🎬 IKSFF 2026 is Officially Open for Submissions! 🎬
Festival Dates: 20th – 25th January 2026

Get ready for another spectacular cinematic journey! After the resounding success of the International Kolkata Short Film Festival 2025, we're thrilled to announce the 6th edition – IKSFF 2026!

Last year, we were honored to receive 200+ short films, documentaries, and music videos from over 30 countries, backed by the incredible support of celebrities, global brands, and film icons. The grand award ceremony was nothing short of magical – an evening graced by stars and filled with cinematic brilliance.

🌟 And now, we’re back – bigger, bolder, and more brilliant than ever! 🌟
IKSFF 2026 invites filmmakers from across the globe to be a part of this vibrant, internationally acclaimed festival. This is your chance to showcase your creativity, vision, and voice on a platform that truly celebrates independent cinema.

🙌 Why Submit to IKSFF 2026?

🎥 Hybrid Festival – Selected Films screened both online and offline*
🏆 30+ Award Categories across 6 Genres
📜 Every selected entry receives an official certificate and laurel
⏱️ Long Short Films (up to 45 minutes) are welcome
🎶 Now accepting Music Videos!, Advt/Commercials also
🎥 Non-Competitive Screenings available – get in touch!
🤝 A vibrant platform where cinephiles, directors, producers, and filmmakers from around the world come together to connect, collaborate, and celebrate the transformative power of cinema.

IKSFF isn’t just a festival – it’s a celebration of global storytelling. Hosted in Kolkata, a city steeped in cinematic legacy, the festival brings together filmmakers, critics, actors, and cinephiles to connect, engage, and inspire.

Submit your entries now via FilmFreeway – Our Global Submission Partner and join a community that empowers storytellers and nurtures fresh voices.

💡 Whether you're a rising filmmaker or an established storyteller, IKSFF 2026 is your stage. Let the world experience your story!

For more updates, visit: https://iksff.co.in/
For showcasing opportunities on our partner platform Eventizer, stay tuned!

🙏 A heartfelt thank you to all our filmmakers, jury, sponsors, partners, and supporters. Let’s create something extraordinary together.

✨ Submissions are now OPEN! Don’t miss this chance to be a part of something amazing. Let the magic of storytelling begin at IKSFF 2026!

🎬 Screening, Selection & Awards – IKSFF 2026

We are excited to announce that all selected films will be screened either online or offline, and every selected filmmaker will receive an official ‘Selection Laurel’ and Certificate via email. From this curated selection, five entries per award category will be nominated for the next stage.

These nominated films will be honored with a ‘Nomination Laurel’ and will be proudly featured on our official website and social media platforms.

🏆 The winners from the nominated entries will be selected by our esteemed jury. We have a total of 25 above award categories along with Special Mentions to recognize excellence in various genres and crafts.

🏅 IKSFF 2026 Award Categories

🎥 Film Categories

1. Best Short Film
2. Best Long Short Film
3. Best Indian Short Film
4. Best Bengali Short Film
5. Best Documentary Film
6. Best LGBTQ Short Film
7. Best Environmental Short Film
8. Best Animation Short Film

🎬 Direction & Technical

9. Best Director (Short / Long Short Film)
10. Best Director (Documentary)
11. Best Bengali Director
12. Best Director (Commercial / Advertisement)
13. Best Debut Director
14. Best Concept
15. Best Cinematographer
16. Best Editor
17. Best Background Score

🎭 Acting

18. Best Actor
19. Best Supporting Actor
20. Best Child Actor
21. Best Bengali Actor (Long / Short Film)

🎶 Music Video

22. Best Music Video
23. Best Singer (Music Video)
24. Best Lyricist (Music Video)

📢 Other Categories

25. Best PSA (Public Service Announcement)
26. Best Commercial / Advertisement

🏆 Special & Prestigious Awards

Lifetime Achievement Award
Late Jiban Guha Memorial Award
and More ...

⚠️ Note: Eligibility for nomination and awards is subject to a minimum of 5 submissions per category.

🎖️ Winner Benefits All winning films will receive:

>> A Winner Laurel
>> Certificate of Achievement
>> Medal or Memento
>> Featured social media promotions

In addition, depending on availability and time constraints, we will host a special offline screening in Kolkata for award-winning entries.

🏅 Award Deliverables:

Digital laurels and certificates will be sent via email.
Hard copies (trophies/medals/certificates) will be dispatched via courier/post.

The recipient must bear shipping charges, customs duties, and handling fees. The festival organizers will not be liable for these expenses.

🎥 Screening Format Please note that selected, nominated, or awarded films may be screened online, offline, or both, depending on programming limitations. Not all films may be shown during the offline segment due to time constraints. The final decision rests with the IKSFF festival committee.

We look forward to celebrating your storytelling on a global platform!
Let your creation shine at IKSFF 2026! 🌍✨

1. Festival Overview

1.1 Festival Mission & Objective:
The International Kolkata Short Film Festival (IKSFF) returns for its sixth edition, scheduled from 20th January to 25th January 2026. IKSFF is committed to celebrating the art of short films by showcasing inspiring, thought-provoking, and diverse cinematic works. The festival warmly welcomes submissions from professional and non-professional filmmakers worldwide. All competition screenings and judgments will be held in Kolkata, India.

2. Key Dates
⦿ Call for Entry Opens: 15 April 2025
⦿ Early Bird Deadline: May 31, 2025
⦿ Regular Deadline: July 15, 2025
⦿ Extended Regular: August 15, 2025
⦿ Late Deadline: September 30, 2025
⦿ Final Deadline: November 15, 2025
⦿ Extended Final Deadline: December 5, 2025

Note: Entry fees are non-refundable. Submission does not guarantee selection.

3. About Eventizer

Eventizer is the official online platform supporting IKSFF. It helps promote, ticket, and host online and hybrid events. Filmmakers can also use Eventizer to showcase their films with ticketed access.

4. Festival Schedule

⦿ Online & Offline Festival: 20 January 2026 – 25 January 2026
⦿ Award Ceremony: Sunday, 25 January 2026 (Kolkata)

5. Eligibility Criteria

⦿ Open to Short Films, Long Short Films, Short Documentaries, Music Videos, Advertisements/Commercials, and Public Service Announcements.

⦿ All submitted films must be completed on or after 1 January 2015 to qualify for competition.

⦿ Films completed before 2015 will be accepted only in the Non-Competitive category.

⦿ Films can be in any language or genre. But non-English films must have English subtitles.

⦿ Songs directly taken from a feature film or short film (i.e., from Direct Cinema) are not considered as standalone music videos and will not be accepted in the Music Video category. However, if submitted, they must be presented and edited in an independent music video style, with visual storytelling that justifies the format. Title songs from films or promotional music videos, when submitted with original visual interpretations, are accepted in the Music Video category.

6. Entry Guidelines

⦿ Multiple submissions are allowed across all categories.

⦿ Categories include:

a) Short Film – Up to 30 minutes
b) Long Short Film – Up to 45 minutes
c) Short Documentary – Up to 30 minutes
d) Music Video – Up to 8 minutes
e) Advertisement/Commercial – Up to 6 minutes
f) Public Service Announcement (PSA) – Up to 6 minutes

⦿ Nomination and award eligibility require a minimum of 5 valid entries per category.

6.1. Entry Fee

IKSFF charges a nominal entry fee to the contest. For details kindly see the Categories & Fees section. Entry fees Non - Refundable.

6.2 Screening

Please note that an Official Selection does not guarantee that all selected entries will be screened. Only a curated selection, as determined by the Festival Selection Committee, will be screened. The decision of the committee will be final and binding.

7. Participation Terms

⦿ Entry implies full acceptance of festival rules and regulations by filmmakers, producers, and their agents.

⦿ No screening fees or travel reimbursements will be provided.

⦿ IKSFF holds the right to make all final decisions regarding film selection and awards.

8. Individual Screenings

Filmmakers interested in screening their work in the Non-Competitive category are welcome. Contact: +91 9748762007 for further details.

9. Submission Materials

⦿ High-resolution images (JPEG, TIFF, or EPS formats):

4 Production stills

2 Director photographs

Film poster

2 Movie stills

Press clippings, brochures, or pamphlets

20-second trailer

| Note: Submission materials will not be returned.

10. Selection & Notification

⦿ Selected films will be announced before the festival via the official website and Facebook page.

⦿ Notification will be sent to Filmmakers selected to participate via email or other available contact methods.​

11. For Selected Films

11.1 Obligations

⦿ Participation requires unconditional acceptance of all festival terms.

⦿ Selected competitive films must permit one-time exhibition of their film in a Partnering Satellite Channel.

⦿ All selected film representatives will receive a request for catalog materials once their participation in the festival is confirmed. Catalog material requests must be fulfilled promptly.

⦿ The Festival accepts no liability if its publications reproduce inaccuracies in submitted materials.

11.2 Catalog Information

Must include:

⦿ Film title (original & English)

⦿ Country of production, year of production, premiere status, duration

⦿ Director, producer, screenplay, cinematography, format, editing, sound, music, principal cast, production company, sales company, print source, production design.

12. Publicity & Promotion

⦿ IKSFF may use excerpts (up to 3 minutes or 10% of the film’s runtime) for promotional purposes.

⦿ Photos and digital clips may be used globally across digital platforms without compensation.

⦿ A 20-second trailer is mandatory for all promotional activity.

13. Subtitling

⦿ All films will be screened in their original version.

⦿ English subtitles are mandatory for all non-English dialogues. Electronic subtitling is not permitted.

14. Usage of Submission Materials

⦿ Promotion: IKSFF/Eventizer will promote the festival and its awards by showcasing excerpts from submitted films across radio, television, and digital media worldwide. IKSFF reserves the right to use excerpts from all submissions for these promotional purposes.

⦿ Screening: Films may be screened both online and offline, during or after the festival, for commercial, non-commercial, or social purposes for an unlimited period of time.

⦿ Archiving: All submissions will be retained in the IKSFF World Film Library for educational and archival purposes without compensation.

⦿ Editing Rights: IKSFF reserves the right to edit provided materials for inclusion in festival publications.

15. Judging & Awards

There are three rounds of judging:

⦿ Round A: Preliminary screening by IKSFF Jury for guideline adherence. The top 100 films are shortlisted.

⦿ Round B: The Screening Committee determines nominations from the shortlisted entries.

⦿ Final Round: Award-winning films are selected by the final jury panel including the Festival Chairman, Director, and Chief Advisor.

The decision of the festival committee and jury is final and binding.

Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • SAIBAL MUKHERJEE

    Very good experience and well organised festival. Some more improvement is required.

    May 2025
  • Ian John Dixon

    Awesome team at International Kolkata Short Film Festival. Wish i could have been there in person and proud to have won an award.

    February 2025
  • Sol Martínez

    It has been a wonderful experience to be able to participate in the festival representing Argentina. There were live screenings and also online screenings through the Efilmzone platform, which allowed us from South America to enjoy five continuous days of short films of the highest quality. It was a great joy and honor to have been awarded as best director for The Cowardice of the Traitors.
    I hope that the festival will be a place of welcome for new directors from all nations.

    February 2025
  • Tridib None

    They were very communicative. Their hospitality was good.

    February 2025
  • Aasa Asok

    The festival was well-organized, making it a remarkable experience to attend. Receiving an award was truly an honor. Hats off to the Festival Chairman, Festival Director, and the whole organizing committee.

    February 2025