The Cornwall Film Festival is open for entries from across the globe. Enter the competition now!

We are looking for bold, innovative, and genuine stories! Our festival is not only a way to show established filmmakers' work, but also to give visibility to those who are emerging.

Every feature & short film will have an in-person screening, films that have opted-in will also have an online screening.

Short Film Competition 2024
The Short Film Competition comprises the lineup of short films across seven competitive sections from local, national and international filmmaking talent. It features the most innovative and adventurous ideas from filmmakers whose short films demonstrate distinctive and genuine storytelling, stylistic boldness, strength of form, and the ambition to use the medium in a way that resists cliché. We screen around 60 short films.

Feature Film Selection 2024
Big names, big talent, The Feature Film Selection will feature six Narrative previews, six unique ways to celebrate the art of storytelling. and an additional four Non-Narrative stories that demonstrate integrity, energy and unique voices. Scary, funny, sexy, controversial and provocative after-dark features together with bite-sized bits for night owls and the terminally curious for all of your sex, gore, and funny bone cravings. Core ten acclaimed International standout features from filmmakers from around the world.

Our previous expert judges have included Die Hexen (composer, You are Not My Mother), Andy De Emmony (director, The Last Kingdom, Four Kids & It), Kate Cheesman (director, Doc Martin, Call the Midwife), Joss Agnew (director, The Man Who Fell To Earth, Poldark), Clare Tavernor (director, My Life as a Rolling Stone, Huey Morgan's Latin Music Adventure), Pat Kelman (CEO, 606 Distribution), and many more.

British film director Mike Leigh is the festival's patron.

We want to encourage under-represented groups in our short programme so therefore we can offer a 25% waiver code to queer, BIPOC, women & disabled filmmakers in 2023.

TECH TOP TIP: When submitting your film please make sure it is at 24 frames per second (fps)

Your Short Film’s Journey at CFF:

1- Your film will be judged and rated by our pre-selectors.
2- Once pre-selectors have watched all the films, our industry professionals will curate the selected* work into different screening blocks.
3- The winner and runners-up of each category will be placed in the competition for Best Festival Short Film and other awards.

*you will only receive a “selected” notification if your worki= is going to be screened in a cinema or auditorium.

Awards & Prizes
The top percentage of filmmakers in each category will have their work screened at Cornwall Film Festival events in 2024.

Each category winner will receive a trophy, with nominees receiving a discount on a weekend pass, including screening, talks and masterclasses.

Our Main Award Categories in the competition are:
Best Student Short
Best Regional Short
Best International Short
Best Cornish Short Film
Best Experimental Short Film
New Wave Jury Winner

Films selected as part of the official selection will also be eligible for our sub-awards recognises performance and visual talent.

These are:
Best Actor
Best Ensemble Performance
Cinematography
Good Screenwriting in a Short Film
Directors Choice Award
Best Music in a short

CORNWALL FILM FESTIVAL/MOR MEDIA CHARITY SUBMISSION GUIDELINES
& TERMS AND CONDITIONS

-Short films should have a maximum running time of 20 minutes.
-Feature films are considered to have a runtime of 40 minutes or over.
-For 360 films, please ensure that your work is compatible with Oculus Go headsets. Please provide a downloadable link to your project as an mp4 file
-For VR and Immersive experiences, please provide a link to a fully build of the project. Please also include a setup reader and full technical requirements. The festival does not supply any additional equipment beyond headsets and VR laptops.
-All films in languages other than English must have burnt-in subtitles.
-There is no premiere requirement. We will accept submissions of films that have previously screened elsewhere, including at other festivals.
-There is no required completion date for screening, but films completed in the past 2 years are preferred.
-Only submissions through Filmfreeway will be considered.
-Your entry form must include your name, address, telephone number and email so that we can contact you.
-Your film must not be in breach of any copyright, including music or sound used in your film.
-The link to your video included in your submission form must not expire.
-We are unable to grant waiver requests, if you are a Cornwall Film Festival alumni then please contact the office.
-Cornwall Film Festival does not cover screening fees.
-Submissions are final and subject to a no-refund policy.
-All submissions are watched in their entirety and given the full attention of our team of programmers. The date of submission has no reflection on our selection decisions.
-When submitting your film please make sure it is at 24 frames per second (fps)
If selected, we require work in DCP (Digital Cinema Package) format

PUBLICITY

1. By summiting work, you are giving permission to the Cornwall Film Festival to the reproduction of stills and clips of selected films, for all Cornwall Film Festival publications, trailers, press and TV coverage, and social media channels, and in long-form in a compilation of Festival work that will tour regionally.
2. Cornwall Film Festival agrees to promote filmmakers by listing and advertising the work with the information supplied correctly.

SUBMISSION AGREEMENT

1. The final selection of all films presented at the festival and their placement in the program is the responsibility of the Programmer Manager for the Cornwall Film Festival, the process is overseen by the festival’s Director. The organisation of the event and programming of all other non-competitive elements is the responsibility of the Director and the festival team.

2. Within your submission, you will be asked if you have read and agreed with the Terms and Conditions laid out in this document. The entry of a film is binding and implies the acceptance of these regulations.

3. In the event of disagreement concerning the interpretation of the regulations, the interpretation of the festival will take precedence.

4. Failure to comply with these Terms and Conditions may result in the submission being disqualified.

5. These regulations are subject to change without prior notice.

Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Kathryn Cooley

    Great Festival, it was an honour to be involved

    January 2024
  • An incredible film festival. It was an honor to be among the films selected. Such a well promoted and organized event. May it continue to have a long life. Thank you all!

    December 2023
  • Annette Westwood

    Amazing festival! Honoured for our short film to be a part of 2022 festival line-up. Huge thanks to all the festival team

    November 2022
  • Keith Allott

    We were lucky enough to be selected for the festival this year and we had a really positive experience. The communication was excellent and the festival is committed to exhibiting work in the best way possible. Great festival, well worth the submission fee. Highly recommend.

    November 2021
  • Owain Astles

    Have had a great time screening with Cornwall Film Festival, looking forward to hopefully more events with them in future!

    November 2021