The Department of Contemporary Culture of the Deputy Ministry of Culture, in collaboration with Rialto Theatre, has announced the opening of submissions for the International Short Film Festival of Cyprus (ISFFC).
An established annual cultural institution, the Festival aims to promote cinematic art through a diverse and carefully curated programme of short films from around the world. At the same time, it highlights the work of talented filmmakers who successfully employ creative cinematic language and narrative forms to tell compelling stories within the short film format.
Who can apply
Filmmakers are invited to submit short films in the following categories: fiction, documentary, experimental, student and animation. Submitted films must not exceed 30 minutes in duration.
All submissions must be made electronically via the platforms Shortfilmdepot and FilmFreeway.
Cypriot films
Cypriot productions compete for both international and national awards. Eligible for submission to the national competition section are Cypriot directors living and working either in Cyprus or abroad.
Only films that will have their Cyprus premiere at the Festival are eligible to participate.
International section and awards
From 2019 to the present, the International Short Film Festival of Cyprus has been a partner festival of the European Film Academy, holding the right to nominate one film for consideration for the European Film Awards.
Awards, including cash prizes and in-kind distinctions, will be presented across various categories by a five-member international jury composed of prominent figures from the film industry. The names of the jury members, who will evaluate both the national and international competition sections, will be announced at a later stage.
Festival dates and deadline
The Festival will take place at the Rialto Theatre in Limassol from 10 to 16 October 2026.
The deadline for submissions is 2 May 2026. Full details regarding terms, conditions and the application process are available on the Festival’s official website: www.isffc.com.cy.
Further information
For additional information, interested parties may contact: info@isffc.com.cy | isffc@rialto.com.cy