Beirut Short Film Festival 2026 with Prizes of up to USD 5,000

Beirut Shorts International Film Festival opens submissions for short films as part of its 2026 edition in Beirut, Lebanon. The festival is considered one of the leading short film festivals in the Arab world and is an Oscar-qualifying festival. It aims to support young and emerging filmmakers and promote cultural exchange and creative dialogue through cinema and short films.

Available Submission Categories

1. International Short Fiction Film Competition.
2. International Short Documentary Film Competition.
3. International Short Animation Film Competition.
4. International Short Experimental Film Competition.
5. International Short Web and New Media Film Competition.
6. Lebanese Independent Film Competition.
7. Beirut Sparks Competition for promising films/talents.
8. Beirut Seeds Competition for emerging talents or projects.
9. For Earth, Peace and Justice Award.
10. Audience Choice Award.

Submission Fees

1. International competition categories: the submission fee appears as USD 45 for regular applicants and USD 40 for students or FilmFreeway Gold members.
2. Lebanese Independent Film categories: the submission fee appears as USD 20.

• Cash prizes with a total value of up to USD 5,000.
• Awards for the best films in the short fiction, documentary, animation, experimental, and new media film competitions.
• Some categories are Oscar-qualifying, such as Best Short Fiction Film, Best Short Documentary, and Best Short Animation Film.
• An opportunity to screen the film before an audience, filmmakers, and programmers from international festivals.
• Professional and cultural networking opportunities with filmmakers from Lebanon and around the world.
• The festival provides logistical travel support for directors of selected international films if they wish to attend the screenings and events in Lebanon, subject to certain conditions.

1. The film must be a short film and less than 50 minutes long.
2. The film must have been produced after October 1, 2024.
3. The screening in Lebanon must be a premiere, as films that have previously been screened in Lebanon are not accepted in the competition.
4. The film must include appropriate English subtitles.
5. The applicant must be the rights holder of the film or an authorized representative submitting it.
6. A high-quality screening copy must be provided if the film is officially selected.

Important Dates

1. Regular submission deadline: July 12, 2026.
2. Late submission deadline: August 12, 2026.
3. Extended final deadline: September 12, 2026.
4. Results/notifications announcement: September 20, 2026.
5. Festival dates: November 1–6, 2026.

See also: Various and Outstanding International Awards and Competitions 

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