🎬 Call for Entries — IKSFF 2027 (Coming Soon) 🎬

The big festival of short films is getting even bigger — Seven days this time!
The International Kolkata Short Film Festival 2027 will be held as a full-fledged 7-day festival.

📅 Festival Dates: 18 – 24 January 2027

Following the successful completion of IKSFF 2026, the International Kolkata Short Film Festival is gearing up for its next edition — IKSFF 2027.

IKSFF invites filmmakers from around the world to submit their short films, documentaries, music videos, and creative visual works for the upcoming festival. Known for its transparent selection process, diverse programming, and filmmaker-friendly environment, IKSFF provides a meaningful platform for independent voices to reach a global audience.

Selected entries at IKSFF receive official recognition, festival laurels, certificates, and opportunities to connect with industry professionals, fellow filmmakers, and cinephiles from different parts of the world.

✨ Why Submit to IKSFF 2027?

🎥 An internationally recognized independent film festival
🎥 Hybrid Festival – Selected films screened both online and offline*
🏆 Multiple Award Categories across diverse genres
📜 Official Festival Laurels & Certificates for all selected entries
⏱️ Long Short Films (up to 45 minutes) accepted
⏱️ AI Short Films (up to 10 minutes) accepted
⏱️ Animation Short Films (up to 30 minutes) accepted
🎶 Music Videos, Advertisements & Commercials welcome
🎬 Non-Competitive Screenings available (T&C applicable – contact us)
🤝 A dynamic platform bringing together filmmakers, cinephiles, directors, producers, critics, and storytellers from across the globe

IKSFF is more than just a film festival — it is a celebration of global storytelling. Hosted in Kolkata, a city with a rich cinematic and cultural legacy, the festival creates a space for meaningful dialogue, creative exchange, and cinematic discovery.

🎯 Whether you are an emerging filmmaker or an established storyteller, IKSFF 2027 offers you a stage to showcase your vision and connect with a global audience.

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

Stay tuned for official submission dates, categories, and guidelines.

🌐 For updates, visit: https://iksff.co.in/

🙏 We extend our heartfelt gratitude to all filmmakers, jury members, partners, sponsors, and supporters who have been part of our journey so far. We look forward to creating another unforgettable cinematic experience together.

✨ IKSFF 2027 - Your Story. Our Screen. One Global Celebration.

🎥 Where stories meet the world.

More details, dates, and submissions opening soon.

🎬 Screening, Selection & Awards – IKSFF 2027

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 2027 Award Categories

🎥 Film Categories

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

🎬 Direction & Technical

10. Best Director (Short / Long Short Film)
11. Best Director (Documentary)
12. Best Bengali Director
13. Best Director (Commercial / Advertisement)
14. Best Debut Director
15. Best Concept
16. Best Cinematographer
17. Best Editor
18. Best Background Score
19. Best Sound Design
20. Best Poster Design

🎭 Acting

21. Best Actor (Male)
22. Best Actor (Female)
23. Best Child Actor
24. Best Bengali Actor (Male)
25. Best Bengali Actor (Female)

🎶 Music Video

26. Best Music Video
27. Best Singer (Music Video)
28. Best Lyricist (Music Video)

📢 Other Categories

29. Best PSA (Public Service Announcement)
30. Best Commercial / Advertisement

🏆 Special & Prestigious Awards

Lifetime Achievement Award
Late Jiban Guha Memorial Award
Courage of Creation – Producer 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 2027! 🌍✨

1. Festival Overview
1.1 Festival Mission & Objective

The International Kolkata Short Film Festival (IKSFF) proudly returns for its 7th edition, taking place from 18 January to 24 January 2027.

IKSFF is committed to celebrating the global art of short filmmaking by presenting inspiring, thought-provoking, innovative, and culturally diverse cinematic works.

The festival welcomes submissions from professional and non-professional filmmakers worldwide. All competitive screenings, jury evaluations, and award decisions will be conducted in Kolkata, India.

⦿ IKSFF aims to:

> Encourage emerging and established filmmakers
> Promote cross-cultural cinematic collaboration
> Provide a global platform for unique voices and bold storytelling
> Celebrate the short film as a powerful and expressive art form

2. Key Dates

⦿ Call for Entry Opens: 15 March 2026
⦿ Early Bird Deadline: 30 April 2026
⦿ Regular Deadline: 30 June 2026
⦿ Extended Regular Deadline: 31 August 2026
⦿ Late Deadline: 30 September 2026
⦿ Final Deadline: 31 October 2026
⦿ Extended Final Deadline: 30 November 2026

Note:

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

3. About Eventizer

Eventizer is the official digital platform supporting IKSFF. It facilitates promotion, ticketing, and online/hybrid event hosting.
Filmmakers may also use Eventizer to showcase their films with ticketed access.

4. Festival Schedule

⦿ Online & Offline Festival: 18 January 2027 – 24 January 2027
⦿ Award Ceremony: Sunday, 24 January 2027 (Kolkata)

5. Eligibility Criteria

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

⦿ All submissions must be completed on or after 1 January 2015 for competition.

⦿ Films completed before 2015 are eligible only for the Non-Competitive category.

⦿ Films may be in any language or genre, but non-English films must include English subtitles.

⦿ Songs taken directly from feature films/short films are not accepted as standalone music videos.
 — If submitted, they must be presented in an independent music video format with original visual storytelling.
 — Title songs or promotional music videos with independent visuals are accepted.

6. Entry Guidelines

⦿ Multiple submissions are allowed across all categories.

Categories:

⦿ Short Film: Up to 30 minutes
⦿ Short Documentary Film: Up to 30 minutes
⦿ Long Short Film: Up to 45 minutes
⦿ Animation Short Film: Up to 30 minutes
⦿ Enviromental Short Film: Up to 30 minutes
⦿ AI Short Film: Up to 10 minutes
⦿ Music Video: Up to 8 minutes
⦿ Advertisement/Commercial: Up to 6 minutes
⦿ 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 non-refundable entry fee.
Please refer to the Categories & Fees section for detailed information.

6.2 Screening

An Official Selection does not guarantee screening.
Only a curated list—determined by the Festival Selection Committee—will be screened.
All committee decisions are final and binding.

7. Participation Terms

⦿ Submission implies full acceptance of all IKSFF rules and regulations.
⦿ No screening fees or travel reimbursements will be provided.
⦿ IKSFF reserves the right to make all final decisions regarding selections and awards.

8. Individual Screenings

Filmmakers may screen their films independently under the Non-Competitive category.
Contact: +91 9748762007

9. Submission Materials

Submit the following high-resolution items (JPEG, TIFF, EPS):

⦿ 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 on the festival’s official website and Facebook page before the festival.
⦿ Selected filmmakers will be notified via email or available contact details.

11. For Selected Films
11.1 Obligations

⦿ Participation requires unconditional acceptance of all festival terms.
⦿ Selected competitive films must permit one-time exhibition on a Partnering Satellite Channel.
⦿ Catalog materials must be submitted promptly upon request.
⦿ IKSFF is not responsible for inaccuracies in submitted materials.

11.2 Catalog Information Requirements

⦿ Film title (original & English)
⦿ Country, year, premiere status, duration
⦿ Director, producer, screenplay, cinematography, editing, sound, music
⦿ Principal cast
⦿ Production company, sales company, print source
⦿ Production design details

12. Publicity & Promotion

⦿ IKSFF may use excerpts (up to 3 minutes or 10%) of a film for promotional purposes.
⦿ Photos and clips may be used globally across digital platforms without compensation.
⦿ A 20-second trailer is mandatory for all promotional activity.

13. Subtitling

⦿ Films will be screened in their original version.
⦿ English subtitles are mandatory for all non-English dialogue.
⦿ Electronic subtitling is not permitted.

14. Usage of Submission Materials

⦿ Promotion: IKSFF/Eventizer may showcase excerpts from submissions across radio, television, and digital media worldwide.

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

⦿ Archiving: All submissions become part of the IKSFF World Film Library for educational and archival use.

⦿ Editing Rights: IKSFF may edit materials for use in festival publications.

15. Judging & Awards

The judging process consists of three rounds:

⦿ Round A – Preliminary Screening

The IKSFF Jury conducts an initial screening to ensure guideline adherence.
Following this, the Screening Committee reviews the shortlisted entries and finalizes the Official Selections.

⦿ Round B – Nomination Selection

From the Official Selections, the Screening Committee and Hon'ble Jury conduct detailed evaluations and finalize official nominations.

⦿ Round C – Award Selection

The Final Jury Panel—comprising the Festival Chairman, Festival Director, and Chief Advisor—conducts the final evaluation and selects the award-winning films.

Important Note:

>> The festival is not bound to provide individual reasons for non-selection.
>> The judging involves multiple jury members and several evaluation criteria.
>> Scores, internal remarks, and jury opinions are confidential.
>> To maintain fairness and transparency, no detailed reasons will be disclosed to participants.
>> All decisions of the committee and jury are final and binding as per IKSFF Rules & Regulations.

Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Sami Khan

    Now a days festivals are just a business. They watch only those movies who ...... juries are not watching movies... Sorry but dont spend money on those festivals.

    April 2026
  • Thank you for the Selection of La Fuite in your competition :) !

    March 2026
  • awesome experience, lucky to be part of it

    March 2026
  • I would like to begin by thanking the International Kolkata Short Film Festival for honouring my film Almari Ka Achaar with the Best LGBTQ Short Film Award. It was truly a meaningful recognition for the film and deeply appreciated.

    Throughout the process, the festival team maintained great transparency and warmth in their communication, both over emails and messages. It was clear that they genuinely care about the filmmakers they work with.

    Although I was unfortunately unable to attend the festival in person, I sincerely appreciated the generosity shown by the organizers in offering accommodation and making every effort to make my participation possible.

    It was a pleasure to be part of the festival, and the experience was absolutely worth the submission fee. I would be very happy to be associated with the International Kolkata Short Film Festival again in the future.

    March 2026
  • The International Kolkata Short Film Festival (IKSFF) is truly a wonderful platform for independent filmmakers. I am honored that my film was nominated at the 6th edition of the festival. The communication from the festival team was professional, prompt, and very supportive throughout the process.

    IKSFF beautifully celebrates creative storytelling and provides meaningful recognition to filmmakers from diverse backgrounds. The festival’s association with reputed brands and its commitment to showcasing global talent makes it a valuable space for emerging as well as experienced creators.

    February 2026