official adress (or to the next festival) with a postal service of our choice. Please note that cannot influence the speed of delivery.

Films that have been formally submitted to us and selected by our program committee can not be withdrawn.
30 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Wojciech Solarz

    Great People! Great festival! Great Communication! It is fantastic to be a part of this event! Thank you Oliver.. - the Director.. for a contact and an adventure of being selected! All the best to people who organized!

    June 2020
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  • teymour ghaderi

    A great film fest! i like it.

    April 2020
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  • Lauren Shein

    I was unfortunate not to have been able to make it for the festival. I have only heard fantastic things about Independent Days - such a high calibre of work selected. Hoping to make it next year.

    May 2019
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    Response from festival:

    Thank you, Lauren!

  • Vinay Pujara

    It was an honor to have screened & nominated for my short 'Clash of Morality' at Independent Days. I'd definitely submit my film to the next year's edition. Thanks, team IDIFF.

    May 2019
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    Response from festival:

    Thank you, Vinay! It was a pleasure.

  • Bruce Novakowski

    A great indie international film festival located in Karlsruhe, Germany. Staff and programmers were friendly and commutative leading up to and during the festival. The venue itself is very nice, an old art-house theatre. The festival provided a few interesting panels and workshops. The galas and mixers were a good ol’ time, with authentic German bbq being provided and drinks (not to mention German beer). Met a lot of talented filmmakers, and attended a workshop that linked me up with a group of very talented emerging musical score composers. The workshop experience was very rewarding, and I left the festival with a slew of new industry connections from all around the world. Leading up to the festival the fest team was very informative on accommodations, transit, and things to do around the city during my visit. Even provided discounts and deals. The only very minor issue I had was that there were times when events or screenings were presented in German, which would be fine, except the festival is representing themselves as an “international” festival, and you could tell members of the audiences felt lost during these rare instances. Also, organization of the workshops and panels felt slightly haphazard at times. I feel this festival is only a few years from becoming an elite indie film festival on the international stage.

    April 2019
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    Response from festival:

    Thank you, Bruce! It was a pleasure to meet you.