International Student Film Festival in Tirana (ISFFT) is an academic and cultural initiative of the Faculty of Performing Arts, University of Arts in Tirana and Element Studios, dedicated to supporting emerging filmmakers and film students from across Europe and beyond.

The festival bridges university education with professional practice through screenings, masterclasses, workshops and dialogue between students, educators and industry professionals.

ISFFT aims to foster collaboration, artistic exchange and cross-cultural understanding, positioning Tirana as a dynamic hub for new voices in cinema.

Awards & Prizes

ISFFT recognizes outstanding achievements in student filmmaking through a series of official awards granted by a professional jury of filmmakers and academics.

Festival jury will award: 

• Best Short Film
• Best Documentary
• Best Animation 

• Special mentions might be given to the outstanding talents from the fields of directing, production, acting, screenwriting, cinematography, editing, production design, sound design and score composing…

Winners in each category will receive:

• ISFFT Trophy – a specially designed festival award celebrating artistic excellence.
• Official Certificate of Achievement issued by the International Student Film Festival in Tirana and the University of Arts.
• Official Laurels for use on posters, films and future submissions.

Additional special mentions may be awarded at the jury’s discretion.

Our mission is to support emerging filmmakers by giving visibility to their work and acknowledging the artistic and academic value of student cinema.

Rules & Terms

• All entries must be original student-created films.
• All works submitted to the competition category must be produced after January 1st, 2023.
• By submitting your film, you confirm that you hold all necessary rights for its presentation at ISFFT.
• There is no limit to the number of films a filmmaker, producer, or film school may submit.
• Fiction, documentary, animated and experimental student films up to 60 minutes in length are eligible for the competition category.
• Films may be in any language, but must be accompanied by English subtitles (embedded).
• Films must be submitted via FilmFreeway
• By submitting to ISFFT, applicants agree to allow the festival to securely download their film and all related materials through FilmFreeway for selection and screening purposes. This download option is free of charge for both the filmmaker and the festival.
• Once submitted, a film cannot be withdrawn from the festival program.
• As a non-profit event, ISFFT does not pay screening fees.

• ISFFT is a free festival. No student is required to pay any fee to submit or screen their film.

• Participation during the official Event dates is fully voluntary; students are not required to be present in Tirana for their film to be selected or screened. However, all selected filmmakers are warmly encouraged to attend the Event, take part in masterclasses or workshops, and engage with the program. For further information regarding attendance, please contact us at: contact@isfft.com

2 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Joonhyeong Kim

    Great festival! Really good networking and programs. Would definitely consider attending next year!

    April 2026
    Helpful
  • Alvin Çyço

    A very well-organized festival with a strong international atmosphere. It brought together a variety of field professionals and important industry voices, while maintaining a welcoming and respectful environment. It also felt like the team is working with high professional standards and a clear intention to grow further.

    Great hospitality, along with valuable workshops and masterclasses, made it a truly worthwhile experience.

    My documentary We Play With All Our Heart won Best Short Documentary, which made the experience even more special.

    I would definitely definitely recommend this festival to other students!

    April 2026
    Helpful