Tel-Aviv International Student Film Festival (TISFF) was established in 1986 by students from the Steve Tisch School of Film and Television at Tel Aviv University and has gained a strong reputation and prestige over the years. It has maintained its unique quality as a young and dynamic cinematic cultural event.
The festival is produced by 250 volunteers with a passion for filmmaking. Each year the students exchange the different jobs and gain experience and knowledge with the filmmaking world, while maintaining a high level of professionalism.
The festival is taking place each year during the month of June, at the Tel Aviv Cinematheque and throughout the city of Tel Aviv. It features a wide range of student films from Israel and around the world, together with independent Israeli shorts, masterclasses and workshops with international guests, exhibitions, parties and pitching events for production grants.
We see our festival as a place that brings people together and creates a mosaic of nationalities, personal perspectives and artistic visions. Our goal is to make sure that the festival offers a diversity of this kind in the films it screens, in the guests it invites and in its special programs.
It is recognized by CILECT (The International Association of Film and Television Schools) as the largest and most important festival of its kind in the world. It has become the primary meeting place for film students from around the globe and serves as a platform to expose new ideas, exchange contemporary, cinematic discourse and is an irreplaceable forum for young Israeli and international filmmakers who fill the cinematheque theaters with a fresh, young spirit.
The Festival is one of one of the most significant cinematic cultural events in Israel.
The festival directors are being exchanged every 2 years by fresh graduates from the Steve Tisch School of Film and Television at Tel Aviv University. The students alone are the ones who produce the festival, curate the artistic program and develop the festival’s connections.

Rules & Terms

What You Need to Know:
The competition is open to everyone, regardless of previous screenings, awards, or achievements.

Eligibility:
* The submission is open to everyone.
* Minors may participate; however, a parent or guardian consent is required in case of winning
* Student categories are open only to those enrolled in formal education (high school / college / university)

Submission Process:

Submissions must be made via: https://filmfreeway.com/tisff-2
* All films are reviewed by a selection committee
* Submission does not guarantee acceptance
* Unlimited number of submissions allowed
* Submissions are open to everyone and can only be made via FilmFreeway
* The film must be submitted with open access for download.

Film Requirements
* Film duration: exactly 7 seconds (excluding title and credits)
* Title: 2 seconds
* Credits: 4 seconds
* Total duration: 13 seconds
* Format: horizontal (cinema screening format)
* English subtitles are mandatory
* No offensive, illegal, or commercial/promotional content allowed
* The films must be shot at 24 frames per second (FPS).
* The Vimeo link needs to be downloadabl.

Judging & Voting:
Films will be presented on the festivals’ digital platforms during the event.
* Audience voting will take place - the film with the most votes will win the Audience Award
* Films will also be evaluated by an international jury
Judging Criteria:
* Ability to resonate beyond 7 seconds
* Potential for further cinematic development
Winners will receive official certificates.

If Your Film Is Selected:
You will be required to provide:
* A high-quality screening copy (4K, 24fps)
* Promotional materials (stills, poster, biography, etc.)

Filmmakers grant both festivals the right to use the film for promotional and distribution purposes. Films will also be screened on both festivals’ digital platforms (unless otherwise requested).

Copyright:
* All films must be original
* Filmmakers are responsible for obtaining all necessary rights (locations, music, participants, etc.)

Disqualification:
Both festivals reserve the right to disqualify any film that does not comply with the rules or violates any rights.

Permissions:
By submitting a film, participants grant permission for their work to be used for promotional, marketing, and screening purposes within the festivals.

Liability:
The festivals are not responsible for technical issues related to submission or screening. Participants waive any legal claims related to their participation in the competition.

Questions & Contact:
For further inquiries, please contact the festival team via the submission platform or official communication channels.

Good luck,
TISFF & 7SIFF Team