Visionova was founded on a simple conviction: cinema connects us.
It opens spaces for imagination, understanding, and change in ways few other art forms can.

The festival exists to support filmmakers who work with clarity of vision and the courage to pursue it. Though rooted in Rome, Visionova is international in scope, welcoming short films that take risks, provoke reflection, and invite emotional or intellectual engagement.

We invite films that engage with questions of origin and belonging; with memory, heritage, and inheritance; with cultural roots and the identities shaped by them. We are interested in nostalgia as both comfort and tension, and in the places, people, and moments that continue to inform who we are. These may be stories that look backward in order to better understand the present, or to imagine what lies ahead.

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Awards & Prizes

This edition of Visionova Film Festival presents an official selection of no fewer than twenty short films, all screened during the festival’s live events in Rome.

From the official selection, the jury awards one category prize in each of the following sections: Narrative Short, Documentary Short, Experimental / Artist Film, and Student Film.

In addition to the category prizes, the jury may confer further awards from across the official selection.

At the conclusion of the yearly cycle, all category-winning films from this edition will be considered for the Visionova Grand Award, presented to the work that most fully embodies the festival’s artistic vision. This end-of-year honour includes a special screening at an international partner event.

Rules & Terms

For each edition, Visionova presents an official selection of short films chosen by the curatorial team and jury. Selected films are screened at Visionova’s live events in Rome and considered for category prizes and additional awards.

Films are evaluated on artistic quality, originality, clarity of vision, technical execution, and their engagement with the edition’s theme. The jury actively welcomes unconventional, formally adventurous, and risk-taking work.

Submissions are open to filmmakers of all ages and nationalities. Each participant may submit one (1) short film.

Eligible works include fiction, documentary, experimental, and animated films. The maximum running time is 30 minutes, including credits. Only films produced from 2024 onwards are eligible.

Films not in English must include English subtitles provided as a separate .srt file.
Selection is based on overall artistic quality and thematic relevance. The theme is intended as a guide rather than a restriction.

A submission fee applies to cover organisational and administrative costs. Submissions are considered valid only once payment has been completed. The fee is non-refundable, regardless of selection outcome. Any fee reductions or waivers are listed on the festival’s website.

Films must be submitted in .mp4 format. Recommended technical specifications are H.264 codec, 1920 × 1080 resolution, 24 or 25 fps, minimum bitrate of 25 Mbps, and AAC audio. The festival reserves the right to reject works that are technically unsuitable for public screening.

Official selections and award winners will be announced on Visionova’s website and social channels. Awarded filmmakers agree to reference their selection or prize in promotional materials related to the film, using the official festival logo and wording. Filmmakers unable to attend the event may receive awards by post.

By submitting a film, participants confirm that they hold all necessary rights to the content of the work. Visionova reserves the right to use excerpts of up to 30 seconds, still images, and festival photographs for promotional and archival purposes. Submitted materials will not be returned.

Participation implies acceptance of these regulations and consent to the processing of personal data in accordance with applicable privacy laws, including GDPR.