{"id":11195,"date":"2021-09-22T18:00:00","date_gmt":"2021-09-22T16:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ismaelmartin.com\/short-film-distribution-strategy-at-class-a-festivals\/"},"modified":"2026-06-26T23:36:27","modified_gmt":"2026-06-26T21:36:27","slug":"short-film-distribution-strategy-at-class-a-festivals","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ismaelmartin.com\/en\/short-film-distribution-strategy-at-class-a-festivals\/","title":{"rendered":"Short Film Distribution Strategy at A Class Festivals"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Post updated. First published on September 26, 2016<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n

A Class festivals<\/strong> are fundamental to the short film distribution strategy.<\/strong> Selection at Cannes, Berlin, Locarno, or Venice<\/strong> has significant impact on other festivals and they are among the first options for international and world premieres.<\/p>\n\n

When we speak of A Class festivals<\/strong>, we are actually referring to the Competitive Feature Film Festivals<\/a> category established by FIAPF<\/a><\/strong> (International Federation of Film Producers Associations). <\/p>\n\n

This category groups competitive festivals (non-specialized) for international premieres of films at the world level.<\/p>\n\n

Before beginning to design a distribution strategy for this type of festival, it must be taken into account that not all have a short film section and those that do are very different from each other.<\/p>\n\n

Based on these differences, I have established three groups:<\/p>\n\n

  1. In the first group<\/strong> are festivals with an international competitive section for short films. In general, these are the festivals that most support this format. <\/li>
  2. The second group<\/strong> includes festivals that do select short films, but within other sections or outside the international competitive section.<\/li>
  3. In the third group<\/strong> I have noted festivals that do not have short films in any of their sections.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n

    Festivals with Competitive Short Film Sections<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n

    #1 <\/strong>Berlin International Film Festival<\/strong><\/a><\/h2>\n\n

    The Berlinale<\/strong> is one of the festivals that best treats short films, both in terms of the number of sections and the importance they have in the festival itself. The Berlinale Shorts<\/a> section is competitive and groups a good number of short films in international premiere<\/a> and world premiere each year. The maximum duration must be 30 minutes. <\/p>\n\n

    The Generation<\/a> section, dedicated to children and young audiences<\/strong>, includes both feature films and short films in competition, which must also be international or world premieres. Short films must have a maximum duration of 20 minutes. <\/p>\n\n

    This section stopped accepting shorts last year, but after several criticisms, this year they have resumed accepting short films, in this case it has two subsections <\/p>\n\n

    These two sections are completed with the Perspektive Deutsches Kino section<\/em><\/a> for films of German production in fiction, documentary, or experimental. Films included in this section must have a minimum duration of 30 minutes, so short films are also included. <\/p>\n\n

    The submission deadline opened a few days ago and closes on November 17 for short films<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n

    The submission fee is approximately \u20ac75 for short films, being the most expensive on the entire circuit.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

    #2 Cannes International Film Festival<\/a><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n

    At Cannes<\/strong>, short films are also very well cared for. There is a specific website: Cannes Court M\u00e9trage<\/a> with access to the competitive section and the Short Film Corner<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n

    To participate in the competitive section<\/strong><\/a>, only works up to 15 minutes are accepted<\/strong> and submission is free. The first prize, like feature films, is the Palme d’Or. The submission deadline is usually in early March, although last year it was April 12 <\/p>\n\n

    Short films at Cannes<\/strong> are completed with the Cin\u00e9fondation<\/a> section, dedicated to fiction works made by film schools up to 60 minutes. The submission deadline in this case closes earlier, usually in February<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n

    All short film sections at Cannes<\/strong> share the same jury and in principle the guidelines are usually announced in November.<\/p>\n\n

    It must be taken into account that parallel to the festival, the Directors’ Fortnight<\/a> and Critics’ Week<\/a> take place, which accept short films for their official competitions, but they are organizations independent of the Cannes Film Festival<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n

    In both cases they can have a duration of less than 60 minutes; the deadline is usually between early and mid-March.<\/p>\n\n

    <\/a>#3 <\/strong>Locarno International Film Festival<\/strong><\/a><\/h2>\n\n

    At Locarno<\/strong> there is a competitive section called Pardi di domani<\/a> (Leopards of Tomorrow<\/em>), where works up to 40 minutes<\/strong> are accepted.<\/p>\n\n

    There is an international section and a national section. They must be international or world premieres (except for Swiss production, which must be a world premiere). <\/p>\n\n

    The submission deadline last year was between March and May, with two deadlines at a cost of 30 CHF and 50 CHF. <\/p>\n\n

    Last year a new section called Corti d’autore<\/strong> was created for directors who have already made feature films and continue working with short and medium-length films. This section is also within Pardi di Domani<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n

    It must be taken into account that the short film section does not accept shorts from directors who have already shot their first feature, so both sections complement each other very well.<\/p>\n\n

    #4 <\/strong>Venice Film Festival – la Biennale di Venezia<\/strong><\/a> <\/h2>\n\n

    A few years ago Venice<\/strong> had a scheme similar to Berlin<\/strong>, as short films were part of the international competition<\/strong> and the Orizzonti<\/a> section,<\/em><\/strong> so there were several options to participate.<\/p>\n\n

    For quite some time now the official section has been eliminated and short films at Venice<\/strong> are only part of the Orizzonti<\/strong> section, together with feature films, and are governed by their own programming criteria.<\/p>\n\n

    They must have a maximum duration of 20 minutes and<\/strong> must be<\/strong> world premieres (it is the only festival that requires this)<\/strong>. The submission fee ranges between \u20ac70 and \u20ac80 depending on the submission date; the submission deadline is usually in June. <\/p>\n\n

    #5 <\/strong>Warsaw Film Festival<\/strong><\/a><\/h2>\n\n

    In the case of Warsaw<\/strong>, the international short film competition is also part of the festival’s competitive sections.<\/p>\n\n

    The maximum duration is 40 minutes<\/strong> and there are awards for best short film, best animation, and best documentary. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n

    Short films are completed with a non-competitive section dedicated to Polish production of the year.<\/p>\n\n

    #6 Shanghai International Film Festival<\/a><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n

    Shanghai only accepts animation and fiction short films in its competitive section Golden Goblet Awards.<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n

    The maximum duration is 40 min<\/strong>. Preference for international and world premieres, with a premiere in China being mandatory. <\/p>\n\n

    The submission deadline is usually in May and is free.<\/p>\n\n

    #7 P\u00d6FF Shorts – Black Nights Film Festival Tallinn<\/a><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n

    The short film competition is managed through a specific website, similar to the case of Cannes, called P\u00d6FF Shorts, with a duration<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n

    The minimum premiere requirement is Estonian, but as with other Class A festivals, world and international premieres are valued; the maximum duration would be approximately 45 min.There are independent sections for fiction and animation<\/strong> and up to three submission deadlines from July to August, with prices ranging between \u20ac10 and \u20ac23<\/p>\n\n

    #8 Moscow International Film Festival<\/a><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n

    The competition is dedicated to short films with a premiere in Russia<\/strong> with a duration under 35 minutes<\/strong> and with preference for world premieres. <\/p>\n\n

    The submission deadline is usually around the end of March at a cost of approximately \u20ac15.<\/p>\n\n

    #9 Cairo International Film Festival<\/a><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n

    The International Short Film Competition<\/strong> accepts shorts up to 30 minutes and they must be premieres in Egypt, with preference for international and world premieres.<\/p>\n\n

    The duration cannot exceed 30 minutes<\/strong>; submission is free and the deadline is usually at the end of August.<\/p>\n\n

    Festivals That Include Short Films in Other Sections<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n

    #1 Mar del Plata International Film Festival<\/a><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n

    The two competitions found at Mar del Plata<\/strong> are for Argentine and Latin American short films<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n

    There is no international competition that includes all countries. In both cases they must have a maximum duration of 15 minutes<\/strong> and be premieres in Argentina. <\/p>\n\n

    #2 <\/strong>San Sebasti\u00e1n International Film Festival<\/strong><\/a><\/h2>\n\n

    At Donosti<\/strong> there is no competitive short film section. The only competition specialized in short films is the Nest, <\/strong>section, dedicated to short films from film schools, <\/strong>which has no premiere restrictions. <\/p>\n\n

    The only option to participate with short films would be Zabaltegui-Tabakalera<\/a>, which accepts all durations; according to the guidelines “In this section there are no formal rules or thematic limitations<\/em>“.<\/p>\n\n

    In this case they must be national premieres in Spain and have a submission fee of \u20ac70, although national short films can be submitted free of charge.<\/p>\n\n

    Festivals That Do Not Have Short Film Sections<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n

    These are the Class A festivals<\/strong> that do not have any section dedicated to short films:<\/p>\n\n

    #1 Karlovy Vary International Film Festival<\/a> <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n

    In this case, short films were referred to the Prague Short Film Festival<\/a> several years ago.<\/p>\n\n

    #2 Tokyo International Film Festival<\/a><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n

    #3 International Film Festival of India (Goa)<\/a><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n

    <\/p>\n\n

    In the case of the Montreal<\/strong> World Film Festival<\/strong>, although it still appears on the FIAPF list, it has had many problems in recent years, was last held in 2018, currently has no scheduled dates, and its website no longer works.<\/p>\n\n

    In short, there are 11 festivals that have short films in some of their sections, out of a total list of 15 festivals.<\/p>\n\n

    This is a brief summary of the festivals and their sections, which range between 15 and 60 minutes:<\/p>\n\n