[ SUBMISSION FEE FOR STUDENTS IS 5 EUR ]
-> write us at fest@sofiashort.com to get a waiver
[ STUDENT DISCOUNT VALID FOR ENTIRE OPEN CALL TO 30.4.2027 ]

Sofia Short Fest is an international film festival dedicated to showcasing independent, unconventional and brave short movies from around the world. We dare to present short stories, which are experimental, provocative and reflective of today's reality, confronting the urgent problems of our society on both a local and global scale. SSF praise artistical beauty, quality, integrity, and films that rank freedom, art, and aesthetics above box office.

The first two editions of the festival will accept ONLY Bulgarian film submissions. The festival features three days of film screenings, workshops, presentations, Q&A, live events and, of course, parties. The 1st edition will take place between 13th to 15th of June in Cinema Lumiere, Vlaykova Cinema, cafe Synthesis, bar Bezkrai, the newly opened cultural stage of Central Sofia Market Hall in the heart of Sofia’s old town, and in the alternative space of The Purgatory.

Our belief is that cinema is where art thrives in its most vital and crucial form, which can influence society and change people’s way of thinking for better. It can raise the awareness for the pressing issues of our time and addresses the most important themes related to our future as humankind and our only home – planet Earth. Good stories can help us better understand ourselves and our place in the world.

SSF recognizes the new wave of Bulgarian filmmakers and gives a scene for their stories. The festival aspires to become a regional center of independent short cinema, focusing on the movies from East Europe and the Balkans. We put a special accent on student films and young authors with half of our program dedicated to the new voices in cinema.

We value all facets of filmmaking, therefore each year we will present a special award called “Focus”. This all-encompassing award aims to celebrate the creative process by rewarding feats such as exceptional stage environment crafting, marketing campaigns, posters, trailers, ending credit design and so on.

Awards & Prizes

Best Short Film – The Grand Prix of the festival. Three statuettes go to the winners in the three main categories: Live-action Film, Animation, Documentary.

Best Student Film – The big award for great achievement of student films or debuts - Short Film, Animation, Documentary.

Original Idea Award – A recognition for the whimsical, fancy and amazing short movie ideas. It awards either student or professional production.

Focus Award – Special recognition for great achievement in a particular aspect of filmmaking and production. Each year it honours a different aspect of filmmaking.

Audience Recognition – Based on the viewers’ vote, these are voucher gifts.

Rules & Terms

Sofia Short Fest 2027
Regulations and Guidelines for Submissions

1. General Entry Requirements

Sofia Short Fest 2027 accepts short film productions and co-productions under 40 minutes in length with a completion date after January 1, 2023.

2. Competition Categories

Films are accepted in the following competition categories:
◼ Professional Live-Action
◼ Professional Documentary
◼ Professional Animation
◼ Student Live-Action
◼ Student Documentary
◼ Student Animation

3. Accepted Topics and Content

Extremist and political propaganda content, as well as films promoting hate speech or discrimination, are not accepted.

4. Accepted Languages and Subtitles

Bulgarian films must have English subtitling, provided in a separate (.srt) file. Parts with non-Bulgarian speech must have burnt-in Bulgarian subtitling.

5. Formats, Review and Quality

For the preview purposes films may be provided via Vimeo, YouTube or FilmFreeway. If selected, movies must be provided in high-resolution files, such as DCP, ProRes 422 HQ MOV, including additional MP4 h.264 file. Films must be of sufficient production quality (good sound, clear visuals, properly formatted subtitles). Poor production quality (e.g., bad sound, low resolution) may lead to disqualification.

6. Works-in-Progress and Rough Cuts

Works-in-progress and rough cuts are allowed, but final versions are required if selected for the festival screening.

7. Submission Fees

Standard fee is 10€ and 5€ for students.

8. Multiple Entries

A separate submission is required for each film.

9. Premiere Rule

Sofia Short Fest has no premiere status requirements.

10. Rights and Permissions

The Entrant/s submitting the film must hold all legal rights for the submission, as well as all necessary clearances for public exhibition. The Filmmaker/s retain/s all submission and intellectual property rights.

◼ Filmmakers grant permission for the use of clips, posters, or trailers for festival promotion (e.g. on TV, radio, and the internet).
◼ Agreement to Screening: By submitting, filmmakers agree that their film may be shown during the festival with no screening fee paid.

11. Producer Consent

By submitting, the Filmmaker/s give confirmation that the film has been entered with the knowledge and consent of the producer/s. Inability to comply with any of the rules under “Rights and Permissions” might lead to disqualification.

12. Additional Materials

All film submissions must include:
◼ Telephone number of submitter
◼ Film poster in high-resolution format.
◼ Short film description of 15-50 words.
◼ Film synopsis of 50-300 words for promotional purposes.
◼ Complete credits for the film.
◼ Short bio of the director.

13. Agreement to Terms and Conditions

Participation implies acceptance of the festival's rules and regulations. This includes allowing the festival to use parts of the film for promotional purposes and agreeing to the festival's decisions regarding selection.

14. Personal Information

Festivals collect personal information only to facilitate their administration and to manage the film submission. Permission granted for clips not exceeding three minutes to be used in promotional materials for television, radio, and online.

15. Publicity and Festival Use

Filmmakers agree to allow their films to be used for promotional purposes, including the film's trailer, poster, and other promotional materials.

16. Inbound and Outbound Shipping

The filmmaker/producer/agent is responsible for the shipping costs related to sending films to and from the festival, if applicable.

17. Film Selection Notification

Filmmakers will be notified whether their film has been selected for the live screening between submission and the official notification date.
7 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Stefanos Mondelos

    Glad to be part of this wonderful and vibrant festival. Keep on going.

    June 2026
    Helpful
  • Nevena Semova

    Wonderful festival, great team and a nice film selection! It was lovely to see some innovative ideas in action! I hope it grows to be part of the regular festival calendar!

    June 2026
    Helpful
  • Ivelina Pavlova

    Very fresh and nice festival, with sheer variety of storytelling on display. Beyond the incredible films, the atmosphere was wonderfully warm, welcoming, and buzzing with creative energy. It felt less like a formal screening and more like a vibrant community celebration. If you want to discover the future stars of cinema, this festival is an absolute must-attend.

    June 2026
    Helpful
  • MAGDALENA KALIEVA

    Excellent festival! Youthful atmosphere, cheerful organizers, meaningful conversations, objective opinions, attractive presentation of the selected films, professional jury, interesting locations for screenings! An inspiring festival!

    June 2026
    Helpful
  • Festival Formula

    We were thrilled to have Family Portrait of the Black Earth screen as part of this up and coming festival. The overall feeling from us and the filmmakers was that it was a welcoming festival, and with a focus on the work and sharing it with an engaged audience.

    June 2025
    Helpful