Welcome to the fifth Folkestone Short Film Festival by Folkestone International Film & TV Festival (formerly Hellfire Film Festival).

In recent years, due to Covid, we made the difficult decision to not hold a physical event, instead opting to livestream the short films and have our judges judge them remotely.

Folkestone International Film & TV Festival is an organisation devoted to showcasing the best and brightest of independent cinema from around the globe, advancing the careers of filmmakers through screenings, networking events, and various panels and forums. Folkestone Short Film Festival is our flagship event.

How we began
The idea for a film festival was first mooted in early 2014 by a group of creative individuals after realising that although Folkestone hosts many creative festivals throughout the year – including music, art, light, book, performance and not forgetting the internationally recognised Folkestone Triennial and the Strangelove Festival – there was no festival specifically dedicated to film.

Folkestone Short Film Festival officially launched in March 2016 – albeit earlier than planned – after an event at the Lime Bar Café was cancelled at the last moment. We stepped in at the eleventh hour with an evening of short films submitted by filmmakers local to Folkestone. That evening Folkestone Short Film Festival (as Hellfire Short Film Festival) was born and Lime Bar Café would become our spiritual home.

SUBMISSIONS OPEN FOR THE 2023 FOLKESTONE SHORT FILM FESTIVAL.

Taking place in Folkestone, Kent, Folkestone Short Film Festival is a collection of short films from filmmakers around the world. All selected films are voted on by the audience and the winners will receive the coveted Folkestone Short Film Festival trophy.

Unlike Season One, Folkestone Short Film Festival is now a single event, not a monthly competition.

Previous Short Film Festivals have included short films by talented and award-winning filmmakers including:
Rob Smith, Katie Bonham, Ewan Golder, Dominic Pillai, Ben Barton, Melanie Light, Scott Lyus, Aardman Animations, Javier Chillon, Ruth Pickett, Steve Davis, Laurent Ardoint, Guillaume Foresti, Joseba Alfaro, Adam Spinks, Emil Sallinen, Ivan Villamel Sanchez, Michael James Dean, Mark Brocking, Alastair Train, Eben Skilleter, Stephan Bookas, Derek Boyes.

Best Film
Best Director
Best Actor
Best Screenplay
Best Editing
Best Soundtrack/Score
Best Cinematography

Please read all rules and regulations before submitting your project.

DO NOT ASK US FOR WAIVERS

Folkestone International Film & TV Festival is hereby granted the rights to utilise an excerpt from any film submitted for promotional purposes of the festival. The individual or corporation submitting the film hereby warrants that it is authorised to commit the film for screening, and understands and accepts these requirements, rules and regulations.

The Competition reserves the right to refuse entries.

You agree to indemnify and hold harmless Folkestone International Film & TV Festival, from and against any and all claims, liabilities, losses, damages, and expenses (including but not limited to attorney's fees, and costs of the court) which may be incurred by reason of any claim involving copyright, trademark, credits, publicity, screening, and loss of or damage to the screening videos entered.

By submitting your film to Folkestone International Film & TV Festival the individual or corporation submitting the film hereby warrants that it is authorised to commit the film for screening, and understands and accepts these requirements, rules and regulations.

Do not ask us for waivers.

Requirement:
1. Films will be no longer than 15 minutes.
2. We accept all genres in any language from around the world although all foreign language films must have subtitles in English.
3. Entry fees are non-refundable.
4. Films are suitable for public viewing (ie no pornography, no actual bodily harm, no actual criminal activity, no positive promotion of discriminatory behaviour, etc)
5. You must also own the rights to your short and the music contained within it.
6. All submissions must be in by May 31 2023 at 23.59 EDT (June 1, 2023 at 04:59 GMT).