Westsicily Short Film Festival is a cinematic event dedicated to short films, set in the stunning coastal town of Castellammare del Golfo (Trapani). Starting in April 2026, the festival will welcome works from all over the world, providing a platform for both emerging directors and industry professionals to showcase their talent and exchange ideas.
The festival features two competition categories:
* Short Shorts: up to 5 minutes
* Short Films: up to 30 minutes
Each month, a winner will be selected for each category. All monthly winners will be screened in May 2027 at the beautiful Teatro Apollo in Castellammare del Golfo during a special grand finale. The event will also be broadcast live online, during which the overall festival winners for each category will be officially announced.

Awards & Prizes

Best Shorts 30 m. Golden Sampaiolo
Best Shorts 5 m. Silver Sampaiolo
Best Director
Best Actor
Best Actress
Best Music
Best Script

Rules & Terms

1. Eligibility
* Submissions: The festival is open to filmmakers from all over the world.
* Completion Date: Films must have been completed after January 1st, 2023.
* Language: Films in languages other than English or Italian must include English or Italian subtitles.
* Categories: * Super Short: Maximum duration of 5 minutes (including credits).
* Short Film: Maximum duration of 30 minutes (including credits).
2. Monthly Selection & Annual Event
* Monthly Winners: Each month, our jury will select one winner for each category. Winners will be notified via FilmFreeway.
* Final Event: All monthly winners will automatically qualify for the live screening at Teatro Apollo in Castellammare del Golfo in April 2027.
* Grand Winners: The "Absolute Winners" of the Westsicily Short Film Festival will be chosen among the monthly winners and announced during the final event in April 2027.
3. Submission & Promotional Materials
* Entries must be submitted via FilmFreeway with a digital screener.
* Trailer Request: Following selection, winners will be contacted via email to provide an official trailer of the film (if available). This material will be featured on our official website and across our social media platforms to promote the work and the festival.
* By submitting, the filmmaker confirms they own all rights (including music, script, and image rights) to the work.
* The festival reserves the right to use short clips (up to 30 seconds) and posters for promotional purposes.
4. Selection & Notification
* The selection of the jury is final and cannot be contested.
* Submission fees are non-refundable.
* If your film is selected for the final event, you will be required to provide a high-quality screening file (ProRes or H.264) and promotional materials (stills, director's bio).
5. Liability
* Westsicily Short Film Festival is not responsible for any copyright infringement or unauthorized use of materials within the submitted films.
* The festival organizers reserve the right to change the dates or venue of the event due to unforeseen circumstances.