SHOTS is an International Short Film Festival based in the Peace messenger city Slovenj Gradec, Slovenia and will be holding its sixth edition in August 2021. The festival is created by a crew of young independent filmmakers who want to show quality short films from around the globe. We invite international independent filmmakers who would like to show their work to an international jury and audience that enjoys new and unique approaches to cinema. We focus on finding diverse and alternative independent films with strong characters and story line. We encourage all filmmakers to submit their films, regardless of ethnicity, religion or worldview. All genres are extremely welcome! But if you see yourself more in the field of animated films for children and youth you should check out ZEBRA which is our partner section happening just before SHOTS. We will screen all the accepted films in front of a live audience. Since it is a 3-day festival we can show only a limited number of short films, so all the accepted films will be nominated for an award and invited to Slovenj Gradec, Slovenia for the duration of the festival.

Depending on the Covid-19 situations some films may be moved to the 2022 festival schedule do to financial struggles we are facing at the moment. We ask you for your understanding in this matter.

As we are rated one of the 100 best film festivals please check out our reviews by other filmmakers and see why we strive to be the best. We are filmmakers ourselves and want to give you a unique and respectful experience. Join us on our ride through the world of film! :)

You can also check out the SHOTS festival video on Youtube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qR2DGTCEHrg

Awards & Prizes

We will grant up to eight awards for the most amazing films submitted to the festival. The international jury will pick the most outstanding movie from each category and award independent filmmakers from around the world. The prizes are in form of unique statues and festival gifts.

* Best movie of the festival
* Best Actor
* Best Actress
* Best Writing/Story
* Best Cinematography
* Best Student film
* Best documentary
* Audience choice award

Rules & Terms

We accept films of any genre that are up to 30 minutes in lenght. Submissions are possible only via FilmFreeway! We accept any film that has been completed after January 1, 2000. Films that have debuted online are ineligible. The accepted/nominated film authors will be invited to stay in Slovenj Gradec, Slovenia for the festival dates. We hope you will enjoy our company!

Subtitles: Please submit subtitles on all work except English narratives. Every film spoken in an language different than English must have English subtitles, since this is an international festival.

All films are first viewed by the festival programmers and if selected given to the jury which will decide which films will be awarded in each category. Our programmers and jury will make final decisions and notify filmmakers accordingly. All decisions are final and feedback for individual films is not available.

We will nominate according to categories listed above and select the winning film in each category in the official selection. Winner is entitled to use to laurels on poster and all marketing material.

SHOTS reserves the right to make any necessary changes in regulations or scheduling.
- All submission fees are non-refundable. We will not return your screening and exhibition copies.
- The Festival Directorate may deny participation to any film unable to meet the technical requirements for a public screening of good quality.
- The festival has the right to disqualify a winning film for any reasons, without having to explain the reasons to the submitter.
- Only producers, directors, and main actors/actress can receive the physical awards at the award ceremony. Regardless of their winning status, winning filmmakers who can't attend the Awards Ceremony in Slovenj Gradec, Slovenia will only receive laurels. If you wish you can get your prize via mail but have to cover to extra cost of shipping. We reserve the right to withhold the screening of 2020 if less than 100 submissions has been submitted 2020 . Winners will still be announced online and in press. The festival has the right to work with any institution and partner festivals for all kind of cooperation, including joint events or promotions.

You agree to indemnify us and hold us and our employees, owners, affiliates, and partners harmless from all claims and liability associated with your participation or entry to the SHOTS.

Submission of an entry gives the festival permission to have accepted work exhibited, photographed, locally (partly) telecast for promotion purposes only.

27 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Péter Goretic

    Really kind and friendly people. Casual and fun venue, but without loosing focus of the films. Really good sound and picture quality.

    September 2021
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  • Albin Wildner

    I wanted to write this review for a long time but I could not do it - I just could not find the right words for such a perfect festival. Every word is just not good enough for the high quality this festival offered the filmmakers. Just a week that lasts forever. Lets start with the EXTREME good food. Or shoul I start with the absolute BEST outdoor film projection quality (and I mean also the sound. Or should I start with the ABSOLUTE STUNNING places where the team took us every day. And we had drinks before the program started. I should start with this great festival organisation team. You guys are amazing. I will start doig another movie right now... just to try to come back to SHOTS Fil Festival!!!

    September 2020
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  • Albert Meisl

    Shots is simply one of the best festivals I've ever been to. Festival director Tomo Novosel creates such a warm and welcoming atmosphere, you rarely find. And the program delivers a great selection of short films to an amazingly big audience - as Slovenj Gradec is a small town! Such an honour that my film could win two prices there!

    August 2020
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  • Lana Bregar

    I would give 10/10 stars if that would be an option.

    Festival vibe is superb. Films are screened in open air on ideal location with old castle. Nice selection of films everyone can enjoy. Recommend for a perfect date or just a super cool evening!

    Tomo and his team are amazing. Everyone is looking out for you and your well-being. Locals, staff, volunteers...

    Organised timetable from the minute you wake up in the morning! We got even to the zipline on our last day-trip, otherwise we were busy eating, drinking and discussing films. +++++ taking care of vegan/vegetarian options, which most festivals are ignorant about.

    I wish every filmmaker gets to experience this! Just love for this festival🤍Even though I am from Slovenia, I enjoyed discovering this lesser known part of it. Will be back as a viewer.

    August 2020
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  • Kratki Rezi

    Tomo and his amazing team have once again (as I hear, because I haven't been to the previous editions) pulled off an amazing, amazing festival, which will stay with me and my crew-members until the end. Their incredible, inventive hospitality and care devoted to their filmmakers are just two of so many amazing aspects of this festival, the most important being bringing joy and love of short cinematic stories into the hearts of the local audience. And people come in staggering numbers - as a film-maker, you don't forget that either!! The atmosphere is incredible, the devil is in the details and those are superb, the food delicious and the film selection so good and rhythmically perfect, you're constantly floating on tingling, pleasant expectation of what the evenings will bring while being spoiled through amazing daytime adventures. SHOTS really are treat, both for film-makers and for the audience. And even more so in the tough reality of Covid, which they've outmanoeuvred with humour, wit and organisational excellence. A big bow to all!

    August 2020
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