The Luxe Indie Circuit (1)

Festival start: 13 April 2026      Festival end: 22 April 2026

The Luxe Indie Short Circuit is a global digital showcase and competitive tournament created by Cinematic Luxe to celebrate short films that often fall outside the traditional theatrical spotlight.

While feature films dominate most festivals and industry attention, short films represent some of the most daring, experimental, and emotionally powerful storytelling in independent cinema. The Luxe Indie Short Circuit exists to recognize those voices and reward the filmmakers behind them.

This event is designed specifically for films between 2 and 30 minutes in length and runs entirely online through a secure screening platform. During the opening round, every selected film is guaranteed screening and the opportunity to compete for advancement through a combination of audience engagement and viewer voting.

Unlike traditional festivals, advancement in the tournament depends not only on votes but also on how audiences interact with the films.

Advancement is determined by a weighted combination of:

• Completion rate
• Total watch time
• Unique viewers
• Overall views
• Global reach
• Audience voting

The event runs for 9 days, with multiple rounds of competition leading to the final winners.

Festival Dates: April 13th – April 22nd

Festival Structure:

Days 1–3
All selected films are screened publicly during the opening round.

Day 4-6
Advancement Round
The Top 20 films advance based on a combined score of audience engagement and voting.

Luxe Faves Wildcards
An additional 5 films are selected by the Team Luxe judges as wildcard selections known as The Luxe Faves.

Day 7-8
Final Round
The Top 10 films advance to the final round.

Day 9
Final Day
Winners are announced and celebrated.

This format encourages filmmakers to actively share their work, engage their audiences, and celebrate the collaborative energy of the short film community.
(official website opens March 30th!)

to view terms and conditions or sign up for newsletter to receive updates please visit:
cinematicluxefestival.info

Cash Prizes: 725$

Eligibility

Films must be 2–30 minutes in length, including credits.

ALL genres are welcome.

Films must be completed works (no rough cuts or unfinished edits).

All films must include English subtitles and non-English subtitles when possible. The more accessible your film is to international audiences, the greater the opportunity for viewers to watch and engage with it during the circuit.


Submission Requirements

Films must be submitted as MP4 or MOV files only.

Festhome download files are required.

Vimeo or external screening links will not be accepted.

Password-locked films will not be selected if Team Luxe can't download them.

(No premiere status required. Films may have screened elsewhere or participated in previous Cinematic Luxe events. Can submit as many films as you like but must pay separate submission fees)

Submission does not guarantee selection but if selected we guarantee your film will be screened.



Winners are determined through audience engagement and votes except for Honorable Mentions where Team Luxe will decide.

Audience members may participate through a $2 voting pass (Required once per round), which allows them to vote for their favorite film during the circuit (can only vote for a specific film once per round.)

Filmmakers whose films are in the circuit are also allowed to vote (for free) but may not vote for their own film or for a film more than once per round (Nor cast or crew).

Any attempt to manipulate voting or engagement metrics WILL result in disqualification.


IMPORTANT

The festival reserves the right to make final programming decisions regarding eligibility, screening order, and awards.

By submitting a film, the filmmaker confirms they hold all necessary rights for the film’s content and grants permission for stills, clips, and promotional materials to be used for festival promotion.

Advancement is determined by a weighted combination of:

• Completion rate
• Total watch time
• Unique viewers
• Overall views
• Global reach
• Audience voting

Scoring Explanation for Filmmakers
Example 1:

Film A:
• 100 views
• 80% average watch
• 10 countries
• Strong rewatch

Film B:
• 250 views
• 25% average watch
• 3 countries
• Low retention

Even though Film B has more views, Film A advances because engagement quality is stronger.

Example 2:
Film C:
• 500 views
• 95% watch completion
• 15 countries
• High rewatch rate

Film D:
• 1,200 views
• 45% completion
• 4 countries
Film C ranks higher due to high completion and global reach.

(Votes will be measured in the same manner)