***ENTRIES CLOSED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE***

MIFF is dedicated to supporting independent filmmakers and smaller production companies by offering a dynamic platform to showcase new work. MIFF accepts submissions from all over the world, and all filmmaking styles and genres are welcome. Selected films will not only screen at a historic venue and be considered for awards, but will also be promoted across all available channels.

Though MIFF is an international festival, one of its main aims is the promotion of the West of Ireland, and specifically Mayo, as a filmmaking location. As an initiative of the Linenhall Arts Centre, it also aims to encourage the development of filmmakers and crew based in the West.

Judged by a team of industry professionals, trophies will be awarded to winners in various categories.

***SHORT FILMS (LIVE-ACTION AND DOCUMENTARY)***
Short films of all genres and styles are accepted. Films should not exceed 40 minutes.

***ANIMATION***
Animated films of all styles are welcome. Animated films should not exceed 30 mins.

***BEST OF MAYO***
This award includes short films, documentaries, animations and experimental work and should not exceed 40 mins. Please submit to this category if you wish to be considered for this award, regardless of whether your film is live-action, documentary or animation. Films should fulfil EITHER 1 OR 2 as follows (if a film fulfils both, this will be looked upon favourably):

1. Film was produced in County Mayo, Ireland.
-Where a film features more than one location, Mayo should be the primary location.
-Where a film is shot indoors or otherwise non-identifiable location, evidence will be required to show that production took place in Mayo.

2. Key crew either born in Mayo OR currently based in Mayo.
-Writer, Director and Producer roles qualify as key crew. It is sufficient that only one of these roles fulfil the criteria, though more than one will be looked upon favourably.

All films must have been completed after 1st Jan 2020.

2022 Judges included Academy Award nominee Darragh O’Connell (Brown Bag Films), celebrated documentary filmmaker Vivienne Dick, producers John McDonnell & Brendan McCarthy (Fantastic Films), Ruán Magan (independent director, producer and writer), producer Niamh Fagan (Lunar Pictures) and award-winning filmmaker Paul Webster, with more judges to be announced!

Trophies will be awarded to winners in each of the following categories, with more categories to be announced:

- Best Short (Live-Action)
- Best Short Documentary
- Best Animation
- Best of Mayo
- Best Student Film

***SHORT FILMS (LIVE-ACTION AND DOCUMENTARY)***
Short films of all genres are accepted. Films should not exceed 40 minutes.

***ANIMATION***
Animated films of all styles are welcome. Animated films should not exceed 30 mins.

***BEST OF MAYO***
This award includes documentary, short and animated films which do not exceed 40mins. Films should fulfil EITHER 1 OR 2 as follows (if a film fulfils both, this will be looked upon favourably):

1. Film was produced in County Mayo, Ireland.
-Where a film features more than one location, Mayo should be the primary location.
-Where a film is shot indoors or otherwise non-identifiable location, evidence will be required to show that production took place in Mayo.

2. Key crew either born in Mayo OR currently based in Mayo.
-Writer, Director and Producer roles qualify as key crew. It is sufficient that only one of these roles fulfil the criteria, though more than one will be looked upon favourably.

(note: If entering Best of Mayo, there is no need to enter another category for your film. All work submitted in this category will still be considered for other relevant awards).

PLEASE READ ALL ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA, RULES, TERMS & CONDITIONS BEFORE ENTERING AS NO REFUNDS WILL BE GIVEN.

Entries are invited in the following categories:⁣

- Short Films (under or equal to 40 mins)
- Short Documentary (under or equal to 40 mins)
- Animation (under or equal to 30 mins)
- Student Film (under or equal to 40 mins, live-action, doc or animation)

Premiere Status:⁣
-All films selected will be Mayo premieres. Though not required, if a film is an Irish, European or World premiere, this will be looked upon favourably.

Conditions for Entry⁣:
-Films should be presented in their original versions with English language subtitles or commentary where necessary.⁣
-Films must have been completed after 1 Jan 2020.
-Please note that films submitted through an incorrect category will not be considered.
-THE FESTIVAL DOES NOT PAY SCREENING OR OTHER FEES FOR SUBMITTED FILMS.⁣

Criteria for Best of Mayo Submissions (at least 1 of the followed should be fulfilled):
-*Filmmakers who are based in Mayo⁣
-*Filmmakers born in Mayo but based elsewhere⁣
-Films shot in Mayo (or mostly in Mayo)
*For this purpose, 'filmmakers' include the roles of Writer, Director and Producer only.

(note: If entering Best of Mayo, there is no need to enter another category for your film. All work submitted in this category will still be considered for other relevant awards).

Criteria for Student category:
-Films (live-action, doc or animation) completed as part of an educational course based in Ireland or anywhere else in the world.

Non-English language films⁣:
To qualify for selection, all non-English language films must have an English-subtitles.⁣

How to send your film⁣:
Please submit your film via the online submission platform, FilmFreeway.

The Festival cannot offer feedback regarding films that are not selected for the programme.

Screening Fees
THE FESTIVAL DOES NOT PAY SCREENING OR OTHER FEES FOR SUBMITTED FILMS.⁣

Using extracts of the films and film stills for promotion⁣:
The entrant agrees that up to three minutes of their film may be used by MIFF in promotional activities. Please ensure that uploaded stills and headshots are of print quality and that you have permission to allow the Festival to use these for promotional and press purposes in perpetuity. ⁣

If you are a cultural institution or college or have a number of films you would like to enter at once, the Festival may be able to offer a discount; please email miff@thelinenhall.com to request.

General⁣:
Acceptance of these Terms and Conditions implies that the entrant will abide by them in their dealings with the Festival and also that the entrant is legally entitled to submit the film for consideration. Entry to the Festival implies that the entrant has the right to do so, has pre-cleared all materials that comprise the film, and is an authorised representative of the team that holds the intellectual property in the film.⁣

In the case of not receiving enough entries for a certain category, MIFF reserves the right to remove that category entirely, or to remove for award consideration.

Entering a film to MIFF implies the acceptance of these Terms and Conditions.⁣

The Festival reserves the right to change the Terms and Conditions at any time.⁣

Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Margaret Kane-Rowe

    Great communication. Lovely festival. Highly recommend.

    June 2022
  • Gerald Pribek

    Very excited about this Festival. Thank you, feel very honored. It´s great fun with you guys and it is so exciting!

    March 2022
  • Andrew Luminello

    While I wasn't able to attend the Mayo International Film Festival, I was beyond grateful that my film got to be a selection. MIFF did a great job with communicating with the filmmakers who were selected by always being informative and responding back quickly if anybody had any questions or concerns. There social media platform was very well done and organized by advertising the films that were selected at the festival whether you were nominated or not.

    I would strongly recommend MIFF to anyone that is looking to showcase there film internationally. They do a fantastic job of advertising and giving your film the recognition it deserves. Thank you again MIFF for accepting my film "The Cashier" at your festival this year.

    March 2022
  • Adam O'Keeffe

    Brilliant to have been included in the programme. What a fantastic part of the world and a lovely festival to work with.

    March 2022
  • Sinéad O'Loughlin

    Thanks for including our film Stray in your programme - really wish I could have been there. Great social media updates and great communication from the festival.

    March 2022