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The Diversity in Cannes Short Film Showcase returns to the Cannes Film Festival May 2027.

Filmmakers submit your short film, webseries, music video, micro drama (vertical series) or short script for a chance to screen your work during Diversity Day, an independent event concurrent with the Cannes Film Festival.

Selected projects will screen during Diversity Day Monday, May 17, 2027, before an international audience of filmmakers, creatives, and industry professionals.

Final Deadline: March 31, 2027
Official selections will be announced: April 16, 2027 (subject to change)

While Diversity Day takes place in France at the same time as the Cannes Film Festival the Diversity in Cannes Short Film Showcase is an Independent event sponsored by Academy Award Winner Viola Davis' Juvee Productions and the British Film Institute's inclusion team with support from Screen Australia.

Awards & Prizes

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Prizes for general showcase winners are meant to promote filmmakers, expand their network, assist with career advancement and to help prepare for future projects. They include career-advancing prizes, including a mentorship meeting with Oscar-winner Viola Davis’ JuVee Productions.

* Previous prizes listed below. 2027 prizes subject to change*

• Mentorship meeting (phone/video conference) with JuVee Productions' executive.

• Mentorship meeting for 1 hour (phone/video conference) with emmy-nominated,
Peabody Award winning producer/writer/director, Audrey Rosenberg of Audrey
Rosenberg Productions.

• Mentorship Meeting (Phone or Virtual) with Writer / Producer Kyle Harimoto,
executive producer of NCIS:LA on CBS. Past credits include LAS VEGAS for
NBC and HAWAII FIVE-0 for CBS. He has current development deals with
Amazon Studios and USA / PEACOCK.

• European Film Market Market Badge compliments of Creative Europe Media, the EFM, and the Berlinale as part of their inclusion program.

• Complimentary submission (1) to the 2027 Diversity in Cannes Short Film
Showcase.

• Complimentary consultation including character and theme development with PsychMinded Media.

• One hour film festival, PR or social media strategy consultation with marketing
communications professional.

• Comprehensive list of global film initiatives that can be used to fund futire projects.

• Link to winning film or trailer on the Diversity in Cannes Facebook, YouTube,
LinkedIn and Instagram pages (as appropriate).

• Guest on Diversity in Cannes’ Cannes Conversations where film trailer as well current and future projects will be shared.

• Global exposure via press release announcing winners of the Diversity in Cannes
Short Film Showcase distributed electronically.

• Diversity in Cannes Short Film Showcase winner certificate and laurels.

Rules & Terms


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SUBMISSION GUIDELINES:

ALL PROJECTS MUST BE SUBMITTED IN ONE OF THE FOLLOWING PRIMARY CATEGORIES:

NARRATIVE SHORT
DOCUMENTARY SHORT
WEB SERIES
MICRO SHORT (under 5 minutes)
MUSIC VIDEO
SHORT SCRIPT
NEW-MICRO DRAMA (verticals)

ALL "BEST" CATEGORIES (BEST ACTRESS, ACTOR, ETC) ARE OPTIONAL AND SECONDARY!!!

PROJECTS SUBMITTED WITHOUT A PRIMARY CATEGORY WILL BE DISQUALIFIED AND REMOVED FROM CONSIDERATION WITH NO REFUND!!!!

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:

There is no limit to the number of entries as long as they meet the requirements below.

* must be submitted by March 31, 2027 (deadlines subject to change)
* must be the work of a diverse filmmaker or tell a diverse story
* must be under 20 minutes including credits (we will consider all films < 30 mins though
selection is rare.
* must have English subtitles if shot in another language
* must not contain pornography
* must not contain racist, sexist, offensive or defamatory statements intended to harm
* must not cause harm to anyone
* must not be an invasion of privacy
* must have complete rights to film’s content
* must have a copyright owner who is at least 18 years of age
* must be copyright free
* must be original work and not based, in whole or in part on material, fictional or
nonfiction, produced or un-produced, published or unpublished, unless such material
was originally created and published/produced by the applicant in another medium.

Judges to determine official selections.

All entries received during the open call for entries will be reviewed by the festival administrator for eligibility and compliance with the entry requirements. Following the festival administrator’s review, eligible entries will be made available for judging by a screening committee of diverse filmmakers, film enthusiasts and every day people from around the world.

All films are entitled to at least 3 reviews and will be judged on the elements below. Competition films will be selected from all eligible entries. Decision of the screening committee is final!

* Creativity and Originality 

*Direction

* Writing

* Cinematography

* Performances 

* Production Value

*Pacing

* Structure

* Sound Music

* Overall Impression 

Top 16 to 18 films from ALL eligible entries as determined by Diversity in Cannes and its partners will be official selections and screened during the 2027 Diversity in Cannes Short Film Showcase, May 17, 2027, during Diversity Day, an independent event, concurrent with the Cannes Film Festival.

Winners will be determined by jury and announced at an awards reception immediately following the Showcase.

TERMS & CONDITIONS:
By agreeing to showcase your work with Diversity in Cannes Short Film Showcase, you agree to the following:

* All fees are non-transferable and non-refundable.

* Applicant claims all liability and damages in relation to any screening of applicant's
submission to which applicant does not hold complete rights to its content.

* Applicant is responsible for clearing all rights to the content of the film prior to
exhibition.

* Applicant grants DIC Short Film & Web Series Showcase the right to use excerpts from
accepted films including audio, video, names and images to promote the festival.

* If selected, the rights-holder allows the DIC Short Film Showcase to screen the submitted
work, in full, at the 2027 DIC Short Film Showcase without further communication or
approval.

* Applicant permits the DIC Short Film Showcase to retain copies of applicant's film for use
in the Showcase archives.

** If selected, filmmaker or designated representative(s) must be present in Cannes
Monday, May 17, 2027 to promote their film **

**FINAL NOTES:

* While we consider all short films <30 minutes, we prefer projects under 20 minutes for
optimized programming. We want to showcase as many shorts as possible.

* For the past 6 years, we have implemented a hybrid strategy. Some films are selected
for the Diversity Day screening live in Cannes and some are selected for the virtual
showcase to screen online in June 2027.

* Diversity in Cannes is an independent showcase operating concurrently with the Cannes
Film Festival period in Cannes, France.
* Submission does not guarantee selection.
* Submission fees are non-refundable regardless of selection status
* Onsite Cannes screening requires filmmaker attendance.
* The virtual showcase is a possibility but not guaranteed.
* Dates, venues, sponsors, partners, programming, and prizes are subject to change.
62 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Ellen Ancui

    What a fabulous screening in beautiful Cannes! Yolonda runs an amazing program with the Diversity in Cannes Showcase. She curates an impressive varitety of shorts along with some music videos and series. It's very empowering to uplift diverse filmmaking and creative voices. I appreciated the positive energy around this showcase. The awards dinner after the screening was an unexpected, special treat. Congrats to everyone who was part of this - I hope to be involved in some way in the future as I believe this is a very important platform and Cannes is an amazing place to host it. Thank you and thank you for the Jury Award for SAVERIO - we are so honored and grateful for the recognition!

    June 2026
    Helpful
    Response from festival:

    Thank you for your thoughtful comments. You and your dance moves definitely contributed to the positive energy. SAVERIO added to the quality of the programming and is deservant of the award. Congratulations. I look forward to following your festival journey and I welcome your requests to get involved.

  • Tatiana Blackington James

    DIC is to the Cannes Film Festival what Slamdance once was to Sundance, a scrappy start up with counter-programming by diverse, international filmmakers. Every film in the line up was about something. Societal issues and racial identity feature prominently as you would expect but that doesn't mean the films are ponderous or bleak. Some were wildly creative and funny. Many were as good (and often more meaningful) as some of the official Cannes selections. This is NOT a fake festival trading on the Cannes brand -- there are a few of those out there -- even though it does not come with accreditation. The lavish awards dinner Yolonda treated us all to was the perfect celebration of a fabulous day of programming. If you are already attending Cannes, this takes place in the heart of it all. A great experience.

    June 2026
    Helpful
    Response from festival:

    Thank you very much. I happy you were able to join us. At Diversity in Cannes we take pride in programming films that transcend boundaries and tell human stories to which everyone can relate.

    For many filmmakers Diversity in Cannes is the first introduction to the Cannes Film Festival. We exist to expose filmmakers to the global film industry and to help expand their international reach. Filmmakers learn early in their careers the importance of global networking and make lasting connections by participating in the Diversity in Cannes Short Film Showcase.

  • Juliette Jeffers

    This was a great festival to be a part of. My short film, Pan Gyul, won 2 awards; Best First Time Filmmaker and Best Original Song. And the caliber of the other films were top tier. I'm so grateful to Yolonda Brinkley for creating this amazing showcase. She is a powerhouse! It was a brilliant idea to run it concurrently with the Cannes Film Festival. The energy in the city was electric. It's a great opportunity for diverse stories to be seen and I met so many brilliant filmmakers.

    June 2026
    Helpful
  • Nils Jacobsen

    Amazing Festival . I'm so happy to have won two awards for my movie ' Benchless' : Best of The Best short and best actor for Habib Dembélé. Yolonda you're a powerful women , also director of festival with a beautiful heart and soul. The selection was really good with strong and sensitive stories. I met wonderful people and directors in Cannes. I'm really exited to come back again . Viola Davis, you're my best actress , i love you. The first time i saw you in a movie, it was in a first feature directed by Denzel Washington Antwone Fisher ( i'm the french voice of Derek Luke ) . You slapped my heart with stunning émotions. Yolonda, like Viola , a huge thanks to put the diversity into the light of the world . It's pure, it's necessarily ,it's evident , it's simply humans love. Also thanks to the members of the jury. See you soon , best of luck. Sincerely yours. GALIAM .

    May 2026
    Helpful
    Response from festival:

    YOU ARE THE WINNER!!!!!! TU AS GAGNE TOUS!!!! FELICITATIONS. Thank you for the kind words. You are now a huge part of the Diversity in Cannes family and you're welcome to join us at any time!!

  • Shia Smith

    Overall, the Diversity in Cannes Short Film Showcase was a beautiful experience. While my short film, "Dawn," was an Official Selected for the Virtual Program, my short screenplay, "Doll" was an Official Selection in the Screenwriting Competition. It was an honor to hold a table reading for "Doll" in CANNES among the immensely talented filmmakers in the room. It was an amazing opportunity for which I am ever-grateful! Films screened in the Showcase were "top tier" and the love and respect among artists in the room was palpable.

    Yolonda Brinkley's tireless efforts have created an impressive ecosystem for promoting connection, excellence, and diversity in Cannes. (#ProtectYolondaBrinkleyatAllCosts)

    May 2026
    Helpful
    Response from festival:

    Beautiful experience for beautiful people!!! Thank you for your enthusiasm and for creating a safe space for me to be me, the one woman show that I am, without fear of judgement.
    Shia Shabazz:
    #ProtectYolondaBrinkleyatAllCosts
    Yolonda Brinkley: #Andifyougotaproblemwithmetalktoshiashabazz (my motto til the end)