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All festivals

Tier 1 · FIAPF accredited

Venice Film Festival

Venice, Italy

Submission deadline: 4 June 2026
Entry fee: around USD 216
Premiere: World premiere required
Formats accepted: Shorts, Features, Documentaries, Animation, Experimental
Next edition: 2026

Official site Rules and regulations

Last verified 3 July 2026

About Venice Film Festival

The Little Venice Film Festival is an annual international independent film festival and competition that amplifies underrepresented voices in cinema, removing cost barriers to entry and attendance, and putting on specialised screenings for disabled, deaf, blind, and neurodivergent audiences.

Awards this festival can qualify you for

BAFTA Short · British Short Film
Acceptance into at least two BAFTA-qualifying festivals makes a British short eligible for the EE BAFTA British Short Film award.
BIFA Best Film · Best British Independent Film
In-person official selection at Venice qualifies a British independent film for BIFA entry. No win required.
BIFA Documentary · Best British Documentary
In-person official selection at this BIFA Section A festival qualifies a British independent documentary (BIFA docs use the same routes as features: one Section A festival, or two Section B British festivals). No win required. Online-only screenings do not qualify. 2026 window: 1 Nov 2025 to 30 Nov 2026.
CSA Animated · Canadian Screen Award — Best Animated Short
Winning a Best-of / jury distinction at this CSA-eligible international festival qualifies a feature documentary or theatrical short for the Canadian Screen Awards.
CSA Doc Short · Canadian Screen Award — Best Documentary Short Film
Winning a Best-of / jury distinction at this CSA-eligible international festival qualifies a feature documentary or theatrical short for the Canadian Screen Awards.
CSA Feature Doc · Canadian Screen Award — Best Feature Length Documentary
Winning a Best-of / jury distinction at this CSA-eligible international festival qualifies a feature documentary or theatrical short for the Canadian Screen Awards.
CSA Short · Canadian Screen Award — Best Live Action Short Drama
Winning a Best-of / jury distinction at this CSA-eligible international festival qualifies a feature documentary or theatrical short for the Canadian Screen Awards.

Venice Film Festival submission FAQ

When is the Venice Film Festival submission deadline?

The main submission deadline for Venice Film Festival is around 4 June 2026. Confirmed for the current edition.

How much does it cost to submit to Venice Film Festival?

Submitting to Venice Film Festival costs around USD 216 as a rough guide. Entry fees usually rise closer to the deadline and vary by category.

Does Venice Film Festival require a premiere?

World premiere required. Protect your premiere status before you submit, as it is a one-time resource.

Where is Venice Film Festival held?

Venice Film Festival takes place in Venice, Italy.

Is Venice Film Festival a scam, or is it legitimate?

Venice Film Festival is a legitimate, established film festival: it is listed in Circkit's curated, human-vetted festival database, which deliberately excludes known scam festivals and certificate mills; it holds FIAPF accreditation, an internationally recognised mark of a legitimate competitive festival; it ranks among the upper tiers of the festival circuit. As with any festival, confirm the current deadline and fee on the official site before you pay. You can also run Venice Film Festival through Circkit's free Scam Radar for an independent safety check.

Want an independent check? Run Venice Film Festival through the free Scam Radar.

Is Venice Film Festival right for your film?

Circkit scores this festival against your film, protects your premiere, and tracks the deadline for you. Free to start.

Build your festival strategy

Oscar International Feature · International Feature Film

Win the Golden Lion. From the 99th Academy Awards (2027), a non-English-language feature that wins this prize becomes eligible for Best International Feature Film consideration, in addition to the standard country-submission route.

Oscar Live Action Short · Live Action Short Film

Must win the Orizzonti Award for Best Short Film.