The Milano International Film Awards is a new generation international online film festival created as a modern digital platform for showcasing auteur, independent and relevant world cinema. The festival brings together directors, producers, screenwriters, representatives of the creative industries and viewers interested in high-quality cinematography, cultural exchange and professional dialogue without territorial restrictions.

Based in Milan, one of the key European centers of art, fashion, design and contemporary cultural thinking, the Milano International Film Awards combines the Italian aesthetic tradition, international openness and a digital format that meets the demands of the modern film industry. The festival is being created as a full-fledged professional ecosystem in which authors have the opportunity to present their work to a global audience, expand the range of industrial contacts and strengthen the international visibility of their projects.

At the heart of the festival is the desire to support new voices, bold visual solutions, and meaningful cinema that can speak to the audience about modernity, human experience, cultural identity, and social change. The program concept of the festival is based around works that have artistic value, author's intonation and international potential, regardless of the budget, the country of production or the degree of fame of the creators.

Awards & Prizes

Official Submission Categories & Technical Requirements
Milano International Film Awards
The Milano International Film Awards festival accepts projects for consideration in the following categories. All films and screenplays must be submitted in appropriate technical quality and comply with the requirements outlined below. The Organizer reserves the right to reassign a project to a more suitable category if deemed necessary for the proper evaluation of the submission.
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1. FEATURE FILM
Full-length narrative films constituting complete artistic works with a self-contained dramatic structure, a distinct directorial vision, and a professional production framework. This category is open to both independent and studio projects from any country.
Duration: 60 minutes or longer
Requirements:
• Genre: Full-length narrative film;
• Status: Completed work;
• Any language is accepted, provided that English subtitles are included if the film is not in English;
• The film must be submitted in high quality suitable for screening purposes.
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2. DIRECTOR (FEATURE FILM)
This category is designed to evaluate directorial work within the context of full-length narrative cinema. The focus lies on artistic vision, directorial execution, work with actors, dramatic pacing, and the overall integrity of the filmmaker's artistic statement.
Duration: 60 minutes or longer
Requirements:
• The film must meet the criteria for the "Feature Film" category;
• The entry is submitted for the same work but is evaluated separately within the directorial nomination;
• Evaluation focuses exclusively on the directorial realization of the project.
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3. SHORT FILM
Short narrative films created as concise and expressive cinematic statements. This category targets projects characterized by a compelling core concept, precise dramatic structure, and a strong visual language.
Duration: Up to 40 minutes
Requirements:
• Genre: Short narrative film;
• Any stylistic or genre forms are accepted;
• English subtitles are mandatory for films not in the English language;
• The project must be completed at the time of submission.
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4. DIRECTOR SHORT FILM
This category is dedicated to directorial achievements in short-form cinema. Particular attention is paid to the originality of the staging, the expressiveness of the form, and the director's ability to tell a story within a limited runtime.
Duration: Up to 40 minutes
Requirements:
• The film must meet the criteria for the Short Film category;
• The directorial concept, visual presentation, and artistic integrity are evaluated.
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5. FEATURE DOCUMENTARY
Feature-length documentary films that explore real-world events, people, phenomena, or themes through an authorial or journalistic approach. This category welcomes both classic and hybrid forms of documentary cinema.
Duration: 50 minutes or longer
Requirements:
• Genre: Feature-length documentary;
• Authorial, investigative, observational, and hybrid documentary formats are accepted;
• English subtitles are mandatory if the film is not in English;
• The material must have confirmed rights for any archival footage, music, and interviews used, where applicable.
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6. DIRECTOR FEATURE DOCUMENTARY
A category for directors of feature-length documentary films. The evaluation focuses on the director's approach to the subject matter, narrative structure, originality of research, and the expressiveness of the documentary language.
Duration: 50 minutes or longer
Requirements:
• The film must meet the criteria for the Feature Documentary category;
• The directing itself is evaluated, rather than solely the film's subject matter or informational value.
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7. SHORT DOCUMENTARY
Short documentary films that offer a concise and substantive exploration of a real-world topic within a compact format. This category is suitable for both emerging directors and established professionals in the documentary genre.
Duration: Up to 40 minutes
Requirements:
• Genre: Short documentary;
• The project must be a completed non-fiction work;
• English subtitles are mandatory for non-English-language films.
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8. DIRECTOR: SHORT DOCUMENTARY
This category recognizes outstanding directorial work in the short documentary format. Entries are evaluated based on originality of presentation, visual precision, composition, and the strength of the filmmaker's artistic vision.
Duration: Up to 40 minutes
Requirements:
• The film must qualify as a Short Documentary;
• Priority is given to works demonstrating a distinct directorial style.
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9. EXPERIMENTAL FILM
A category for films that transcend the boundaries of traditional narrative and explore cinematic language, form, perception, editing, sound, space, and visual structure. We accept works situated at the intersection of cinema, video art, performance, and new media.
Duration: Up to 120 minutes
Requirements:
• Narrative, non-narrative, abstract, hybrid, and avant-garde works are eligible;
• The work must possess a clear artistic concept;
• English subtitles are required if the film contains dialogue or text in a language other than English.
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10. DIRECTOR: EXPERIMENTAL FILM
This category highlights directors who demonstrate artistic boldness and an original artistic approach within the realm of experimental cinema. Submissions are evaluated based on the ability to utilize form as an independent vehicle for artistic expression.
Duration: Up to 40 minutes
Requirements:
• The film must meet the criteria for the Experimental Film category;
• Artistic direction and directorial concept are the primary criteria for evaluation.
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11. ANIMATION FILM
A category for animated films utilizing any technique: 2D, 3D, stop-motion, mixed media, hand-drawn, digital animation, and other forms. Both independent and studio-produced animation projects are considered.
Duration: Up to 120 minutes
(Feature-length animation may be considered separately, at the festival's discretion)
Requirements:
• Narrative and non-narrative animated works are eligible;
• The project must be a complete, finished animated work;
• English subtitles are mandatory if the film contains non-English dialogue.
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12. FEATURE SCRIPT
A category for original or adapted screenplays for feature-length films. The festival welcomes strong dramatic projects characterized by a compelling structure, professional-level writing, and cinematic potential. Length / Page Count: 70 to 130 pages
Requirements:
• Submission Language: English;
• Format: PDF;
• The screenplay must be professionally formatted;
• The title page must include the project title;
• Author’s name on the title page is optional, provided that anonymous submissions are not prohibited by the platform.
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13. SHORT SCRIPT
A category for short film screenplays. We consider projects featuring clear dramatic structure, precise dialogue, and a distinct artistic vision, specifically suited for the short-form format.
Length / Page Count: Up to 70 pages
Requirements:
• Submission Language: English;
• Format: PDF;
• The screenplay must be suitable for a short film production;
• Both original and adapted works are accepted, provided that all necessary rights have been secured.
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14. ORIGINAL CONCEPT
A category dedicated to both films and screenplays distinguished by a strong original idea, a clear creative foundation, and a compelling artistic vision. We consider projects that demonstrate conceptual originality, inventive storytelling, and the potential to stand out through a distinctive and memorable approach, whether in completed film form or as a screenplay.
Duration / Length:
• Films: Up to 40 minutes
• Screenplays: Up to 70 pages

Requirements:
• Submission language: English, or English subtitles for films not in English;
• Films must be completed works suitable for festival screening;
• Screenplays must be submitted in PDF format and be suitable for screen production;
• The project must present a clear original concept and a distinctive creative direction;
• Both original and adapted works are accepted, provided that all necessary rights have been properly secured;
• All submissions must be professionally prepared and suitable for official festival review.
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15. MUSIC VIDEO
A category for music videos distinguished by a strong visual concept, distinct directorial style, and expressive interplay between imagery and music. Videos of any genre or artistic style are accepted.
Duration: Up to 10 minutes
Requirements:
• The project must be an official music video;
• All necessary rights regarding the music and visuals must have been secured;
• Narrative, performance-based, conceptual, and experimental music videos are accepted.

Rules & Terms

1. General Provisions
1.1. These Rules & Terms govern the procedure for submitting entries, the selection process, online screenings, participation in the competitive program, the use of materials, the processing of personal data, as well as other conditions for participation in the Milano International Film Awards.
1.2. By submitting an entry, the Applicant confirms that they have read, understood, and unconditionally accepted these Rules & Terms, as well as all related Festival documents.
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2. Festival Status and Format
2.1. The Festival is conducted in an online format and may include:
• competitive and non-competitive programs;
• time-limited online screenings.
2.2. The Organizer reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to determine the screening format for each selected work, including:
• geo-blocking;
• limiting the number of views;
• password-protected access, token-based access, or other reasonable content protection measures.
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3. Submission Categories
3.1. Entries are accepted within the official submission categories published on the Festival website.
3.2. The Organizer reserves the right to:
• combine categories;
• reassign a project to a different category if it better aligns with the nature of the work;
• reject entries that do not correspond to the declared category.
3.3. Decisions regarding the admissibility of an entry, its category, and its status are final and are made by the Organizer.
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4. Requirements for the Applicant and the Project
4.1. An entry may be submitted by the rights holder of the work or by a person duly authorized to act on behalf of the rights holder.
4.2. The Applicant warrants that, as of the date of submission, they possess all necessary rights, permissions, licenses, and consents sufficient for:
• submitting the project to the Festival;
• its review by the selection committee;
• its online screening as part of the Festival; • the use of the trailer, poster, stills, synopsis, credits, director’s name, and other submitted materials for the Festival’s promotional, archival, and informational purposes, to the extent provided for in these Rules & Terms.
4.3. The Applicant bears full responsibility for obtaining all necessary third-party rights.
4.4. The Applicant is solely responsible for ensuring that the project’s participation in the Festival and its online screening do not violate:
• applicable copyright laws;
• personal data protection regulations;
• consumer protection regulations;
• restrictions regarding age ratings, advertising, sensitive content, and other mandatory requirements under applicable legislation.
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5. Selection and Official Participation Status
5.1. All submissions undergo an internal selection process.
5.2. The Organizer reserves the exclusive right to make decisions regarding:
• the inclusion of a project in the competitive or non-competitive program;
• the granting of "Official Selection," "Nominee," "Finalist," or "Winner" status, or the rejection of a submission;
• the number of films included in the program;
• the composition of the jury, selectors, and advisors;
• the date and procedure for announcing the results.
5.3. The decisions of the Organizer, the Program Directorate, and the Jury are final and not subject to appeal.
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6. Content Restrictions
6.1. The Organizer reserves the right to refuse participation to, or remove a project from, the program if there are reasonable grounds to believe that the project:
• violates applicable legislation;
• contains illegal content;
• promotes violence, terrorism, discrimination, hate speech, or other forms of prohibited content;
• infringes upon the rights of minors;
• was submitted using false or misleading information;
• infringes upon the rights of third parties or the reputational interests of the Festival.
6.2. If the content is subject to age restrictions or requires specific warnings, the applicant is required to disclose this in advance.
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7. Jury, Judging, and Awards
7.1. Festival awards are conferred within the categories published by the Organizer.
7.2. The Organizer reserves the right to:
• modify the number of awards;
• decline to confer specific awards;
• introduce special mentions;
• merge categories;
• establish partner or special prizes.
7.3. The decisions of the Jury and the Organizer regarding the evaluation of projects are final.
7.4. If, following the announcement of results, it is discovered that a winner has violated these Rules & Terms or provided false information, the Organizer reserves the right to annul the result, revoke the award, remove all references to the victory, and update the official Festival materials.
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8. Festival Intellectual Property
8.1. All rights to the Festival’s name, logo, corporate identity, website, texts, catalogs, graphics, design, selection and arrangement of materials, databases, and other elements of the Festival brand belong to the Organizer or are used by the Organizer on a lawful basis.
8.2. Any use of the Festival’s designations by a Participant is permitted only within the scope of the branding guidelines and solely to indicate the fact of participation, selection, nomination, or victory at the Festival.
8.3. A Participant is not entitled to use the Festival’s name, logos, or laurels in a misleading manner, including prior to the official confirmation of the corresponding status.
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9. Disqualification
9.1. The Organizer reserves the right, at any time—before, during, or after the Festival—to disqualify a project or a Participant if:
• inaccurate information has been provided;
• the rights of third parties have been infringed;
• necessary licenses or permits are missing;
• these Rules & Terms have been violated;
• evidence of fraud, artificial manipulation of results, document falsification, platform abuse, or other dishonest conduct is detected.
9.2. In the event of disqualification, the submission fee, registration fee, ticketing fees, and any other amounts paid shall not be refunded, unless otherwise required by mandatory law.
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10. Changes to Rules
10.1. The Organizer reserves the right to amend these Rules & Terms if such amendments are required:
• for operational reasons;
• due to the development of the Festival;
• to correct errors or ambiguities;
• to ensure compliance with the requirements of applicable laws, regulatory bodies, the platform, rights holders, or payment service providers.
10.2. The current version of these Rules & Terms shall be published on the official Festival website and shall enter into force immediately upon publication, unless expressly stated otherwise.