Next edition >>> 17–21 March 2027 - Budapest, Hungary
SHORT TO THE POINT (STTP) is an international short film festival dedicated to discovering and presenting distinctive cinematic voices from around the world.
Founded in 2009, STTP has presented curated monthly screenings and annual editions in over 50 cities across 3 continents and 13 countries. Over nearly two decades, the festival has built a respected international platform for short-form cinema, showcasing films in curated programs that emphasize artistic identity and strong directorial vision.
The 2027 Budapest edition marks a refined and focused chapter in the festival’s evolution - a carefully curated selection of works that reflect the vitality, necessity, and formal innovation of contemporary short cinema.
STTP is committed to presenting films that stand out for their clarity of vision, narrative precision, and aesthetic courage.
Official Competition Categories
• Narrative (Fiction/Live Action)
Story-driven short films with a strong authorial voice and cinematic craft.
• Documentary
Creative non-fiction works that reveal reality through a distinctive perspective.
• Animation
All forms of animated storytelling, from traditional techniques to hybrid formats.
• Experimental
Works that challenge cinematic language, structure, and perception.
• Low Budget / Independent Cinema
Films produced with limited resources yet driven by artistic ambition and originality.
What We Seek
SHORT TO THE POINT welcomes short films of all genres that demonstrate:
• A confident and personal directorial vision
• Formal precision and strong cinematic language
• Narrative or structural innovation
• Emotional depth and thematic relevance
• Artistic risk-taking
We are particularly interested in filmmakers who approach short cinema as a complete artistic form - not as a stepping stone, but as a deliberate and fully realized expression.
The festival values both established auteurs and emerging directors whose work signals a clear cinematic identity.
SHORT TO THE POINT believes that short cinema is one of the most dynamic forms of contemporary filmmaking. We aim to provide a curated international stage where bold ideas, refined craft, and new voices meet an engaged audience in the heart of Budapest.
We welcome submissions from filmmakers who approach short cinema as a complete and deliberate artistic form.
SHORT TO THE POINT honors excellence in short cinema through a series of jury and audience awards recognizing artistic vision, cinematic craft, and originality.
GRAND PRIX
Awarded to the most accomplished film in the official competition, distinguished by exceptional artistic merit and a strong cinematic identity.
SPECIAL JURY PRIZE
Presented to a film that demonstrates remarkable vision, innovation, or creative boldness.
AUDIENCE PRIZE
Granted to the film that resonates most powerfully with festival audiences.
AWARD FOR BEST ANIMATION
Recognizing outstanding achievement in animated storytelling across all techniques and styles.
AWARD FOR BEST DOCUMENTARY
Honoring a documentary that offers a compelling and distinctive perspective on reality.
AWARD FOR BEST EXPERIMENTAL
Celebrating films that challenge cinematic language and expand the boundaries of form.
AWARD FOR BEST INDEPENDENT
Dedicated to exceptional micro-budget or independently produced films marked by originality and artistic ambition.
AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE
Recognizing a remarkable acting performance within a selected short film.
STUDENT PRIZE
Awarded to an exceptional film created within an academic context, highlighting emerging talent and fresh cinematic voices.
