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Castrovillari Film Festival (CVFF) - International Auteur Short Film Festival is an international festival in Southern Italy dedicated to radical cinema of research, visionary auteur-driven works, and bold aesthetic exploration.

We champion cinema as an evolving art form: uncompromising narratives, hybrid languages, formal audacity, and personal artistic visions that challenge conventional storytelling.

KEY HIGHLIGHTS & AWARDS

$1,000 Cash Prizes (Grand Jury Prize & Best Short Film) + Official Trophies & Laurels.

No Premiere Policy: all genres eligible (Fiction, Doc, Animation, Experimental, Music Video) up to 30 minutes, including films already available online.

Live 4K Open-Air Screenings: theatrical presentation inside the historic Castello Aragonese, between the old town and the Pollino National Park.

Hospitality & Networking: complimentary accommodation and meals (full hospitality) are provided for all officially selected directors, alongside Q&As, panels, and networking events designed to connect filmmakers with audiences, critics, and industry guests.

AT A GLANCE — 8 YEARS OF CINEMA
13,000+ submissions - 100+ countries - 7,000+ attendees - 130+ official selections - 100+ awards presented.

ALUMNI & FESTIVAL FRIENDS
Prantik Narayan Basu (Rotterdam IFF; Berlinale) - Qiu Yang (Cannes Palme d'Or) - Yorgos Zois (Semaine de la Critique) - Guy Nattiv (Academy Award) - Alan King (Clermont-Ferrand) - Tommaso Santambrogio (Venice Film Festival) - Anthony Nti (Academy Award shortlisted) - Jeremy Comte (Academy Award nominee) - Andrea Gatopoulos (Quinzaine des Cineastes; Venice International Film Critics' Week) - Beatrice Baldacci (Venice Orizzonti; Biennale College - Venice 78) - Francesco Montagner (Locarno Film Festival) - Francesco Manzato (Venice International Film Critics' Week) - Davide Palella (Alice nella Citta - Rome) - Rossella Inglese (Venice International Film Critics' Week)

PRESS & TESTIMONIALS
"If you're a filmmaker and want to screen your film under the stars, Castrovillari Film Festival is the place for you." — Prantik Narayan Basu
"Passion and real understanding of cinema—world-class, truly diverse curation." — Alan King
"The best of international cinema in Italy." — Prem1ere Film

ARTISTIC DIRECTION
Curated for the 9th consecutive year by Antonio La Camera (Venice International Film Critics' Week) and Francesco Sottile (winner, "2 Agosto" Composition Competition). Produced by Associazione Culturale Chimera APS.

SUBMIT YOUR FILM — uncompromising visions belong here.

FOR ALL OFFICIAL SELECTIONS

Complimentary Post-Production & Screening Package:
-- Dialogue and on-screen text translation (EN <-> IT)
-- Professional .srt subtitle creation (Italian or English)
-- Projection file master finalization for theatrical screening

Free Deliverables: All produced materials are provided back to directors and producers free of charge (in-kind service value exceeding $6,000 for the official selection).

CASH PRIZES & MAIN AWARDS

BEST SHORT FILM: $500 Cash Prize + Official Trophy + Laurels
GRAND JURY PRIZE: $500 Cash Prize + Official Trophy + Laurels

SPECIAL & JURY AWARDS

JURY SPECIAL MENTION: Official Trophy + Laurels
UNIVERSITY OF CALABRIA STUDENT JURY AWARD: Official Trophy + Laurels
BEST CALABRIAN SHORT FILM: Official Trophy + Laurels
AUDIENCE AWARD: Official Trophy + Laurels
BEST MUSIC VIDEO: Official Trophy + Laurels

INDIVIDUAL ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS
BEST DIRECTOR: Official Trophy + Laurels
BEST SCREENPLAY: Official Trophy + Laurels
BEST ACTOR: Official Trophy + Laurels
BEST ACTRESS: Official Trophy + Laurels
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY: Official Trophy + Laurels
BEST EDITING: Official Trophy + Laurels
BEST ORIGINAL SCORE: Official Trophy + Laurels

Who can apply: Open to all national and international filmmakers, distribution companies, and film schools.

Production year: Works must have been completed on or after January 1, 2024.

Runtime: Maximum length 30 minutes (including closing credits).

Genre and Theme: Open topic; all genres eligible (Narrative Fiction, Documentary, Animation, Experimental, Music Video).

Premiere status: No premiere restrictions; films previously screened at other festivals or publicly available online are fully eligible.

subtitles: All films in languages other than english or Italian must include english subtitles at the time of submission. (Films selected for the festival will receive complimentary Italian/english subtitle translation and file mastering).

Multiple entries: Submitters may enter more than one project; each submission requires its own entry form and fee.

Submission fees: All entry fees are non-refundable once processed.

Rights and clearances: The submitter guarantees they hold all necessary intellectual property, synchronization, and music clearances. CVFF accepts no legal responsibility for unauthorized content.

Screening permission: By submitting, you grant CVFF the non-exclusive right to screen the film before a live audience during the official festival dates.

Screening fees: CVFF does not pay screening or licensing fees; all official selections are screened free of charge as part of the competition.

Promotion: CVFF reserves the right to use excerpt clips (up to 30 seconds), film stills, posters, and synopsis materials for festival marketing, catalog, press, and social media.

Withdrawal policy: No submitted work may be withdrawn from the official program once the official selection has been announced.

Submission channels: Submissions are accepted exclusively through our official partner platforms (Festhome).

Changes and force majeure: The festival organization reserves the right to amend dates, schedule, and venue under exceptional circumstances, with immediate notification via our official channels.

Acceptance: Submitting a film to the Castrovillari Film Festival implies unconditional acceptance of all terms and guidelines listed above.

National and international narrative short films below 30 minutes. Short films in this category will compete for all festival awards.

National and international documentary short films below 30 minutes. Short films in this category will compete for all festival awards.

National and international animation short films below 30 minutes. Short films in this category will compete for all festival awards.

National and international experimental short films below 30 minutes. Short films in this category will compete for all festival awards.

Narrative, documentary, animation and experimental short films directed by a Calabrian author or shot in the Calabria region below 30 minutes. Short films in this category will compete for all festival awards.

National and international music video below 30 minutes. Music video in this category will compete for the Best Music Video Award.