XpoNorth is Scotland's leading creative Industries festival. A two-day long conference and showcase event, it is held in venues across the Highland capital of Inverness every June. A unique happening in Scotland's creative calendar, it covers crafts, publishing, screen and broadcast, as well as music.

XpoNorth 2018 will take place on Wednesday 27th and Thursday 28th June and will be attended by leading creative industry insiders, who will take part in workshops and masterclass sessions over the course of both days. Its film showcase attracts up-and-coming filmmakers from all over the world and we usually try to screen c100 films.

As well as the daytime conference element of the festival, at night, XpoNorth offers a beguiling blend of Highland hospitality in the form of relaxed networking events, coupled with a free new music showcase in venues throughout the compact city of Inverness.

XpoNorth, is funded by Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE), the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and Creative Scotland.

Rules & Terms

There is no thematic or genre criteria; it is wide open to any kind of short film and open to anyone to enter.

Most importantly, we want engaging narrative and a structured piece of work with good storytelling and strong production values. Installations and conceptual films are not suitable; films from the more standard genres of broadcast such as drama, documentary, comedy and entertainment are invited to submit.

Guidelines For Submitting Your Film

Here’s what we are looking for:
- Completed films up to 20 minutes in duration that focus on strong storytelling, high production values and engaging content.
- Screening copies accepted only via a link to uploaded film on Vimeo or Youtube.
- Your film does not have to be in full HD quality, just the best quality possible.
- Remember to provide a direct link to your film and the correct password. Please make sure the video is accessible to XpoNorth until Friday 29th June. If you change the password of the link please inform us as soon as possible.

All of the copyright holders for the film agree to allow the festival to use up to a maximum of 20% of the material in advertising and publicity without compromising or giving away the story or plot.

Before any decisions are made please note that all submitted films are viewed by members of the XpoNorth programming team.

Please note, films with excessive bad language, gratuitous or sexual imagery will not be considered.

Due to the volume of entries received, XpoNorth cannot offer individual critiques of declined films - sorry!

6 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • SANDEEP RASAL

    I was not able to attend the Festival. But from start the communication was really good. My queries where answered very quick. Superb Festival to be part of everything from submission, selection and sending film and promotion material was smooth ...Honored and Happy for selection of my film in the Festival. Thank you XPO North- Film Festival!!!!

    July 2018
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  • Ian F. Hunt

    'Finding Alice' - we have been lucky enough to have been selected twice for this wonderful festival, back in 2015 it was for a documentary and this time the short film Finding Alice. As before lovely people to work with and excellent communications at all times. Work stopped us from attending this time but I'm sure those that did were met and treated warmly and had a wonderful time and the opportunity to meet like minded film enthusiasts at the excellent events and networking parties. I hope we get lucky again in the future and can come and enjoy this festival again. Ian F. Hunt, Producer and Cinematographer

    July 2018
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  • Thomas Hogben

    A great festival, that screen some fantastic shorts, and it was a pleasure to see mine (TEETH) in amongst them.

    Aside from the films, there is also a whole host of seminars and 1 to 1 meeting opportunities available, making this a must for any Scottish based filmmaker.

    July 2018
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  • Marina Kazakova

    We didn’t miss the chance to attend the XpoNorth Film Festival, showcasing our short “The Smell of the Sun”.
    Over fifty films were screened during the two-day event from the 27th & 28th of June at The Playhouse Cinema, Eden Court in Inverness.
    Perhaps, the strongest impression of ours was a short animated film by Barnaby Nott “Tin Foil”. The antagonism between devotion to a happy dream world and obligated attention to the mundane reality is nothing new, but the way the author goes from the happy emotion through the thought to the final metaphor is exemplary. Barnaby’s thought is often philosophical and symbolic, structure of the composition – figurative, details of the animation - concrete. His king of the universe is a blend of images of folk tales and his own personal vision. They represent beauty, romantic fear and the transcendental world, but can also be the symbol of the fragility of true happiness.
    All in all, XpoNorth is a top place to see what is happening in the contemporary short film world, to meet colleagues from the industry and share knowledge! Big 'thank you' to the organisers!!!

    July 2018
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  • Mazin Sherabayani

    Thank you so much for selecting my film, great festival. thanks

    July 2018
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