The objective of the festival is to introduce quality, non-mainstream films from all over the world and to become a showcase for independent films and new work from rising talents and cinema masters to show the continuity from generation to generation as a vital component in the development of the film industry.

The festival was created to develop an interactive environment between Italian and international films as well as aiming to discover new filmmaking forms, disseminate and promote local and world cinema, contributing to the development of Industry and Audiovisual Arts, hosting the meeting in their various trades and enhancing its development through a market useful for industry in Italy and abroad.

It is a meeting point for filmmakers, a source for inspiration and new knowledge for experts, students and cinema lovers. SHORTini Film Festival is a hotbed for talent development and promotion of cinema as an attractive leisure for all target groups possible. The 12th edition of the SHORTini Film Festival will be held in November 2025 in Augusta, Italy.

Awards & Prizes

INTERNAZIONAL COMPETITION
International productions of all genre made by filmmakers from all over the world.

Best Film €1500
Best Direction
Best photography
Audience Award
Special Mentions

NATIONAL COMPETITION
Film productions of all genre made by Italian filmmakers either home or abroad.

Best Film €1000
Best Direction
Best photography
Audience Award
Special Mentions

NEOREALISM COMPETITION
Film about contemporary neorealism with most attention to workers and disadvantaged classes are welcome to submit. Experimental films also are welcome to submit. Film can be an international production.

Best Film €800

Rules & Terms

The SHORTini Film Festival aim is to present and showcase outstanding cinematic feature and short films from around the world which are created by independent fillmmakers, professionals as well as film schools’ students, to develop the platform for presenting Italian films and networking of Italian and foreign film professionals.

We invite short films with a duration of up to 30 minutes which have been finished after January 1st 2023 and consider to pertain to one of the following categories: fiction, documentary, animation or experimental.

We accept submissions via FilmFreeway

Every film which is not originally in English must have English subtitles to be considered for the selection.

Films must be submitted by the director, producer, distributor of any other official representative. A person, who submit the film, holds all necessary rights for the film to participate in the Festival. This person is also responsible to proceed with communications with a Festival.

The limited number of films will be selected for the program of the Festival. The films selected by the special selection committee of the Festival will be invited to take part in the program. In case the film is selected, the submitter will be asked to send the screening agreement, stills, subtitles (dialogue lists with time-codes), projection copy (without burnt in subtitles) via the Internet or to the physical address of the Festival.

The selected films will be screened in Augusta, Italy during the Festival up to two times. The best works will be included in the program of SHORTini Film Festival on tour. The winners of the Festival will be automatically included in the program.

Films in Italian or in languages other than English will only be accepted with English subtitles.

Film must not be widely commercially available on video/DVD/online/streaming in Italy before the festival dates.

All short films must have a run-time under 30 minutes.

Entrants must submit their films through FilmFreeway. All films must be submitted as either an online screener or Vimeo link for consideration. All entrants must be over the age of 18 to submit films.
5 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • John Aduragbemi

    One of the best film festival I have had the privilege of attending. From the film screenings to the city excursions and meeting other filmmakers from all over the world. It was an amazing experience. Thank you Shortini Film Festival.

    March 2023
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  • Elena Drandaki

    Amazing festival. Beautiful city and wonderful people!

    March 2023
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  • Kelly Rowland

    Our film made the selection and I was opportuned to have attended the festival. I must say I was thoroughly impressed. The quality of the films was top-notch, and the festival atmosphere was electric. I can't wait to attend again next year!

    February 2023
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  • Rita Loshak

    Screening my film and even winning an award at the festival was sick and totally unexpected! much love to the festival for the recognition and platform.

    February 2023
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    Response from festival:

    Thank you Rita! And congratulations once again. We hope to see your future works too!

  • Laurent Annen

    Attending the festival was an incredible experience, thanks to the festival's warm atmosphere and dedicated team. Hopefully, we will be back again!

    February 2023
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    Response from festival:

    We hope to see your works again Laurent. Thank you!