The World Indie Film Awards (WIFA) is an IMDb-qualifying competition.

The World Indie Film Awards (WIFA), founded in 2021, was born from a simple yet powerful vision: to create a global space where independent filmmakers could be seen, supported, and celebrated without borders. Over the years, thanks to numerous collaborations and cultural partnerships, WIFA has organized several live screenings across Europe and the East, bringing independent cinema to new audiences and strengthening its connection with international creative communities.

From its inception, WIFA was conceived as a festival in constant evolution—a living, growing reality shaped by the artists it represents. Guided by a continuous spirit of renewal, the festival has expanded its reach, refined its mission, and embraced new ways to uplift filmmakers. This ongoing transformation is what led WIFA to its current form: an IMDb-qualifying online competition that blends global accessibility with meaningful professional visibility.

WIFA is more than a competition; it is a showcase for creative courage. With every submission, filmmakers are guaranteed a dedicated space on the festival’s exclusive website, where they can present their trailers or films to an ever-growing international network of industry professionals, film enthusiasts, and fellow artists. This platform ensures that each project, regardless of budget, origin, or genre, has a place to be discovered.

Throughout its journey, WIFA has remained true to its core mission: offering worldwide exposure to emerging talents, visionary storytellers, and bold artistic voices. At its heart lies a deep belief in the transformative power of independent cinema and the essential role it plays in expanding the boundaries of storytelling.

"The House of Independent Artists" continues to support the passionate creators who form the true creative backbone of the film world. Whether shining a spotlight on innovative short films, daring experimental works, or emotionally resonant features, WIFA is committed to elevating the projects that challenge expectations and redefine the future of cinema.

Join us in celebrating new voices, new visions, and the boundless potential of independent film. The World Indie Film Awards honors not just the art of filmmaking, but the artists themselves, their resilience, imagination and unwavering dedication to bringing stories to life.

Awards & Prizes

- Distribution of your project on our online channels guaranteed with your submission (only after your approval, read the Rules & Terms).
We will feature your movie or trailer (your choice) on our website and we will advertise it with a post on our social media with thousands follower mainly from film industry.
- IMDb accreditation (only for winners).
- Printable Digital Certificate (only for winners).
- Official Laurel (for selected and winners).
- Special Mentions for Honorable Movies.

Rules & Terms

With your submission you automatically accept our Rules and Terms.

1. Only work created after 2021 is acceptable.
2. You agree to use parts of your film (including trailer/teaser/film poster/stills) for promotional purpose.
3. The possible multiple entries are allowed for each filmmaker and each entry may be entered in multiple categories.
4. Eventual entry fees are non-refundable. It is your personal choice to submit, after reading and confirming our rules and terms, entails your personal full assumption of responsibility. If you use false informations to try to obtain a refund you commit an unlawful act. For any information NOT SPECIFIED in our rules or terms, write us. We always reply to all emails for eventual NOT SPECIFIED informations.
5. By submitting to the festival you confirm that you own the rights to the work submitted.
6. No short films longer than 39 minutes.
7. No Premiere status is required.
8. We do not accept extremist or propaganda content from religious or political organizations.
9. We don't have Live Screening for the current edition.
10. Films only be accepted with English subtitles.
11. In case of "Additional Categories" you can add an "Additional Category" only after having choose a "Main Category" (like Best Short - Best Short Documentary - Best Student Short) first.
12. If your film is selected by our festival, you automatically agree that we may use images from your project for marketing purposes for our festival. If you do not agreed, and do not consent to give us promotional rights to your material, please let us know via email; and then we will withdraw your film from the promotion of our festival. If we do not receive any notification from you within 48 hours after your film is selected, we will assume that you agree this policy.
13. At our discretion, we may choose to transfer a film to the correct category. 13.1 We do not send feedback, if your film has not been selected or does not win, it means that it has not achieved an average rating sufficient or higher than that of other projects. 13.2 With your submission you accept the decisions of the judges and festival regarding your project status, and in no way will you be able to take action against them.
14. WIFA is not a "prize event" (it means that there are no cash prizes or similar), but an independent and self-financed artistic reality, with artistic purposes and moral recognition for the authors of the best works. 15.1 By choosing to submit, you will help cover the costs of organizing the entire event. 15.2 With your submission fee we guaranteed the distribution of your project on our online channels (only if you want and only after the fill out of our form). We will feature your movie or trailer (your choice) on our website and we will advertise it with a post on our social media with thousands follower mainly from film industry. 15.3 It is the submitter full responsibility to fill out the form for the distribution. The link of the form is automatically sent by FilmFreeway after your submission in a notification email. If you don't see the email, check your spam folder or request it via email.
16. For the IMDb accreditation you need to follow their guidelines, we cannot do this for third parties and we are not IMDb. Remember, IMDb accreditation is not for the "Quarter Finalist" result.

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With your submission you also accept the Rules, the Terms & Policy of FilmFreeway.

Disclaimer:

- Any resemblance to other events is purely coincidental. We do not represent or can be represented by any other organization.

- We do not disclose any kind of information with third parties.

- *Privacy Policy (for mailing list and for the newsletter): https://www.iubenda.com/privacy-policy/50596536/legal

Finally, please be aware that we do not ask for or accept any kind of donations.

We accept submissions exclusively from FilmFreeway.

Judging Process

- All submissions will be viewed in their entirety. Submissions will be judged and scored based on criteria including: quality of screenplay, acting, production quality, originality, technical proficiency, cinematography, sound design, editing and set design. We support indie filmmaking and will award additional points to movies produced on a micro budget and/or minimal crew.

- IMDb accreditation for the Winners (not for Quarter-Finalist)

- Official Laurel for all the participants signed with "Quarter-Finalist" (is for all submitter). The projects of every submitter (full movie or trailer) will be feature on our website. No IMDb accreditation for "Quarter-Finalist". "Quarter-Finalist" result is an encouragement for all independent filmmakers and a possibility to show their movie.

For the IMDb accreditation you need to follow their guidelines, we cannot do this for third parties and we are not IMDb.

Notification
The directors of submitted films that are accepted will be notified via e-mail.

WITH YOUR SUBMISSION, YOU AGREE TO ALL OF THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS CONTAINED HEREIN. IF YOU DO NOT AGREE TO ANY OF SUCH TERMS, CONDITIONS, RULES, POLICIES OR PROCEDURES, DO NOT SUBMIT.
154 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Publio César de la Vega García

    The experience wasn't very good. The communication wasn't great, and frankly, I won't be submitting any more work to them.

    May 2026
    Helpful
    Response from festival:

    Hi, we've checked and found no unanswered emails or missed notifications related to your project. We found an email, unrelated to your project, that we can't read due to incorrect formatting. If this email is the cause of your review based on our communication, we're sorry; just try sending it again. Thank you and have a good day.

  • Vittorio Caratozzolo

    Very happy to have been (virtually) your guest with my «Wonderfully». Next year I 'll try again to surprise you!

    April 2026
    Helpful
  • Nadejda Nikolova

    Thank you for choosing Experidanza as a Quarter-Finalist. It means a lot to us to be part of your festival and to have our work recognized.

    We are grateful for the opportunity and happy to share this journey with you. Thank you again for the support.

    April 2026
    Helpful
  • Funda Sevencan

    Our film “Buradayız,” which addresses the 2023 Kahramanmaraş earthquake that caused the loss of more than fifty thousand lives, has made us proud by reaching the quarter-finals. We thank you for your support for independent cinema.

    April 2026
    Helpful
  • Khalil Karaouli

    I had a great experience with the World Indie Film Awards. The communication was clear and efficient throughout the process, and the team shows genuine support for independent filmmakers.

    I’m truly honored that my film Bhar was awarded Best Experimental Short in the Spring Edition 2026. It’s always encouraging to see platforms that highlight diverse and emerging voices in cinema.

    Thank you for the recognition and for creating opportunities for filmmakers to showcase their work internationally.

    April 2026
    Helpful