The European International Film Festival (EIFF) is a prestigious traveling film festival dedicated to celebrating the art of cinema across Europe. Each year, EIFF brings its red carpet, global screenings, and signature elegance to a new European city, transforming it into a hub for filmmakers, cinephiles, and industry professionals from around the world.

With a mission to bridge cultures through storytelling, the festival showcases 125 outstanding films over the course of three immersive days, ranging from bold new voices to acclaimed works by established directors. The experience is enriched with premiere screenings, industry networking events, Q&A sessions, and a glamorous award ceremony and dinner gala that honors the best in independent and international cinema.

EIFF is more than a festival — it’s a celebration of cultural exchange, cinematic excellence, and the power of storytelling to inspire, connect, and transform. Whether you're a filmmaker, producer, industry executive, or passionate film lover, the European International Film Festival invites you to be part of a one-of-a-kind journey through the heart of Europe and the soul of cinema.

Awards & Prizes

The European International Film Festival honors excellence in filmmaking with a prestigious slate of awards that celebrate vision, craftsmanship, and storytelling from around the globe. Our jury, composed of esteemed filmmakers, industry professionals, and cultural leaders, evaluates submissions across multiple genres and formats to recognize outstanding achievements in cinema.

Award winners are announced at the Festival’s Award Ceremony Gala, a red carpet event held on the final night, featuring live presentations, media coverage, and celebration among filmmakers and VIP guests.

Main Award Categories Include:

Best Feature Film
Best Short Film
Best Documentary
Best Director
Best Screenplay
Best Actor / Actress
Best Cinematography
Best Editing
Best European Film
Audience Choice Award
Rising Filmmaker Award

All winners receive:
A custom-designed EIFF Trophy
An official award certificate
Global publicity across our press and social media platforms
Industry recognition and networking opportunities

Select winners may also receive special invitations to partner festivals, co-production opportunities, or filmmaker residencies across Europe.

At EIFF, we don’t just honor films — we elevate the filmmakers behind them.

Rules & Terms

Please read the following rules and terms carefully before submitting your film to the European International Film Festival (EIFF):

Eligibility
Films must have been completed after January 1, 2024.

Submissions are open to filmmakers from all countries and of all experience levels.

All non-English films must have English subtitles.

Films that have premiered at other festivals are welcome, provided they are not publicly available online.

Submission Categories
You may submit to multiple categories (e.g., Best Feature, Best Director, etc.).

Each film must be submitted to at least one primary category to qualify for awards.

Film Duration Guidelines
Short Films: Under 40 minutes

Feature Films: 40 minutes and above

Documentaries: Short or Feature length

Student Films: Must submit a valid student ID

Entry Requirements
All submissions must be made through FilmFreeway.

A high-quality screener must be uploaded to the submission platform.

An official poster and brief synopsis must accompany the submission.

Entry fees are non-refundable, regardless of selection status.

Selection Process
Films will be selected by the EIFF programming team.

Submission does not guarantee selection.

Selected filmmakers will be notified via email and listed on the official website.

Screenings & Attendance
The festival screens approximately 125 films over a 3-day program.

At least one representative per selected film is strongly encouraged to attend the festival.

Attendance is required to be eligible for official selection status and awards.

Awards Eligibility
Only officially selected films are eligible for awards.

Winners are chosen by a panel of judges and announced at the Award Ceremony Gala.

Gala Dinner Policy
All attending guests who wish to participate in the Dinner Gala must purchase a separate dinner ticket, unless otherwise invited as VIP or sponsor.

Copyright & Permissions
The filmmaker must hold all rights to the film and materials submitted.

By submitting, you grant EIFF permission to screen your film at the festival and use stills or excerpts for promotional purposes.

Premium Status
Premium FilmFreeway status is not required.

However, films must not be available for public streaming on major platforms at the time of submission.
4 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Katia - Anna Trombetti

    grazie agli ideatori dell'European International Film Festival, per averci regalato un'esperienza straordinaria siamo stati felici di essere stati selezionati e ancora di più di aver vinto il premio per il miglior cortometraggio blocco E. Vi auguriamo di proseguire nel vostro importante lavoro. Un grande abbraccio a tutti e tutte voi e ai partecipanti di questa edizione e delle prossime.

    June 2026
    Helpful
    Response from festival:

    Thank you very much for submitting your amazing work and for being part of the festival. We wish you all the best with future projects.

  • IAN SCIACALUGA

    This was the inaugural festival so big thanks and big cheers for a fantastic 3 days in Madrid, watching some fantastic curated films formn all 4 corners of the globe. Yes, there are teething problems. The actual presentation of the films was clunky, a little unrehearsed and the projection of the films themselves could have been brighter but this was the first of its kind and this festival is just going to get better and better. I loved the networking and the communication prior to the festival was second ot none. Really appreciate my welcome and inclusion and I want to say a big, special thanks to Mitesh, who made this all happen. I thoroughly recommend entering.

    June 2026
    Helpful
    Response from festival:

    Thank you very much for the kind words. It was great to have you at the festival, and we hope to see you again with even more improvements to the event.

  • Kimberly Olsen L.

    It was a lovely festival, very international, good vibe. I recommend it as a festival. My only critique might be that the awards ceremony could have been a bit more nicely done, but other that that all good.

    June 2026
    Helpful
    Response from festival:

    Thank you, Kimberly, for your kind words. It was great to have you. Of course, it was the first year, but it's going to be rocking in the coming years.

  • Heidi Schussman Gilbert

    I was interested in this festival because it plans to move it's event to different countries in the EU every year. I also submitted to it because my screenplay takes place in Italy. I got in right away for a very low price. My only two complaints are; 1. I didn't receive notification until a month before the awards ceremony in Madrid. It was too late for me to attend. 2. All of the correspondence from that point on were addressed to a film-maker (I'm a screenwriter) and asking me to send in my DCP. I was a little confused. I would think it would be fairly simple to have separate emails for screenwriters, actors, musicians, etc.. I emailed them and they promptly and kindly assured me that I had been nominated. I do recommend this Festival and was honored to be in their first year.

    June 2026
    Helpful
    Response from festival:

    Thank you for being part of the festival. To clarify regarding your complaint: 1) Notification Timeline: We provide filmmakers with one month to plan their travel. Because we receive many last-minute submissions, this timeline ensures we have the opportunity to select the most appropriate projects for the program. 2) Platform Limitations: FilmFreeway utilizes a generic messaging system for communicating with all submitters. Consequently, we have limited options to separate or customize these messages for individual recipients. Thank you for your understanding, and we wish you all the best with your future projects.