The London Vaporetto Shorts Film Festival is a festival dedicated to short-films from emerging filmmakers. Created by Anouk Witkowska Hiffler and Tomás Felicio Oliveira, the festival is organised by the Vaporetto Films production company. Now in its third year, the 2025 edition will take place in London on the 6th of June 2025.
The aim of the festival is to create an environment in which all filmmakers will have the chance to network, build connections and perhaps find their next filmmaking partnerships.

The London Vaporetto Film Festival will have the following categories:
- Best UK short;
- Best INTERNATIONAL short;
- Best directing;
- Best actor;
- Best actress;
- Best original script;
- Best cinematography;
- Best editing;

The winner of the best UK short film will receive a £500 value of free kit for their next film with Fallback Rentals!

KEY DATES
Submissions close: 30th of April 2025
Notification date: 16th May 2025
Festival: 6th of June 2025

SUBMISSION PROCESS
Submissions for the London Vaporetto Shorts Film Festival will open on the 31st of May 2024 and will be done exclusively through the FilmFreeway platform.
The submissions will close at 23:59 GMT on the 30th of April 2025. No films will be accepted after this deadline.
Reviewing and analysing the films submitted to the festival will take time and effort from our team. For that reason, and because we want to provide you with a well organised festival, we charge a symbolic submission fee of 5 pounds (earlybird deadline), 7 pounds (regular deadline) or 9 pounds (final deadline).

FILM REQUIREMENTS
All films must be narrative fiction films.
Submitted films can be of any part of the world and of any genre and should be no longer than 20 minutes in length (including credits).
Films in a language other than English must be subtitled in English.
All images and sounds used in your film must be your own or you must have permission of the copyright holder to use their content in your film.
We do not require any kind of premiere status.

SELECTION PROCESS
All submitted films will be reviewed by the London Vaporetto Film Festival team. We will analyse and choose films based on technical quality, originality and social relevance. Our decision is final.
By submitting your film to the London Vaporetto Film Festival you are giving us the permission to screen your film at screenings during the festival and at preview screenings.
We will notify all submitters, selected or not, by May 16 2025.
The festival reserves the right to use brief clips from the selected films to promote the festival on social-media.

ONCE SELECTED
If selected, our team will be in touch with you so that you can provide us with a high-resolution version of your film, as well as other marketing materials.
You will also receive a free ticket for the festival event.

WHERE AND WHEN WILL THE FESTIVAL HAPPEN
The London Vaporetto Shorts Film Festival will take place on the 6th of June 2025.
The festival will start with the viewing of all selected films, followed by the award ceremony right after. Once the awards are distributed, all filmmakers will have the opportunity to network between themselves and with the London Vaporetto Shorts Film Festival team. We believe that, more than a film festival, this should be an opportunity for you to network and find the people you will work with next.

WINNERS AND PRIZES
The London Vaporetto Film Festival will have the following categories:
- Best UK short;
- Best INTERNATIONAL short;
- Best directing;
- Best actor;
- Best actress;
- Best original script;
- Best cinematography;
- Best editing;

The festival will aim to have a diverse selection of films, with dramas and comedies in the highlight.

Any matter not described in this regulation shall be left to the consideration of the London Vaporetto Shorts Film Festival directors.

Good luck to all the filmmakers! We look forward to reviewing your films!

Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • We are deeply honoured to have received an Honourable Mention for our short film. Thank you so much for this recognition.

    July 2024
  • Such a great film festival, made by filmmakers for filmmakers! Was an honour to present my film, Blueprint, and take home awards as well. Keep doing what you're doing!

    June 2024
  • Producers of Marvin the Vampire

    Vaporetto is a charming little festival with amazing people and networking opportunities. We had a blast and can't wait to repeat!

    June 2024
  • Isabella Thompson

    It was so lovely to meet such a friendly and open group of filmmakers at this year's festival! Such a fabulous and varied range of films selected & a clear effort and passion from the organisers to platform diverse filmmakers. I can't wait for next year as the festival continues to improve! Submit now!!!

    June 2024
  • Vaporetto Shorts is such a well run festival! Loved the venue, there was a great selection of short films and networking for the filmmakers. Great communication from the festival directors too. Thank you for including us!

    June 2024