We are an annual independent and underground short film festival based in Brussels, Belgium, end of January, 2025 (DTA). The festival has been running since 2005, increasing its success every year ! Around 5 000 visitors come to attend our events during this week. We select over 100 short films and invite more than 40 filmmakers from all around the world.

The idea for Courts Mais Trash originated from a lack of a proper platform for alternative short films to be screened. Films that fail to meet conservative cinematographic standards are mostly snubbed by festival programmers and legitimate audio-visual venues. We love originality and creativity, cheapness and Beauty ! Trash is often perceived in the provocative sense of the word, we also use it in the alternative, political, cheap and offbeat way.

Since 2019 Courts Mais Trash declines as Queer Mais Trash, its non binary version focusing on LGBTQIA+ communities, in 2024 Queer Mais Trash will take place on Wednesday 31 of January.

Every category of film will be projected, from experimental to animation, through video clips and documentaries. No genre is left unexploited.To avoid any possible confusion: the screenings are adults only, except for screenings that are specially targeted for scolar audience +15 years old.

Do you wish to participate in the biggest blowout alternative, underground and independent cinema has to offer, then act now !

The audience will vote and give out the following awards:

• the best national movie award (500 euros offered by SABAM);
• the best international movie award (500 euros offered by the festival);
• the best movie on a budget award (500 euros offered by the festival);
• the best Belgian student movie award (500 euros offered by the Belgian national lottery).
• the best queer movie award (500 euros offered by the festival)

A grand total of 2500€ !

RULES AND TERMS

ARTICLE 1. ORGANISERS

The ‘Courts Mais Trash’ organisation (hereinafter referred to as ‘the festival’.) is operated by the Born 2 Be Cheap association (hereinafter referred to as ‘the organiser’.) whose head office is currently located at 41/31 avenue de la Couronne in 1050 Ixelles, presided by Mister François Marache.

ARTICLE 2. THE DURATION OF THE FESTIVAL

The festival will take place at the Riches-Claires (24, rue des Riches-Claires - Brussels) the last week of January. If the festival cannot attend physically, a virtual edition will be organized.

ARTICLE 3. TERMS OF ADMISSION

3.1 Registrations must be submitted between the 29th of January until the 1st of November, using the digital platform FilmFreeway (for submission fees, see the FilmFreeway categories).

3.2 The participant must submit a movie of undefined duration, independent and self produced. However there will be a « Courts Mais Trash Deluxe » selection for films with more budget, witch will be screened in an independant program.

3.4 The film may be entered by its author or production company. The participant has to be of legal age (18 or more). The participant is allowed to make multiple entries in the competition.

3.5 Films have to be submitted in its original language with the inclusion of French and OR English subtitles.

3.6 Films that were produced 48 months prior to the opening of the festival are ineligible for the competition.

ARTICLE 4. SELECTION
4.1 The list of selected entries will be revealed on December 20, 2025. Selected entries will be projected during the festival’s screenings.

4.2 Participants whose entries are selected will be contacted with a request to provide the festival with a digital copy of their work (H264 or ProRes) and accompanying information to be used for publication and communication. A written synopsis, the author’s (short) bio and an image to represent the film are requested.

4.3 Representatives of the selected entrie(s) will receive an accreditation for the entire duration of the festival including privileges for the festival and other events that are tied in with Courts Mais Trash.

ARTICLE 5. AUTHORISATION FOR EXPLOITATION

5.1 Participants waiver the rights (free of charge / non exclusive) of their selected entrie(s) for any subsequent form of exploitation (ONLY trailer and stills), worldwide and for a duration of three years following their enrolment, to the festival’s organiser. The aforementioned condition includes publication of the author’s name and unlimited reproduction and broadcasting of the film and its accompanying data in any media form the festival sees fit (not specified upon the participant’s enrolment), notably on social media, internet, intranet, the press and television.

5.2 Participants waiver the rights (free of charge) to their selected entrie(s) to the festival’s organiser to have an audio/visual extract of their film broadcasted (with a maximum duration of 1 minute) worldwide and for a duration of three years following their enrolment with regards to any promotional activity of the festival. This may be the case, among other media, on: the organiser’s website, Facebook, Instagram, Vimeo, Daily motion, Youtube, mobile application tools, tablets and other media partners of the festival, as well as other media selected by the festival.

ARTICLE 6. PRIZE
6.1 Participants stand a chance to win: « Prix du Public – compétition Nationale» (500€), «Prix du Public – compétition Internationale » (500€), a prize for the best lowest budget movie in the category ‘Born 2 Be Cheap’ (500€), A prize for the best LGBTQIA+ movie (500 €). All of these are awarded by the audience. The festival also awards the best student movie, for films screening in scolar programs (500 €).

6.2 The prize (in all categories) consists of 500 euros. A total of 2 500 euros is sponsored by partner Sabam for Culture, the festival, the Loterie Nationale and the City of Brussels.

Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Holly Bates

    Fantastic festival! We were honoured to be included in such an interesting and diverse film program. The organisers were great in their communication. We were fortunate to win Best Short Film alongside a 500 Euro cash prize, which the festival sent very promptly. Our only regret is not being able to attend in person! Could not recommend this festival more. We hope to enter our next one in the future.

    February 2024
  • Adi Rien

    Really good festival with great people

    February 2024
  • Lio Scailteur

    Festival au top ! Ambiance incroyable, et super sélection de films !

    February 2024
  • CLAP! Collectif

    Great selections and organisation, big thank you to the team of courts mais trash !

    February 2024
  • Peter Cobbler

    Court Mais Trash est un festival extraordinaire pour ceux qui veulent découvrir des films qui sortent des sentiers battus !
    François et son équipe savent recevoir et font un super travail !
    Je suis fier d'avoir pu y présenter mon court-métrage et d'y avoir fait de belles rencontres !

    February 2024