FILMMAKER GUIDE · VERIFIED OCTOBER 9, 2026
Short Film Festivals: Open Submission Deadlines
Seven 2027 calls that are still open, sorted by the last published short-film deadline. Fees, limits, and premiere notes come from each festival's official page or FilmFreeway listing—check the source again before you pay.
7 open callsSorted by final deadlineUnknowns stay unknown
Open short film festival submissions
| Festival | Final short deadline | Published fee path | Runtime & format | Eligibility & premiere notes | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1IndieLisboa24th edition · Apr 29–May 9, 2027 | Dec 18, 2026 | Regular: €25 international short; €5 national short; €17 IndieJúnior (through Nov 18) | Up to 59 min; English-subtitled viewing link for non-English films | Produced in 2026 or 2027; competition sections generally require a first public presentation in Portugal | Official details |
| 2Mountainfilm2027 submissions · Telluride, Colorado | Jan 14, 2027 | Early: $40 short through Nov 24; official $50; late $70 | Under 40 min including credits; Vimeo screener preferred | Documentary only; any country; Colorado premiere restriction; seeking premieres after June 2026 | Official details |
| 3Vienna Shorts24th edition · May 25–30, 2027 | Jan 31, 2027 | Regular: €5–€19 by section through Jan 5; competition entries add €10 during extension | Up to 30 min; all genres and formats; English subtitles required | Completed after Jan 1, 2026; international and Austrian sections differ; Vienna exclusivity applies | Official details |
| 4Lower East Side Film Festival17th annual · Spring 2027 | Feb 24, 2027 | Early: $25 short through Nov 1; regular $30; late $35; extended $50; last-minute $60 | Not stated on the open-call page | Not stated on the open-call page; verify the linked submission terms before paying | Official details |
| 5FEST — New Directors | New Films23rd edition · Jun 19–27, 2027 | Feb 24, 2027 | Early: €10 short through Oct 12; regular €14; extended €20 | Not stated on the 2027 open-call page | Open to filmmakers worldwide across festival sections; consult the linked regulations for category limits | Official details |
| 6Galway Film Fleadh2027 submissions open · FilmFreeway rules checked | Apr 12 / May 4, 2027 | Early: €25 standard / €22.50 Gold; regular €30 / €27; late €35 / €31.50 | Under 40 min; English subtitles when needed; selected films: ProRes or H.264, later converted to DCP | International deadline Apr 12; Irish deadline May 4; premieres prioritized; films already online, on TV, or streaming are not accepted | Official details |
| 7Toronto Shorts2027 call for entries open | Jul 2, 2027 | Early $39; regular $49; extended $59; late $68 | Under 45 min; English subtitles required for non-English films | Completed after Jan 1, 2026; separate international, Canadian, and Greater Toronto categories | Official details |
Use the table without losing your fee window
- Open the official source and confirm the deadline is still active in your timezone.
- Match your runtime, completion date, country, language, and premiere history to the stated category.
- Prepare the private screener, subtitles, synopsis, stills, credits, and rights information the source requests.
- Create the named platform account, choose the matching category, review the live fee, and submit before the cutoff.
What remains unconfirmed
The Lower East Side and FEST open-call pages publish dates and fees but do not state every runtime, file-format, or premiere restriction on the same page. Those cells say so instead of filling the gaps from memory. Follow the official source and read its live rules before paying.
Source record
- IndieLisboa — 24th edition · Apr 29–May 9, 2027; deadline and fee information checked October 9, 2026.
- Mountainfilm — 2027 submissions · Telluride, Colorado; deadline and fee information checked October 9, 2026.
- Vienna Shorts — 24th edition · May 25–30, 2027; deadline and fee information checked October 9, 2026.
- Lower East Side Film Festival — 17th annual · Spring 2027; deadline and fee information checked October 9, 2026.
- FEST — New Directors | New Films — 23rd edition · Jun 19–27, 2027; deadline and fee information checked October 9, 2026.
- Galway Film Fleadh — 2027 submissions open · FilmFreeway rules checked; deadline and fee information checked October 9, 2026.
- Toronto Shorts — 2027 call for entries open; deadline and fee information checked October 9, 2026.
Festival dates, fees, and eligibility rules move every cycle. This page is checked, rebuilt, and re-sorted each year; always confirm the live official terms before submitting.