Genoa International Film Festival (2)

Festival start: 27 May 2027      Festival end: 30 May 2027

Welcome to the Genoa International Film Festival: where Independent Cinema meets the Italian Riviera!

We are a new, yet ambitious, international film festival, now working on its second edition, born to provide a high-quality platform for independent cinema. We invite you to join us in Genoa - the heart of the beautiful Italian Riviera - for four days of screenings, talks, and networking, all hosted in a historic cinema within the medieval city center.

For our 2027 edition, we are open to short films of any genre (including documentaries and animation), with a maximum runtime of 40 minutes, completed from 2025 onwards, and feature films up to 120 minutes.

We are incredibly proud of the achievements of our inaugural edition: we received over 300 submissions from more than 60 countries and welcomed people from all over the world over the span of three days. The program featured distinguished titles and filmmakers including Pantyhose (Oscar 2026 Shortlist); Ocean of Mothers (from Netflix director Leticia Prisco); I’m Glad You’re Dead Now (winner of the Palm d’Or for Best Short Film) as well as many more short film coming from Clermont-Ferrand, TIFF and other successful film festivals.

At GIFF, we truly care about filmmakers and their work. To show our support, we offer a transparent and straightforward submission model: a single entry allows your film to be considered for every main award category. No more multiple submissions or exorbitant fees. We do our best to stand by your side.

All selected films will be screened during the festival. The director, along qith one additional crew member, will receive full access to all festival events (screenings, networking events and caterign) as well as provided accommodation.

If your project focuses on specific themes — such as Environment, Gender Equality, or Youth & Education — you can submit to the dedicated category to compete for an additional award. This special focus adds an extra opportunity for your work without changing your eligibility for all other festival prizes. In other words: you don’t need to pay twice.

We are also proud to support new talent and our local film community through the Best Student Short and Best Italian Short Film categories. For both, the same rule applies: by entering the specific category, you receive a dedicated spotlight while remaining in the running for every single award the festival offers.

Send us your best work: GIFF is waiting for you!

Best Short Film;
Best Director;
Best Screenplay;
Best Editing;
Best Cinematography;
Best Lead Actor/Actress;
Best Sound Design;
Best Score;
Best Documentary Short;
Best Animation Short Film;
Best Feature Film.

Special Categories:
Best Environmental Short Film;
Best Gender Equality Short Film;
Best Youth Short Film;
Best Italian Short Film;
Best Student Short Film.

Rules & terms:

1. Eligibility: The Festival is open to short films and feature films of all genres, both fiction and documentary. The main competition and its associated awards are dedicated to short films, with a maximum length of 40 minutes (credits included), completed from 2025 onwards. Feature films must be no longer than 120 minutes (credits included) and they will compete for a specific category. All films must include english subtitles, unless the spoken language is english. In such cases, subtitles are still encouraged.

2. Dates and Venue: The event will take place in Genoa from May 27th to 30st, 2027, in a cinema located in the heart of the medieval city centre.

3. Single Submission Policy - Short Films
Unlike festivals that require multiple paid submissions, GIFF supports filmmakers by offering a single submission for all categories. If your film deserves it, it will be considered accordingly.
If your film addresses specific themes, (please refer to Section 5 for more details) you may also submit it to the relevant category — this does not limit your eligibility in any way, as you will still be considered for all awards. In other words, these two submission options are alternative: you can enter your film either in a general or a specific category, but the outcome remains the same. Choosing a specific category simply highlights your film for an additional award.

4. Submission Policy - Feature films
Feature films compete in a dedicated category and must be submitted to the corresponding section. The best feature will be awarded with the Best Feature Film Prize.

5. Categories and awards: In addition to the awards assigned by our international jury, (Best Feature Film; Best Short Film; Best Director; Best Screenplay; Best Editing; Best Cinematography; Best Lead Actor/Actress; Best Production Design; Best Sound Editing; Best Original Score; Best Documentary Short; Best Animation Short Film; Best Student Short Film), the Festival includes special categories such as:
• Best Environmental Short Film: This category is open to any work addressing environmental themes (including, but not limited to: the natural world, the relationship between humans and nature, climate change, sustainable development, and wildlife as part of the ecosystem).
• Best Gender Equality Short Film: Open to any work addressing this theme from any perspective or point of view.
• Best Youth Short Film: Open to any short film exploring themes of childhood and growing up, or simply featuring children or young performers in the cast.
• Best Italian Short Film: Open to any work where Italian is the primary language. Given the international nature of the festival, english subtitles are mandatory for this category as well.

6. Selection and Jury: All films will be evaluated by the artistic committee and an international jury. Their decisions are final and not subject to appeal.

7. Notification: All applicants will be notified of the selection results by April 20th, 2027, via email or Festhome.

8. Festival Program: The four-day program will alternate screenings, talks and networking sessions, concluding with the awards ceremony.

9. Use of Films: By submitting a film, filmmakers grant the Festival the right to screen the work during the event at no additional cost.

10. Promotional Use: The Festival may use excerpts (up to 1 minute), stills and posters for promotional purposes, including the website, social media and press materials.

11. Technical Requirements: Selected films must be delivered in at least Full HD (1920×1080). The festival prefers the submission of files in DCP format, otherwise high-quality master files such as Apple ProRes and H.264 (.MP4 or .MOV) are also accepted.

12. Rights and Responsibilities: The submitter guarantees ownership of all screening rights, including music and images, and releases the Festival from any liability.

13. Multiple Submissions and Distributors: Distributors and production companies submitting multiple films are eligible for discounted fees. To receive a personalized promo code, distributors must contact the Festival in advance via this email address genoainternationalfilmfestival@gmail.com or the Festhome chat.

14. Program Changes and Force Majeure: The Organization is committed to ensuring that the Festival takes place in accordance with the announced program. However, in the event of technical issues, force majeure, or circumstances beyond the organizers’ control, the Festival reserves the right to modify dates, venues, or screening formats. In such cases, no refunds will be issued for submission fees or any other expenses incurred by participants. Should the event be postponed or canceled, our priority remains supporting our community of filmmakers, the Organization will do its utmost to offer fair alternatives, such as valid entry for the following edition, ensuring that your work and your investment are fully protected. If the festival deems that there are not enough quality submissions in a specific category, it reserves the right not to award the corresponding prize. If the festival deems tha there are not enough quality submissions in a specific category, it reserves the right not to award the corresponding prize.

15. Acceptance: By submitting a film and paying the submission fee, participants fully accept these regulations.