Founded in 2014 in the world's most important film destination, the Cannes Short Film Festival celebrates the best of international indie short filmmaking. CSFF brings together filmmakers from around the world for an amazing presentation of cinematic excellence and exciting innovation. Screening over at the Cinema Varietes in Nice and the Genesis Cinema in London, the 2026 CSFF is will be the 13th sensational annual event dedicated to short filmmaking, in September 2026.

With an emphasis on new talent, discovery, and low-budget innovation, Cannes Shorts' vibrant programme of films combines a commitment to independent cinema’s ideals with a sound understanding of indie filmmaking possibilities.

Cannes Shorts is exclusive to FilmFreeway, and all short films are selected from FilmFreeway submissions. The festival especially looks forward to showcasing independent and first-time directors making use of low budgets and indie film spirit.

Awards & Prizes

Cannes Shorts will be celebrating the year's best in short film genre:

Best Short Film
Best Short Documentary
Best LGBT Short
Best Horror Short
Best Sci-Fi Short
Best Animated Short
Best Experimental Short
Best Short Short
Best Music Video

Rules & Terms

Cannes Short will consider any short film under 50 minutes. The festival considers a Short Short to be under 5 minutes.

100 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
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Hospitality
Networking
  • Jean-Pierre Brachet

    A festival that honors its commitments to independent cinema. We simply regret not being able to attend. Thank you.

    May 2025
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  • Ana Lucia Ixchiu Hernandez

    It's my first short film and it won the award for best documentary short. I'm very grateful for this experience.

    May 2025
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  • Alice Shapiro

    "CSFF is not associated with the Festival de Cannes" : disclaimer from this festival.

    I did not attend this festival.

    I was thrilled to receive acceptance by Cannes Short Film Festival in Nice, would have liked seeing my short on a screen, it must be very hard to put on an in-person film festival. Currently a product in development might solve this problem for some of you.

    As a newbie submitter I gained confidence and cred from being a part of this festival regardless of their non-connection with the Real Festival so if you're a newbie I'd say go for it.

    April 2025
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  • François BRAUGE

    Super Festival.
    Merci mille fois. Belle ambiance.
    Le public et tous mes amis étaient au rendez-vous pour la projection de mon film.

    November 2024
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  • olivier MARTIN

    Hi, to be honest, i was disapointed by the festival on Nice the 22th of septembre 2024. Not many people, no communication between the differents teams who were here just to watch their movies, i finished the festival with just two nice english people, but it's not enough, nobody from the festival to say bye bye... a little sad to quit the festival almost alone... i will forgot this festival very quickly....

    September 2024
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