Tirana International Film Festival 2026 Selects 202 Short Films From 71 Countries

The 24th Tirana International Film Festival will run from 21–27 September 2026, with 167 shorts competing across live action, animation, documentary, experimental, student and regional categories.

The Tirana International Film Festival (TIFF) has unveiled the programme for its 24th edition, selecting 202 short films from 71 countries for screenings across Tirana from 21–27 September 2026.

The Albanian festival received 3,319 projects, including 3,228 films and 91 screenplays, from 120 countries.

Of the films selected for the 2026 edition, 167 shorts will compete for awards, while another 35 shorts will screen outside the main competition.

The scale of the selection makes shorts the dominant part of this year’s festival: only 27 of the 229 films in the overall programme are feature-length.

167 short films will compete at TIFF 2026

The competitive programme consists of 179 films in total, including 12 features and 167 short films.

TIFF’s short-film programme spans several sections:

• Live Action
• Animation
• Documentary
• Video Art & Experimental
• Student Films
• Balkan Shorts
• In Albanian Shorts

The festival is also presenting thematic programmes outside the core competitions, including its Panorama section and an AI 3.0 programme exploring emerging forms of audiovisual storytelling.

In total, TIFF says all 229 films in the 2026 programme will screen as world, international, regional or national premieres.

Tirana carries major qualification opportunities for short filmmakers

The festival’s significance for short filmmakers extends beyond the size of its programme.

TIFF is an Academy Awards-qualifying festival for short films, while qualifying student selections can also provide a route towards the Student Academy Awards.

The festival is additionally recognised within the European Film Awards festival system.

That gives the competitive short programme particular importance for filmmakers planning an international awards campaign, especially those whose films are selected in categories connected to the festival’s qualifying awards.

A qualifying festival selection or win should not be interpreted as an automatic Oscar or European Film Award nomination. Filmmakers must still satisfy the applicable rules of the relevant awards body.

More than 3,200 films were submitted

TIFF received:

• 3,319 total projects
• 3,228 films
• 91 screenplay projects
• Submissions from 120 countries

The final programme comprises:

• 229 films
• 202 short films
• 27 feature films
• 167 shorts in competition
• 35 shorts outside competition
• Films representing 71 countries

The figures underline the level of competition for places in the festival.

TIFF says it now receives approximately 3,500 submissions annually and attracts more than 30,000 physical and online visitors.

Festival expands short-film programming beyond the main competition

The 2026 edition will include several additional programmes relevant to short-film audiences.

A LIFE IS SHORT Swiss Films programme, organised in collaboration with Swiss Films, will showcase a curated selection of Swiss fiction and animated shorts.

StudenTIFF will present recent work from students at the University of Arts Albania and the University of Pristina in Kosovo.

The festival is also continuing programmes for younger audiences through dedicated screenings for children and teenagers.

Alongside screenings, TIFF will host industry activity including the 5th Screenplay ContesTIFF, masterclasses, filmmaker development activity and animation workshops.

International jury includes filmmakers, programmers and distributors

TIFF has also announced an extensive international and national jury covering its different competitive sections.

The jury brings together directors, producers, distributors, actors, animators, academics, curators and festival professionals from countries including Ukraine, Iran, Spain, Kosovo, Greece, Italy, Serbia, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Albania.

The awards will be presented at the festival’s closing ceremony on 27 September at Millennium Cinema.

For filmmakers whose work is already selected, the combination of an international jury and qualification routes gives TIFF the potential to become an important step in a wider festival and awards campaign.

TIFF 2026 takes place across Tirana

The festival will run across multiple venues in the Albanian capital, including:

• Millennium Cinema
• Agimi Art Center
• Kino Piramida
• Maks Velo Cinema
• Vila 31 x Art Explora
• Tunèl Terrace

Industry professionals, students and members of the public can also apply for festival accreditation.

Full-week accreditation costs €20, while registered film-industry professionals and students can access discounted accreditation for €10.

The accreditation deadline is 19 September 2026.

Tirana International Film Festival 2026 key details

• Festival: Tirana International Film Festival
• Edition: 24th
• Location: Tirana, Albania
• Dates: 21–27 September 2026
• Total project submissions: 3,319
• Film submissions: 3,228
• Countries submitting: 120
• Films screening: 229
• Short films screening: 202
• Short films in competition: 167
• Countries represented in final programme: 71
• Awards ceremony: 27 September 2026
• Public accreditation deadline: 19 September 2026
• Full-week accreditation: €20
• Student accreditation: €10
• Industry accreditation: €10 for eligible registered professionals

The programme announcement positions the 2026 edition as a particularly substantial short-film event, with shorts representing nearly nine out of every ten films scheduled to screen.

For filmmakers and short-film followers, the next major development will be the 27 September awards, when the competition winners — including films potentially moving into wider Oscar and European awards conversations — will be announced.