The Sony Future Filmmaker Awards have officially opened for entries for their 2027 edition. Filmmakers from around the world are invited to submit their short films for free. Now in their fifth year, the Awards continue to grow, offering emerging filmmakers an opportunity to showcase their work on a global stage, build industry connections and develop their craft through an exclusive industry program.

Read more about Sony Future Filmmaker Awards 2027 on Contest Watchers.

Seattle International Film Festival (SIFF) has opened its call for submissions for 2027, scheduled from 13-23 May at SIFF Cinemas and venues throughout the region. In 2027, the Seattle International Film Festival will be celebrating 53 years of presenting the best in international and independent films from around the globe. Every year, SIFF gives out the Golden Space Needle Audience Awards for Best Narrative Film, Best Documentary Film, Best Director, Best Performance, and Best Short Film, and the Lena Sharpe Award for Persistence of Vision (presented by Women in Film Seattle, this audience award is given to the feature film by a woman director that receives the most votes in our Golden Space Needle balloting). In addition, SIFF sponsors nine (8) juried awards, awarding over $30,000 in cash prizes.

Read more about Seattle International Film Festival (SIFF) 2027 on Contest Watchers.

The International Uranium Film Festival invites filmmakers worldwide to submit their best work for the 2027 edition. The festival accepts productions exploring the complex themes of nuclear power, radioactivity, and the use of radioactive elements, including uranium. From Hiroshima to Fukushima: nuclear war and atomic bomb tests, nuclear disasters like Three Mile Island, Chernobyl or Fukushima, uranium mining, the use of depleted uranium weapons, nuclear waste, radioactive contamination, nuclear medicine, films about nuclear scientists like Marie Curie, Enrico Fermi, Otto Hahn or Albert Einstein. The festival is competitive. The best films receive the Uranium Film Festival trophy.

Read more about International Uranium Film Festival 2027 on Contest Watchers.

The Anča civic association has opened the call for entries for the 20th Fest Anča International Animation Festival. The milestone edition of the Slovak festival will present animated short films and music videos from around the world. The competition is open to animators of any age, both professionals and students. Only animated short films and music videos completed after 1st January 2025 are accepted. All works must be original and created by humans. A total of €6,000 will be awarded across five Anča Awards. The winners of Best Animated Short and Best Slovak Animated Short will each receive €1,500, while Best Student Animated Short, Best Animated Music Video and Best Animated Short for Children carry €1,000 each.

Read more about 20th Fest Anča International Animation Festival 2027 on Contest Watchers.

Pictoplasma Berlin 2027 is calling for animation submissions for the “Characters In Motion” international screenings. High-grade Characters in animation, narration, music visuals, experimental work or motion graphics, from any part of the world, are eligible. All entered animated short films (experimental, narrative, non-narrative, commissioned, or student films) submitted before February 1 will be considered for the 23rd Pictoplasma festival selection, scheduled to take place in Berlin in May 2027.

Read more about Pictoplasma Berlin 2027 – Characters In Motion on Contest Watchers.

San Diego Comic Convention has announced the Comic-Con International Independent Film Festival 2027. The 2027 edition marks its twentieth year as a juried event and is open for entries. The festival invites independent filmmakers with genre-related work. It seeks completed films in action, animation, comics, documentary, horror, humor and speculative fiction, suitable for an all-ages audience. The best works will be awarded with category awards and a Judge’s Choice honor. Selected films will be screened during Comic-Con International, with complimentary professional memberships for presenting filmmakers.

Read more about Comic-Con International Independent Film Festival (CCI-IFF) 2027 on Contest Watchers.

Never Such Innocence (NSI) has opened for submissions its International Competition 2026/27. The edition runs under the theme “Through My Eyes”. The competition invites young people aged 9–18 from around the world. It welcomes entries in Poetry, Art and Short Film responding to the theme. The call is open for entries. The best works will be awarded with publication in a digital booklet, an NSI prize pack and invitations to take part in special opportunities.

Read more about Never Such Innocence International Competition 2026/27 on Contest Watchers.

The Revelation Perth International Film Festival is accepting entries for 2027 and invites filmmakers from all around the world to submit their best works. Revelation is regarded as one of the most exciting independent film festivals in Australia and will run from 7-18 July, 2027 in Perth. The festival is competitive and offers a unique take on the traditional film festival circuit, with critical discussion, creative debate and an open exchange of ideas. Alongside the screening of over 140 films are workshops, networking opportunities and Australia’s only academic conference held in partnership with a film festival. It sees over 500 films submitted for selection from local and international filmmakers and features world and Australian premiere films of all genres.

Read more about Revelation Perth International Film Festival 2027 on Contest Watchers.

ÉCU – The European Independent Film Festival is calling for submissions for the 22nd edition of the festival. As one of the world’s most recognized independent film festivals in the world, ÉCU embraces innovation and creativity and allows directors in competition to showcase their films to audiences who love and appreciate independent cinema. The Festival is competitive and focuses on original and independent works that demonstrate quality, creativity and innovation across fourteen categories.

Read more about ÉCU 2027 – 22nd European Independent Film Festival on Contest Watchers.

The La Guarimba International Film Festival is calling for short film entries for 2027 on any theme by filmmakers from all parts of the world. La Guarimba International Film Festival is seeking for Fiction, Animation, Documentary, Music Videos, Experimental, Dance Films and Children’s Animation of any nationality and language. The selection for 2027 will include around 170 films that will be selected to be screened at the festival and will be part of the competition. The best Fiction, Documentary and Animation films will each be awarded with 800 Euro and a trophy. The best Music Video and Children’s Animation will each be awarded with 300 Euro and a trophy. Trophies will also be awarded in all other competition categories.

Read more about La Guarimba International Film Festival 2027 on Contest Watchers.