Lisbon International Film Festival

The Lisbon International Film Festival is a celebration of bold, independent cinema from around the world. We focus on new voices—filmmakers who challenge conventions, take creative risks, and tell urgent stories with authenticity and style.

Rooted in Lisbon’s vibrant cultural landscape, the festival is an internationally oriented underground movement that supports the work of emerging directors, outsider perspectives, and underrepresented communities. We are committed to showcasing films that are raw, thought-provoking, and artistically uncompromising.

There are no red carpets here.
No glitter. No glamour. Just great films.

We value artistic freedom over commercial polish, and we believe that cinema should provoke, reveal, and connect. Our screenings are intimate, our audience passionate, and our selections fearless.

Whether it’s a lo-fi short from a first-time filmmaker or a boundary-pushing feature from the far edges of the industry, if it moves us — it belongs in Lisbon.

The next edition of the Lisbon International Film Festival will take place in the heart of Lisbon, Portugal in May 2027.

Join us!

LISBON INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL IS
- A Cannes Film Week© qualifying film festival
- An IMDB qualifying film festival
- Named as one of the Top 50 Emerging Film Festivals worldwide by Final Cut Magazine.

PROUD PARTNER OF THE BIGGER SCREEN
Lisbon International Film Festival is supported by The Bigger Screen, an organization that aims to make film as an art form more accessible and more inclusive. A short overview of their projects:

- SUPPORTING FILM FESTIVALS: Film festivals are not only a place to share films, but they are a safe haven for film makers to connect, share, and learn. The Bigger Screens supports and engages with over 25 respected international film festivals from mainstays like the 61st Ann Arbor Film Festival and the Brussels Independent Film Festival to emerging events such as the Venice Film Week and The Producer’s Night Los Angeles. These events bring filmmakers and filmgoers together, providing that place to connect and engage in a comfortable setting, away from Hollywood glitz and glamour.

- CONNECTING CULTURES PROGRAM: Each year, The Bigger Screen selects at least ten countries and grants filmmakers from those areas the ability to submit their work free of charge to partner festivals all over the world. This opens the door of film exposure to those who may not otherwise be able to enter. As we support inclusivity and shareable films, this program exemplifies our mission. Check out https://www.connectingculturesprogram.com to see if your country is included in this year’s program and submit your work for free.

- LOCAL FILMMAKERS PROGRAM: To encourage rising talent, we waived the festival submission fee to local talent. This provides a great opportunity for local filmmakers to enter the international film scene. Think global, act local, right?

- INCLUSIVE AUDIENCE PROGRAM: Our screenings are always low or even free of charge to provide opportunity for interested film goers to view up and coming, challenging, and inspiring pieces of art, encouraging students, seniors, and those in underprivileged environments to share the experience of film and cinema. We welcome film goers, regardless of income and financial status.

- THE TARKOVSKI GRANT: All selected filmmakers will receive The Tarkovski Grant, a film festival submission fee waiver package with an average value of about $500. This not only saves you a lot of money, but it also recognizes your work as something to watch for during the selection procedure, making a selection with another partner film festival more likely - but of course, never guaranteed. The Tarkovski Grant supports hundreds of filmmakers each year in their challenging journeys as independent filmmakers, by promoting existing films, no matter the genre, style or length.