The Kino Short Film Festival celebrates the art of short filmmaking by independent and student filmmakers in the Pacific Northwest, giving them a venue to share their work with an audience. Films of ten minutes or less in any genre are accepted: narrative, documentary, animation, music videos, and experimental. Each spring in Moscow, Idaho, we host filmmakers and fans at the Kenworthy Performing Arts Centre, and now streaming online as well at www.kinofilmfest.org

We only accept work created in or by filmmakers from Idaho, Oregon, Montana, and Washington.

The festival is supported by the Kenworthy Performing Arts Centre, the University of Idaho, and its Film & Television program, along with the School of Journalism and Mass Media.

The 2024 festival will be held on Friday evening, April 26th starting at 6:30 pm.

Awards & Prizes

Each year, the jurors may recognize some of the submitted films with an award, though not all awards are given in all years. Here are the categories:

-Best Film
-Runner Up - Best Film
-Best Student Film
-Runner Up - Best Student Film
-Best Animation
-Best Documentary

-Best Actor
-Best Cinematography
-Best Sound
-Best Editing

The audience will also have an opportunity to vote for their favorite film, which will be recognized as the Audience's Choice Award.

(These awards and categories may be revised prior to our event, and not all awards may be given each year)

Rules & Terms

NO INTERNATIONAL OR UNQUALIFIED SUBMISSIONS.
FILMS MUST BE MADE BY FILMMAKERS FROM IDAHO, OREGON, MONTANA OR WASHINGTON IN THE UNITED STATES.

All films must be produced within the past two years.

All films must be ten minutes or less in length.

No Films made as part of Fall48 may be submitted to the KINO film festival.

Again, Only films made in or by filmmakers from Idaho, Oregon, Montana, or Washington may be submitted.

All entrants submitting acknowledge they hold the copyright to their work and have clearances and permissions for any intellectual property included in their film (music, etc.)

Upon acceptance into the festival, the filmmaker must make a downloadable copy of their film available to KINO Short Film Festival on FilmFreeway.
9 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Marcellyn Fisher

    Absolutely amazing first film festival experience!! So much love for the medium and so many cool, creative ideas on display. Will be attending annually!!

    October 2023
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  • brian plonka

    An absolutely fantastic and gracious venue in a great town. A dinner for filmmakers and guests was a great starter for the evening.
    The theater for the festival was sold out!
    Some 200 plus film fans. I totally was impressed by the University of Idaho staff and volunteers that worked hard to produce a memorable evening.

    May 2023
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  • Arlie Sommer

    It was so much fun to connect with film students and professionals from the Northwest. Thank you Kino for being such gracious hosts!

    May 2023
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  • Nate Fieldson

    KINO did a wonderful job of getting filmmakers and avid filmgoers together. The festival programming was among the most streamlined I have seen.

    All of the people putting it on -- From students to faculty -- Were very kind and hospitable, and seemed genuinely excited that we were there.

    There was plenty of breaks between each section of the itinerary, and it never felt too rushed or exhausting.

    I will definitely submit future projects here!

    May 2023
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  • Alex Bulger

    An amazing festival with amazing people. Very welcoming and showed great shorts. The communication with the festival was very good!

    May 2022
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