Film Submissions

If you are a filmmaker who wants new audiences for your short film, we can provide a slice, or two, or three.

Some good films go into hiding when they deserve more viewing opportunities. We believe every good film should be seen more, not less. Whether you have had a successful run in film festivals, or managed to have a good viewership on TV channels and online platforms, there will always be some people who haven’t had the chance to watch your film. Hungry audiences are everywhere, let’s reach them together.

Cineolio showcases short films to the public in various venues around the world, celebrating cinematic togetherness and pushing intellectual and cultural exchange. So far, we have organized 34 screenings showing short films from 26 countries, all followed by open discussions with the viewers. Check out our past screenings, and submit your films for a chance to be included in our upcoming ones.

SUBMISSION DEADLINE

The next window for film submissions will open in April 2025, and it’ll be free. We can’t wait to watch your films.

Before submitting your short film, please review our complete submission rules and regulations below carefully, and check out the filmmakers frequently asked questions.

ELIGIBILITY

  1. The duration of a short film must not exceed 20 minutes.

  2. We accept short films from any country around the world.

  3. We accept narrative, documentary and experimental short films.

  4. There is no premiere status required.

  5. There is no restriction on the year of release.

  6. Short films in languages other than English will only be accepted with English subtitles.

RULES & REGULATIONS

  1. Although every submission must be accompanied by a submission fee to cover administrative costs, we are waiving all submissions fees until further notice (so, take the chance and submit your short films).

  2. Cineolio has no premiere eligibility requirements (short films that have been previously screened anywhere are eligible), and has no public or internet broadcast eligibility requirements (short films that have been shown on TV or streamed on digital platforms such as Vimeo, YouTube, or the likes, are eligible).

  3. Submitters are responsible for securing and acknowledge that they have all necessary rights and permissions from copyright holders relating to their short films required to exhibit them anywhere around the world. Submitters hereby expressly indemnify Cineolio and its affiliates against any claim arising out of the exhibition of their short films.

  4. Cineolio’s selection committee will not view multiple versions of the same short film or updates/modifications of its submission form for programming consideration, and all resubmissions will be disregarded. Cineolio urges submitters to view their submission material thoroughly before submitting their short films.

  5. Selection notifications will be sent to submitters electronically via email, and submitters of selected short films will be required to send the screening copy and other material within a specific time frame to finalize the selection process. Cineolio reserves the right to refuse any entry at its own discretion. The decision of Cineolio’s selection committee is final and may not be challenged.

  6. According to the completed submission forms, Cineolio is hereby granted the rights, non-exclusively, to add the selected short films in its library, include them in its cultural and educational programs and exhibit them to the public worldwide.

  7. Cineolio is hereby granted the rights to utilize excerpts, stills, posters, and related information of the selected short films for marketing and promotional purposes in any way by all means on all platforms and mediums.

  8. All submissions that do not meet the eligibility requirements, or follow these rules and regulations, will be disregarded.

  9. Cineolio reserves the right to update or modify these rules and regulations at any time without prior notice.

  10. By submitting, submitters hereby warrant that they are authorized to commit their short films for exhibition under Cineolio, and acknowledge that they understand and accept these requirements, rules and regulations.