An IMDb qualified festvial , Rotterdam Independent Film Festival (Riff) is a brand new, up-and-coming online seasonal short film festival in Netherland, a country with great filmmakers like Johan van der Keuken and popular international film festivals. Riff is an exclusive online short film competition, and our main goal is to showcase the brilliant short projects for a diverse audience of cinephiles.

RIFF is more than just a Film event; it is a strong connection among all filmmakers worldwide. RIFF is a hub for international filmmakers to celebrate their premieres, thank their cast and crew, and meet their fans. Exposing young talented filmmakers to an environment of industry professionals with vast experience in their field is a priority for us. One of our top aims is to help first-time filmmakers promote their talent regardless of their age. The objective of RIFF is to provide support to indie filmmakers globally through reviewing, judging, marketing, and distribution networking. We aim to create networks that lead to further opportunities for filmmakers.

RIFF is an online award film festival. You have two steps in front to advance to the annual event. At first, each season, our jury selects the winners of each category through "private" screenings. Every submitted film has a chance to be a winner for each season. In the next step, the winner projects must confirm if they are interested in being part of our online event. If you are selected for an online event, you need to send us materials for online screening.

Our judges consist of filmmakers and industry professionals from 5 different countries. We believe that having such a multicultural team behind our festival helps our festival thrive among Indie Festivals.

Awards & Prizes

Feature Film
Short Film
Male Director (for both short and feature)
Female Director (for both short and feature)
Producer
First-time filmmaker shorts
Student short
Documentary (for both short and feature)
Animation
Experimental
Horror Short
Dance Short
Sci-fi Short
Covid Short
LGBTQ Short
Women Empowerment
Micro Short
Acting in Short (for both male and female)
Ensemble Acting
Original Screenwriting (for both short and feature)
Unproduced Script (for both short and feature)
Editing
Original Score
Cinematography
Web Series
TV pilot
Music Video

Rules & Terms

Your submission implies that you have the legal right to represent and submit this film for consideration, along with your acceptance of RIFF regulations.

1) International films are required to have English subtitles
2) Short films are 50 mins and under. Micro short is under 5 minutes
3) To submit a film or script, you must have created the project yourself, own the rights or have permission from the content owner to submit the film to us.
4) Films must be 2016 or newer to qualify for an award.
5) Our festival is run by a small group of volunteers, film enthusiasts, and professional film judges. Every effort is made to provide excellent communication. If there is anything we can assist with, please send us an email, and we will contact you back within 72 hours.
6) One entry fee per category. The same film can be entered into one or more categories, but each category requires an entry fee.
7) Only the winner project has the chance for the online screening. Given that we might not receive all the film screening materials on time, we reserve the right to change the time of the online event. If we change the date, the new information will be communicated to the affected filmmakers (the winners's one).
8 ) We communicate with filmmakers through emails, so we appreciate that you check your email regularly.
9) All fees are non-refundable

231 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Bolero Patrizia Masi

    Good morning! Thank you for the wonderful opportunity to participate in your Rotterdam Independent Film Festival! I am delighted that my film, *Rosso Improvviso* (Suddenly Red), was selected as a semi-finalist for Best Female Director. Reaching the semi-finals—or even the finals—among hundreds of feature, medium-length, and short films is truly a miracle. This recognition honors the talent, dedication, and sacrifices of an extraordinary team that believed in this film from the very first take 🎬.
    A special thank you goes to the Festival Organizers and to every single professional who played a part in this ongoing journey. Now, we await the next verdict with the same enthusiasm we felt on the first day of filming 🚀.
    I am so proud of this incredible team. The journey continues! 🏆 Thank you again for the amazing thrill you’ve given me ❤️ Patrizia Masi

    July 2026
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  • Joaquim Haickel

    Foi muito bom participar deste importante festival

    July 2026
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  • MASOOD ALI

    "I was thrilled to see 'The Quran' receive an award at the Rotterdam Independent Film Festival!
    I must commend the festival for its sincere and genuine approach to recognizing outstanding films. The exceptional judging panel's unbiased selection truly reflects the festival's commitment to excellence. May Almighty bless this festival and its future endeavors. Kudos to the team for maintaining such high standards!

    Masood Ali Hollywood 2 Bollywood Pictures"

    July 2026
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  • Crystal Sauls

    I am extremely pleased to have my works selected at RIFF! Its nothing like working hard and getting things done and then being rewarded! Thanks again for choosing me RIFF!

    July 2026
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  • Richard Morell

    I am so honored to be a part of this festival. They do a great job of programming.

    April 2026
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