Now closed for submissions!
Note : This page is for Short Films & Scripts only. Photography Competition Entry form is on a separate Page.
Short Films & Short Screenplays
There are 2 options to pay your entry fee and to enter your short films & scripts.
Student and other discounts only available on filmfreeway.com/waterfordfilmfestival
Please Note: We charge submission fees. No project will be considered without the fee.
1. Submit on FilmFreeway by clicking on the button below & pay your submission fee and enter on their systems.
or
2. Pay the submission fee by clicking on the Pay Now button below
and once the fee is paid, please return to this page to fill out the form at the bottom.
Deadline Dates
Earlybird Deadline
April 12, 2024
Fee: €16
Regular Deadline
June 7, 2024
Fee: €18.50
Late Deadline
July 31, 2024
Fee: €25.50
Extended Deadline
August 31, 2024
Fee: €27.50
Note 1: Certain discounts are only available on filmfreeway.com/waterfordfilmfestival
Note 2: We now have a Trailer and Poster category but you can only enter those categories on FilmFreeway.com. For all other categories please scroll down.
Waterford Crystal Awards
Awards & Prizes
Short Film & Script Competition Awards
3 Awards designed by the House of Waterford (www.waterfordvisitorcentre.com) with Certificates will be presented on the last day of the festival for the following:
Best Short Film,
Runner-Up Award for Best Short Film
Best Short Screenplay
Certificates and Laurels will also be presented for the following categories:
Best Student Film or Debut Film
Best International Short Film
Best Music Video
Best Animation
(NEW) Best Short Documentary
(NEW) Best Trailer ( Winner announced before the festival-Enter on FilmFreeway)
(NEW) Best Film Poster (Winner announced before the festival- Enter on FilmFreeway)
Nominated Trailers & Posters will receive laurels. The overall winner will receive laurels and will be presented on our social media platforms
Several Special Mention Awards will be presented with a certificate and Laurels.
All selected films will receive Laurels.
Other prizes for Best Short Screenplay and the Runner-Up include a 4-month InkTip Pro Membership.
3 Awards designed by the House of Waterford (www.waterfordvisitorcentre.com) with Certificates will be presented on the last day of the festival for the following:
Best Short Film,
Runner-Up Award for Best Short Film
Best Short Screenplay
Certificates and Laurels will also be presented for the following categories:
Best Student Film or Debut Film
Best International Short Film
Best Music Video
Best Animation
(NEW) Best Short Documentary
(NEW) Best Trailer ( Winner announced before the festival-Enter on FilmFreeway)
(NEW) Best Film Poster (Winner announced before the festival- Enter on FilmFreeway)
Nominated Trailers & Posters will receive laurels. The overall winner will receive laurels and will be presented on our social media platforms
Several Special Mention Awards will be presented with a certificate and Laurels.
All selected films will receive Laurels.
Other prizes for Best Short Screenplay and the Runner-Up include a 4-month InkTip Pro Membership.
Short Screenplay Competition
By submitting the online form below or on filmfreeway.com you are agreeing to these rules.
The Waterford International Film Festival, Short Screenplay Competition is open to people from any nationality and any country.
Submission fees must be paid. Entries that do not include a fee will not be considered.
This competition will have 2 Rounds.
Semi-finalists will be selected and presented with Official Laurels.
From these semi-finalists, up to 20 finalists will be selected. Please see our awards section for a breakdown of prizes.
The overall winners will be selected from the finalist's list and announced on the last day of the festival.
Round 1: Semi-finalists will be notified on or before the official notification date.
Round 2: Finalists will be notified on or before October 28th.
Screenplays must be written in English. The screenplay must not be less than three pages and not exceed fifteen pages. The cover is not included.
All genres will be considered. Screenplays must be submitted on official platforms either on
The Waterford International Film Festival site or on FilmFreeway and Only send PDF OR WORD FILES.
Please do not email scripts unless requested by a member of our team.
If your screenplay is selected to be a semi-finalist or finalist, you give the Festival
permission to use your name and image in Festival promotions, press, etc.
All submissions will be judged by the Waterford International Film Festival Committees appointed by the Festival Director. Their reports and decisions are final and confidential.
Writers can submit as many screenplays as they wish but they must fill in a
separate entry form and pay separate fees for each screenplay.
The Waterford International Film Festival reserves the right to amend these rules at any time.
All entrants will be notified of the status of their submissions by email.
Writers retain all rights to their screenplay.
A production company can submit a script but must have the writer's approval. Writers can email their approval to the festival director at [email protected]
The application shall indemnify and hold harmless. The Waterford International Film Festival and employees of said entities against any and all claims which may be incurred by reason of any claim involving copyright, trademark, etc.
The Waterford Film Festival has teamed up with InkTip.com and they are offering the prizes for our winners.
Winners will receive a 4-month InkTip Pro Membership. As an InkTip Pro Member, thousands of filmmakers can find and read your scripts, and you'll be able to pitch directly to production companies every week. With over 3,000 options and 400 movies made, InkTip is the place for independent film.
Every InkTip producer has been vetted via resume and references and demonstrated the ability to get movies made. Companies who are InkTip members include: ABC, Anonymous Content, APA, CBS Films, HBO Films, ICM, Paradigm, Paramount Pictures, Hallmark Channel, FX, Universal, WME, Echo Lake, Zero Gravity, Bad Robot and 20th Century Fox.
SHORT FILM RULES 2024
Film Competition
The festival comprises three competitions: Film, Scripts & Photography. Each competition has specific rules outlined below. An entry form and entry fee must accompany each project. Filmmakers can enter all categories that suit their project.
All films are considered for Best Short Film, feel free to enter other categories that would suit your project.
IMPORTANT: The Festival is a Hybrid event, and your film may get selected for online and/or physical screenings in our venue. The online screenings will be a pay-walled secure online screening.
SHORT FILMS
By entering your film to the 2024 Waterford International Film Festival, you agree to the rules outlined below, and that your film may be presented in a venue and/or online.
Film- Finalists:
These are all the films that are finalists for an award in the submitted category. Not all FINALIST films will be screened in a venue but will be presented as part of our online screenings and the festival programme.
All submissions will be notified by email or on the FilmFreeway System
Film - Official Selection:
These are all the FINALIST films selected for a physical screening, which will be notified via email or on the FilmFreeway System.
If you received a FINALIST email, but no Official Selection email, it means your film will not be screened at a venue but will be a part of our online screenings and is still a contender for an award.
Please note: There are no refunds on withdrawals on submitted projects. Due to the large amount of submissions received, WIFF cannot enter into any discussion regarding films that are not selected for the 2024 edition of the festival. The festival is unable to send personal emails regarding films that are not selected, and notification regarding the status of selection will be made via FilmFreeway notification or by email.
Physical Screenings will be held in a venue in Waterford City.
Online Screenings will be hosted on our online platform.
Only registered viewers will have access to the online screenings. The site will be password-protected. Films will also only be available during the festival week.
No refunds will be issued if you do not wish to have your film presented online.
All films will be reviewed by the festival team/judges, and their decisions are final & confidential.
Student Filmmakers must provide a valid student ID in their application form.
Selection/Scheduling of all films screened at WIFF is entirely at the discretion of the Festival Team.
The festival reserves the right to amend these rules at any time.
Details on Venue and ONLINE screening formats are below.
All selected films, whether they are presented in a venue and/or online, will be considered for awards and will receive laurels.
Please provide a high-quality still image of your film and a brief summary. Feel free to write us a cover letter on the form to tell us more about your project.
Please let us know in the cover letter or on the form if it's a debut film from the director, writer, or producer.
The Waterford International Film Festival will accept entries of all film genres less than 20 minutes (Not including closing credits). Filmmakers worldwide can submit their work. Non-English language films must have English subtitles.
Films produced from January 2022 onward will be considered.
We do not screen web/new media (e.g., marketing presentations). Please contact [email protected] if you wish to have a paid video ad screened during the festival.
SELECTION AND FORMATS
All entries will be viewed by the selection committee. The Festival will make no cuts or changes. Festival selections will be announced on or before the 8th of October 2024. All entrants will be notified by email or on the FilmFreeway System of our final decisions.
Please CHECK your email regularly during the Notification period. If your film is selected for a venue screening, we will need access to download a 1080p HD copy of your film.
Venue Screenings: We will be screening off a laptop and projector. We will need access to a 1080p HD mp4 file of your film.
ONLINE SCREENINGS
If your film is selected for an online screening, the submitter will need to provide a 720p HD or 1080p HD mp4 file. The submitter can provide the files by giving the festival access to download on FilmFreeway.com or send a downloadable link from wetransfer.com or Dropbox.
We ask you to please keep the files under 2.5 GB. Whether your film is selected for a Venue Screening or ONLINE Screening, Please check that the video files are working correctly.
THE FESTIVAL DOES NOT PAY SCREENING FEES.
Please note that NO FEE WAIVERS will be given to the submitter. The Festival heavily relies on fees, which go towards our operational costs.
Filmmakers are responsible for securing all copyright clearances and music rights and waive rights to claim royalties from the Waterford International Film Festival and our partners/sponsors for screening selected films.
The Waterford International Film Festival has a small team, and due to time restraints and the large number of submissions received, we are unfortunately not in a position to provide feedback.
Please make sure to fill out your form and include a logline/ short story summary and the main credits (Producer, Director, Writer) If your short film is selected, we will need this information for the event programs, website, etc.
Once a film is selected, it cannot be retracted unless there is a suitable reason. Please email us directly, but no refunds will be given.
If your film is selected for an online screening, we would prefer if there were no Geo-blocking restrictions for the selected films, but we will try and accommodate, if possible.
Entry into the festival constitutes permission to exhibit your work at the 2024 Waterford Film Festival, including the presentation of films in a physical venue and or on a virtual format/video-on-demand platform.
The Waterford International Film Festival is also hereby granted the right to utilize an excerpt from any film submitted and accepted for exhibition at the Festival for promotional purposes.
In relation to any of the online presentations, our online platform will have security.
However, the festival cannot 100% guarantee possible illegal downloads, and the submitter shall indemnify and hold harmless The Waterford International Film Festival and all of our sponsors/associates of such possible actions.
By entering your film for consideration for the 2024 Waterford International Film Festival, you authorize that your work is cleared for festival exhibition and accept full legal responsibility for the intellectual property therein. The application shall indemnify and hold harmless The Waterford International Film Festival, employees, and all of our sponsors/associates of said entities from and against any claims, liabilities, losses, damages, and expenses (including but not limited to attorney's fees and costs of the court) which may be incurred because of any claim involving copyright, trademark, credits, publicity, screening, and loss of or damage to the screening of films entered. By submitting your film on filmfreeway.com, you are agreeing to all of these rules.
By submitting your film on THIS SITE or on filmfreeway.com you are agreeing to all of these rules.
The festival comprises three competitions: Film, Scripts & Photography. Each competition has specific rules outlined below. An entry form and entry fee must accompany each project. Filmmakers can enter all categories that suit their project.
All films are considered for Best Short Film, feel free to enter other categories that would suit your project.
IMPORTANT: The Festival is a Hybrid event, and your film may get selected for online and/or physical screenings in our venue. The online screenings will be a pay-walled secure online screening.
SHORT FILMS
By entering your film to the 2024 Waterford International Film Festival, you agree to the rules outlined below, and that your film may be presented in a venue and/or online.
Film- Finalists:
These are all the films that are finalists for an award in the submitted category. Not all FINALIST films will be screened in a venue but will be presented as part of our online screenings and the festival programme.
All submissions will be notified by email or on the FilmFreeway System
Film - Official Selection:
These are all the FINALIST films selected for a physical screening, which will be notified via email or on the FilmFreeway System.
If you received a FINALIST email, but no Official Selection email, it means your film will not be screened at a venue but will be a part of our online screenings and is still a contender for an award.
Please note: There are no refunds on withdrawals on submitted projects. Due to the large amount of submissions received, WIFF cannot enter into any discussion regarding films that are not selected for the 2024 edition of the festival. The festival is unable to send personal emails regarding films that are not selected, and notification regarding the status of selection will be made via FilmFreeway notification or by email.
Physical Screenings will be held in a venue in Waterford City.
Online Screenings will be hosted on our online platform.
Only registered viewers will have access to the online screenings. The site will be password-protected. Films will also only be available during the festival week.
No refunds will be issued if you do not wish to have your film presented online.
All films will be reviewed by the festival team/judges, and their decisions are final & confidential.
Student Filmmakers must provide a valid student ID in their application form.
Selection/Scheduling of all films screened at WIFF is entirely at the discretion of the Festival Team.
The festival reserves the right to amend these rules at any time.
Details on Venue and ONLINE screening formats are below.
All selected films, whether they are presented in a venue and/or online, will be considered for awards and will receive laurels.
Please provide a high-quality still image of your film and a brief summary. Feel free to write us a cover letter on the form to tell us more about your project.
Please let us know in the cover letter or on the form if it's a debut film from the director, writer, or producer.
The Waterford International Film Festival will accept entries of all film genres less than 20 minutes (Not including closing credits). Filmmakers worldwide can submit their work. Non-English language films must have English subtitles.
Films produced from January 2022 onward will be considered.
We do not screen web/new media (e.g., marketing presentations). Please contact [email protected] if you wish to have a paid video ad screened during the festival.
SELECTION AND FORMATS
All entries will be viewed by the selection committee. The Festival will make no cuts or changes. Festival selections will be announced on or before the 8th of October 2024. All entrants will be notified by email or on the FilmFreeway System of our final decisions.
Please CHECK your email regularly during the Notification period. If your film is selected for a venue screening, we will need access to download a 1080p HD copy of your film.
Venue Screenings: We will be screening off a laptop and projector. We will need access to a 1080p HD mp4 file of your film.
ONLINE SCREENINGS
If your film is selected for an online screening, the submitter will need to provide a 720p HD or 1080p HD mp4 file. The submitter can provide the files by giving the festival access to download on FilmFreeway.com or send a downloadable link from wetransfer.com or Dropbox.
We ask you to please keep the files under 2.5 GB. Whether your film is selected for a Venue Screening or ONLINE Screening, Please check that the video files are working correctly.
THE FESTIVAL DOES NOT PAY SCREENING FEES.
Please note that NO FEE WAIVERS will be given to the submitter. The Festival heavily relies on fees, which go towards our operational costs.
Filmmakers are responsible for securing all copyright clearances and music rights and waive rights to claim royalties from the Waterford International Film Festival and our partners/sponsors for screening selected films.
The Waterford International Film Festival has a small team, and due to time restraints and the large number of submissions received, we are unfortunately not in a position to provide feedback.
Please make sure to fill out your form and include a logline/ short story summary and the main credits (Producer, Director, Writer) If your short film is selected, we will need this information for the event programs, website, etc.
Once a film is selected, it cannot be retracted unless there is a suitable reason. Please email us directly, but no refunds will be given.
If your film is selected for an online screening, we would prefer if there were no Geo-blocking restrictions for the selected films, but we will try and accommodate, if possible.
Entry into the festival constitutes permission to exhibit your work at the 2024 Waterford Film Festival, including the presentation of films in a physical venue and or on a virtual format/video-on-demand platform.
The Waterford International Film Festival is also hereby granted the right to utilize an excerpt from any film submitted and accepted for exhibition at the Festival for promotional purposes.
In relation to any of the online presentations, our online platform will have security.
However, the festival cannot 100% guarantee possible illegal downloads, and the submitter shall indemnify and hold harmless The Waterford International Film Festival and all of our sponsors/associates of such possible actions.
By entering your film for consideration for the 2024 Waterford International Film Festival, you authorize that your work is cleared for festival exhibition and accept full legal responsibility for the intellectual property therein. The application shall indemnify and hold harmless The Waterford International Film Festival, employees, and all of our sponsors/associates of said entities from and against any claims, liabilities, losses, damages, and expenses (including but not limited to attorney's fees and costs of the court) which may be incurred because of any claim involving copyright, trademark, credits, publicity, screening, and loss of or damage to the screening of films entered. By submitting your film on filmfreeway.com, you are agreeing to all of these rules.
By submitting your film on THIS SITE or on filmfreeway.com you are agreeing to all of these rules.
Short Screenplay Competition Rules
By submitting the online form below or on filmfreeway.com you are agreeing to these rules.
The Waterford Film Festival Short Screenplay Competition is open to people from any nationality and from any country.
Submission fees must be paid. Entries that do not include a fee will not be considered.
This competition will have 2 Rounds( please see the awards section for info).
Up to 70 semi-finalists will be selected and presented with Official Laurels.
From these semi-finalists, up to 20 finalists will be selected. Please see our awards section for a breakdown of prizes. The overall winners will be selected from the finalist's list and announced on the last day of the festival.
Round 1: Semi-Finalists will be notified on or before the official notification date.
Round 2: Finalists will be notified on or before October 28th.
Screenplays must be written in English. The screenplay must not be less than three pages and not exceed fifteen pages. The cover is not included.
All genres will be considered. Screenplays must be submitted on official platforms either on
The Waterford International Film Festival site or on Filmfreeway and Only send PDF OR WORD FILES.
Please do not email scripts unless requested by a member of our team.
If your screenplay is selected to be a semi-finalist or finalist, you give the Festival
permission to use your name and image in Festival promotions, press, etc.
All submissions will be judged by the Waterford International Film Festival Committees appointed by the Festival Director. Their reports and decisions are final and confidential.
Writers can submit as many screenplays as they wish but they must fill in a
separate entry form and pay separate fees for each screenplay.
The Waterford Film Festival reserves the right to amend these rules at any time.
All entrants will be notified of the status of their submissions by email.
Writers retain all rights to their screenplay.
A production company can submit a script but must have the writer's approval. Writers can email their approval to the festival director at [email protected]
The application shall indemnify and hold harmless, The Waterford International Film Festival and employees of said entities against any and all claims which may be incurred by reason of any claim involving copyright, trademark, etc.
By submitting your script on THIS SITE or on filmfreeway.com you are agreeing to all of these rules.
Once the fee is paid, please fill out the form below
*A thank you message will appear a few seconds after you hit the submit button. Please Pay the entry fee before submitting,thank you
