Leiden Shorts

Open Doors to Your Shorts – 2026 Call for Entries

As the world continues to fluctuate, transform, and grow ever more turbulent, short films open doors to new and exciting directions - surprising, urgent, bold, funny, and playful, constantly reinventing and reintroducing what cinema can and should be.

Now, as we gear up for our 18th edition in spring 2026, we’re on the lookout for works that spark conversation, surprise audiences, and push cinema forward. Have you made a short film in the past year that matches that vision?

Fiction. Documentary. Experimental. Animation. Or anything else.

No matter the form, if your short film was completed after 1 January 2025, runs 30 minutes or less, and dares to captivate, we want to see it light up the screen in Leiden in our global celebration of cinema.

Films can be submitted to the following competitions:

  • International Competition – A showcase of some of the finest short films from across the globe, this programme brings together distinctive voices and daring visions, highlighting the richness and diversity of contemporary short cinema.
  • National Competition – Dedicated to short films produced in the Netherlands, this competition spotlights local talent and offers a platform for both emerging and established Dutch filmmakers to share their work with a wider audience.
  • Brand New Eyes Competition – A stage for fresh perspectives, this competition celebrates debut films - from student filmmakers around the world to first-time directors working outside of academic contexts. Here, new voices find their way to the screen.

Awards

The films in these programmes will compete for a financial award, which will be decided by a professional jury. Additionally, all selected films will compete for the Audience Award.

Submission Deadlines & Fees

International competition & National competition

  • Early Bird Deadline: October 3, 2025 – €10,50 submission fee
  • Regular Deadline: December 6, 2025 – €13,50 submission fee
  • Last Chance Deadline: January 16, 2026 – €18,50 submission fee

International Brand New Eyes Competition

We are pleased to continue offering discounted submission fees:

  • Early Bird Deadline: October 3, 2025 – €7,00 submission fee
  • Regular Deadline: December 6, 2025 – €9,00 submission fee
  • Last Chance Deadline: January 16, 2026 – €15,50 submission fee

About the Festival

Leiden Shorts was established in 2009 as a new platform for short films and has since grown into one of the most significant short film events in the Netherlands. We envision Leiden Shorts as an alternative creative space for national and international filmmakers to showcase their distinct voices by exploring the power of short film as a medium. We view cinema as a tool for social change and aim to spotlight underrepresented voices, providing space for daring narratives and unconventional forms to take shape.

Each year, Leiden Shorts receives over 1,400 submissions from more than 70 countries. Over the course of five days, the festival presents more than 120 short films in a variety of genres from around the world. Our core programme includes three competitions—for national, international, and debut films—along with thematic and focus programmes, industry and networking events, and opportunities for in-depth discussion through panels, Q&As, and workshops. This year, for the second time, the festival is proud to host the European Short Pitch Coproduction Forum. Leiden Shorts continues to be a vibrant, evolving festival that nurtures talent, broadens perspectives, and creates meaningful opportunities for connection.

For any questions, do not hesitate to contact us via submissions@leidenshorts.nl