The Portugal Indie Film Festival is an independent cultural initiative that takes place in Portugal, with events organized in collaboration with local partners and venues, particularly in Cascais. Previous editions have been hosted in accessible and welcoming spaces such as the Cascais Visitor Center, allowing the festival to integrate naturally into the local cultural environment.

The festival is conceived as a meeting point for filmmakers, creatives, and audiences. It brings together artists based in Portugal with international filmmakers, creating opportunities to present their work, exchange ideas, and engage in open and informal dialogue. The atmosphere is intentionally simple and approachable, encouraging genuine interaction rather than formal distance.

At its core, the festival aims to create small but meaningful cultural moments — occasions where people can discover new works, share perspectives, and connect across different backgrounds. In addition to film screenings, there is an increasing interest in fostering encounters that go beyond cinema, opening the door to collaborations with other creative disciplines and local artistic communities.

By maintaining a flexible and human-scale format, the Portugal Indie Film Festival positions itself as a bridge between local and international creativity, while also contributing to the cultural life of the places that host it. It is an evolving initiative, shaped by its participants and by the context in which each event takes place.

NEXT EVENT: JUNE 2026 (exact dates will be published soon)

Awards & Prizes

Entry into twill me in competition for several categories, including:

Best Feature Film
Best Short Film
Best Documentary
Best Short Documentary
Best Actress
Best Actor
Best Director
Best Travel Film
Best Dance Film
Best Music Video

Honorable Mentions

Rules & Terms

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

Multiple Submissions
There is no limit to the number of films you may submit. Each film can be entered in one or more categories, but only once per category.

Film Duration
We accept short films up to 35 minutes in length, including fiction, documentary, and other narrative forms. Films longer than 35 minutes are considered feature films.

Language
Films not in English or Portuguese are kindly requested to include English or Portuguese subtitles.

Submission Policy
All submissions are final, and entry fees are non-refundable.

Selection Process
The Festival Committee reserves the right to decline submissions if they do not meet basic technical or presentation standards, or if they fall outside the scope of the festival.

Selection Status
A "selected" film reflects a positive evaluation by the Festival Committee and inclusion in the official selection pool (including consideration for awards or honorable mentions). Please note that this does not necessarily indicate a winning position or automatic inclusion in public screenings.

Rights & Permissions
By submitting a film, the applicant confirms that they hold all necessary rights and are authorized to submit the work and grant screening permission if selected.

Screenings
Selected films may be presented to a live audience as part of festival events. If you have specific concerns regarding screenings, you are welcome to inform us.

Ownership
All films remain the property of their creators.

Event Structure
A selection of awarded films may be invited to participate in public screenings during our events, which may include full films, excerpts, or trailers.

Schedule
While we make every effort to follow the planned schedule, the festival reserves the right to make adjustments when necessary.
39 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Frankcisco Anderson

    I am very happy and honored to be a part of this wonderful festival, and for choosing my music video song, "Medicina" by STEEL featuring Enzo, for the win! Thanks always!

    May 2026
    Helpful
  • Yanara None

    It is a remarkable festival, and I feel honored to have my work included in this grand event.

    May 2026
    Helpful
  • Duo 84 Productions

    Super !! Très professionnel, et bonne communication

    May 2026
    Helpful
  • Mimi Garrard

    We are honored to be a part of your festival.

    Thank you!

    Mimi Garrard

    May 2026
    Helpful
  • ILSE producciones

    I was selected, I wrote to the festival, never replied.

    March 2026
    Helpful
    Response from festival:

    Dear ILSE Producciones,
    Thank you for your review. We are genuinely surprised by this comment.
    We replied to your first message on July 2nd, shortly after receiving it. At one point, you kindly apologized for replying late due to your travel to Japan, which we completely understood and respected.
    We always make it a priority to communicate clearly and promptly with all our selected filmmakers, as maintaining professional and respectful dialogue is extremely important to our festival.
    If there has been any misunderstanding, we remain fully available to reconnect and clarify everything.
    Kind regards,
    Portugal Indie Film Festival