Go Short Festival

Festival Description:

Go Short is the main short film festival in the Netherlands. During the five festival days Europe’s best recent short films will be screened and the Go Short Awards will be presented. Aside from the competitions Go Short offers an extensive program of events, talks, workshops, parties and meeting points for the film makers, the public and other stakeholders.

The Go Short foundation aims to contribute to deepening and expanding the short film culture, nationally and internationally, by means of organizing an annual international film festival for short films. Go Short is founded on the principles of the Cultural Governance Code and consists of a board and two directors. The foundation has been registered as a charitable institution (ANBI in Dutch).

2026 Call for Entries (Archive)

Eligibility

• The film is no longer than 30 minutes.
• The film is (co-)produced in (geographical) Europe.
• The film has clear-spoken English dialogue and/or commentary, or has no dialogue.
In case of non-English dialogue (or unclear spoken English), English subtitles are
mandatory. If the film has Dutch dialogues, the subtitles are only required after a
selection.
• The film is finished after 1 December 2024.

Competitions

The European Competition accept short fiction, documentary, animation and art films that have been made in (geographical) Europe. The films are eligible for the Go Short Award for Best European Short in three different categories (Fiction, Animation and Documentary).

The Dutch Competition is a selection of films made in the Netherlands, from which the best film will be awarded with the Go Short Award for Best Dutch Short.

Go Short is a recognized film festival for the Academy Awards, the European Film Awards and the BAFTA.

The New Arrivals Competition will consist of short fiction, documentary, animation and art films made in European film schools. The best film will be awarded with the New Arrivals Award. Go Short is recognized by the Student Academy Awards.

Films in the European, Dutch and Student Competition are competing for the Audience Award.

Besides the abovementioned competitions, Go Short makes space for different kind of cinematic forms to be showcased at the festival. In our Music Video Competition, we showcase the newest music videos in a space they’re not often seen: the cinema. With our XR/VR program, we explore works that go beyond the flat cinema screen and explore cinema in a three-dimensional reality.

• 15 September 2025: Early Bird Deadline
• 15 November 2025: Regular Deadline
• 15 December 2025: Late Deadline
• Submission area and regulations

2019 Festival News:

• Full Schedule

2018 Festival News:

• Competition announced

NB: 2027 Festival Dates are tentative