Niagara Falls International Short Festival, is a seasonal Us-based short online film festival held in the beautiful Niagara Falls, New York. Niagara is valued not only for its waterfall but also for its beautiful inns, hotels, restaurants and tourist destinations such as its wineries. Filmmakers and artists have been attracted to Niagara Falls and have used its potentials to set their films. Niagara Falls has been used as background in numerous feature films, including the famous Marilyn Monroe film, titled Niagara (1953), and Superman and Pirates of the Caribbean, to name a few. The spectacular natural scenery of Niagara Falls has always given an extra layer of beauty to films shown on the silver screen, and we hope to use these infrastructures to offer you a fantastic festival experience.

If you have a film ready to be submitted, you can send your film to us before the next deadline. This is an online festival, which means that films will be privately judged, and we will announce the winners; if you are a winner, your project "might" be considered for our online event.

Best Us Narrative Short
Best International Narrative Short
Best Documentary Short
Best Animated Short
Best Experimental Short
Best Micro Short
Best Covid 19 Film
Best Horror Short
Best Thriller Short
Best Sci-Fi Short
Best Comedy Short
Best Erotic Short
Best Student Short Film
Best Music Video
Best Actor in Short
Best Actress in Short
Best Ensemble Acting in Short
Best Female Directing in Short
Best Male Directing in Short
Best Script in Short
Best Editing in Short
Best Music in Short
Best Web Series
Best TV Pilot
All Categories for Short

A) Eligibility Requirements
1. Films completed on or after Jan 1, 2017 are eligible for consideration
2. All entries must be either in English or subtitled in English. Dialogue lists are not accepted.
3. Entrant confirms and warrants required legal authority to submit the entry to the Festival and to use all music, images, and content in the entry.

B) Submission Guidelines
1. Feature-length films must be submitted via online screener hosted by Vimeo, on DVD or on Blu-ray disc.
2. Only complete entries (including fee payment and screener) will be considered.
3. Entrants are permitted to submit works-in-progress (i.e., without final color correction or sound mixing), but please note that the programming committee will only consider the version submitted. Subsequent cuts or replacement copies will only be accepted at the request of the programming committee.
4. To qualify for student entry fee rates, entrant must include proof of student status at the time of production (copy of student ID, transcript, etc.)
5. All films selected for the Festival will screen on Bluray/DCP unless otherwise arranged by the submitting filmmaker and programming team.

C) Shipping
The cost of shipping an entry to the Festival must be paid by the entrant. Collect or COD shipments will not be accepted. All international entries must be sent “free domicile” to the Festival office with all transportation charges, duties, and taxes prepaid by the shipper.

D) Judging & Selection
If a film is selected, the Festival office will contact the entrant by phone or email. The Festival does not provide feedback or screening notes to entries that are not selected.

All competitive film categories are judged during the Festival.

F) Entry Fees
Each entry must be accompanied by the appropriate entry fee. Entry fees are not refundable. Fees cover registration, registration notification, consideration by the programming department, and notification of the results. These fees may be paid by credit card (VISA, MasterCard, or American Express).

Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Wow! Thank you so much for choosing 'Hey Alexa' as the winner of US Short Film. What an honor. I appreciate your time and look forward to what's next!

    April 2023
  • Fierce Orchid

    Love love love it! So grateful! Thank you for letting us participate!

    April 2023
  • Amir Zargara

    Thanks for having us :)

    April 2023
  • Thank you Niagara Falls Int'l Short Festival for selecting The Chance as Semi-Finalist. I did not receive a notice on the winners, which I think should be sent whether or not the submission does not move forward.

    April 2023
  • Greg Simmons

    The Staunch Moderates movement had a happy an amazing time participating in the Niagara Falls International Short Festival!

    March 2023