The Tibet Film Festival (TFF) is proud to announce the official call for entries for its 2026 Short Film Competition. Celebrating its 17th year, the festival continues its mission to provide a platform for Tibetan storytellers to showcase their vision, creativity, and unique perspectives to a global audience. The 2026 festival marks a historic milestone as it expands its footprint across the Atlantic. Following the opening in Zurich (18–20 September), the festival will travel to London, Paris, Dharamsala, and—for the first time—the United States, with dedicated editions in Washington D.C. and New York.

Tibet Film Festival was founded in 2008, inspired by Dhondup Wangchen, a self-taught Tibetan filmmaker, who was imprisoned for his film "Leaving Fear Behind". The unique festival, which promotes an independent Tibetan film language, takes place in Zurich (Switzerland), Dharamsala (India), London (England) and Berlin (Germany) and shows films created by Tibetans in Tibet and in exile.

Beginning in 2010, the Tibet Film Festival Short Film Competition has grown to become a global platform for Tibetan filmmakers to foster new voices, nurture creative freedom and promote the art of filmmaking. Our goal is to amplify a new generation of Tibetan filmmakers who are defining the landscape of Tibetan cinema in the 21st century.

The Tibet Film Festival is the first festival solely dedicated to Tibetan filmmakers and presents films produced and/or directed by Tibetans. We are very proud to be the first and only festival that has brought films produced in Tibet to an exile Tibetan audience and to have initiated a conversation on Tibetan filmmaking as a powerful expression in the Tibetan diaspora.

Awards & Prizes

The Yak Prize & Audience Awards

The centrepiece of the competition remains the prestigious Yak Prize, honouring the "vibrant spirit and resilience" of Tibetan cinema through two categories:

Jury Award: A $3,000 USD cash prize awarded to the best short film as selected by an international panel of film professionals, artists and academics.

Audience Award: A $500 USD prize awarded at each festival location, determined by local audience vote.

The competition is open to all Tibetan filmmakers, from seasoned professionals to emerging talents.

Rules & Terms

Submission Guidelines:

Eligibility: A person of Tibetan heritage must have held a key creative role (Director, Writer, Producer, or Cinematographer).

You can only be involved in one film entered into the competition.

You cannot enter if you are a TFF organiser, or a member of the competition jury.

Theme: Films on any topic or theme are welcome.

Duration: Maximum 15 minutes (including credits).

Genre: Open to all (Documentary, Fiction, Animation, or Experimental).

Subtitles: The film must have English subtitles.

Production date: The film must have been made after January 2025.

Previous screenings: The film must not have been screened publicly before (not shown in a public cinema, broadcast on television, YouTube etc).

Deadline: All submissions must be received by 11:59 PM CET, July 12, 2026.