Festival start: 10 August 2025
Festival end: 19 August 2025
TNFF is all about celebrating, educating, empowering, promoting, and proliferating amazing quality independent Cinema in Chennai (Formerly known as Madras) the capital city of the State of Tamil Nadu. TNFF aims to give opportunities to independent filmmakers to showcase their creativity. Introducing our audience to Independent content is our mission.
The 3rd Tamil Nadu Film Festival will be a Film Festival with live screenings at multiple locations.
The Tamil Nadu Film Festival (TNFF) offers 10 days of celebration, with live screenings of Local & International amazing quality independent Cinema. Film categories include Narrative Features, Animated Features, Documentary Features, Short Documentaries, Short Films, Short Animation Film, Music Videos, Short-short films and Student Productions from film schools.
Your film will be categorized in one of these following sections;
1. International Mix (for international cinema)
2. Indian Mix (for new discoveries and promising talents from the Indian film world)
3. Tamil Mix (for challenging new trend Tamil Cinema)
4. Generation Next – Grade Schooler: 5-12 yrs. (films for young audiences)
5. Generation Next – Teen: 13-18 yrs. (films for adolescent audiences)
6. Campus Student Mix (Student films from all over the world)
Keeping the event truly international TNFF will have the following programs; press opportunities, networking occasions, industry attendance, Discussion Forum & high-quality Workshops.
The important guests who adorned our 2nd TNFF Award Ceremony and made the event memorable are; our Chief Guest Mr. Thambi Ramaiah, a director, lyricist, and a National Award-Winning Indian actor. Mr. Ravindhar, Cinematographer AND OUR JURY MEMBER has an impressive legacy spanning over four decades IN THE FILM INDUSTRY & Mr. Sab John Edathattil, Screenwriter AND OUR JURY MEMBER, with 34 years of screenwriting career & has had about 32 screenplays filmed. He is one of the leading screenwriting and storytelling voices in South India, especially in the Malayalam and Tamil film industry.
The VIP's who graced the online 1st Tamil Nadu Film Festival (TNFF 2020) are Rev. Fr. A.J. Thamburaj, S.J., Rector, Loyola College, for the academic year 1983-84. He is the pioneer who introduced the VISCOM course at Loyola College, for the first time in city of Chennai, the state Tamil Nadu and the country India; Mr. DSR Subash, PRESIDENT, Tamil Nadu Union of Journalist; Mr. Bh. S. S. PRAKASH REDDY, Regional Secretary, Federation of Film Societies of India; Dr. M. Davamani Christober, Principal & Secretary, The American College, Madurai; S. S. Stanly (Film Director); Mr. S. Theodore Baskaran, film historian, Researcher, author, writer, actor, and speaker; Mr. Aranthai Manian, A Script writer, Director in films and TV serials; A Radio Broadcaster and an Orator; Mrs. Uma Vangal, filmmaker, film professor, Fulbright scholar, columnist, public speaker and media analyst; Mr. Mohan V. Raman, Indian actor, writer, Voice artist and orator. In 2017 and 2019, he was a Jury member for the National Film Award for Best Writing on Cinema; Mr. Hariharan Krishnan, He is a Professor, Arts and Director Media Lab at KREA University; Mr. Ajayan Bala, author, publisher, script writer, Film critic of Tamil cinema (Kollywood) He has authored some 30 books on various topics and nine among them are on cinema alone; Girish Wankhede (Trade Analyst); Mr. Vivek Mohan, winner of the President’s National Film Award in 1999; Mr. Kichas (KRISHNASAMY GOPALSAMY) (DOP), multiple award winner; Mr. Ranjith Shankaran, Associate Professor, Department of Humanities & Social Sciences, Mahindra University, Hyderabad; Ms. Sharada Ramanathan (Film Director), winner of three National Film Awards for her directional debut in the 2007 Tamil film “Sringaram”; and Mr. Balaji Mohan (Film Director, Actor and Producer).
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We request all entries submitted from India to email or call us if you have payment related issues.
All Indians who require a GST INVOICE kindly email us with your complete GST BILLING INFORMATION. We can provide you with it when the funds are released from this platform.
We request all to submit your entry via one of submission partners. We are a ENVIRONMENTAL FRIENDLY FIM FESTIVAL and so do not accept DVDs or CDs.
The 3rd Tamil Nadu Film Festival (TNFF) will give the following Awards for films in competitive category;
INTERNATIONAL MIX AWARDS
Best Narrative Feature
Best Long Documentary Feature
Best Animated Feature
Best Short Documentary
Best Short Film
Best Animated short
Best Music Videos
Best Short-Short film
Best Debut Director (For International Feature)
INDIAN MIX AWARDS & TAMIL MIX AWARDS will be given only if there are minimum number of entries in the respective award categories.
GENERATION NEXT AWARDS
GENERATION NEXT – GRADE SCHOOLER
Best Narrative Feature
Best Long Documentary Feature
Best Animated Feature
Best Short Documentary
Best Short Film
Best Animated Short
Best Music Videos
GENERATION NEXT –TEEN
Best Narrative Feature
Best Long Documentary Feature
Best Animated Feature
Best Short Documentary
Best Short Film
Best Animated Short
Best Music Videos
CAMPUS STUDENT AWARDS
Best Student Documentary
Best Student Short Film
Best Student Animated Short
Best Student Music Videos
Best Student Ad films
SPECIAL AWARDS
Special Honourable Jury Mention Awards, Special Festival Mentions Awards, Social Relevance Awards & Audience Awards (based on festival attendees votes) in each category.
The 3rd Tamil Nadu Film Festival (TNFF 2025) will be held from 10th to 19th August 2025 at Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.
Forms of Films that are accepted include Narrative Features, Documentary Features, Animated Features, Short Documentaries, Short Films, Animated Films, Music Videos, Short-short films, and Student Productions from film schools.
Each year the TNFF will comprise of about 150 films of every genre, length and format. These films find their place in one of the following sections:
1. International Mix (for international cinema)
2. Indian Mix (for new discoveries and promising talents from the Indian film world)
3. Tamil Mix (for good stories and challenging new trends in Tamil Cinema)
4. Generation Next – Grade Schooler: 5-12 yrs. (for films made for young audiences in the age group of 5 – 12 years.)
5. Generation Next – Teen: 13-18 yrs. (for films made for Teen audiences in the age group of 13-18 years.)
6. Campus Student Mix (for student films from all over the world)
Awards will be given under 6 major Categories Namely International, National, Regional, Generation Next (Grade Schooler & Generation Next –Teen), Campus Student & Special Mentions.
For complete rules visit the official website https://tamilnadufilmfestival.com/rules/
INTERNATIONAL Narrative Feature
Feature Films >70' 120'< (2021+)
Fee-8%
PRO 83%
Early30$27.6$
5.1$
10 Jan 25
Standard40$36.8$
6.8$
10 Feb 25
Late50$46$
8.5$
10 Mar 25
Extended60$55.2$
10.2$
10 Apr 25
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Submissions deadline
10 Apr 25
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24.9$
Submit
Submit films made in any language and from anywhere in the world except INDIA. Films with the maximum run time of 120 Min is eligible under INTERNATIONAL Narrative Feature.
INTERNATIONAL Documentary Feature
Short and Feature Films >50' 120'< (2021+)
Fee-8%
PRO 83%
Early25$23$
4.25$
10 Jan 25
Standard30$27.6$
5.1$
10 Feb 25
Late35$32.2$
5.95$
10 Mar 25
Extended40$36.8$
6.8$
10 Apr 25
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Submissions deadline
10 Apr 25
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20.75$
Submit
Submit films made in any language and from anywhere in the world except INDIA. Films with a minimum run time of 50 Minutes and above and up to any length are eligible under the Form: Documentary Feature.
INTERNATIONAL Animated Feature
Feature Films >70' 120'< (2021+)
Fee-8%
PRO 83%
Early25$23$
4.25$
10 Jan 25
Standard30$27.6$
5.1$
10 Feb 25
Late35$32.2$
5.95$
10 Mar 25
Extended40$36.8$
6.8$
10 Apr 25
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Submissions deadline
10 Apr 25
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20.75$
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Submit films made in any language and from anywhere in the world except INDIA. Films with a run time of 0 to 120 Minutes are eligible under the Form: Animated Feature.
INTERNATIONAL Short Documentary
Short Films 45'< (2021+)
Fee-8%
PRO 83%
Early15$13.8$
2.55$
10 Jan 25
Standard20$18.4$
3.4$
10 Feb 25
Late25$23$
4.25$
10 Mar 25
Extended30$27.6$
5.1$
10 Apr 25
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Submissions deadline
10 Apr 25
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12.45$
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Submit films made in any language and from anywhere in the world except INDIA. Films with a run time of 0 to 50 Minutes are eligible under the Form: Short Documentary.
INTERNATIONAL Short Film
Short Films >5' 45'< (2021+)
Fee-8%
PRO 83%
Early20$18.4$
3.4$
10 Jan 25
Standard25$23$
4.25$
10 Feb 25
Late30$27.6$
5.1$
10 Mar 25
Extended35$32.2$
5.95$
10 Apr 25
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Submissions deadline
10 Apr 25
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16.6$
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Submit films made in any language and from anywhere in the world except INDIA. Films with a minimum run time of 7 Minutes to a maximum run time of 45 Minutes are eligible under the Form: Short Film.
INTERNATIONAL Animated Short Film
Short Films >1' 45'< (2021+)
Fee-8%
PRO 83%
Early15$13.8$
2.55$
10 Jan 25
Standard20$18.4$
3.4$
10 Feb 25
Late25$23$
4.25$
10 Mar 25
Extended30$27.6$
5.1$
10 Apr 25
Get an Annual Pass and get the maximum discount on festival and submission fees
Submissions deadline
10 Apr 25
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12.45$
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Submit films made in any language and from anywhere in the world except INDIA. Films with the maximum run time of 45 Min is eligible under Animated Film
INTERNATIONAL Music Video
Short Films >1' 7'< (2021+)
Fee-8%
PRO 83%
Early10$9.2$
1.7$
10 Jan 25
Standard12$11.04$
2.04$
10 Feb 25
Late14$12.88$
2.38$
10 Mar 25
Extended16$14.72$
2.72$
10 Apr 25
Get an Annual Pass and get the maximum discount on festival and submission fees
Submissions deadline
10 Apr 25
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8.3$
Submit
Submit films made in any language and from anywhere in the world except INDIA. Videos with the maximum run time of 7 Min is eligible under Music Video.
INTERNATIONAL Short-short Films
Short Films 7'< (2021+)
Fee-8%
PRO 83%
Early10$9.2$
1.7$
10 Jan 25
Standard12$11.04$
2.04$
10 Feb 25
Late14$12.88$
2.38$
10 Mar 25
Extended16$14.72$
2.72$
10 Apr 25
Get an Annual Pass and get the maximum discount on festival and submission fees
Submissions deadline
10 Apr 25
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8.3$
Submit
Submit films made in any language and from anywhere in the world except INDIA. Films with a run time of 0 to 5 Minutes are eligible under the Form: Short-Short Film.
NATIONAL Feature Film
Feature Films >70' 120'< (2021+)
Fee-8%
PRO 83%
Early29$26.68$
4.93$
10 Jan 25
Standard36$33.12$
6.12$
10 Feb 25
Late43$39.56$
7.31$
10 Mar 25
Extended50$46$
8.5$
10 Apr 25
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Submissions deadline
10 Apr 25
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24.07$
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Submit films made in any language in INDIA except films made in the TAMIL language. Films with a run time of 0 to 120 Minutes are eligible under the Form: Narrative Feature.
NATIONAL Documentary Feature
Short and Feature Films >50' 120'< (2021+)
Fee-8%
PRO 83%
Early17$15.64$
2.89$
10 Jan 25
Standard22$20.24$
3.74$
10 Feb 25
Late27$24.84$
4.59$
10 Mar 25
Extended32$29.44$
5.44$
10 Apr 25
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Submissions deadline
10 Apr 25
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14.11$
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Submit films made in any language in INDIA except films made in the TAMIL language. Films with a minimum run time of 50 Minutes and above and up to any length are eligible under the Form: Documentary Feature.
NATIONAL Short Film
Short Films >5' 45'< (2021+)
Fee-8%
PRO 83%
Early12$11.04$
2.04$
10 Jan 25
Standard14$12.88$
2.38$
10 Feb 25
Late16$14.72$
2.72$
10 Mar 25
Extended18$16.56$
3.06$
10 Apr 25
Get an Annual Pass and get the maximum discount on festival and submission fees
Submissions deadline
10 Apr 25
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9.96$
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Submit films made in any language in INDIA except films made in the TAMIL language. Films with a minimum run time of 7 Minutes to a maximum run time of 45 Minutes are eligible under the Form: Short Film.
NATIONAL Animated Feature
Short and Feature Films >45' 120'< (2021+)
Fee-8%
PRO 83%
Early17$15.64$
2.89$
10 Jan 25
Standard22$20.24$
3.74$
10 Feb 25
Late27$24.84$
4.59$
10 Mar 25
Extended32$29.44$
5.44$
10 Apr 25
Get an Annual Pass and get the maximum discount on festival and submission fees
Submissions deadline
10 Apr 25
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14.11$
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Submit films made in any language in INDIA except films made in the TAMIL language. Films with a minimum run time of 46 to a maximum run time of 120 Minutes are eligible under the Form: Animated Feature.
NATIONAL Short Documentary
Short Films 45'< (2021+)
Fee-8%
PRO 83%
Early7$6.44$
1.19$
10 Jan 25
Standard10$9.2$
1.7$
10 Feb 25
Late13$11.96$
2.21$
10 Mar 25
Extended16$14.72$
2.72$
10 Apr 25
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Submissions deadline
10 Apr 25
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5.81$
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Submit films made in any language in INDIA except films made in the TAMIL language. Films with a run time of 0 to 50 Minutes are eligible under the Form: Short Documentary.
NATIONAL Animated Short
Short Films >5' 45'< (2021+)
Fee-8%
PRO 83%
Early7$6.44$
1.19$
10 Jan 25
Standard10$9.2$
1.7$
10 Feb 25
Late13$11.96$
2.21$
10 Mar 25
Extended16$14.72$
2.72$
10 Apr 25
Get an Annual Pass and get the maximum discount on festival and submission fees
Submissions deadline
10 Apr 25
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5.81$
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Submit films made in any language in INDIA except films made in the TAMIL language. Films with a run time of 0 to 45 Minutes are eligible under the Form: Animated Short.
NATIONAL Music Videos
Short Films 7'< (2021+)
Fee-8%
PRO 83%
Early4$3.68$
0.68$
10 Jan 25
Standard7$6.44$
1.19$
10 Feb 25
Late10$9.2$
1.7$
10 Mar 25
Extended13$11.96$
2.21$
10 Apr 25
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Submissions deadline
10 Apr 25
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3.32$
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Submit films made in any language in INDIA except films made in the TAMIL language. Videos with a run time 0 of 7 Minutes are eligible under the Form: Music Video.
NATIONAL Short-Short Film
Short Films 5'< (2021+)
Fee-8%
PRO 83%
Early4$3.68$
0.68$
10 Jan 25
Standard7$6.44$
1.19$
10 Feb 25
Late10$9.2$
1.7$
10 Mar 25
Extended13$11.96$
2.21$
10 Apr 25
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Submissions deadline
10 Apr 25
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3.32$
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Submit films made in any language in INDIA except films made in the TAMIL language. Films with a run time of 0 to 5 Minutes including credits are eligible under the Form: Short-Short Film.
STUDENT Feature Film
Feature Films >70' 120'< (2021+)
Fee-8%
PRO 83%
Early17$15.64$
2.89$
10 Jan 25
Standard17$15.64$
2.89$
10 Feb 25
Late17$15.64$
2.89$
10 Mar 25
Extended17$15.64$
2.89$
10 Apr 25
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Submissions deadline
10 Apr 25
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14.11$
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Submit only films made by students in any language and from anywhere in the world. Films with a run time of 0 to 120 Minutes are eligible under the Form: Narrative Feature.
STUDENT Documentary Feature
Short and Feature Films >50' 120'< (2021+)
Fee-8%
PRO 83%
Early11$10.12$
1.87$
10 Jan 25
Standard11$10.12$
1.87$
10 Feb 25
Late11$10.12$
1.87$
10 Mar 25
Extended11$10.12$
1.87$
10 Apr 25
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Submissions deadline
10 Apr 25
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9.13$
Submit
Submit only films made by students in any language and from anywhere in the world. Films with a minimum run time of 50 Minutes and above and up to any length are eligible under the Form: Documentary Feature.
STUDENT Animated Feature
Short and Feature Films >45' 120'< (2021+)
Fee-8%
PRO 83%
Early11$10.12$
1.87$
10 Jan 25
Standard11$10.12$
1.87$
10 Feb 25
Late11$10.12$
1.87$
10 Mar 25
Extended11$10.12$
1.87$
10 Apr 25
Get an Annual Pass and get the maximum discount on festival and submission fees
Submissions deadline
10 Apr 25
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9.13$
Submit
Submit only films made by students in any language and from anywhere in the world. Films with a run time of 0 to 120 Minutes are eligible under the Form: Animated Feature.
STUDENT Short Films
Short Films >5' 45'< (2021+)
Fee-8%
PRO 83%
Early9$8.28$
1.53$
10 Jan 25
Standard9$8.28$
1.53$
10 Feb 25
Late9$8.28$
1.53$
10 Mar 25
Extended9$8.28$
1.53$
10 Apr 25
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Submissions deadline
10 Apr 25
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7.47$
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Submit only films made by students in any language and from anywhere in the world. Films with a minimum run time of 7 Minutes to a maximum run time of 45 Minutes are eligible under the Form: Short Film.
STUDENT Short Documentary
Short Films 45'< (2021+)
Fee-8%
PRO 83%
Early6$5.52$
1.02$
10 Jan 25
Standard6$5.52$
1.02$
10 Feb 25
Late6$5.52$
1.02$
10 Mar 25
Extended6$5.52$
1.02$
10 Apr 25
Get an Annual Pass and get the maximum discount on festival and submission fees
Submissions deadline
10 Apr 25
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4.98$
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Submit only films made by students in any language and from anywhere in the world. Films with a run time of 0 to 50 Minutes are eligible under the Form: Short Documentary.
STUDENT Animated Short
Short Films 45'< (2021+)
Fee-8%
PRO 83%
Early6$5.52$
1.02$
10 Jan 25
Standard6$5.52$
1.02$
10 Feb 25
Late6$5.52$
1.02$
10 Mar 25
Extended6$5.52$
1.02$
10 Apr 25
Get an Annual Pass and get the maximum discount on festival and submission fees
Submissions deadline
10 Apr 25
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4.98$
Submit
Submit only films made by students in any language and from anywhere in the world. Films with a run time of 0 to 45 Minutes are eligible under the Form: Animated Short.
STUDENT Music Videos
Short Films 7'< (2021+)
Fee-8%
PRO 83%
Early4$3.68$
0.68$
10 Jan 25
Standard4$3.68$
0.68$
10 Feb 25
Late4$3.68$
0.68$
10 Mar 25
Extended4$3.68$
0.68$
10 Apr 25
Get an Annual Pass and get the maximum discount on festival and submission fees
Submissions deadline
10 Apr 25
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3.32$
Submit
Submit only films made by students in any language and from anywhere in the world. Videos with a run time 0 of 7 Minutes are eligible under the Form: Music Video.
STUDENT Short-Short Film
Short Films 5'< (2021+)
Fee-8%
PRO 83%
Early4$3.68$
0.68$
10 Jan 25
Standard4$3.68$
0.68$
10 Feb 25
Late4$3.68$
0.68$
10 Mar 25
Extended4$3.68$
0.68$
10 Apr 25
Get an Annual Pass and get the maximum discount on festival and submission fees
Submissions deadline
10 Apr 25
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3.32$
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Submit only if the film is made only by a student and is in any Language. Films with a run time of 0 to 5 Minutes are eligible under the Form: Short-Short Film.
International Short Film below 20 mins
Short Films 20'<
Fee-8%
PRO 83%
Early10$9.2$
1.7$
10 Jan 25
Standard12$11.04$
2.04$
10 Feb 25
Late14$12.88$
2.38$
10 Mar 25
Extended16$14.72$
2.72$
10 Apr 25
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Submissions deadline
10 Apr 25
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8.3$
Submit
National Short Film Below 20 mins
Short Films 20'< (2021+)
Fee-8%
PRO 83%
Early6$5.52$
1.02$
10 Jan 25
Standard8$7.36$
1.36$
10 Feb 25
Late10$9.2$
1.7$
10 Mar 25
Extended12$11.04$
2.04$
10 Apr 25
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10 Apr 25
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4.98$
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Festhome holds accountable fees festivals by holding the payment of the fees of most newer festivals until they have viewed the submissions, held their festivals and other methods.
-8%
Festhome holds accountable fees festivals by holding the payment of the fees of most newer festivals until they have viewed the submissions, held their festivals and other methods. 