Dear Fellow Film Maker

Now we are IMDB listed festival for season 6 onwards! It is with great pleasure that we invite you to participate in the upcoming Phare International Film Festival in Mauritius. This year we have introduced new categories for young film makers as we celebrate our fifth anniversary! In addition We have dedicated a special category for our colleagues who have difficulty entering festivals due to restrictions or other limitations. You will find special free entry categories for your use below.

Phare International Film Festival is organised by a dedicated team of local film-makers. Having created films and entered festivals ourselves, we wanted to create a festival of our own. Our own films have won awards at numerous festivals around the world, so we appreciate the value of each project we review.

Learning from our experience and applying our knowledge, we aim to empower local and regional film-makers. Our festival is viewable live via social media channels and screened at one of the Island's local cinemas.

Our film festival brings local and international film-makers together in Mauritius to share culture, ideas, knowledge, experience, and, more importantly, each other’s creations.

In 2026 we will be launching Phare Stories OTT platform, with revenue share models and a host of other innovative tools to empower creators. Winners will be offered a prime positioning, and, where possible, a revenue sharing contract.

We look forward to sharing your project and to welcoming you to Phare International Film Festival.

Awards & Prizes

- Laurels for the winners of each category
- Certificates for the winners of each category
- Winners will be offered, where possible, a revenue sharing deal with our OTT platform

Rules & Terms

We have to set some base rules to make sure that everything is fair. So that people have had the opportunity to have the same amount of time. So nobody has been treated unfairly. So here are the rules for films being submitted clear and simple for everyone to see.

Now that we’ve gotten that clear. here are the specifications your film must adhere to:

Short Films 15-20minutes is preferred there is 5 minute minimum duration. There is a maximum of 40 minutes

Feature Films don’t have a time limit but must be at least 55 minutes duration.

The film must be created after the 30th of June 2023

Minimum Swearing

No nudity

Racism will not be tolerated

Films can be from anywhere in the world since the festival is an international competition.

The festival has the right to use a trailer, stills and a poster from the films for promotional purposes. Entrants also agree that if their project is selected, it may be screened at the festival and via its online platforms, as well as used by media networks in news features.

Films may be packaged together, and offered to broadcasters for airing. If aired it is agreed that all proceeds will be utilised in the festival for further growth.

Entry fees are non-refundable.

There is no premiere status requirement for films that would like to enter

English subtitles are required for non-English Films.

Films can also be available online and on other platforms and still enter the competition.

Once a film is selected for our annual event, it cannot be withdrawn.

Phare International Film Festival: Code of Ethics

Phare International Film Festival awards are granted based on the artistic, narrative, and technical merit of the film itself. Our mission is to empower creators, not campaigns. The use of high-cost 'For Your Consideration' lobbying, political or otherwise, is in direct conflict with our "Creator is Sovereign" ethos and may result in a film's disqualification from award consideration.

If we discover that your submission violates any of these rules, action will be taken accordingly, and could result in your submission being rejected completely.
18 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Zahra Shafiei dehaghani

    متشکرم شما با ارزشترین اتفاق را برای من رقم زدید من از همین صفحه خبر شگفت انگیزی دارم استاد محمدعلی طاهری مقالات علمی اش در هیئت علمی معتبر بین المللی تایید شد مبارک باد

    December 2025
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  • Saeed Javadi

    It was a wonderful film festival, and we really enjoyed our experience. The team was well organized and always on time. Wishing the festival even greater success in the years ahead.

    December 2025
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  • behzad majidi

    Thank you to the Phare International Film Festival team for creating such a well-organized and meaningful experience.
    It was truly an honor to have my film included in your festival.
    I appreciate the opportunity and will be happy to share my feedback on FilmFreeway.
    I hope to take part in your future editions as well.

    Best regards,
    Behzad Majidi

    December 2025
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  • Tom Doughty

    Phare International Film Festival was an amazing experience. We attended the live component, and were honoured by having our film To Keep Her as an honorable mention in this fest. The streaming component was fantastic. I hope to be a part of PHARE again in the future. Merci beaucoup!

    December 2025
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  • Saadi BELGAID

    Merci infiniment pour ce lauréat qui prend une double valeur compte tenu du niveau et de la qualité que ce festival apporte aux réalisateurs.
    C'est une expérience riches et un partage des passions!
    Merci à toute l'équipe pour nous partager autant d'émotions.

    December 2024
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