FESTIVAL MISSION

Shorts In Season Film Festival is a celebration of bold, brilliant short indie films under 20 minutes, made in Europe or produced/directed by European filmmakers. Based in Berlin — one of Europe’s most vital creative capitals — we aim for our events to be a place where filmmakers meet, talk, and connect, and where stories come alive before a crowd that truly cares.

Filmmakers with selected films are encouraged to attend and take part in the Q&A discussion on the night after their film has been screened. Of course, there are also plenty of opportunities to network with other filmmakers and attendees.

We believe short indie films deserve a proper spotlight, a big screen, and a real audience. Shorts In Season Film Festival Summer Edition takes place at the beloved and intimate IL KINO, a former bakery turned film institution, located within East Berlin’s popular Neukölln district. Like our festival, IL KINO celebrates independent films and showcases international voices and is driven by an independent spirit.

OUR TEAM

Our team previously ran the Made In Melbourne Film Festival (2009–2016). As indie filmmakers ourselves, we’re here to support fellow indie voices, build a network, and bring people together around the thing we all love most: powerful, personal, unforgettable short films and storytelling.

Read the Submission Rules to see if your film fits before submitting your work. We look forward to viewing your film and welcoming you on July 7th at IL KINO.

Sarah Jayne & Ivan Malekin
Shorts In Season Film Festival Directors

Awards & Prizes

We keep our awards simple and filmmaker-focused. Every finalist receives a Certificate of Official Selection.

In addition, our festival jury will recognize standout work in the following categories:

– Standout Film
– Standout Actor
– Standout Director

And we will also have an Audience Choice award decided on the night by the patrons.

While our festival is not rooted in competition, we recognise that official selections and award laurels can be meaningful for filmmakers, and we’re happy to offer them in that spirit.

Rules & Terms

— Entrants must be residents of a European country or the film must have been made in Europe.

— Films must have a running time of under 20 minutes, including credits.

— Submissions must be original works and submitted by the film’s producer, director, or a legal representative of the production.

— The festival does not accept films produced and created using Artificial Intelligence (AI) and these films will be disqualified with no refund of the submission fee.

— Entrants must ensure they have secured all necessary rights (music, images, etc.) prior to submission. Shorts In Season accepts no responsibility for copyright infringement.

— Films must have been completed within the last two years. However, there is no premiere requirement.

— Films not currently available for streaming online will be prioritized over films that are already publicly streaming.

— All dialogue must be in English or include English subtitles.

— By submitting a film, entrants grant the festival permission to screen their film publicly as part of Shorts In Season.

— If selected, filmmakers will be asked to provide a DCP file, high-res stills, and/or a short bio for promotional use. PLEASE NOTE: Selected films will be exhibited in a cinema and therefore require delivery as a Digital Cinema Package (DCP). This a set requirement.

Filmmakers who do not already have a DCP may request assistance from the festival to create one at a small cost to the filmmaker, intended to cover technical processing only. Full delivery specifications will be shared with selected filmmakers via email.

— The festival reserves the right to use film stills and brief excerpts (under 30 seconds) from selected films for promotional purposes, including social media, trailers, press, and other festival marketing materials.

— Each submission fee grants the submitter one film entry. If filmmakers wish to submit more than one film, a separate application and fee must be submitted for each.

— Should your film not be selected for the season originally submitted to, it may be considered for a future edition at the discretion of the festival organisers. In this case, filmmakers will be notified and asked to confirm the film’s availability.

— The festival is a filmmaker-focused networking event. Attendance is encouraged (but not mandatory) for selected filmmakers. However, the festival does not have the financial capacity to cover flights or accommodation for filmmakers.

— All submissions must be made via FilmFreeway.

— Refunds will not be issued under any circumstances, including if a filmmaker chooses to withdraw their film after submitting and paying via FilmFreeway.

— We do not offer fee waivers. Submission fees are kept as low as possible and help cover the basic operational costs of the festival. The festival is independently run and not operated for profit.

— We do not accept works-in-progress. However, filmmakers are welcome to submit to a future season once the film is complete.

— All selection decisions are final. Due to the volume of submissions, we are unable to offer individual feedback.
3 Reviews
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  • Ina Morken

    Really lovely little festival Berlin with great organisers and cool selection of film. Proud to have been part of it!

    January 2026
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  • Anastasia Kor

    Shorts in Season had the most welcoming atmosphere throughout the whole event, which was hosted with such care, drive and passion. The variety of films was unparalleled and quite thought-provoking, and you could feel the excitement of the audience spreading through the space. The hosts were so thoughtful and friendly, and everyone from the selected filmmakers were also really approachable and open. Festivals like this deserve more recognition!

    December 2025
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  • Yulia Ruzmanova

    Thank you to Shorts in Season for the wonderful event at B-ware Ladenkino and for the attention to my film Kozlov Mitya, 81+. The festival is very well organized, respectful, and friendly. The audience was wonderful. Highly recommended for all independent directors!

    December 2025
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