The Brandenburg International Film Festival is one of the longest-running annual film festival circuits in Berlin, dedicated to spotlighting the creations of emerging artists from around the world. We specialize in showcasing groundbreaking independent cinema that encourages viewers to explore, learn, and reflect.

Our community is driven by a profound commitment to inspire, motivate, and reward new talent in the film industry. Each month, we meticulously select and honour officially chosen projects, presenting them with a laurel and certificate. For our winners, we go the extra mile by awarding them a customized certificate and an exclusive laurel. In addition to the Category Awards, our festival presents a spectrum of accolades to celebrate excellence within the filmmaking community. These include the OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS, CRITICS' CHOICE AWARDS, AUDIENCE CHOICE AWARDS, and HONORABLE MENTION AWARDS. These distinctions are bestowed in all our categories, recognizing exceptional talent and creativity across the board.

Our festival recognizes excellence in a variety of categories, including:

Best Narrative Feature Film (under40 mins)

Best Short Film (under 40 mins)

Best Short Film on Expressionism (under 40 mins)

Best Experimental Film

Best Documentary Film

Best Animation Film

Best VR/AR/360° Film

Best Women's Film

Best Music Video

Best Short Script

Best Feature Script

Best Film on Education

Best Sound Designing

Best Editing

Best Cinematography

Best Actor (Male)

Best Actor (Female)

Best Filmmaker

Best Debut Filmmaker

Best Feature on Expressionism

Best Student Film

Best Family Film

Best German Film

Best Drone Film

Best Mobile Film

Best Film on Nature/ Environment/ Wildlife

Best One-Minute Film

Best Photography

Best Commercial/ Advertisement

Best Trailer/ Teaser

Awards and Categories

Terms & Conditions

*By submitting your work, you indicate your acceptance of the festival's regulations.

1. The film submitted to the BIFF for a particular month can be re-submitted at any time for a second chance, considering that we have different judges' panels for each season.

2. Films made in languages other than English must have English subtitles otherwise they will be summarily rejected.

3. The BIFF reserves the right to refuse entries.

4. A director/producer may submit more than one film in a category and more than one category at a time.

5. You agree to indemnify and hold harmless the BIFF, from and against any and all claims, liabilities, losses, damages, and expenses (including but not limited to attorney's fees, and costs of the court) which may be incurred by reason of any claim involving copyright, trademark, credits, and publicity.

6. After a film has been officially selected the filmmaker will be notified, and eventually, the film will be listed on the festival website under Official Selections. The Official Selection status doesn’t mean that your film will be screened at the festival. It means that your film has been appreciated by our judges of the panel and you can use the festival logo on your poster.

7. The BIFF will not refund any fees if the filmmaker fails to submit the film in the correct category. Films submitted without the correct fees or proper submission media may be deemed ineligible at the discretion of the BIFF programming director or executive director. The festival does not cover any of the expenses incurred by the filmmaker.

8. We require an official trailer or poster, a synopsis, and a link to your film. Please select the correct category while submitting to avoid disqualification. We reserve the right to re-assign films to the appropriate category.

9. A nominee will be privately screened for the BIFF judging panel, and will not be screened initially to the public.

10. A filmmaker’s submission fee will not be reimbursed if they decide to withdraw their submission. All entry fees are non-refundable.

11. You agree to indemnify and hold harmless the BIFF, from and against any and all claims, liabilities, losses, damages, and expenses (including but not limited to attorney's fees, and costs of the court) which may be incurred by reason of any claim involving copyright, trademark, credits, and publicity.

12. BIFF may without advance notice amend these Rules & Terms from time to time. Each and every such amendment shall become effective immediately. It is your responsibility to periodically check for updates on these Rules & Terms.

Please read these rules and terms carefully before you submit your film. By submitting your film to competition at the Brandenburg International Film Festival, you expressly acknowledge and agree that you shall be bound by the terms of these Rules & Terms.
BIFF is open to any film, regardless of content, subject, or origin. Submitting your film to this festival does not guarantee selection. All the official selections, nominees, and winners will be listed on our website permanently. We treat every filmmaker equally.

Submit

We enthusiastically invite you to submit your films and be a part of our vibrant cinematic celebration. The Brandenburg International Film Festival (BIFF) is an exciting addition to the annual film festival scene, dedicated to shining a spotlight on the works of emerging artists from across the globe.

At BIFF, we take great pride in curating a selection of innovative independent cinema that not only captivates but also challenges viewers, inviting them to explore, learn, and engage in thoughtful contemplation. We recognize that filmmaking is a dynamic and ever-evolving art form, and we're deeply committed to fostering and rewarding new talent.

Your participation in our festival provides an opportunity to have your work acknowledged and celebrated. We bestow laurels and certificates to the officially selected projects each month, highlighting their remarkable contributions to the world of filmmaking. For our winners, we take it a step further by presenting them with customized certificates and exclusive laurels, recognizing their exceptional creativity and dedication to the craft.

So, don't miss this chance to be a part of our global cinematic community, where your films can find the recognition and appreciation they deserve. Submit your films now and be a part of the Brandenburg International Film Festival experience!