The city of peace and justice celebrates the 8th edition of the IFFH, organised by Stichting International Film Festival The Hague, a not-for-profit foundation dedicated to promoting cultural exchange, diversity, and cinematic excellence.

General Guidelines
• Films of all genres, lengths, and budgets are welcome from anywhere in the world.
• No restrictions on the year of production or release.
• World Premieres are highly encouraged and receive special priority.
• Works-in-progress are accepted, provided the film is completed before the final submission deadline.
Learning & Networking Opportunities
We host multiple masterclasses and industry sessions where filmmakers can:
-Learn from seasoned professionals
-Share their own experiences
-Connect with potential partners, producers, or financiers
-Build meaningful international collaborations
This is an excellent platform for filmmakers with a strong vision and powerful stories, regardless of budget. We particularly encourage innovative, experimental, and unconventional submissions.
Multiple Categories
We encourage filmmakers to submit to multiple categories to maximise their chances of selection and winning.
Selection & Screening Process
1. Official Selection
The first list of selected films will be announced as Official Selection.
Each film receives a Certificate of Official Selection.
2. Finalists
From the Official Selection, a second list will be announced as FINALISTS.
Finalist films qualify for screening, subject to technical requirements (such as availability in DCP format, if needed).
3. Screening
A curated selection of FINALIST films will be screened at the festival.
4. Screening Restrictions
Films available for free public viewing (e.g., on YouTube) may not be screened.
However, they are still fully eligible for Official Selection and Finalist status.

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This is an IMDb Qualifying Festival

https://www.imdb.com/event/ev0018811/2024/1/
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A wide range of awards will be presented across several categories at the festival. Our awards structure is organised under four primary umbrella categories:

Documentary Feature – more than 40 minutes
Documentary Short – up to 40 minutes
Narrative Feature – more than 40 minutes
Narrative Short – up to 40 minutes

In addition to these main categories, we also recognise excellence in a variety of technical disciplines such as acting, cinematography, and direction, as well as a number of specialised thematic categories like Global Peace, Climate Change, Sexuality, Music, Animation, Women in Focus, and others.

Filmmakers are encouraged to submit their films to multiple categories. At the discretion of the festival management, a film submitted in any specialised category may also be considered for an award in one of the four main umbrella categories, if we find that this helps ensure fairness and gives deserving films more opportunities to compete.
All award winners will be announced during the closing Awards Ceremony on the final day of the festival.

1. Eligibility of Genres:
Films of all genres are eligible for submission.
2. Length:
There are no restrictions on the runtime of a submitted film.
3. Production Year:
Films of any year of production or release are accepted.
4. Subtitles (Mandatory):
All non-English language films must have English subtitles.
5. English Films:
English-language films with English subtitles are encouraged.
6. Premiere Status:
Films that have premiered elsewhere are eligible.
7. Online Availability:
Films already available on free public platforms (e.g., YouTube) may enter the festival but may not be considered for theatrical screening.
8. Multiple Submissions:
Multiple entries are permitted. Each film must be submitted as a separate entry with its own submission form and fee.
9. Submission Fees:
All submission fees are non-refundable, regardless of selection status or withdrawal.
10. Scheduling & Venue Changes:
The festival shall not be liable for any direct or indirect costs, damages, or losses arising from changes in scheduling, programming, or venue, whether such changes are planned or forced by circumstances.
11. Withdrawal Policy:
Once a film is selected (Official Selection, Finalist, or Screening), it cannot be withdrawn from the festival for any reason.
12. Promotional Use Authorisation:
By submitting a film, the filmmaker/submitter grants IFFH the perpetual, worldwide, royalty-free right to use any publicity materials (including posters, trailers, stills, synopsis, and credits) for marketing and promotional purposes across all media platforms.
13. Screening Rights:
If selected, the filmmaker grants IFFH the non-exclusive license to screen the film at the festival and at any associated or partner events, and to use any related publicity material for media coverage.
14. Screening Decisions:
All decisions regarding the location, timing, and number of screenings are at the sole discretion of the festival management.
15. Costs of Submission:
The filmmaker/submitter is solely responsible for all costs incurred in submitting the film, including but not limited to shipping, conversion, translation, formatting, and insurance.
16. Technical Requirements (e.g., DCP):
If a selected film requires delivery in DCP format, the filmmaker must provide it at their own cost and risk. The festival is not responsible for any technical issues resulting from the materials provided.
17. Loss or Damage:
While reasonable care will be taken, IFFH assumes no responsibility for loss, theft, or damage to submitted materials while in transit or during the festival. Submission is made at the filmmaker’s own risk.
18. Limitation of Liability / Hold Harmless:
The filmmaker/submitter agrees to hold harmless and indemnify IFFH, its directors, officers, employees, volunteers, partners, sponsors, agents, and affiliates from any and all claims, liabilities, losses, damages, or expenses arising from:

-The submission of the film
-The screening of the film
-Copyright disputes
-Any third-party claims
-Any acts or omissions related to participation in the festival
19. Rights & Ownership Certification:
By submitting, the filmmaker certifies that they hold all necessary rights, licenses, and permissions for the film and all materials. The filmmaker agrees to indemnify the festival against all claims, damages, costs (including legal fees), or liabilities arising from screening or displaying the film.
20. Music Rights:
The filmmaker certifies that all music used—particularly in music videos—is original or properly licensed. Any copyright claims arising from music or soundtrack usage will be the sole responsibility of the filmmaker.
21. Finality of Decisions:
All decisions made by the festival management and jury—regarding selection, screening, scheduling, awards, prizes, certificates, laurels, venue, category placement, or any other aspect—are final, binding, and non-negotiable.
Submission constitutes acceptance of this clause.
22. Force Majeure / Online Festival Clause:
In the event of force majeure (including but not limited to pandemics, natural disasters, acts of government, or events beyond the festival’s control), the festival reserves the right to modify, postpone, shift to an online format, or cancel any part of the event.
The filmmaker grants explicit permission for online screening or digital exhibition if required under such circumstances.
23. Mandatory On-Screen Credit Declaration:
The filmmaker/submitter certifies that the film’s credit roll must accurately declare the names of all crucial creative personnel, including but not limited to the Director, Producer, Writer, and Director of Photography (Cinematographer).
Any film with missing, misleading, or incorrect credit information may be disqualified or may not be considered for selection.
The filmmaker accepts full responsibility for the authenticity and accuracy of these credits.

Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Michael Sasaki

    This is truly a special film festival. Our team was welcomed with such warm and open arms. Their selections of films were so sophisticated, thought-provoking and uplifting. We were so grateful we won runner-up for best LGBTQIA short film. The networking events were also very wonderful and walked away from them with new friends and a smile on my face. Thank you so much IFF the Hague for such a wonderful weekend!

    November 2025
    Response from festival:

    Thank you, Michael, for your participation and kind thoughts.

  • We had the honors to attend the festival after receiving being selected with our film “The Missing Part”. It was such a great experience. The festival felt very professional and personal at the same time. Met lots of great people, from volunteers to other filmmakers. And very thankful to have received a nomination for Best Narrative. I definitely recommend this festival for any passionate filmmaker!

    November 2025
    Response from festival:

    Thank you, Marv, for your participation and kind words.

  • Our experience at The Hague International Film Festival was truly exceptional.

    From the very first moment, the professionalism and clarity of communication stood out — the festival team kept us informed at all stages, responded quickly, and made us feel fully supported throughout the process.

    Upon arriving at the festival, we were welcomed into an atmosphere that was both highly professional and genuinely warm.

    Despite the festival’s scale and prestige, it maintained a sense of openness and human connection that made the entire experience especially memorable.

    One of the aspects we valued most was the evident care and integrity of the selection and jury process.

    We learned that the jury had reviewed more than 530 films with real attention and dedication. This is something that is unfortunately far from common across festivals, and it gave us great confidence and gratitude as filmmakers to know that our work was watched thoroughly and thoughtfully.

    The event itself was beautifully organized — elegant, inspiring, and deeply respectful of cinema and filmmakers.

    We returned home with wonderful memories, a renewed sense of motivation, and profound appreciation for the festival’s commitment to artistic quality.

    We wholeheartedly recommend The Hague International Film Festival to all filmmakers who value professionalism, sincerity, and true cinematic passion. It was an honour to be part of it.

    November 2025
    Response from festival:

    Thank you, Kristina, for your participation and kind thoughts.

  • Barry Rosenthal

    Of course, I always am happy when we are chosen by a festival. But the hag has treated us with respect and professionalism all the way thank you very much.

    November 2025
    Response from festival:

    Thank you, Barry, for your participation and kind words

  • I had such a great time attending the International Film Festival The Hague. The event was exceptionally well organized, and everyone involved made sure that filmmakers felt welcomed and appreciated. It was a wonderful experience, and I can definitely see the festival growing even larger in the near future.

    There are just a couple of small things that stood out to me that might help improve the experience for next year and beyond:

    Playback presentation: Films were screened using QuickTime, and at times the laptop screen and cursor were visible to the audience, which can look a little unpolished. It might help to string the films in each block together or use a dedicated playback system to avoid this.

    Technical setup: With multiple windows and files open during playback, occasional buffering or technical interruptions can happen. Using a professional projection system with DCP-formatted films instead of standard .mov or .mp4 files would help ensure smoother, more consistent screenings.

    Overall, it was an incredible experience, and I’m very grateful to have been part of it. Thank you again to the entire team for their hard work and hospitality. I hope to be back again!

    November 2025
    Response from festival:

    Thank you, Derek, for your participation and constructive feedback.