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Submissions Open

Miami Short Film Festival

NOV 13-15, 2026
25 YEARS RUNNING
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Deadlines

AUG 16, 2025Opens
NOV 15, 2025Earlybird Deadline
JAN 15, 2026Regular Deadline
MAR 15, 2026Late Deadline
MAY 15, 2026Extended Deadline
JUL 31, 2026Last Call Deadline
AUG 31, 2026Final Deadline

About festival

Completion date requirement: 2024

Miami Short Film Festival

For 25 years, MIAMIsFF has presented exceptional short-form cinema (30 minutes or less), offering a world-class platform for American, international, and Latin American filmmakers. Each year, from hundreds of submissions, we curate 50+ outstanding films that reflect the broad spectrum of human experience and highlight emerging talent in directing, producing, and acting.

Be part of our vibrant creative community! Thousands return to Miami annually for the original short film festival in South Florida, enjoying three unforgettable days of film blocks organized thematically to capture the depth, emotion, and artistry of contemporary short filmmaking.

Beyond the festival weekend, MIAMIsFF continues to champion the art form with monthly screenings, special events, educational outreach, and a traveling showcase that brings selected films to audiences nationwide—fueling a growing movement dedicated to short cinema.

𝗢𝘂𝗿 𝗽𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗼𝘀𝗽𝗵𝘆: short films—past and present—are true works of art, deserving a dedicated platform.

𝗢𝘂𝗿 𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻: To nurture the next generation of filmmakers by giving their work the recognition, visibility, and celebration it merits.

Trailer

Festival Amenities

Hotel DiscountsSwag BagsFilmmaker EventsAfter PartiesQ&A SessionsIndustry PanelsAll Access BadgesComplimentary TicketsPriority SeatingSocial Media SpotlightFestival Catalog

Accepted Content

Genres:
ActionAnimationBiographyComedyDocumentaryDrama
HorrorRomanceThriller
Film Types:
NarrativeDocumentaryExperimentalAnimationNon-Fiction
Categories:
Short Film
Festival Focus:
Emerging Filmmakers

Submission Categories

NARRATIVE - USA & Canada

Any live action fictional film.

Fee: $72.25Deadline: July 31, 2026
Type: Film

NARRATIVE - FOREIGN

Fee: $72.25Deadline: July 31, 2026
Type: Film

DOCUMENTARY

Any non-fiction short film.

Fee: $72.25Deadline: July 31, 2026
Type: Film

EXPERIMENTAL

Any film that falls outside of the other three categories, can be considered "alternative" filmmaking, and/or think "outside of the box."

Fee: $72.25Deadline: July 31, 2026
Type: Film

ANIMATION

Any film utilizing rapid display of a sequence of images of 2-D artwork or model positions in order to create an illusion of movement.

Fee: $72.25Deadline: July 31, 2026
Type: Film

MUSIC VIDEO

Fee: $46.5Deadline: July 31, 2026
Type: Film

WEB / NEW MEDIA

Fee: $72.25Deadline: July 31, 2026
Type: Film

STUDENT - COLLEGE / UNIVERSITY

Any short film produced by a college or university student. Must submit copy of valid student ID with submission.

Fee: $46.75Deadline: July 31, 2026
Type: Film

SHORT/short Under 5 Min

Fee: $29.75Deadline: July 31, 2026
Type: Film

LATAM Short (Latin America)

Producciones de cualquier género procedentes de Latino América.

Fee: $46.75Deadline: July 31, 2026
Type: Film

Festival Team

WV

WILLIAM VELA

Executive Director / Founder & Director of Program

GM

Georgina Molina

Director of Operations & Marketing

LS

Luigi Di Scipio

Programming Director

EP

Esteban Prieto

Technical Director

RS

Ricardo Salazar

Stage Manager/Operations

Festival Rules

Completion date requirement: 2024

Rules & Terms:

I, the undersigned, do hereby consent and agree that the Miami Short Film Festival and its employees or agents have the right to present my film and to use these in any and all media, now known or hereafter known, exclusively for the purpose of promoting the Miami Short Film Festival. I further consent that my name and identity may be revealed therein or by descriptive text or commentary. I do hereby release to the Miami Short Film Festival, its agents, and employees all rights to exhibit this work in print and electronic form publicly or privately. I understand that, there will be no financial or other remuneration for showcasing the film, either for the initial or subsequent transmission or playback. I represent that I am at least 18 years of age, have read and understand the foregoing statement, and am competent to execute this agreement. The Miami short Film Festival is under no obligation to provide to the Applicant or any other representative of the Project any comments or feedback regarding the submitted Project. ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS * Films must have been completed after January 1, 2024. All non-English films must have English subtitles. Previewing films must be submitted electronically through the FilmFreeway system. * We will only consider works with a maximum running time of 30 minutes. There is no minimum running time. * Works-in-progress will be considered, provided they are completed prior to the festival. * We do not allow multiple category entries. * Please do NOT send stills or press kits. If your film is selected, we will ask you to email us a still image(s) and a trailer. * Exhibition format will have to be uploaded on the MIAMIsFF server if selected to be screened. * You will be notified of acceptance by September 5, 2025. * We accept films shot in all formats. * All films selected for the festival, grant MIAMIsFF the rights to use them for promotional purposes. * MIAMIsFF is permitted to retain copies of each film selected as part of our festival library and for media educational use or for MIAMIsFF events throughout the year. * All films selected for the festival grant MIAMIsFF the rights to upload a clip/trailer online for promotional purposes. * Though not a requirement, we prefer that films NOT have previously screened in a public theatrical setting in Dade or Broward County, Florida, prior to their screening at MIAMIsFF. * Our selection committee will factor in previous screenings in the Dade or Broward area when determining a film’s potential invitation. * You may submit more than one film, but each one must be submitted separately and be accompanied by its own completed submission form and entry fee. * The Festival will not confirm receipt of a film by telephone. * You have the option of paying with a credit card online after you fill out and submit the entry form. * All fees are non-refundable. * Entries will not be viewed without entry fee payment. Selection: * Film selection for the festival will be made by the Festival Committee. * All filmmakers will be notified via email of their acceptance.