SIFF is a brand new, international short film festival based in Scotland. SIFF will screen outstanding short film, animation, docs, experimental film and video art. SIFF will bring national and international makers and stories to diverse and ever-changing locations around Scotland, making SIFF Scotland’s only nomadic international film festival.

For our inaugural year, we have partnered with Scotland's major, internationally acclaimed creative hub, the CCA: Centre for Contemporary Arts, in Scotland's largest city, Glasgow. The festival will run from 20th - 22nd April 2023. SIFF's programme of events will include three-days of live screenings, Q&As with industry leaders, filmmakers, and artists; panel discussions and social events. There will also be the option to view a live-stream of some events.

We have created SIFF to showcase exceptional, international short film, whilst also addressing the imbalance of under-represented groups of makers and stories within film festivals. The stories of and by women, girls and non-binary people are underrecognised in many film festivals, so we want to encourage submissions from anyone identifying as a woman, non-binary and/or anyone telling their stories

An international jury of artists and filmmakers will select the 7 winning categories including: SIFF Best International Short Film 2023, which will receive £500.
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SIFF supports a culture of equality, diversity and non-discrimination, and is run as a non-profit organisation.

For further reference you can view the selections of our sister film festival: Barcelona International Short Film Festival:

Full programme: https://issuu.com/barcelonashortfilm/docs/bsf_2022_programme

Trailers: https://vimeo.com/showcase/9819165

We look forward to seeing your work!

Awards & Prizes

SIFF Best International Short Film or Video 2023 - prize of £500.

Best Performance (laurels)

Best Cinematography (laurels)

Best Animation Short (laurels)

Best Documentary Short (laurels)

Best Experimental Short (laurels)

Best Special FX (laurels)

Best Audio (laurels)

All work selected for screening will receive SIFF 2023 OFFICIAL SELECTION laurels.

Rules & Terms

Submissions are open to everyone.

All applications and payment must be made online through FilmFreeway.com.

Film or video can have been made at any time since 2016.

Each submission should not exceed 25 minutes in runtime. No minimum duration.

Film and video not in English must include English subtitles. If selected for SIFF 2023, and requested, you must provide an English language transcript for your project.

Submit your film or video to the category that you think best suits your work, however SIFF reserves the right to award you within a different category. Every submission is considered for every applicable prize category.

These are the deadlines and fees for SIFF 2023:

Earlybird Deadline: AUG 1ST 2022

General Deadline: OCT 3RD 2022

Late Deadline: DEC 5TH 2022

Extended Deadline: FEB 13TH 2023

The jury will vote for these categories:

‘SIFF Best International Short Film or Video 2023’ - this award receives laurels and £500

Best Performance (laurels)

Best Cinematography (laurels)

Best Animation Short (laurels)

Best Documentary Short (laurels)

Best Experimental Short (laurels)

Best Narrative Short (laurels)

Best SFX (laurels)

Best Audio (laurels)

Audience Award (laurels)

All work selected for screening will receive ‘SIFF 2023 OFFICIAL SELECTION’ laurels.

If your submission is successful you will be informed by the end of December 2022.

If selected for screening at the festival, all work must be submitted electronically via secure online file transfer, (eg. WeTransfer), by the deadline specified in your acceptance email. The digital format for screening submission will be stipulated in your acceptance email.

Promotional videos are not eligible for submission (e.g. adverts, commercials, corporate videos etc).

The festival director and jury’s decisions on all things are final. In the event of unforeseen circumstances, the organisation/management reserve the right to change dates, location and awards.

By submitting your work to SIFF, you certify that you have obtained all the film, performance and music rights, and clearances, including third-party clearances for everyone involved in the film/video, for your entire submission. By submitting to SIFF, SIFF is in no way liable for any issues arising from violations of these rights, including if they have not been legally and lawfully obtained by the participant.

If selected for the programme, SIFF reserve the right to use up to 30 seconds from any selected submission, and 3 film/video stills, for non-commercial promotional purposes.

Films that are submitted are not guaranteed to be accepted into festival. SIFF does not pay screening fees.