We are now open for submissions for the 2023 edition.

2023 Festival 19 Aug–27 Aug. New entries 10th of June 2022 (FILM SUBMISSIONS OPEN)
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Västerås Film Festival is an international film festival held in autumn every year since 2015. The festival will be moved to the summer and August month permanently. Västerås film festival shows films in different genres from around the world. We have prizes in different categories. The festival also contains workshops, lectures, debates, film cafés and exhibitions. Västerås Film Festival is one of the most interesting festivals in northern Europe.

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ATTENTION: If you sign up to our newsletter at our website, we will then send you a 20% discount on the submission fee here on FilmFreeway.

Go here to sign up: https://www.vasterasfilmfestival.com/en/newsletter/
Make sure you tick the box that says "Filmmaker".
You will get your discount code in a separate email. Make sure you wait until you get the discount code to your email.

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Winners 2022

NORDIC AWARDS
Best National Short Film
Debut, Johan Stavsjö (Sweden)

Best Nordic Short Film Screenplay
Marcus Fahey, Debut (Sweden)

Best Nordic Short Film Director
Johan Stavsjö, Debut (Sweden)

Best Nordic Short Film Cinematography
Mikael J Boson, Per Larsson, Sune Eskelinen, Volvo Villa Whisky (Sweden)

Best Nordic Short Film Female Actor
Louise Åkerman, Volvo Villa Whisky (Sweden)

Best Nordic Short Film Male Actor
Pelle Holmström, The Palette of Nature (Sweden)

Best Nordic Short Film Scenography
Nina Rose Markvadsen, Freja Sande, Katrine Langgard, The Partisan (Denmark)

Best Nordic Short Film Editing
Jakob Åsell, Saga (Sweden)

Best Nordic Short Film Sound
Theresia Billberg, Matilda & William (Sweden)

Best Nordic Short Documentary
They go gentle into that night work, Soile Mottisenkangas (Finland)

Best Nordic Feature Documentary
Longing for Áhkká, Johanna Lindborg (Sweden)

INTERNATIONAL AWARDS

Best International Short Film
Accomplices, Miguel Monteagudo (Spain)

Best International Short Film Screenplay
Rubén Guindo Nova, Accomplices (Spain)

Best International Short Film Female Actor
Mireille Roussel, Dora (France)

Best International Short Film Male Actor
Josean Bengoetxea, The Dog (Spain)

Best International Short Film Director
Accomplices, Rubén Guindo Nova (Spain)

Best International Short Film Cinematography
Sabine Lancelin, Arnaud Alain, Lara Legendre, Dora (France)

Best Animation
One Last Wish, Galia Osmo (Israel)

Best Music Video
Marloe. - Remember Me, Michael Hudson (UK)

Best International 1-Minute Film
Road to Hell, Donal O'Dea (Ireland)

Best International Documentary Short (1-40 min)
I Won't Remain Alone, Fariba Arab, Yaser Talebi (Iran)

Best International Documentary Feature length (40 min and above)
Wild Prairie Man, Carol Andrews, George Tsougrianis (Canada)

Best International Feature Film Female Actor
Ana Moreira, Shadow (Portugal)

Best International Feature Film Male Actor
Marcus Grüsser, The Ugly Truth (Germany)

Best International Feature Film Cinematography
Christoph Wieczorek, The Ugly Truth (Ukraine)

Best International Feature Film Screenplay
Ratha Makeenkova, Zaza Buadze, Mother of Apostles (Ukraine)

Best International Feature Film Director
Zaza Buadze, Mother of Apostles (Ukraine)

Best International Feature Film
Mother of Apostles, Dmytro Ovechkin (Ukraine)

SPECIAL PRIZES

Film School Awards

1-10 min Films
Bruce, Stockholm Filmschool, Sweden

10-20 min Films
Queen, NSKI Høyskole, Norway

20-30 min Films
The Dreams Of Lonely People, Warsaw Film School, Poland

Nordic Social Vulnerability Award
I Wanted a Family, Irene Altagracia Perez Lopez & Linn Moser Hällen, sociologist, Sweden

Best Artistic Film
Living in a Bubble, Natalie MacMahon, Nikola Drvoshanov, Germany

Children- and Youth Competition
Rädda Jorden, Saga Reinholdsson, Sweden

Årets Barnskådespelare:
Årets Talang:
Årets Regionpris:
Årets Stjärnskott:
Filmmaker Of The Year:
Årets Hederspris:

Awards & Prizes

Festival Certificate/ 38 prizes
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Special Award
Miniroom.se children and youth talent prize (under 18 years)

Jury Talent Award:
Swedish Talent Prize (over 18 years old)

The New Star Prize (over 18 years old actor/actress)

Jury Honorary Award:
Swedish Honorary Prize

Filmmaker Of The Year
International Prize

Artistic Award (two prize International and Nordic)

Publikpriset
The best Swedish feature film released during the year 2018

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International Short Film Awards

Best International Director
Best International Cinematography
Best International Actor
Best International Actress
Best International Screenplay (of a produced film)
Best International Short Film
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International Feature Film Awards

Best International Director
Best International Cinematography
Best International Actor
Best International Actress
Best International Screenplay (of a produced film)
Best International Feature Film
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International Various Awards

Best International One-minute film
Best International Short Documentary Film
Best International Feature Documentary Film
Best International Animation Film
Best International Music Video
Best International Web/New Media Production
Best International Artistic Film
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Nordic Short Film Awards

Best Nordic Director
Best Nordic Cinematography
Best Nordic Actor
Best Nordic Actress
Best Nordic Screenplay (of a produced film)
Best Nordic Short Film

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Nordic feature film Awards

Best Nordic Director
Best Nordic Cinematography
Best Nordic Actor
Best Nordic Actress
Best Nordic Screenplay (of a produced film)
Best Nordic Sound
Best Nordic Editing
Best Nordic Feature Film
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Nordic Various Award

Best Nordic Artistic Film
Best Nordic Short Documentary Film
Best Nordic Feature Documentary Film

Rules & Terms

By submitting, you agree to these rules and terms:

Copyrights, screening rights:

- You have the full rights to submit the film to our film festival and to give Västerås Film Festival the rights to screen the film at the festival
- We can use trailers, stills, and other submitted information for marketing purposes on websites, newsletters, social media, flyers, posters, etc.
- If your film is nominated, we can use both trailers and parts from the film to create a nomination trailer, with final permission from you, to be shown at the award ceremony
- We do not pay any screening fees
-The submission fee is non-refundable

Competition

- To be considered for the competition, the film must have been completed between 2020 and 2022.

Subtitles

- If the film is not in English or Swedish, subtitles in one of those two languages are required.
- Films in English are encouraged to have Swedish subtitles.

Formats

- The highest resolution that the film was shot in; HD, 2K, 3K, 4K.
- We accept resolutions from HD to 4K, regardless if it is a short or feature length film.
- For screening on a larger screen, we require at least 2K.

Category range.

- 1-Minute film (1 min.),
- Short film (1 to 59 min.)
- Feature film (60 min. or longer)
- Documentary (National, regional, film school)

58 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Donal O'Dea

    Great Festival. I was going to go, then I wasn't, then I was... anyway really REALLY sorry I didn't. Next year I'll be there.

    September 2022
    Helpful
  • Ana Maria Ferri

    One of the great festivals in Europe. Thank you for our selection.

    September 2022
    Helpful
  • Dmytro Ovechkin

    Dear Västerås Filmfestival team! We thank you sincerely for high awards! We are honored to receive them! Especially at a time when Russian bombs are falling on our peaceful cities and we are heroically resisting Russian fascist troops, the high recognition of our film about this terrible war is of sacred significance!
    I wish your festival success! Thanks again!
    May there be peace in your homes!

    September 2022
    Helpful
  • Natalie MacMahon

    Fantastic festival! Thanks a lot for including my film "Living In A Bubble"!

    September 2022
    Helpful
  • Heimo Aga

    While we couldn't attend in person, we were honored to be in your competition for best documentary with "HOT!—Hooked on Chili". Good communication with a very dedicated team!

    August 2022
    Helpful