Pharos Beyond Images Short Film Festival (PBISFF) is an international short film festival, now in its 6th edition, taking place in Greece.

We welcome bold, emerging and independent voices from around the world.
All selected films receive official festival laurels and live screening opportunities.

Why submit to PBISFF?

🎬 International Festival – 5th Edition

🏆 Official Laurels for all selected films

🎥 Live screenings in Greece

🌍 Submissions from filmmakers worldwide

🚀 Strong focus on emerging & first-time filmmakers

PBISFF is designed as a launch platform, not just a showcase.

Eligibility
Short films up to 30 minutes
All genres accepted
Films completed after 2023
Student, independent and low-budget productions welcome
Multiple submissions allowed

New Competitive Sections
PBISFF proudly introduces new categories for the current edition:

Micro Short Films (up to 5’)

Experimental / New Forms

Music Videos

First-Time Filmmaker

Low Budget / No Budget Films

Mobile & Vertical Films

AI & Hybrid Cinema

SELECTION & LAURELS

Selection & Awards

Official Selection

Semi-Finalist

Quarter-Finalist

Honorable Mentions

Category Winners

📌 All selected and awarded films receive official PBISFF laurels.

Screenings

Selected films will be screened during the festival in Greece.
Filmmakers will be notified in advance regarding screening details.

We are looking for films with strong identity, vision and personality.
If your film deserves an audience, PBISFF is the place to show it.

Awards & Prizes

- Best Short Film Award
- Best Animation Award
- Best LGBTQ Award
- Best Director Award 

- Best Actor Award

- Best Actress Award

- Best Screenplay Award

- Best Audience Award
- Best Student Award
- Micro Short Films (up to 5’)
- Experimental / New Forms
- Music Videos
- First-Time Filmmaker
- Low Budget / No Budget Films
- Mobile & Vertical Films
- AI & Hybrid Cinema

PBISFF trophies - Handmade (100% Wood)

Rules & Terms

Please read all rules and requirements for submitting your project:

GENERAL RULES
> All films must be submitted with English subtitles.

> All films must have been made in the past three years.

> Short films must be less than 30 minutes.

> We don't accept documentaries films.

> Filmmakers are responsible for sorting out the copyright on their own materials.

> By submitting to us, you give us consent and right to screen your film in front of a live audience, and, under special circumstances.

> Nominations: These are all the films that have been nominated for an award in a category. Not all nominated films will be screened.

> If your film is selected, you are expected to provide a link to download your film so that we can project it at the festival, a press kit with press reviews, synopsis, full credits, film stills, trailer (or film clips), posters, and a director's bio with a headshot.

> You can also make your film downloadable on FilmFreeway or Vimeo, so that we can download the file for viewing all our judges.

> We do not stream from YouTube or Vimeo at the event, due to internet reliability issues.

> We do not accept films in progress.

> More than one film may be submitted, but each must be submitted on a separate e-link, and accompanied by separate submission form, entry fee, and printed payment receipt.
The entry fee is non-refundable and required at the time of submission. Please pay the entry through FilmFreeway. Do not send cash or checks.
Filmmakers must submit an online screener of their film through FilmFreeway, or by providing a link to an external site (e.g., Vimeo) with any passwords needed to view the film to: (pharosfilmfestival@gmail.com)

29 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Thassilo Vahlenkamp

    Thank you for awarding my film TINDER TIGER TELEFON as the Best Short Film! It was lovely to meet you in Elefsina and be part of the PBISFF 2025. All the best for the next editions of your festival and warm regards to the very hospitable team. Hope to see you again soon!

    November 2025
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  • Ekati Koukoutsaki

    A very well-run festival with an impressive range of films.

    October 2025
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  • Georgia Michailidi

    A very dedicated team, an interesting selection of films and an overall very welcoming festival for the filmmakers and the audience alike! Here's to many more!!

    October 2025
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  • George Chrysanthakopoulos

    Unfortunately, my experience with the Pharos Film Festival was quite disappointing. There was no personal communication about when my film would be screened, I only found out through the festival’s social media posts.
    When we arrived at the venue around 7:55 p.m. (the festival was supposed to start at 8), there was almost no one there — just three or four people from the festival team. Someone who introduced himself as the festival director told us that the event hadn’t started yet because there were some rehearsals going on inside, and that people would show up later.
    We decided to leave and come back after a while, but when we returned, the situation was the same, no audience in the screening room. The films were playing essentially to an empty hall.
    When we tried to pay for our tickets, there was no POS machine available, and it took about 15 minutes to figure out how to make the payment.
    Overall, it felt disorganized and poorly managed, which was very disappointing, especially for a festival that invites filmmakers to participate.

    October 2025
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  • fanis logothetis

    Thank you very much to include our film " Till a Death" to 2025 Pharos BI Short Film Festival. It was an honour to be amongst so many good films !

    October 2025
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