WIGU 2026

Hi there!

In 2025, we held the very first edition of our short film festival, WIGU. We were a bit nervous, stiff, overly formal (just looking at last year’s description makes me bored to death — and I’m not even reading it), and honestly kind of terrified the cinema might suddenly disappear or the projector would catch fire… you know, that classic first-time tension. Like sex. Or driving a tractor.

Anyway — it was a success. No one died, we saw great films, people showed up, we talked, and somehow woke up the next day with massive hangovers.

We’re mentioning this because that’s when we realized what we actually had on our hands — who the people are that want to come to a project like this, and how we want to play this game.

And we want to play it less formal. This festival is small and intimate — most people know each other, drink a lot, and spend long stretches of time outside smoking and discussing movies, while one or two always look like Jean-Luc Godard after ten years living in a dumpster.

Piss-poor budget, no cash prizes, no red carpets — but a family-like festival that aims to bring interesting films. We don’t care if the budget is zero or a million, if you’re a professional or an amateur. We just want to screen movies that are thought-provoking, unique, and simply good (so basically, anyone has a chance — our jury’s taste is a bit fucked up anyway).

Our original idea was to focus on bizarre and horror genres, but honestly, we saw the potential in a good comedy or drama too. Experimental cinema is also welcome — and will be screened.

So if you’re a filmmaker and believe we should see your movie, don’t hesitate! Feel free to submit, even if we don’t specifically mention your genre.

Anyway, let's go!

IMPORTANT DATES

Submissions Open: November 1, 2025
Submissions Close: July 20, 2026
Tickets on Sale: July 2026
Full Festival Program Announced: July 2026
Event: September 25-26, 2026

Awards & Prizes

AWARDS:

BEST SHORT MOVIE - INTERNATIONAL
BEST SHORT MOVIE - DOMESTIC
BEST MICRO SHORT - UNDER 5 MIN
BEST STUDENT MOVIE
BEST LOW BUDGET MOVIE - UNDER 1000 EUR
BEST FIRST TIME FILMAKER MOVIE
BEST HORROR MOVIE
BEST EXPERIMENTAL MOVIE
BEST COMEDY MOVIE
BEST INDIE/UNDERGROUND MOVIE
BEST ACTRESS
BEST ACTOR
BEST DIRECTOR
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
BEST EDITING
BEST SCREENPLAY
BEST SOUND
BEST ORIGINAL SCORE
AUDIENCE AWARD - BEST MOVIE 2026

• Once your film is submitted, our selection jury will review and evaluate it. The highest-scoring films will be named finalists, automatically included in the Official Selection, and screened at our live event.

• All films in the Official Selection will receive the festival laurel. During the closing ceremony of the live event, we will announce the winners of the Main Competitions and Additional Categories, as determined by our jury. The Audience Award, however, will be chosen by WIGU attendees.

• Winners will receive a Certificate of Achievement and the corresponding laurel.

• Winners will also be granted the opportunity to submit their film to the festival for free in the following year.

Rules & Terms

TERMS AND CONDITIONS FOR ENTRY SUBMISSION

• Films must be submitted via an online screener on FilmFreeway.

• Only films completed after October 2021 are eligible for submission. Notifications of official selection will be sent by August 1, 2026. Please ensure your contact information is accurate. Submissions must be received no later than July 20, 2026.

• Films that have already been publicly released online are accepted.

• Films may have been screened at other festivals.

• We welcome submissions from all genres.

• All short films competing in the festival must have a runtime of 20 minutes or less, including credits. Films competing in the Micro Short category must have a runtime of 5 minutes or less, including credits.

• International films not in English must include English subtitles. Domestic films must include either Czech or English subtitles.

• Multiple entries from the same submitter are allowed. However, each entry must be accompanied by a separate submission and entry fee.

• If selected, you grant WIGU Festival the right to use footage from your screener and trailer (if available) for promotional purposes. You also grant WIGU Festival the right to screen your film at the event and use all other materials related to their project for the event program, WIGU Festival website, WIGU Festival trailer, and for any promotional purposes which WIGU Festival deems appropriate.

• Selected films must provide a high-resolution digital file for screening at the festival (DCP IS PREFERRED, mov or mp4, etc.). The file must be delivered digitally via an online file transfer service.

• Physical screeners (e.g., DCP, DVD, or Blu-ray) will not be accepted.

• The final screening copy must be received by WIGU Festival no later than August 20, 2026.

GENERAL TERMS & CONDITIONS

• All FilmFreeway submissions to WIGU Festival require payment via FilmFreeway. All entry fees are non-refundable.

• WIGU Festival does not pay screening fees.

• WIGU Festival does not cover travel expenses.

• WIGU Festival does not provide subtitling services.

• Students must provide proof of current enrollment or a valid student ID via FilmFreeway or email. Eligibility includes students who are currently studying or who have graduated within the past year.

• Submissions that do not meet eligibility requirements may be disqualified.

• While we are supportive of new technologies and do not consider ourselves resistant to innovation, we have chosen to keep our selection free of AI-generated, AI-modified, or AI-enhanced films. Any works involving the use of AI in their creation or post-production will therefore be automatically excluded from consideration. Also - it looks like shit.

We understand the challenges of festival submissions. If you have concerns about eligibility or rules, please don’t hesitate to contact us—we may be able to work something out.
12 Reviews
Overall Rating
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  • Mikheil Gabaidze

    t was a great honor for me and my team to have our film screened at your wonderful festival. We truly hope that the jury members, the organizers, and cinema lovers enjoyed watching it as much as we enjoyed creating it.

    We sincerely hope that your festival will become a bridge between us and lead to future collaborations and meetings at upcoming festivals.

    Wishing you continued success and inspiration in all your future editions.

    October 2025
    Helpful
    Response from festival:

    Thank you Mikheil!

  • Pablo Maldonado

    Unfortunately I could not attend in person, but I was impressed at the high-quality standards expected by the organisers. Very careful curation and marketing of selected films. This is a small but ambitious festival, get your film in before it becomes too famous!

    October 2025
    Helpful
    Response from festival:

    Hope to see you next year with another flick, grande Paolo!

  • Nora Geist

    A first class affair! Excellent facilities, communication and overall atmosphere. A real honour to have been a part of it—thank you!

    October 2025
    Helpful
    Response from festival:

    Thank you Nora!

  • Wolfgang Herbst

    Very cool festival and thank you so much for screening our film and supporting experimental video. Very professional organisation and communication with a good sense of humor. It was a pleasure to work with you and I hope your festival will stay for ever. Unfortunately I wasn’t able to attend the festival this year but I hope there is a chance in the future. Good luck and all the best from Austria!

    October 2025
    Helpful
    Response from festival:

    Thank you!!

  • Jérémy Barlozzo

    Best informations mail received so far.

    Thanks for the nice communication and long live to Wigu!

    October 2025
    Helpful
    Response from festival:

    Merci Jérémy! Thank you for your kind words and for your nerve-wracking movie! Send more! Cheers!