The 16th Edinburgh Short Film Festival (ESFF) is open for entries. The call for 2026 is open for any form of short film, genre, budget, and technique, from any part of the world.
The maximum duration for submitted films is 25 minutes including credits.
The 16th edition of the Edinburgh Short Film Festival features international showcases, more short film screenings, trophies, cash prizes, and awards. Networking remains a strong focus this year.
ESFF 2026 will present awards and trophies for the best films for 2026, selected by the jury for Best Film, Best Animation & Best Scottish Short.
Devoted to screening short film from Edinburgh, Scotland and around the world, The ESFF evolved from the Leith Short Film Festival in 2011 and has shown everything – from the first film made in Somalia in 20 years, to Oscar nominated shorts from Australia, the USA and Ireland, as well as short films smuggled out of China and Iran – and hosted visiting film-makers from China, Russia, Italy, Spain, Germany, Holland and all over the UK.
ESFF has one of the UK’s strongest short film programmes and is now a BIFA Qualifying festival.
ESFF 2026 will take place on 6 — 22 November, 2026.
Edinburgh Short Film Festival (ESFF) 2026 – Entry Fees
- £13 – until 20 February 2026 — Early Bird Deadline
- £15 – until 15 May 2026 — Regular Deadline
- £20 – until 19 June 2026 — Late Deadline