Tehran International Short Film Festival (TISFF) is an essential platform for both emerging and established filmmakers, arguably one of the most important showcases for short films not only in Iran, but also in the region.

The festival is a qualifying festival for the Academy Awards® (Oscars) and it hosts international well known festival directors and cineasts from around the world. TISFF is a member of International Short Film Conference (ISFC) enabling different players in the short film world to work together and share their experience in an informal, non-political and flexible atmosphere.

TISFF is organized by the Iranian Youth Cinema Society (IYCS). Iranian Youth Cinema Society (IYCS) is an independent educational film organization which has been established over 40 years ago. IYCS is associated to the Iranian Ministry of Culture and has 70 branch offices around the country.

Activities of IYCS is in 3 fields:
1- Management of short film festivals.
2- IYCS is one of the oldest film schools in the country and perhaps in the world with more than 70 branch offices all around the country. It educates youth in compacted one- year film course.
3- Production and distribution of short films.

Awards & Prizes

Tehran International Short Film Festival (TISFF) is a qualifying festival for the Academy Awards® (Oscars) and winner of the Grand Prix become eligible for Oscar® consideration.

Grand Prix: Trophy + Diploma + $2000

Best Fiction: Trophy + Diploma + $1000
Best Documentary: Trophy + Diploma + $1000
Best Animation: Trophy + Diploma + $1000
Best experimental: Trophy + Diploma $1000

Rules & Terms

TO QUALIFY FOR COMPETITION, FILMS MUST BE COMPLETED AFTER January 1st, 2021.

-Films completed prior to this date risk disqualification.

-Films containing nudity or violence would not be accepted.

- Although there are no limitations on the subject and categories, but due to the approach of the Iranian Youth Cinema Society in supporting innovation and diversity in cinema, short films that use genre in innovative way would have a higher priority.

- Films must not exceed 30 min running time.

- The list of the selected films will be published on the festival’s website (http://www.tisff.ir) by 1st of September.

- Films should not have been screened in the previous editions of the TISFF - even in a newer version.

- The films qualified for competitions shall be made available to the festival organizers free of charge.

- Industrial and commercial films are not accepted.

- Films which have already been publicly broadcast or distributed in any form or screened-in Iran are not accepted.

- Once the film has been selected and confirmed, the film cannot be withdrawn from the festival program

-Only completed films are eligible for consideration, works in progress or unfinished films will not be considered.

-Iranian shorts should submit in the national section, and they have to use this platform:
(https://festival.iycs.ir/fa/)

Iranian shorts for the international section will be selected through interaction between the National and International Selection teams.
NOTE: The criteria for Iranian entries are that the film's main producer is an Iranian citizen or permanent resident.
If in doubt, please contact us at submissions tehranfilmfest@gmail.com

-A pre-selection committee, appointed by the festival for each category, will watch all submissions and make the final selection. We are not able to give feedback on films or reasons for the committee’s decisions.

- If selected for competition, we require 2 files immediately which must be delivered or transferred in 10 days after selection announcement:
1. FHD Mp4/mov. H.264 10bit video file, without any attached subtitles
2. subtitles and transcription of dialogues with time code in their original language with translations only in English (even if the language of the film is English).

*** Submitting a film to the Tehran International Short Film Festival is equivalent to accepting the provisions of all the mentioned Rules and Regulations.

3 Reviews
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  • Arthur B. Senra

    Tehran International is a wonderful film festival! I'm so glad to be a part, with my short film.

    November 2021
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  • NewBorn Short Film Agency

    Although, we are glad to have our film selected at TISFF, which used to have a good reputation in the festival cycle, this was far but the case.
    We are understand that the covid19 could create some problems to the festival, but we have no communication with the festival about the screening of our film not even for the festival dates.
    We still don't know what happened with their 2021 edition. I am sorry for the poor feedback, we had higher expectations from a popular festival like this. Nevertheless, we are still thankful for the selection and we hope that you will solve your problems to the future editions. Thank you again.

    October 2021
    Helpful
  • Filmes do Gajo

    Great to be selected for Tehran International Short Film Festival!!! Thank you so much!

    September 2021
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