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The eighth edition will take place from 16 to 21 December in Cairo, with international entries accepted until 15 October across fiction, documentary and student categories.
The Cairo International Short Film Festival has confirmed that its eighth edition will run from 16 to 21 December 2026, with submissions remaining open to filmmakers worldwide until 15 October.
The dates published by the festival’s official website and FilmFreeway listing differ from a recent report that placed the event between 13 and 18 December. Filmmakers should rely on the official 16–21 December schedule unless the organisers issue a subsequent change.
The festival accepts fiction, documentary and student short films between four and 30 minutes, provided they were produced during or after January 2025. All submitted films must include English subtitles.
Submission deadlines and fees
The extended submission deadline is 15 October 2026, with filmmakers expected to receive a decision by mid-November.
Current FilmFreeway fees for the International Fiction category are:
- Standard entry: US$20
- Student entry: US$10
- FilmFreeway Gold members: US$8
The festival’s platform lists similar submission routes for Egyptian films, documentaries and student work, with fees varying by category. Filmmakers should confirm the final amount displayed for their chosen section before submitting.
The festival requires entrants to clear all music, screening and other relevant rights before submitting. Selected filmmakers also grant the organisers permission to use supplied trailers, stills and clips for festival promotion.
A theatrical-only screening commitment
According to the published rules, selected films will screen at a physical venue during the festival. The organisers state that films will not be streamed online without the filmmaker’s permission.
The festival lists the Cairo Opera House as its venue and positions the event as a platform for short films and documentaries from Egypt and the wider international filmmaking community.
Its programme is also expected to include filmmaker discussions, seminars and workshops alongside the screenings.
Filmmakers should distinguish it from CIFF
The Cairo International Short Film Festival is a separate event from the larger Cairo International Film Festival.
The similarly abbreviated Cairo International Film Festival, or CIFF, is scheduled for 11–20 November 2026 and operates its own short-film competition, submission rules and awards structure. Its general film submission window closed on 1 August.
Filmmakers should therefore verify that they are using the Cairo Shorts FilmFreeway page rather than the submission portal for CIFF before paying an entry fee.
What filmmakers should do next
International filmmakers with eligible shorts produced from January 2025 onwards can submit through the festival’s official FilmFreeway page until 15 October.
Before entering, filmmakers should check the selected category, current fee, subtitle requirement and rights declaration carefully. Since the published rules allow the organisers to alter dates, venues and eligibility details, entrants should also retain confirmation emails and monitor the official website for updates.
The eighth Cairo International Short Film Festival is currently scheduled for 16–21 December 2026 in Cairo, Egypt.
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