Montelupo Fiorentino International Independent Film Festival (12)

Festival start: 09 June 2026      Festival end: 09 June 2026

The festival intends to promote Independent national and international Cinema.
For eight years our festival has become the reference point for independent directors from all over the world.
We are looking for the best stories to show to our loyal audience.

-History-

Since 2015, the year of its foundation, the festival has stood out for the quality and social value of the selected works.
In ten editions we have selected and screened 221 works from 70 countries and awarded 250 prizes!
By promoting independent cinema from all over the world we have received works starring world-famous actors such as Salvatore Esposito (Gomorra, Fargo), Denis Lavant (Holy Motors, Tokyo!).
In the 2021 edition we had the honor of awarding the actor Giuseppe Fiorello in his latest film "L'afide e la formica", winner of the award for best feature film.

Over the years we boast of having successfully promoted dozens of independent documentaries, which have been a real window on the world for us.

We try to improve ourselves every year, giving you directors the opportunity to receive important recognition for your work and the stories you want to tell.

BEST SHORT FILM;
BEST COMEDY SHORT FILM;
BEST DRAMA SHORT FILM;
BEST AI SHORT FILM;
BEST THRILLER SHORT FILM;
BEST SCIENCE FICTION SHORT FILM;
BEST ACTION SHORT FILM;
BEST FANTASY SHORT FILM;
BEST LGBTQIA+ SHORT FILM;
BEST MOBILE SHORT FILM;
BEST EXPERIMENTAL SHORT FILM;
BEST STUDENT SHORT FILM;
BEST SHORT FILM DIRECTOR;
BEST SHORT FILM PRODUCTION;
BEST SHORT FILM EDITING;
BEST SHORT FILM CINEMATOGRAPHY;
BEST SHORT FILM COSTUME-MAKE UP;
BEST SHORT FILM SOUNDTRACK;
BEST SHORT FILM SPECIAL EFFECTS;
BEST SHORT FILM ACTOR;
BEST SHORT FILM ACTRESS;
BEST SHORT FILM ORIGINAL SCRIPT;
BEST TRAILER;
BEST MUSIC VIDEO;
BEST WEB SERIES (PILOTE EPISODE);
BEST ADVERTISING;
BEST DOCUMENTARY;
BEST DOCUMENTARY DIRECTOR;
BEST DOCUMENTARY PRODUCTION;
BEST DOCUMENTARY EDITING;
BEST FEATURE FILM;
BEST COMEDY FEATURE FILM;
BEST DRAMA FEATURE FILM;
BEST AI FEATURE FILM;
BEST THRILLER FEATURE FILM;
BEST ACTION FEATURE FILM;
BEST SCIENCE FICTION FEATURE FILM;
BEST FANTASY FEATURE FILM;
BEST LGBTQIA+ FEATURE FILM;
BEST MOBILE FEATURE FILM;
BEST STUDENT FEATURE FILM;
BEST EXPERIMENTAL FEATURE FILM;
BEST FEATURE FILM DIRECTOR;
BEST FEATURE FILM PRODUCTION;
BEST FEATURE FILM EDITING;
BEST FEATURE FILM CINEMATOGRAPHY;
BEST COSTUME-MAKE UP FEATURE FILM;
BEST FEATURE FILM SOUNDTRACK;
BEST FEATURE FILM ACTOR;
BEST FEATURE FILM ACTRESS;
BEST FEATURE FILM ORIGINAL SCRIPT;
BEST FEATURE SPECIAL EFFECTS.

All winners and selected works receive the winning laurel by e-mail.

MONTELUPO FIORENTINO INTERNATIONAL INDEPENDENT FILM FESTIVAL 2026 - XII EDITION - OPENCALL FROM JUNE 12th, 2025 TO MAY 31th, 2026.

ART. 1 - Submission
Registration for the competition has to be made by the international platforms. The director pays the fee (not refundable) relative to the category and to the period of registration. The open call starts on July, 12th 2025 and closes on May, 31th 2026.

AWARD CATEGORIES, ENTRY PERIOD AND FEE

SHORT FILM'S CATEGORIES
Earlybird Entry from 12/02/2025 to 01/07/2025 $ 10.00
Middle Standard Entry from 02/07/2025 to 29/07/2025 $15.00
Standard Entry from 30/07/2025 to 28/10/2025 $ 18.00
Extended Standard Entry from 29/10/2025 to 25/11/2025 $ 20.00
Middle Late Entry from 26/11/2025 to 06/01/2026 $ 23.00
Late Entry from 07/01/2026 to 03/02/2026 $ 25.00
Extended Late Entry from 04/02/2026 to 03/03/2026 $ 28.00
Middle Final Entry 04/03/2026 to 07/04/2026 $ 30.00
Final Entry 08/04/2026 to 05/05/2026 $ 33.00
Extended Final Entry 06/05/2026 to 31/05/2026 $ 35.00

DOCUMENTARIES' CATEGORIES
Earlybird Entry from 12/02/2025 to 01/07/2025 $ 15.00
Middle Standard Entry from 02/07/2025 to 29/07/2025 $ 20.00
Standard Entry from 30/07/2025 to 28/10/2025 $ 23.00
Extended Standard Entry from 29/10/2025 to 25/11/2025 $ 25.00
Middle Late Entry from 26/11/2025 to 06/01/2026 $ 28.00
Late Entry from 07/01/2026 to 03/02/2026 $ 30.00
Extended Late Entry from 04/02/2026 to 03/03/2026 $ 33.00
Middle Final Entry 04/03/2026 to 07/04/2026 $ 35.00
Final Entry 08/04/2026 to 05/05/2026 $ 38.00
Extended Final Entry 06/05/2026 to 31/05/2026 $ 40.00

FEATURE FILM'S CATEGORIES
Earlybird Entry from 12/02/2025 to 01/07/2025 $ 15.00
Middle Standard Entry from 02/07/2025 to 29/07/2025 $ 20.00
Standard Entry from 30/07/2025 to 28/10/2025 $ 23.00
Extended Standard Entry from 29/10/2025 to 25/11/2025 $ 25.00
Middle Late Entry from 26/11/2025 to 06/01/2026 $ 28.00
Late Entry from 07/01/2026 to 03/02/2026 $ 30.00
Extended Late Entry from 04/02/2026 to 03/03/2026 $ 33.00
Middle Final Entry 04/03/2026 to 07/04/2026 $ 35.00
Final Entry 08/04/2026 to 05/05/2026 $ 38.00
Extended Final Entry 06/05/2026 to 31/05/2026 $ 40.00

ART. 2 Submission requisites
Submitted films to the Festival should meet the following requirements:

Films should be made since January, 2024;

Italian or foreign Short Films which last up to 30 minutes;

Italian or foreign Documentaries which last up to 90 minutes;

Italian or foreign Feature Films which last more than an hour and less than 120 minutes;

Italian or foreign Web Series (pilote) which last which last up to 45 minutes;

Italian or foreign Music Video which last up to 6 minutes;

Italian or foreign Original Script wich last up to 230 pages;

Italian or foreign Commercial Advertising which last up to 5 minutes;

Italian or foreign Trailer which last up to 10 minutes.

ART. 3 Genres
It's an OPEN genre film festival. The author is responsible for the content and any disclaimers regarding the material submitted.

ART. 4 SELECTION
Official notification date: JUNE 4th, 2026.
The Films received within the terms above, will be examined by Festival Staff that determines, unquestionably, the admission to the final stage of the Festival. The author(s) of selected films will be contacted by the organization. The full list of selected will be published on the Festival social channels within JUNE 4th, 2026.

ART. 5 PRESELECTION
May be made a pre-selection of the Films before the late entry deadline, in this case the directors will be contacted by Festival Staff.

ART. 6 AWARDS & SCREENING
One award per category (Art. 1)
All winners and selected works receive a free certificate (jpg file via e-mail).

The organization may decide not to award one or more category prizes.

During the event, the three main winning films will be screened: Best Short Film, Best Documentary, Best Feature Film. At the organisation's discretion, other films may be screened.

ART. 7 ADVERTISING PURPOSES
Festival Staff can use parts of the selected Films for advertising purposes via print, radio, trailer on TV or Cinema or Internet. After registering for the festival, a post will be made on the event's social networks with the poster of the registered work.

ART. 8 Acceptance of Rules and Regulations
Participation in the competition implies acceptance of these rules. Festival Staff reserves the right to make any changes to the rules and regulations and how to deal with any controversial matters. It’s strictly forbidden to privately contact the staff and jury members during the selection period of the festival, punishment: exclusion from the competition. The Jury may not provide explanations or feedback on the selection and winning choices.

PRIVACY
Subscribers to the Festival, agree as established by Decree 30 June 2003, No. 196 on the protection of privacy, the use of personal data for all initiatives related to the event. The author of the work declares to accept the regulation in all its parts, you have the legal availability of the film and to authorize the public screening without compensation, freeing the organization of the Festival from any responsibility for the present and future. By entering the competition each author is responsible for the content of his works. The author declares to hold all rights to the work, not in any way prejudicing the rights of third parties, such as other authors, subjects portrayed, transferees of rights, along with those of music, etc. It also declares that the audiovisual material used is not protected by SIAE. Pursuant to the provisions of Legislative Decree. 30/06/2003 n. 196, we inform the author that the provision of data required and necessary for the completion of the documentation of enrollment in the Festival.