Petra International Film Festival (PIFF) is an international student-driven film festival hosted by Petra Christian University, Surabaya, Indonesia, dedicated to showcasing bold, meaningful, and socially engaged films from emerging voices around the world. PIFF exists as a meeting point between story, conscience, and the future of cinema, creating a space where filmmakers are not only creators, but also gap standers, those who dare to stand between reality and hope.

The 2026 theme, “The Gap Standers,” explores the tension between ideals and reality, dreams and pressure, creativity and industry, faith and doubt, technology and humanity. In a world increasingly shaped by algorithms, social expectations, and economic uncertainty, filmmakers are challenged to position themselves in the gap: to question, to resist, to heal, and to imagine new possibilities through moving images.

PIFF welcomes films that confront social issues, identity, moral dilemmas, generational struggles, spiritual searching, environmental anxiety, and the invisible pressures of contemporary life. Whether told through narrative fiction, documentary, experimental, animation, or ultra-short formats, we believe every film is a voice that can bridge silence and understanding.

We invite filmmakers from all backgrounds to join us in Surabaya to stand in the gap, tell the stories that matter, and shape the future of cinema together.

Your story matters. Your voice matters.
Be a Gap Stander at PIFF 2026.

Awards & Prizes

Petra International Film Festival 2026 proudly presents the following awards:
- Best of Voices in the Gap (Best Documentary Film) – Official Laurels, Certificate of Achievement, and Cash Prize
- Best of Gap in A Minute (Best One Minute Short Film) – Official Laurels, Certificate of Achievement, and Cash Prize
- Best of Student Gap Standers (Best Student Short Film) – Official Laurels, Certificate of Achievement, and Cash Prize

The Official Selection will consist of the top five (5) films in each category, each receiving Official Laurels and a Certificate of Achievement.

All participants will receive a Certificate of Participation.

Rules & Terms

Make sure to read the official Guidebook for more detailed rules and terms at petra.id/piff-pcu
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Payment Confirmation Submission
For administrative and reporting purposes, participants are required to submit proof of payment (FilmFreeway receipt or payment confirmation) via email piff.pcu@gmail.com.

Eligibility
PIFF is open to filmmakers from all countries. Films of any genre, style, or production scale are eligible, including fiction, documentary, animation, experimental, and hybrid forms.

Theme
While submissions aligned with the festival theme “The Gap Standers” are encouraged, films of all themes may be submitted and will be considered based on artistic and storytelling merit.

Completion Date
Films must have been completed on or after January 1, 2024.

Premiere Status
PIFF does not require premiere status. Films that have been screened at other festivals, online platforms, or public events are eligible.

Language & Subtitles
All films must include English subtitles. If the spoken language of your film is not English, additional subtitles in the film’s original language are optional.

Running Time
Each category has its own duration limits. Films that exceed the stated time limit of their category may be disqualified.

Multiple Submissions
Filmmakers may submit more than one film, but each film requires a separate submission and fee.

Selection Process
All submissions are reviewed by the PIFF programming team and jury. The festival’s decision regarding selection, awards, and scheduling is final.

Rights & Permissions
By submitting, the filmmaker confirms that they hold all necessary rights to the film, including music, images, and performances, and that the film does not violate any copyright, privacy, or publicity rights.

Festival Screening Rights
By submitting, filmmakers grant PIFF the right to screen the selected film during the festival dates and to use stills, trailers, and excerpts (up to 2 minutes) for promotional purposes related to the festival.

Withdrawal Policy
Once a film has been officially selected, it may not be withdrawn from the festival.

Shipping & Materials
Any costs related to delivering physical materials or additional files (if required) are the responsibility of the filmmaker.

Awards & Prizes
Award winners will be determined by the official PIFF jury. Jury decisions are final and non-negotiable.

Agreement
Submission to PIFF implies acceptance of all the above rules and terms.