The 1st Scottish International Short Film Festival 2023 will screen on the 10th - 12th of August 2023 at the CCA.

Update (6th April 2023):

Over the past three weeks organised trade union action has been taking place to support the unfair treatment of workers at the Saramago Bar and Cafe. Saramago is a tenant of our host venue, the CCA. It is owned and managed separately from the CCA.

-We stand in solidarity with the workers, their right to protest the actions of Saramago’s owners and their demands for fair working conditions.

SIFF is built upon the premise of supporting and promoting Inclusivity, equality, and social responsibility, and our sponsor this year is Equity - the performing arts and entertainment trade union in the United Kingdom. As such we will not ask those involved in SIFF, or the audiences, to cross picket lines to attend the festival.

We are working hard with the CCA to find new dates for the festival later in the year. We will come back to you as soon as possible with this information.

We are so looking forward to our inaugural SIFF festival, and to have you part of it, even if it means waiting a little bit longer!

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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.

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.

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.

We are extremely proud to have EQUITY - the performing arts and entertainment trade union - to be sponsoring the Best Performance 2023 award. We are very fortunate to be working with Scottish artist Wilma MacKenzie, who is creating bespoke hand-engraved glass and slate awards for this years award winners. 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 Best International Short Film or Video 2023 - prize of £500.

Best Performance (laurels) - Sponsored by EQUITY - the performing arts and entertainment trade union.

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.

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.

Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Such great people and very communicative. We also really appreciated how the festival stood in solidarity with workers in their community during a difficult time.

    July 2023