The Discover Film Awards is one of the biggest short film festivals in the world with over 4,000 annual submissions from 70+ countries, global premiers in London's Leicester square with packed cinema audiences, filmmaker parties, red carpet events, script-pitching round tables with funding available for new projects and an annual cash prize fund of over USD 50,000, including the prestigious Craghoppers Film Prize.

Spread over 4 days in April 2019, The Discover Film Awards involve public cinema screenings at the Prince Charles cinema in London's Leicester Square. Quentin Tarantino describes it as his favourite cinema in London saying it is "everything an independent movie theatre should be”. As well as public screenings, the festival includes networking events, a filmmaker supper, an opening party, a closing party and awards event that brings together investors, distributors, journalists, film producers and media professionals.

A major supporting partner of the festival is Craghoppers, the global outdoor clothing brand, which awards The Craghoppers Film Prize as part of The Discover Film Awards. This celebrates the very best talent of student and established short filmmakers. It includes a student cash prize of £2,000 (USD 2,600). The ultimate Craghoppers Film Prize is up for grabs at the October Discover Film Awards and entries will be shortlisted from all winners from the April and October festivals, no matter what genre or who has entered. The first prize is £20,000 (USD 26,000) in cash with a second prize of £5,000 (USD 6,500) in cash and an additional award of £5,000 (USD 6,500) for the best social impact film.

Unlike a lot of festivals, The Discover Film Awards make no apologies for having a commercial edge. Their head of programming & chair of judges has produced and directed over 50 commercially successful films and documentaries and most recently has overseen a series of global advertising campaigns.

The festival showcases the very best short films that are entertaining and tell a story. The sort of short films that people want to watch. That make them laugh. Or cry. That shock and surprise.

Selected films get the option of various paid distribution channels including trains and airlines. Distribution is optional and entirely up to the filmmakers.

As well as cash prizes, winners can get help with future film projects in the form of discounted rates from partner firms (such as production houses) and mentoring from senior commercial film and business executives. The festival also introduces filmmakers to funding sources for future projects and offers publicity across a wide range of media (print and social).

Awards & Prizes

Cash Prizes:

Best overall short film in 2019 wins USD 27,000/GBP 20,000 in cash.
Second place wins USD 13,500/GBP 10,000 in cash
Student prizes at April and October events of USD 2,700/GBP 2,000 in cash
Pitching competition to investors with additional cash prizes to fund films

Physical Awards:

Audience Award
Jury Award
Best Director
Best Actor
Best Screenplay
Best Editor
Best Cinematography
Best Animation
Best Adaptation
Best Comedy
Best Cross-Over
Best Debut
Best Documentary
Best Drama
Best Experimental
Best Fantasy
Best Horror
Best Low Budget
Best International (various awards)
Best Foreign Language (various awards)
Best Micro (under 5 minutes - various awards)
Best Music Video
Best Non-Narrative
Best Sci-Fi
Best Student

Rules & Terms

Films must be 45 minutes or under to enter the competition. There is no lower limit on run time.

Films will be shown to our panel of judges, including genre experts.

All films will be screened via DCP files. If filmmakers selected for the festival do not have a DCP, we we will produce one for them free of charge (one of the filmmaker perks that we offer). We will also require .mov, mp4, or equivalent as a backup.

For call cash prizes, instructions will be given on how to claim the award. The filmmaker will be responsible for any taxation payable on the award and any international bank charges. Cash prizes will be awarded to the Director of the film.

Discover Film will not be responsible for any custom duties or charges on physical submission. Please be sure to include "temporary import/cultural exchange" and "no commercial value" on any paperwork.

The festival handles submitted physical screening files with the utmost of care and provides insurance of loss or damage to a maximum value of US$100.00 (or cost of replacement, whichever is less). The festival will return any physically submitted screening files at the festival's expense.

Permission for the festival to use images and excerpts of each submitted film, not to exceed 1 minute for promotional purposes is considered granted upon submission - including trailers/clips on the festival's media channels. If you would rather opt out from this please contact the festival organisers.

Discover Film reserves the right to complete any information not supplied by the filmmaker from whatever source available and/or re-write material to fit our marketing requirement and will not be responsible if incorrect information is entered.

Participation in The Discover Film Awards implies understanding and acceptance of the above regulations and requirements for this submission

37 Reviews
Overall Rating
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  • Camille Hollett-French

    What can I say about Discover Film Awards!

    I wasn't able to attend but my partner was. During the whole process we always felt so welcomed and taken care of. It was so comforting to feel immediately welcomed into Discover's film community. I cannot wait to meet Jaine in person. And of course winning the Craghopper's Film Prize of 20,000£ was a great treat too!

    Hoping to make it there at some point soon!

    herstoryinthreeparts.com

    February 2019
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  • Jason van Genderen

    Was thrilled to be selected as part of this festival in 2018 and thoroughly enjoyed being a part of their program! Just wish I could have attended in person to experience the amazing screenings - great team very dedicated to storytellers everywhere.

    February 2019
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  • Félicien Pinot

    Great festival with a lot of good films! I'm very proud to have been part of!

    October 2018
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  • Tyler Rabinowitz

    Discover Film Awards is in a wonderful venue and the programming is second to none. I feel honored to have had a short there this year. Some of the films I screened alongside were made by some of my favorite upcoming filmmakers in the game right now. Truly flattered, not sure how I got selected, but I'm definitely submitting more work in the future.

    October 2018
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  • Jonathan Marballi

    This is one of the best festivals I have ever has attended. The whole team at Discover Film and their sponsor, Craghoppers, are incredibly welcoming and generous. They also have impeccable taste. The selection of shorts were incredibly impressive and inspiring and really made me feel more excited about the medium than anything else in recent memory. The nightly parties are a blast as well. These people truly love film and filmmakers and we look forward to the next chance we have to return. We live in New York so it was a bit of a pricey trip, but based on our experience I'd say you should definitely submit, and if you get in, GO.

    October 2018
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