Sheffield Short Film Festival aka "Sheffield Shorts" is run by Sheffield filmmakers and is following in the Steel City’s long history and tradition of celebrating cinema. By bringing international short films to the amazing and diverse audiences of Sheffield, our aim is to celebrate new and established filmmakers from around the globe and share with you the magic of cinematic storytelling through the time-honoured format of short film.

2022
The 2022 festival will be Sheffield Shorts' 3rd edition and will be a live in-person event in Sheffield.

Festival History
The festival launch was originally scheduled for May 2020, however, due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, we were forced to postpone until October 2020, with the festival eventually being held online. The second edition was held online in May 2021, again due to Covid-19.

2021 Award Winners
Best UK Film - The Long Goodbye
Best International Film - Maria Camila's Birthday
Best Queer Film - Cindy
Best Documentary - Northern Ballers
Best Student Film - Filipiñana
Best Yorkshire Film - Fargate

WAIVER REQUESTS
As a small festival, we are unable to grant free entry codes except in exceptional circumstances. Waiver request emails must be sent to submissions@sheffieldshorts.com. Any other form of communication will not be responded to.

Thank you

2022 Awards:
Best UK Short
Best International Short
Best Student Short
Best Documentary Short
Best Queer Short
Best Yorkshire Film

You only need to submit your film to one category; your film will be judged for all eligible awards.

Rules & Eligibility

1. Entries must be no more than 20 minutes in duration including title sequences and credits. However, the festival organisers reserve the right to curate any film of any length.

2. Films must be the original work of the entrants and must have been produced after 1st January 2020.

3. Sheffield Short Film Festival does not have a premiere policy for documentaries. For fiction films, Sheffield premiere status is essential, however, preference will be given to those films with a Yorkshire premiere status.

4. Sheffield Short Film Festival accepts all genres.

5. Sheffield Short Film Festival does not accept music videos or films that promote a product or company.

6. It is a legal requirement for entrants to have obtained clearance for all copyrighted music and other copyrighted material used in their film’s entry. Filmmakers are responsible for ensuring this has been done and evidence may be requested by the festival organisers in support of this requirement.

7. It is the responsibility of each entrant to have obtained the proper permission from all those people actively appearing in their film. This is usually done by way of a release form.

8. All films not in the English language must have English subtitles that are embedded in the film.

9. Sheffield Short Film Festival only accepts electronic submissions completed online through FilmFreeway.

10. To be considered for the 2022 competition, entries must be received by the final deadline as stipulated on FilmFreeway.

11. Your status on FilmFreeway will acknowledge the receipt of your submission.

12. Filmmakers whose work has been selected will receive notification by the stipulated FilmFreeway notification date.

13. Sheffield Short Film Festival may need to alter deadlines and notification dates and reserves the right to do so for any reason.

14. Sheffield Short Film Festival reserve the right to have absolute discretion over all decisions regarding entry and status of films into the festival at any time and for any reason.

15. The decision of the judges is final. Unfortunately, we cannot enter into individual discussion regarding those decisions and are unable to provide individual feedback.

16. The entry of a film is the entrant’s responsibility. The submission fees are decided by the festival and, unfortunately, we cannot reimburse submission fees for any reason.

17. Sheffield Short Film Festival and associated parties cannot accept any responsibility for any misuse of intellectual property rights.

19. Sheffield Short Film Festival has the right to use images and a maximum of 90 seconds from selected films for promotional or festival screenings or on the Sheffield Short Film Festival website, for press and/or media purposes.

19. Sheffield Short Film Festival will always seek permission from filmmakers if we wish to use any film for any other purpose related to Sheffield Short Film Festival or subsequent promotion or events.

Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Joanne Williamson

    Fantastic festival, and a great online presence for their festival this year. Quality of films was excellent and the programmes were fantastic.

    July 2021
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    Response from festival:

    Thank you, Joanne.

  • Michael Jung

    My Northern Film School short film THE WALK had been shortlisted for an award. Thank you so much. I hope in future I can visit the Sheffield Short Film Festival in person!

    June 2021
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    Response from festival:

    Thank you, Michael.

  • Mohammad ferajzadeh

    Hi, it was Ali Festival
    Despite the Corona virus the festival was well organized I am glad to be part of the Bo Festival

    May 2021
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    Response from festival:

    Thank you, Mohammad.

  • We loved being part of the event

    thank you

    May 2021
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    Response from festival:

    We loved having you! Thank you.

  • Rebekah Louisa Smith

    A fantastic festival - brilliantly organised and curated - thank you so much for celebrating and awarding our short KINDRED a special mention

    May 2021
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    Response from festival:

    Thank you, Rebekah.