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.

30 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Peter Engelmann

    Shots is clearly one of my favourite festivals! Way before the festival they made me feel that they are really waiting for us and will do everything they can to make our trip unforgettable. They really care about the filmmakers, the hospitality was amazing. And the organisers? We could call them FRIENDS in the very first day, for which we are very glad. Because of this I would have even gotten on well with a screening in a small room, but here at SHOTS? Nah. Besides hospitality, the festival was also technically on top with an amazing big screen, no small rooms, no bad quality projectors.
    We were happily see that this event is a true highlight in Slovenj Gradec's life when a huge amount of people came each day to watch the films. There were 300 people on the screening of our film Triangle which was one of a kind experience I would never forget, just like the whole time I have spent there.

    November 2021
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  • Stefan Langthaler

    Really a great festival! Fantastic location, very nice hospitality, very good film selection and an extremely cool leisure programme! Can't rave enough! AND above all a big and very interested audience! Highly recommended! We hope to be there again next year!

    November 2021
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  • Anze Grcar

    Simply one of the best - if not the best - festival I've ever been to. Organised by film buffs for ordinary crowds - it's always so hard to distribute short films, simply because the vast majority of audience aren't used to the form. But when you see 500 people viewing something you made on a beautiful outdoor (and technically flawless) projection, it's simply inspiring. The atmosphere the organisers create is warm and welcoming and I've never been to a festival where they take such care of you. This is how you do it. I can't wait to return.

    November 2021
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  • 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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