São Paulo Film Festival (SPFF) is an independent film festival that takes place in the most frenetic and populous city in Brazil.

SPFF seeks to support and inspire independent short film from all over the world, by a genuine expression that can stimulate new thoughts to the art of cinema. The Festival SPFF is an organization dedicated to the discovery and development of new artists, with visions beyond the border of the imagination that can thrill audiences from all countries.

Different from most festivals. We watch all the films. Our jury is composed mostly by filmmakers.

Shorts, Animations and Documentaries. Any genre.

Dec 08 - 10, 2024
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São Paulo Film Festival (SPFF) é um festival de cinema independente que ocorre na cidade mais frenética e populosa do Brasil.

SPFF procura apoiar e inspirar curtas independentes de todo o mundo, por uma expressão genuína que pode estimular novos pensamentos para a arte do cinema.
O festival SPFF é uma organização dedicada à descoberta e ao desenvolvimento de novos artistas, com visões além da fronteira da imaginação que podem atrair audiências de todos os países.

Diferente da maioria dos festivais. Nós assistimos todos os filmes. Nosso júri é composto principalmente por cineastas.

Curtas, Animação e Documentários. Todos os gêneros.

Online + Presencial. O Festival ocorrerá no dia 8 de Dezembro de 2024 no Cine Belas Artes apenas dos filmes finalistas. Os filmes semifinalistas serão exibidos online até o dia 10 de Dezembro de 2024.

All films officially selected receive the SPFF laurel.

The trophies are given in the follow categories:

Best Narrative Short Film
Best Animated Short Film
Best Documentary Short Film
Best Student Short Film
Best Audience Short Film

Best Director
Best Cinematography
Best Actor
Best Actress
Best Script

We ship the trophy to all countries for free.

Before you submit your film, please read these Rules and Terms.

By submitting your film into competition in the São Paulo Film Festival (SPFF), you agree that you shall be bound by the terms of these Rules and Terms.
SPFF is open to any film completed after January 1, 2021. Submitting your film is not a guarantee of selection. All the official selection, nominees and the winners will be listed on our website. All the winning films will receive a laurel and a trophy.
Please note that we do not offer application fee waivers.

1. SPFF only accepts digital submissions. If chosen, you don't need to send the movie DCP. Just upload the file online via Google Drive.
2. Films made in languages other than English must have English subtitles. The exception of Portuguese films that do not need subtitles. If your are selected you will need to send english subtitles, even if your film is in English. And a version without subtitles.
3. SPFF is hereby granted the rights to utilize an excerpt from any film submitted for promotional purposes of the festival. The individual or corporation submitting the film hereby warrants that it is authorized to commit the film for screening, and understands and accepts these requirements, rules and regulations.
4. SPFF reserves the right to refuse entries.
5. You agree to indemnify and hold harmless the SPFF, from and against any and all claims, liabilities, losses, damages, and expenses (including but not limited to attorney's fees, and costs of the court) which may be incurred by reason of any claim involving copyright, trademark, credits and publicity.
6. SPFF will not refund any fees if the filmmaker fails to submit the film in the correct category. Films submitted without the correct fees or proper submission media may be deemed ineligible at the discretion of the SPFF programming director or executive director. The festival does not cover any of the expenses incurred by the filmmaker.
7. After a film has been an official selection, the filmmaker will be notified, and eventually the film will be listed on the festival website under Official Selections. The Official Selection status doesn’t mean that your film will be screened at the festival. It means that you are now eligible for the nomination and you can use the festival logo on your poster.
8. An official selection and a nominee will be privately screened for the SPFF judging panel, and will not be screened initially to the public.
9. All the Best films of each category will receive a digital certificate.
10. All entry fees are non-refundable.
11. We require an official trailer, poster, synopsis and a link to your film. Please select the correct category while submitting to avoid disqualification. We reserve right to re-assign films to the appropriate category.
12. Trophy only for winners.
13. SPFF reserves the right to reject any film or screenplay that it contains prohibited content or is offensive, of inappropriate.
14. SPFF may without advance notice amend these Rules and Terms from time to time. Each and every such amendment shall be become effective immediately. It is your responsibility to periodically check for updates of these Rules and Terms.
15. Online + Cine Belas Artes. The festival will take place on December 8 at Cinema Belas Artes, São Paulo and simultaneously online screening on the festival's website with a private link until December 10.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

DISCLAIMER:

São Paulo Film Festival (SPFF) reserves the right to hold a public exhibition in São Paulo. Therefore, all filmmakers understand and accept a grant full and unrestricted permission for SPFF to screen the film at times of the festivals choice and to charge an admission fee for the presentation.

The Filmmaker understands and accepts that they do not participate in receiving any funds from the Box-office proceeds which are fully retained by the festival to help cover the overall cost of the festival presentation. It should be noted for the record that box-office proceeds never cover the cost of presentation of the Short Film Programs.

The Filmmaker accepts and understands that the festival will do everything possible to present the video in the best possible manner but the festival SPFF is not responsible for any and all malfunctions during the presentation of the production at its festival screening. The Festival SPFF assumes no responsibility for any technical difficulties in the presentation of this film at the actual event.
The SPFF reserves the complete right to make changes in the program dates and times and to possibly not screen the video, despite its being selected for screening.
The filmmaker authorizes the use of the film's image in the promotion on our website and social networks indefinitely.

Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Thibault MARTIN

    I recommend this festival. Our movie won the 2023 best actor award. Very good digital communication, very good hospitality and good screening quality. It's an honore for us to be part of the history of this festival.

    December 2023
  • André Martins

    Great venue, nice selection of films and very nice trophy. Recommend.

    January 2023
  • We were absolutely honored to be part of the semi-finalist selection! Thank you very much for the great opportunity of showing our short film all over the world. Muito obrigado!

    December 2022
  • Luis Beires Fernandes

    Impressive festival, with high quality films. Outstanding organization, looking forward to participating again next year!

    December 2022
  • It was a big honor to have my film "ALEXIS" be selected as part of a very small group of semi-finalist films! Moreover, it was a huge and unexpected pleasure to see my lead actress Briana Marin win Best Actress of 2021! The team were professional in their communication (email), and the festival cleverly opted to go hybrid due to COVID, which probably means more people got to watch "ALEXIS" online. Will be more than happy to return with another project!

    December 2021