Completion window
Films completed on or after January 1, 2023.
HIFF 2027Call for Entries
Your story.
The world
is listening.
Current status
Submissions
opening soon.
Fees, deadlines and final rules are being prepared. No submission link is active at this stage.
An open invitation
We are looking for cinema that arrives with a point of view.
HIFF welcomes independent filmmakers working across narrative, documentary, animation, experimental, genre and music-video forms. Our competition is international, language-inclusive and designed for both established voices and filmmakers still finding their way into the industry.
Submissions will open only after the full fee schedule, deadlines, category rules and review process are approved. Until then, HIFF will not accept or promise consideration for 2027 entries.
Confirmed directionEligibility
Eligibility
at a glance.
These principles are confirmed. Complete legal and category-specific rules will be published before entries open.
Premiere status
No World, U.S. or regional premiere is mandatory.
Previous release
Prior festival, YouTube, OTT, TV or theatrical release does not automatically disqualify a film.
Running time
Short: up to and including 40 minutes. Feature: longer than 40 minutes.
Competition scope
Forms welcomed
Different cinematic languages belong in the same international conversation.
Entries will be mapped into clear competition forms. Craft, performance, impact and debut recognition will be considered according to final eligibility and cross-entry rules rather than sold as an inflated list of duplicate entry routes.
01Narrative Feature02Narrative Short03Documentary Feature04Documentary Short05Animation06Experimental Film07Genre Film08Music Video
Prepare your entry
Submission dossier
Build the materials that help your film travel well.
The final call may refine technical requirements, but filmmakers can begin assembling this core package now. Clear, accurate materials help programmers understand the film and represent it responsibly.
Film information
Title, country or territory, completion date, running time, language and production status.
Private screener
A secure online review link with a working password available throughout the review period.
Creative credits
Director, writer, producer, principal cast or participants, cinematographer, editor and other key credits.
Editorial materials
Logline, synopsis, director statement, biography, stills, poster artwork and trailer when available.
Rights declaration
Confirmation that the entrant is authorised to submit, promote and license the film for an approved HIFF screening.
Accessibility
English subtitles or captions for all dialogue not presented in English, plus available accessibility assets.
Official entry form · advance preview
Designed and ready for launch
Your film deserves a clear, professional entry experience.
Form preview only
HIFF 2027 is not accepting or storing entries yet. Final submission will activate only after fees, deadlines, privacy terms and the official call are approved.
Student & Emerging Film
Talent is not limited to a classroom.
Formal enrollment is one path—not the only path. HIFF’s emerging-film category is being shaped to recognise students, apprentices, ustad–shagird and mentor-led learners, community-workshop participants and genuinely early-career self-taught filmmakers.
Entrants will disclose their learning pathway. Established professionals will not be eligible to use the category as an alternative route into competition.
Rights & responsibility
The submitter must control—or be formally authorised to grant—the rights required for HIFF review, promotion and festival screening. Unauthorised copies and unresolved rights conflicts will not be accepted.
Explore the 2027 awards ↗What happens nextA clear path
A clear path
before entries open.
Rules finalized
Category eligibility, subtitles, fees, deadlines, rights, jury process and delivery requirements are approved.
Call announced
The official opening date and verified FilmFreeway destination are published together.
Entries reviewed
Submissions move through eligibility checks and the approved programming and jury process.
Selection communicated
Filmmakers receive formal status information before any title appears publicly as selected.
No active submission route
HIFF 2027 will not accept entries until the official call is announced. Any fee, deadline or external link not published here as active should be treated as unconfirmed.
Submission questions
Confirmed answers
Before you enter.
These answers reflect the direction already approved for HIFF 2027. Fees, deadlines, detailed category rules, review procedure and delivery specifications will be added before the call opens.
Must my film be a premiere?
No. World, international, U.S., regional or local premiere status will not be mandatory. Previous festival screenings and awards are permitted.
Can an already released film enter?
Yes. Prior YouTube, streaming, television, theatrical or other public release does not automatically disqualify a film, but the release history must be disclosed.
What is the completion-date rule?
The film must have been completed on or after January 1, 2023. A future, clearly announced retrospective would be treated separately.
How are short and feature films classified?
A short film runs up to and including 40:00 minutes. A feature film runs longer than 40:00 minutes.
Is formal film-school enrollment required?
No. Best Student & Emerging Film may recognise school-based learners, apprentices, ustad–shagird pathways, workshop participants and genuine early-career self-taught filmmakers.
Are cash prizes offered?
No cash prize is promised for HIFF 2027. Recognition is planned through the HIFF trophy allocation, official laurels and certificates, festival publicity and the permanent archive.