As well as the annual PQA Film Festival to submit academy films to, there are numerous external festivals with a focus on young people produced content. We have put together a list of a few of these that you may wish to submit your student’s films. Some are free, where as some have a small fee. Most use Film Freeway for submissions which many of you will be familiar with as it’s the same submission platform that PQA.
Festivals highlighted in green are currently open for submissions!
UK Youth Film Festivals
Into Film – London
Free to enter
Currently closed for entries
https://www.intofilm.org/awards
BFI Future Film Festival – London
Free to enter
Takes place around February / currently closed for entries
Age range 16-25
https://whatson.bfi.org.uk/FutureFilmFestival/Online/default.asp
UK Film Festivals that have a focus on emerging talent
(These may suit independent made red group films)
Encounters Film Festival – Bristol
Fee £15-£20
Held in September
Deadline – July 12th 2023
https://www.encounters.film/submissions
Cinemagic Young Film Maker – Belfast
Free to enter
Held in October
Deadline – August 1st 2023
https://filmfreeway.com/CinemagicYoungFilmmaker
International Children’s Film Festivals – OPEN NOW
Smile International Film Festival for Children and Youth – India
Free to enter
Held in April
Deadline – March 15th 2023
All submitted films must have English subtitles regardless of the original language
https://filmfreeway.com/siffcy
Busan International Kids and Youth Film Festival – South Korea
Free to enter
Held in July
Deadline – March 20th 2023
https://filmfreeway.com/biky
Nenagh Children’s Film Festival – Ireland
Small fee – approx. £10
Held in June
Deadline – March 21st 2023
https://filmfreeway.com/NenaghChildrensFilmFestival
Cinemira International Children’s and Youth Film Festival – Hungary
Small fee – approx. £10-£15
Held in October
Deadline – May 31st 2023
https://filmfreeway.com/Cinemira
Filem’On – International Film Festival For Young Audiences – Belgium
Free to enter (Category European Shorts)
Held in October
Deadline – July 15th 2023
All submitted films must have English subtitles regardless of the original language
https://filmfreeway.com/InternationalChildrensFilmfestivalBrussels
The Athens International Children’s Film Festival – Greece
Small fee – approx. £3
Held in November
Deadline – August 25th 2023
https://filmfreeway.com/ATHICFF
International Festivals – Currently closed for entries
The Youth International Film Festival – USA
Free to enter
Held in September – currently closed for submissions
All films should be suitable for an audience of 9-14
Maximum length 15 minutes
https://filmfreeway.com/ChildrensInternationalFilmFestival
Los Angeles International Children’s Film Festival – USA
Small fee – approx. £20 based on previous festival year
Held in March – currently closed for submissions
https://filmfreeway.com/LosAngelesInternationalChildrensFilmFestival
Children’s Film Festival – Brazil
Small Fee – approx. £5 based on previous festival year
Held in October – currently closed for submissions
https://filmfreeway.com/CinemadeBrinquedo
Dytiatko International Children’s Media Festival – Ukraine
Free to enter
Held in September – currently closed for submissions
https://filmfreeway.com/ChildrensTVFest_Dytiatko
KINOdiseea International Childrens Film Festival – Romania
Free to enter
Held in September – currently closed for submissions
https://filmfreeway.com/KINOdiseea