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Istanbul Women Film Awards (2)

Deadlines

25 Aug 2025
Call for entries

29 Sep 2025
Final deadline

29 Nov 2025
Notification date

25 Aug 2025
30 Sep 2025

Address

Kuşdili Caddesi 12 İnşaatçılar İş Hanı Kat:8, 34714 Kadıköy, 34714, Istanbul, Istanbul, Turkey

Festival description

Short film festival

Feature film festival

Festival requirements

Film festival

Fiction

Documentary

Animation

Fantastic

Terror

Experimental

Music Video

Other

Any Genre

Any Theme

Has submission fees

International Festival

Online and Physical Location

Production date: Any

Production countries: Any

Shooting countries: Any

Director nationalities: Any

Debut Films

School projects

Short Films

Feature Films

AI Tools

Any language

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English

This festival is not currently open for submissions.

Festival description (Edition: 2)

Festival start: 25 August 2025 Festival end: 30 September 2025

The Istanbul Women Film Awards (IWFA) is an international platform dedicated to empowering women filmmakers, promoting diverse voices, and showcasing outstanding works that highlight women’s stories and perspectives; sponsored by Türkiye Women Art Foundation.

Each season, films are evaluated by our jury panel through our online festival. Officially selected works receive prestigious festival laurels and international recognition. At the end of the year, the most acclaimed films from the seasonal editions are invited to our annual in-person awards ceremony in Istanbul – a city where East meets West, full of art, culture, and history.

The ceremony is a celebration of creativity, featuring screenings, networking opportunities, and the presentation of our official trophies to the winners.

Prizes and qualifications

Screening Fee Shorts: 1$
Screening Fee Features: 3$

The Istanbul Women Film Awards honors filmmakers with:

Official Certificates for Winners, Finalists, and Official Selections.

Jury Reviews & Feedback for selected filmmakers to help their future projects.

IWFA Statuette (Annual Ceremony Only): Presented to the winners during our in-person gala in Istanbul.

Social Media Recognition: Festival shout-outs and highlights on our official platforms.

Prestigious Laurels for Winners, Finalists, and Official Selections.

Rules

The festival is open to filmmakers of all genders, but submissions must highlight women’s stories, perspectives, or have significant female creative involvement (director, producer, writer, or lead role).

All films must be submitted through FilmFreeway.

Multiple submissions are allowed; each entry requires a separate submission and fee.

Non-English films must include English subtitles.

We accept short films, feature films, documentaries, experimental works, and animation.

Entry fees are non-refundable.

Filmmakers retain all rights to their work. By submitting, you grant the festival permission to use selected clips, images, and posters for promotional purposes.

The jury’s decision is final.

Official selections will be announced online; winners of the annual ceremony will be notified in advance.

The festival does not cover travel or accommodation expenses for the in-person event.

All Categories for a Short Film (In-Person Included)

Short and Feature Films

Standard Fee 85$
-8% 78.2$
PRO 33% 56.95$

Get an Annual Pass and get the maximum discount on festival and submission fees

Submissions deadline
29 Sep 25

Save up
28.05$

Submit

This special package allows your short film to compete in all applicable award categories. The entry fee also includes:

Participation in the annual in-person ceremony in Istanbul

One-night hotel stay in Kadıköy (a lively cultural district of Istanbul)

An official IWFA statuette (if you win)

Access to the red carpet & networking opportunities

All Categories for a Short Film (In-Person NOT Included)

Short and Feature Films

Standard Fee 70$
-8% 64.4$
PRO 33% 46.9$

Get an Annual Pass and get the maximum discount on festival and submission fees

Submissions deadline
29 Sep 25

Save up
23.1$

Submit

This special package allows your short film to compete in all applicable award categories but does not include the expenses of the in-person annual ceremony.

Best Short Film

Short and Feature Films

Standard Fee 50$
-8% 46$
PRO 33% 33.5$

Get an Annual Pass and get the maximum discount on festival and submission fees

Submissions deadline
29 Sep 25

Save up
16.5$

Submit

Best First-Time Filmmaker For A Short Film

Short and Feature Films

Standard Fee 50$
-8% 46$
PRO 33% 33.5$

Get an Annual Pass and get the maximum discount on festival and submission fees

Submissions deadline
29 Sep 25

Save up
16.5$

Submit

Best First-Time Filmmaker For A Short Film

Short and Feature Films

Standard Fee 50$
-8% 46$
PRO 33% 33.5$

Get an Annual Pass and get the maximum discount on festival and submission fees

Submissions deadline
29 Sep 25

Save up
16.5$

Submit

Best Director For A Short Film

Short and Feature Films

Standard Fee 50$
-8% 46$
PRO 33% 33.5$

Get an Annual Pass and get the maximum discount on festival and submission fees

Submissions deadline
29 Sep 25

Save up
16.5$

Submit

Best Casting For A Short Film

Short and Feature Films

Standard Fee 50$
-8% 46$
PRO 33% 33.5$

Get an Annual Pass and get the maximum discount on festival and submission fees

Submissions deadline
29 Sep 25

Save up
16.5$

Submit

Including categories of Best Actor, Best Actress, and Best Ensemble Casting For A Short Film

Best Short Documentary

Short and Feature Films

Standard Fee 50$
-8% 46$
PRO 33% 33.5$

Get an Annual Pass and get the maximum discount on festival and submission fees

Submissions deadline
29 Sep 25

Save up
16.5$

Submit

Best Student Short Film

Short and Feature Films

Standard Fee 40$
-8% 36.8$
PRO 33% 26.8$

Get an Annual Pass and get the maximum discount on festival and submission fees

Submissions deadline
29 Sep 25

Save up
13.2$

Submit

Best Experimental Short Film

Short and Feature Films

Standard Fee 50$
-8% 46$
PRO 33% 33.5$

Get an Annual Pass and get the maximum discount on festival and submission fees

Submissions deadline
29 Sep 25

Save up
16.5$

Submit

Best Unproduced Short Screenplay

Short and Feature Films

Standard Fee 40$
-8% 36.8$
PRO 33% 26.8$

Get an Annual Pass and get the maximum discount on festival and submission fees

Submissions deadline
29 Sep 25

Save up
13.2$

Submit

Best Cinematography For A Short Film

Short and Feature Films

Standard Fee 50$
-8% 46$
PRO 33% 33.5$

Get an Annual Pass and get the maximum discount on festival and submission fees

Submissions deadline
29 Sep 25

Save up
16.5$

Submit

Audience Choice Award (In-Person Ceremony Only)

Short and Feature Films

Standard Fee 50$
-8% 46$
PRO 33% 33.5$

Get an Annual Pass and get the maximum discount on festival and submission fees

Submissions deadline
29 Sep 25

Save up
16.5$

Submit

All Categories for a Feature Film (In-Person Included)

Short and Feature Films

Standard Fee 90$
-8% 82.8$
PRO 33% 60.3$

Get an Annual Pass and get the maximum discount on festival and submission fees

Submissions deadline
29 Sep 25

Save up
29.7$

Submit

This package allows your feature film to compete in all applicable award categories. The entry fee also includes:

Participation in the annual in-person ceremony in Istanbul

One-night hotel stay in Kadıköy

An official IWFA statuette (if you win)

Access to the red carpet & networking opportunities

All Categories for a Feature Film (In-Person NOT Included)

Short and Feature Films

Standard Fee 75$
-8% 69$
PRO 33% 50.25$

Get an Annual Pass and get the maximum discount on festival and submission fees

Submissions deadline
29 Sep 25

Save up
24.75$

Submit

This special package allows your short film to compete in all applicable award categories but does not include the expenses of the in-person annual ceremony.

Best Feature Film

Short and Feature Films

Standard Fee 62$
-8% 57.04$
PRO 33% 41.54$

Get an Annual Pass and get the maximum discount on festival and submission fees

Submissions deadline
29 Sep 25

Save up
20.46$

Submit

Best First-Time Filmmaker For A Feature Film

Short and Feature Films

Standard Fee 62$
-8% 57.04$
PRO 33% 41.54$

Get an Annual Pass and get the maximum discount on festival and submission fees

Submissions deadline
29 Sep 25

Save up
20.46$

Submit

Best Director For A Feature Film

Short and Feature Films

Standard Fee 62$
-8% 57.04$
PRO 33% 41.54$

Get an Annual Pass and get the maximum discount on festival and submission fees

Submissions deadline
29 Sep 25

Save up
20.46$

Submit

Best Casting For A Feature Film

Short and Feature Films

Standard Fee 62$
-8% 57.04$
PRO 33% 41.54$

Get an Annual Pass and get the maximum discount on festival and submission fees

Submissions deadline
29 Sep 25

Save up
20.46$

Submit

Including categories of ensemble casting, best actor, and best actress for a feature film.

Best Cinematography For A Feature Film

Short and Feature Films

Standard Fee 62$
-8% 57.04$
PRO 33% 41.54$

Get an Annual Pass and get the maximum discount on festival and submission fees

Submissions deadline
29 Sep 25

Save up
20.46$

Submit

Best Student Feature Film

Short and Feature Films

Standard Fee 62$
-8% 57.04$
PRO 33% 41.54$

Get an Annual Pass and get the maximum discount on festival and submission fees

Submissions deadline
29 Sep 25

Save up
20.46$

Submit

Best Experimental Feature Film

Short and Feature Films

Standard Fee 62$
-8% 57.04$
PRO 33% 41.54$

Get an Annual Pass and get the maximum discount on festival and submission fees

Submissions deadline
29 Sep 25

Save up
20.46$

Submit

Best Feature Documentary

Short and Feature Films

Standard Fee 62$
-8% 57.04$
PRO 33% 41.54$

Get an Annual Pass and get the maximum discount on festival and submission fees

Submissions deadline
29 Sep 25

Save up
20.46$

Submit

Best Unproduced Feature Screenplay

Short and Feature Films

Standard Fee 62$
-8% 57.04$
PRO 33% 41.54$

Get an Annual Pass and get the maximum discount on festival and submission fees

Submissions deadline
29 Sep 25

Save up
20.46$

Submit

Best Female Empowerment Film

Short and Feature Films

Standard Fee 60$
-8% 55.2$
PRO 33% 40.2$

Get an Annual Pass and get the maximum discount on festival and submission fees

Submissions deadline
29 Sep 25

Save up
19.8$

Submit

Best Female Director

Short and Feature Films

Standard Fee 62$
-8% 57.04$
PRO 33% 41.54$

Get an Annual Pass and get the maximum discount on festival and submission fees

Submissions deadline
29 Sep 25

Save up
20.46$

Submit

Best Story About Women

Short and Feature Films

Standard Fee 62$
-8% 57.04$
PRO 33% 41.54$

Get an Annual Pass and get the maximum discount on festival and submission fees

Submissions deadline
29 Sep 25

Save up
20.46$

Submit

Best Female Screenwriter

Short and Feature Films

Standard Fee 62$
-8% 57.04$
PRO 33% 41.54$

Get an Annual Pass and get the maximum discount on festival and submission fees

Submissions deadline
29 Sep 25

Save up
20.46$

Submit

Best Animation

Short and Feature Films

Standard Fee 62$
-8% 57.04$
PRO 33% 41.54$

Get an Annual Pass and get the maximum discount on festival and submission fees

Submissions deadline
29 Sep 25

Save up
20.46$

Submit

Best LGBTQ++ Film

Short and Feature Films

Standard Fee 62$
-8% 57.04$
PRO 33% 41.54$

Get an Annual Pass and get the maximum discount on festival and submission fees

Submissions deadline
29 Sep 25

Save up
20.46$

Submit

Best Music Video

Short and Feature Films

Standard Fee 62$
-8% 57.04$
PRO 33% 41.54$

Get an Annual Pass and get the maximum discount on festival and submission fees

Submissions deadline
29 Sep 25

Save up
20.46$

Submit

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