The ShortScreen Film Festival (SSFF) is an international film competition with a public Screening event held in Gent, Belgium. Every three months, celebrating films and filmmakers from all around the world. Our mission is to discover high quality and ambitious films, to promote filmmakers’ works and to be the next step in their career. Short films take a special place in the cinema universe. They are harder to access, and have difficulties reaching larger audiences, but their position outside of mainstream cinema and their length allows the filmmakers more experimentation and artistic freedom.

Awards & Prizes

What are the awards and prizes for the winners of the SSFF?
During the live event, all selected films will be shown per category. After all films in a category have been viewed, a trophy and certificate will be awarded to the best film in that category. Films that participate in more than one category will only be screened in one category. When announcing a winner in the following categories, they will of course still compete.

The categories are:

Best Short Film
Best Feature Film
Best Student Film
Best Director
Best Student Director
Best Cinematography
Best Actor
Best Actress
Best Editing

Rules & Terms

PROGRAMMING REQUIREMENTS
Programming emphasizes new works in short films and documentary shorts.
• Industrial, promotional or instructional films are NOT eligible.
• Films must have been completed after 1 January, 2022.
• Filmmakers will be notified via email of entry status by 1 June, 2023.
• Once a film is accepted it may not be withdrawn.
• If selected to screen in the festival, you may be asked to provide an electronic press kit.

Press & Publicity
If your film is selected to screen at the ShortScreen Film Festival, you will be asked to provide: director’s bio and filmography/videography, b&w and/or color stills from the film, press materials, and video trailer (if available).