War of Films is an IMDb Qualifying film festival offering a platform for independent filmmakers from around the world to showcase their talent and connect with industry professionals.

Our festival has attracted major stars and companies such as Susan Sarandon, Robin Williams, Ron Perlman, Epic Games, Lucy Liu, Danny Trejo, Michael K. Williams, John Turturro, Malcolm McDowell, Vinnie Jones, Bella Ramsey (Game of Thrones), and Oscar-nominated actor James Cromwell, all of whom have received awards at our festival. This positions War of Films as one of the most important festivals in the world, recognized for its support of independent filmmakers. Proof of this is the fact that more than 6,600 filmmakers from 120 countries have placed their trust in us.

Even if your film isn't selected, we offer distribution assistance. We understand that navigating the distribution landscape can be challenging, and we are committed to supporting our filmmakers in their distribution process. Through our distribution network, your film has the potential to reach the world's most important film markets.

Join us at the War of Films International Film Festival and let us help you connect with the film industry and take your film to the next level!

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:

Why are there so many categories? Which one do you recommend?
We recommend the "All Categories" option, as it offers the best value. It includes your project's main category, as well as individual categories such as Best Director and Best Producer, as well as Best Trailer and Best Poster. Additionally, your trailer will be featured in all the distribution rounds we hold throughout the year, and we will publish a promotional post on our Instagram. However, we also offer the option to submit to individual categories so you can tailor your festival strategy to your budget.

Should I wait until the last minute to submit or submit now?
Both options are valid, as all projects submitted to the festival have an equal chance. However, we recommend submitting as early as possible, as we begin promoting the most interesting projects throughout the year. The market is constantly changing, and we don't wait until the end of the year to start distributing.

Major festivals demand a world premiere. Do you too?
We're against limiting submissions based on territorial release or year of production. We believe all projects deserve multiple opportunities.

What's the difference between the Short Film Competition and the Film + Short Film Market?
The Short Film Competition is about competing to be the best short film of the festival and screen at our annual event. The Film + Short Film Market is similar, but we also seek distribution for your project. We differentiate these two categories because some projects already have distribution but are still interested in competing for the festival's Best Short Film Award.

Can you send my project to distributors without prior notice?
No, we cannot send your film or script to distributors without prior notice. However, we can send them trailers or promotional materials upon request.

Am I obligated to accept an offer from the distributor?
No, you are not obligated to accept any offer from the distributor. The project will always be yours, and we simply help you find commercial deals for your project. We'll send you the offers we receive, and you'll have the freedom to decide what to do with them.

What revenue does War of Films earn from distribution deals?
We do not receive revenue from distribution deals. Our distribution service is free as part of our commitment to helping filmmakers take the next step beyond simply screening their films. We believe festivals should use their contacts to help filmmakers in their professional development.

-Best Feature Film
-Best Short Film
-Best Documentary
-Best Serie/Web/Pilot Tv
-Best Music Video

-Best Short Script
-Best Feature Script
-Best First time Screenwriter
-Best Screenwriter.

-Best Female Director
-Best First Time Female Director
-Best Director
-Best First Time Filmmaker
-Best Producer
-Best Actor
-Best Actress
-Best Original Screenplay
-Best Cinematography
-Best Color Grading
-Best Edit
-Best Sound Design
-Best Soundtrack
-Best Visual effects
-Best Trailer
-Best Poster

-Best Indie Feature Film/Documentary (low Budget). Less than 50.000
-Best Indie Short Film (Low Budget). Less than 5.000
-Best Animated Film
-Best Experimental Film
-Best Drama
-Best Comedy
-Best Horror/Thriller
-Best Sci-Fi/Fantasy
-Best LGBTQ

We can award Honorable Mentions in categories that we consider.

All genres, all style and all thematics.
Production Year: No limit.
Feature more than 60 minutes.
Short film: maximum 60 minutes.
Series/Pilot Tv/Web Media: Unlimited
Documentary: Unlimited.
Music Videos: Unlimited
Screenplay: Shorts up to 30pag. / Feature up to 180 pag.

1. We accept films and scripts in: English, Spanish, French, German and Italian.
We accept all other languages if they are subtitled in English, Spanish, French, German or Italian.

2. No fee waiver. All entry fees are non-refundable.

3. War of films can use samples of your work in a promotional way for the festival (maximum 1 minute).

4. Usage Rights

The participant declares and guarantees that he/she is the holder of all usage rights necessary for the use of the film in the context of this agreement and that he/she is in a position to effectively grant War of Films these rights. The participant guarantees that by using the film in the context of this agreement, no rights of third parties, including persons depicted in the film, are infringed. The festival is not responsible for any legal action that may occur for infringing these rights.

By signing up for VIP or Trailer+youtube. You give us permission to put your trailer on our youtube channel.

5. The festival does not pay a screening fee. At the live festival we screen the winner of Best Short Film, Best Music Video, Best Commercial, Best Trailer, Best influencer of the year and Best feature film. The other categories are considered technical.

6. Organizers reserve rights change, cancel or re-schedule the dates, venue, awards & categories without consent.

7. The festival reserves the right to include new categories such as: Best thriller, best sci-fi, best lgtb, best fantasy etc if it considers it appropriate. As well as eliminating categories if not the minimum number of participants is reached.

8. Our goal is to promote your work. By registering, you agree that we can send information about your project to distributors and festivals to promote your work.

9. If you do not send the requested material for viewing in cinema. Sorry, your project will be disqualified. We do all the projections in cinema and if you do not send us the requested material we cannot do the projections in a professional way.

10. IMPORTANT
Registration implies acceptance of these rules.

Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • This was one of my Favorite Festivals. The director of the festival communicated with me personally. They made a unique certificate for me with the cover of the book that the screenplay was based on. And I had that made into a plaque. I still need to get a picture with the plaque and submit it. But the director told me if I gave him the picture, they would do a special promotional page on their website. Just so willing to help you get attention and move forward. They really care about the artist and their work and the world of film. I'll be back in 2026!
    Christal Kahles-Jones, IN THE GARDEN
    www.GardenMinistries.net

    December 2025
    Response from festival:

    Thank you so much for this wonderful review, Christal. We work very hard every day to bring you the most value, and we truly appreciate that you value all the work we do. You are a fantastic writer, and of course, we will publish the photo when you send it to us! We will continue to follow your every move and are sure that The Garden and all your future projects will be a great success.

  • Orlando Joubert

    Honored to win best indie filmmaker. Good communication.

    November 2025
    Response from festival:

    Congratulations on winning the Best Independent Filmmaker award for "Five Month Trial." Making such a well-crafted feature film on such a small budget only demonstrates your immense talent as a director. Many congratulations, Orlando! We look forward to your next projects.

  • They Film

    Than you WAR of FILMS for selecting our Canadian Short Film “Robert” as winners in 4 categories; Best Female Director (such an honour, my first scripted direction), Art Design, Color Grading (Thor Roos at Company 3) and Poster Design. Your festival was amazing at communication, thanks once again.

    November 2025
    Response from festival:

    Congratulations on the awards! Your project excels in many areas; it's well-directed, boasts top-notch technical execution, and is narratively excellent. Well done!

  • Krystian Bester

    War of Films was an incredible experience! The communication was professional, the festival was well-organized, and the team truly celebrates independent filmmakers and actors. I’m honored to have been part of it highly recommend submitting your work here!

    October 2025
    Response from festival:

    Wow Krystian, you've left us speechless!! We put in a lot of effort to give the best experience and maximum value to all participants. Congratulations on winning the Best Actor award for "The Soul's View." The short film takes place in a single location and is a face-to-face encounter between actors, so acting is crucial to keeping the viewer's attention. This is the most difficult situation an actor can face, and you handled it perfectly. You have so much talent, and we'll be following all your next steps!

  • Robert Joe

    Huge honour to win Best Native Peoples award. From a small town in the Yukon to the beautiful Barcelona!!! This means a lot to Pelly Crossing born and raised film nut. Big Mussi Cho to the festival staff, jury, and audience.

    October 2025
    Response from festival:

    Thank you so much for the excellent review, Robert, and congratulations on winning the Native People Award for "Fistful of Vodka." We really enjoyed how you incorporated the Western format into a modern story. Very well done.