Overview
The Edinburgh Short Film Festival (ESFF) is an international short film festival held annually in November in Edinburgh, Scotland. The 16th edition will take place in November 2026. The festival is open to any form of short film, genre, budget, and technique from any part of the world, with a maximum duration of 25 minutes including credits. The festival presents awards for Best Film, Best Animated Film, and Best Scottish Film, along with trophies and cash prizes.
ESFF is a BIFA (British Independent Film Awards) qualifying festival, which means that winning the Best Film award at ESFF can help a short film qualify for BIFA consideration. The festival is not an Academy Award-qualifying or BAFTA-qualifying festival. It does not operate a film market. However, the festival has built a network of international partner festivals and takes selected short film programs on tour to festivals around the world, giving filmmakers additional screening opportunities beyond the Edinburgh event.
The festival screens international short films alongside Scottish and UK productions, with a focus on networking and connecting filmmakers across borders. The 2026 edition features international showcases, additional short film screenings in Edinburgh, and touring programs at partner festivals globally.
Submission Fees and Deadlines (2026 Edition)
- Early Bird deadline: Friday 20 February 2026 - GBP 13
- Regular deadline: Friday 15 May 2026 - GBP 15
- Late deadline: Friday 19 June 2026 - GBP 20
Submission Platforms
Films can be submitted through any of the following platforms:
- FilmFreeway
- Festhome
- Short Film Depot
- Online link with password (via the ESFF website)
Additional Submission Rules
- Maximum film duration: 25 minutes including credits.
- Films should be no older than 1 January 2024.
- All films must be in English or have embedded English subtitles.
- Submission by online screener is accepted (YouTube, Vimeo, etc.).
- Discounts are available for institutions, colleges, universities, and distributors making bulk entries of 5 or more films. Contact edinburghshorts@gmail.com for bulk submission discounts.
- Final exhibition copies must be received by Friday 14 August 2026.
- All entrants will be notified of selection by 21 September 2026.
- The festival will take place in November 2026.
The submission fee is non-refundable. ESFF does not provide comments on films prior to selection or reasons for rejection. Full rules and regulations are available on the ESFF website.
Eligibility and Requirements
General Eligibility
- Open to any short film, any genre, any budget, any technique.
- Maximum duration: 25 minutes including credits.
- Films must have been completed after 1 January 2024.
- International films are welcomed.
- All films must be in English or have embedded English subtitles.
- No premiere requirement is stated in the festival rules.
Technical Requirements for Selected Films
- Final exhibition copies must be received by 14 August 2026.
- Submission by online screener is the standard method.
- Selected films may be used in festival trailers and promotional materials (clips up to 10% of the film's duration for short films).
- Stills from selected films may be screened or published online to promote the festival.
- The submitter must have legal authority to submit the film and all necessary rights for public screening, including music and image rights.
Key Sections
- International Short Film Program - short films from around the world across all genres
- Animation Program - animated short films
- Scottish Short Film Program - short films by Scottish filmmakers or produced in Scotland
- International Showcases - curated programs at partner festivals worldwide
- Best of Fest - highlights from the festival program screened at partner venues
Major Awards
- Best Film - jury prize with trophy and cash prize
- Best Animated Film - jury prize with trophy and cash prize
- Best Scottish Short Film - jury prize with trophy and cash prize
The festival does not publish specific cash prize amounts on its website. The awards are presented by a jury selected by the festival organizers. The Best Film award carries BIDA qualifying status, which can help short films qualify for British Independent Film Awards consideration.
What Filmmakers Should Know
ESFF is a mid-sized short film festival with a straightforward submission process. The GBP 13 early bird fee is low compared to major international short film festivals. The festival accepts submissions through FilmFreeway, Festhome, Short Film Depot, and direct online link.
The festival's BIDA qualifying status is its most significant industry credential. Winning the Best Film award at ESFF can help a short film become eligible for BIDA short film awards. For UK-based short filmmakers, this is a concrete industry benefit.
The international touring program is a distinctive feature. Selected films tour to partner festivals worldwide, extending your film's festival life without additional submissions. Edinburgh hosts EIFF and the Fringe, but ESFF runs independently in November when hotel rates are lower. The festival does not provide travel or accommodation funding. Contact: edinburghshorts@gmail.com.
Festival History
The Edinburgh Short Film Festival was founded in 2011 and has operated continuously for 16 editions. The festival expanded from a local Edinburgh event to an international festival with global touring partnerships. The BIDA qualifying status was achieved in 2024. The festival has screened at venues including the Filmhouse and Summerhall.
Watch
Past Winners
2025:
- Best Film: The Truck by Elizabeth Rao. A coming-of-age film about a Chinese American teenager and her boyfriend searching for the morning-after pill in post-Roe America. Executive produced by Spike Lee and Joan Chen. Oscar-longlisted, with 20+ international awards.
- Best Scottish Film: Here Comes the Nun by Jack Willison. A Glaswegian bouncer performs a sham exorcism for fast cash. Also won Grand Prize at the Global Filmapalooza 48 Hour Film Project.
2023:
- Best Film: Last Days of Summer by Stenzin Tankyong. A Himalayan mystery about two young shepherds who hear strange sounds in the mountains. Also screened at IFFR 2023.
- Best Animation: The Smile by Erik van Schaaik. A stop-motion mockumentary about a damsel-devouring horror movie actor. Nominated for the Cristal at Annecy 2023.
- Best Scottish Film: Candy by Sarah Grant. A body-positive comedy about a plus-size burlesque enthusiast. Also won Best Film at Women X and 16 Days, 16 Films festivals.
2021:
- Best Film: Annah La Javanaise by Fatimah Tobing Rony. An animated reimagining of the life of Paul Gauguin's 13-year-old maid.
- Best Animation: Step Into the River by Weijing MA. A surreal exploration of China's one-child policy. Won Best Animation Short at Palm Springs ShortFest 2021.
- Best Scottish Film: Tom Cat by Kirsty McLean. A woman processes her experience of sexual assault on a night bus.
2017:
- Best Film: Paco by Catalina Jordan Alvarez. A comic portrait of a catcaller. Also screened at Slamdance.
- Best Animation: TIS by Chloe Lesueur.
- Best Scottish Film: Alia Ghafar.
Notable Alumni Films and Where They Ended Up
Wander to Wonder by Nina Gantz (ESFF 2024) premiered at Venice 2023, won the BAFTA for Best British Short Animation in 2025, and was Oscar-nominated for Best Animated Short Film. The Truck by Elizabeth Rao (ESFF 2025 Best Film) was Oscar-longlisted, executive produced by Spike Lee and Joan Chen, with 20+ awards across 50+ festivals. Fox and the Whale by Robin Joseph (ESFF 2017 nominee) was Oscar-shortlisted for Best Animated Short Film at the 90th Academy Awards. The Smile by Erik van Schaaik (ESFF 2023 Best Animation) was nominated for the Cristal at Annecy. Step Into the River by Weijing MA (ESFF 2021 Best Animation) won Best Animation Short at Palm Springs ShortFest and the Silver Hugo at Chicago International Film Festival.
Submission Tips Specific to This Festival
The GBP 13 early bird fee is one of the lowest among BIDA-qualifying festivals, making ESFF a cost-effective submission for UK-based filmmakers targeting BIDA qualification. The 25-minute maximum is generous for a short film festival. Films must be completed after 1 January 2024. The festival accepts submissions through four platforms (FilmFreeway, Festhome, Short Film Depot, and direct online link). Bulk submission discounts are available for institutions submitting 5 or more films. The festival does not provide feedback on rejected films. If your film is selected, the festival may use clips up to 10% of its duration in promotional materials. The touring program is a significant benefit: selected films travel to partner festivals worldwide, extending your film's festival life without additional submissions.
Industry Reputation Notes
ESFF occupies a distinct niche in the Scottish short film landscape. Compared to the Glasgow Short Film Festival, which is the larger Scottish short film festival with BAFTA qualifying status, ESFF is smaller and more inclusive. Compared to Aesthetica Short Film Festival, which is BAFTA-qualifying and Oscar-qualifying, ESFF has lower industry prestige but also lower entry fees. The BIDA qualifying status achieved in 2024 is the festival's most significant industry credential. The touring program sets it apart from many peer festivals: selected films reach international audiences through partner festivals in Europe, Asia, and the Americas. The festival's programming consistently includes films that have already won awards at Venice, Sundance, SXSW, and Locarno, reflecting the organizers' curatorial standards.
See Also
For short film festival strategy, read Film Festival Strategy. For animation and visual effects, see Visual Effects and Animation. For festival entry fee budgeting, use the Festival Entry Fee ROI Calculator. For production budgeting, see the Production Budget Calculator.
