Toko Film Fest is an international film festival dedicated to independent cinema, emerging talents and new audiovisual languages.

Founded in 2014 in Sala Consilina (Southern Italy), in the heart of the Vallo di Diano, the festival was born with a clear mission: to bring cultural energy to an inner area and to create a meaningful dialogue between filmmakers, audiences and the contemporary world.

“Toko” is a local word meaning something cool, well-made, and exciting — exactly what we look for in cinema.

Over the years, Toko Film Fest has grown into one of the most dynamic cultural events in Southern Italy, attracting thousands of submissions from all over the world and showcasing a carefully curated selection of bold, original and innovative short films.

🎬 Our Mission
We support a new generation of filmmakers by promoting artistic excellence, creative freedom and unique visions, with a special focus on independent and low-budget productions, first and second-time directors.

🎬 What We Offer
-Live screenings in front of an engaged audience;
-Networking opportunities with filmmakers, professionals and industry guests;
-Talks, workshops, masterclasses and interdisciplinary events;
-A vibrant cultural environment blending cinema, digital arts, music and new media.

🎬 Our Community
We aim to build lasting connections between artists and audiences, fostering a space where creativity, experimentation and dialogue can thrive.

🎬 Guests & Collaborations
Over the years, the festival has hosted internationally acclaimed filmmakers and artists such as Nanni Moretti, Béla Tarr, Pedro Armocida, Valerio Aprea, Valerio Lundini, Linda Caridi, Marianna Fontana, Casa Surace, ArteSettima and many more.

🎬 A Unique Location
Set within the stunning landscape of the Cilento, Vallo di Diano and Alburni National Park, Toko Film Fest offers filmmakers not only visibility, but also an unforgettable cultural and human experience.

We strongly believe in cinema as a tool for cultural regeneration, social impact and territorial development.

🎥 Submissions for our 13th edition are now open.
If you have an original story to tell, we’d love to see it.

Join us and become part of the Toko community!

A selection committee appointed by the festival will review all submissions and determine the shortlist of films admitted to the Official Selection. The selected films will be announced on our website and official channels by June 30th.

The Official Selection is structured into five sections:

🎬 International Contest – dedicated to international short films (fiction & animation)

🎬 Spazio Italia – focused on the best contemporary Italian short films

🎬 New Talents – showcasing works from film schools and academies worldwide

🎬 toKids (new section) – dedicated to short films suitable for young audiences (ages 7–14)

🎬 Midnight Special - late-night cinema for bold visions and genre lovers.

Each section is evaluated by an independent jury, composed of distinguished professionals from the film industry, academia and the cultural sector.
Each jury awards prizes within its respective section.

Over the years, our juries have included internationally acclaimed professionals such as cinematographer Daria D’Antonio (The Hand of God), director Alain Parroni (Silver Lion – Venice Film Festival), and Pedro Armocida (Artistic Director of the Pesaro International Film Festival), among many others.

🎬 Awards

The festival jury assigns the following awards:
-Best Short Film;
-Best Animation;
-Best Direction;
-Best Cinematography;
-Best Acting Performance;
-Best Screenplay.

All officially selected films are eligible for awards.
In addition, an Audience Award will be assigned during the festival.

🎬 Screenings & Recognition

All films included in the Official Selection will:

-Be screened during the festival in front of a live audience;
-Receive the official Toko Film Fest laurel;
-Be part of a curated international program.

Winners will be announced during the closing ceremony.

Toko Film Fest accepts short films of all genres, styles and production techniques.

We are particularly interested in innovative, bold and contemporary audiovisual languages, including (but not limited to): fiction, animation, documentary, experimental cinema, AI-generated content, hybrid formats and vertical films.

Our goal is to create a platform for high-quality short films from all over the world, supporting both emerging and established filmmakers.

🎬REQUIREMENTS

-Completion date: after January 1st, 2024
-Maximum duration: 22 minutes
-Country of production: no restrictions
-Accepted genres: all
-Accepted formats: .mp4 (H.264 preferred), .mov, .avi, .mkv
-Submissions: exclusively via FilmFreeway

🎬SUBTITLES

All films must include English subtitles.

English-language films are strongly encouraged to include Italian subtitles (optional but appreciated).

🎬 SELECTION & SCREENING

A selection committee will review all submissions and determine the Official Selection.

Selected filmmakers must provide a high-quality screening file and a dialogue list with timecodes.
Failure to provide required materials may result in disqualification.

🎬 RIGHTS & USAGE

Filmmakers are fully responsible for securing all copyrights and clearances.

By submitting, you grant the festival the right to:

-Screen your film during the event;
-Screen your film online under special circumstances;
-Use excerpts, trailers and promotional materials for communication purposes.

🎬 GENERAL CONDITIONS

-No premiere status is required.
-Films already available online or previously screened are eligible.
-Multiple submissions from the same author or company are allowed.
-Previously submitted films are not eligible for re-submission.

The festival reserves the right to modify dates and venues if necessary.
All updates will be communicated via email and official channels.

Selected films will become part of the Toko Film Fest Archive and may be screened in future non-profit cultural or educational events, with prior notice to the authors.

🎬 COMMUNICATION & PROMOTION

Selected filmmakers are encouraged to promote their participation through social media.

By submitting, you agree to receive festival-related communications (you can unsubscribe at any time).

🎬 FINAL NOTES

We reserve the right to update these rules when necessary.
If you experience any issues during the submission process, please contact us — we’ll be happy to help.

Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • This was a great film festival and everything was handled professionally. I did not rate "hospitality and networking" because I could not attend the festival.

    August 2021
  • 书更 石

    Why didn't you invite me to attend after it was over

    August 2021
  • Alain Parroni

    Threeab è TOKO co tutto il cuore

    December 2018