The 21st Annual Sioux City International Shorts Film Festival

SCIFF is the longest continuously running shorts film festival in Iowa. Our festival has evolved over the years to a four-day-event held in downtown Sioux City. Often over a third of our entries are from international destinations. SCIFF is a shorts festival with films not exceeding 30 minutes in length.

Each year, we create a panel and workshops devoted to a special category, and this year the SCIFF theme is The Craft of Acting.

We love meeting filmmakers so we work with you to attend once your submission has been accepted. When you arrive, we'll provide you with a comprehensive packet about the festival and the city, and you'll have access to the Filmmakers' Lounge -- a quiet space stocked with snacks and beverages as well as a congregating place where you can connect with and other filmmakers. And our audiences love meeting you, too; you will find they appreciate your hard work and will enjoy engaging in discussions with you.

As part of our educational outreach, we invite short films from high school students in the Midwest (Iowa, South Dakota, North Dakota, Nebraska, and Minnesota). High School films will be screened on Saturday, October 3, 2026 at 10:00am.

The Sioux City International Film Festival strives to promote independent film in a tri-state area including parts of Iowa, South Dakota, and Nebraska. We have over 175,000 people living in the immediate area and we market to thousands more living nearby.

Screening categories are subject to change based on entries received. While we do not currently have a category for animated films, we welcome animated films in all genre categories.

NOTE: We do not pay any screening fees nor offer any compensation for any film that is submitted and/or accepted for competition in any of our award categories. If there are any questions or concerns about our festival rules, please reach out via email: submissions@siouxcityfilmfest.org.

Awards & Prizes

Best Documentary • $500 First Prize and a Siouxsie Award
Comedy • $500 First Prize and a Siouxsie Award
Horror/Thriller/Sci-Fi/Fantasy • $500 First Prize and a Siouxsie Award
Drama • $500 First Prize and Siouxsie Award
Best of the Fest • $500 Prize and a Siouxsie Award
Best Midwest High School • $300 Prize and a Siouxsette Award
Best Music • Custom Guitar from the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino
Best Actor • Custom Award
Juried Audience Choice • Siouxsette Award*

*Certificates will also be awarded to the audience choice for each film genre block.

Rules & Terms

We accept only short films, defined as no longer than thirty (30) minutes. All subject matter is acceptable.

Submissions must include your email and street address. Selection notifications will be sent via FilmFreeway to the email address provided when you submit. Once submitted, a film cannot be withdrawn.

Submissions may be screened more than once during the Festival. We reserve the right to determine when films will be screened. NOTE: We DO NOT pay for any screening fees nor offer any compensation for any film that is submitted and/or accepted for competition in any of our award categories. If there are any questions or concerns about our festival rules, please reach out via email: submissions@siouxcityfilmfest.org.

Sioux City International Film Festival reserves the right to utilize any accepted film for exhibition at the Festival for promotional purposes in perpetuity.

The person submitting the film warrants that they are authorized to commit the film for screening and understands and accepts all the rules and terms.

The person submitting the film shall indemnify and hold harmless Sioux City International Film Festival and Siouxland Institute of Film, Inc. (our parent nonprofit corporation) from and against any and all claims, liabilities, losses, fees and costs, including attorney fees, that arise out of failure of the person submitting to have all rights needed to submit the film.

If your film is selected for screening we will need a ProRes or equivalent video file for screening. Films selected must be available to download or be delivered on a flash drive. Note that these specifications are subject to change at any time.
28 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Rachael Hudson

    This is such a great film festival. The programmers were hit with some major challenges while we were down there (due to a shift in venues), and their flexibility and organization made the switch seamless! They show the award winning films again at the closing ceremony, and it made for such a fun watch. Filmmaker after parties were fantastic with delicious food. Thank you so much from the Most Likely to Succeed team! We hope to be back in the future!

    November 2025
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  • Larry Ziegelman

    I was so thrilled to have my film “Grave Expectations” picked! On the same weekend, I had another hometown festival screening, but I decided to stay home. I totally regret that choice! It looked like an amazing lineup of films there. Plus, the emails were so kind and helpful. They even offered to pick up filmmakers and everything—it was super nice. If I get the chance to be selected again for their festival, I’m definitely heading to Sioux City!

    October 2025
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  • Johnnie Brannon

    Wish we could have been there...very thankful for the opportunity to screen! We hope to be back!

    October 2025
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  • Trevor Tejeda-Gervais

    This was a really great festival! The selection of films was exceptional, the presentation of each film was seamless, and there were ample opportunities for filmmakers to network. I felt supported throughout the entire process, and would highly recommend submitting to this fest.

    October 2025
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  • Kyle Thornton

    Mandie and Adam clearly care about all the filmmakers that come through

    October 2025
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