Munich Film Festival is a 2 days live, in-person event alongside Filmfest München, bringing filmmakers, creatives, and industry voices together for screenings, conversations, networking events, and drinks. Designed as a social and cinematic gathering, the festival creates a relaxed but electric space where films spark dialogue, collaborations begin, and new creative connections are made inside and outside the screening room.

Munich Film Festival - A Celebration of Independent Cinema

The Munich Film Festival is a bold new alternative to traditional summer festivals in Munich, created for the fearless, the imaginative, and the storytellers who dare to tell stories that have never been told before. While major festivals like Filmfest München attract large industry crowds and programmed selections, Munich Film Festival exists to open the doors to new voices, newcomers, and truly independent cinema, films that challenge expectations and redefine what cinema can be.

We’ve built a festival environment that rejects the ordinary and embraces the avant-garde, giving space for films that are bold, strange, beautiful, and unforgettable.

Who We Welcome
- We celebrate filmmakers who are:
- Emerging artists and first-time directors
- Innovators working outside mainstream norms
- Independent storytellers with a unique cinematic voice

About Submission Fee
A submission fee allows us to sustain the festival at a high standard, ensuring quality programming, festival operations, and opportunities for filmmakers to be seen and supported. This fee helps us build a platform that truly serves independent artists and creates meaningful experiences for audiences.

Submission Categories Include:
- Feature Length Film - International
- Short Film - International
- Short Film - Shot in Germany
- Feature Length Film - Shot in Germany

Festival Experience
Munich becomes the canvas: from open-air screenings and pop-up cinemas to late-night discussions in the city’s vibrant cultural spaces. We celebrate film in unexpected places and create unforgettable shared moments for filmmakers and audiences alike.

Awards & Prizes

The festival presents the following awards:

- Best Film
- Best Director
- Best Screenplay
- Best Performance
- Best First Film
- Jury Prize

All awards are non-monetary. Winners receive official festival recognition.

Rules & Terms

- Films of all genres are accepted.
- Short films must be 40 minutes or less. Feature films must be over 40 minutes.
- Films may be completed in any year unless otherwise stated in the category description.
- Films in any language are accepted. English subtitles are required for non-English dialogue.
- Works-in-progress are accepted, provided a final cut is available before the festival.
- Premiere status is not required.
- Multiple entries are allowed, but each film requires a separate submission and fee.
- Submission fees are non-refundable.
- The submission fee helps ensure the festival can be produced and presented at a professional standard.
- All submissions must be made through FilmFreeway.
- Selected filmmakers will be notified via email and FilmFreeway.
- By submitting, filmmakers confirm they hold all necessary rights for exhibition of the film.
- The festival reserves the right to screen selected films in-person during the festival dates.
- The festival reserves the right to update the schedule and venues if necessary.