We welcome submissions of features and shorts alike, from all over the world, whether narrative fiction, documentary, or experimental.

CFF Submission Guidelines 2012

How to submit a film

We watch hundreds and hundreds of films every year in a short period of time, so please PLEASE read the guidelines here before and when submitting a film. We do not have the resources to deal with films of filmmakers that do not meet all the requirements.

Cambridge Film Festival uses Withoutabox – we recommend you get an account with Withoutabox if you do not already.

Submission Deadlines 2012

5 March: Submissions Open

1 April: Early bird deadline (Shorts & Mid-length £25; Features £35)

15 May: General Submissions Close (Shorts & Mid-length £30; Features £45)

1 June: Extended Deadline (Shorts & Mid-length £35; Features £55)

Filmmaker FAQs

Technical questions about film formats, exporting etc.? Check the guidelines.

Thinking of attending? We welcome filmmakers to attend the Festival, to enjoy meeting other filmmakers and audiences, and to enjoy the range of films on offer and the city of Cambridge. If your film has made it through to our official selection and you would like to attend, please let us know so we can prepare a Delegate Pass for you. Unfortunately we are usually unable to provide travel or accommodation expenses, but can advise on your options.

Why submit to CFF? We’re the third oldest Festival in the UK (after Edinburgh and London) and cater for the public rather than the industry, so if your film makes it through we think it has good distribution potential and you get a chance to see how it plays to a real audience. Our venues usually allow for audience capacities of 60 people plus, so if you put in the extra marketing work to give your film a voice among the many on offer at the Festival, you can have a sizeable audience attend rather than just trying to fill a handful of seats like at some of the smaller festivals.

Filmmaker launch success? We screened Andrea Arnold‘s short ‘WASP’ before she went on to become an internationally-known director, and Christopher Nolan‘s short ‘Larceny’ back in ’96.