3rd edition · 2026
Your short filmdeserves to be seen.
Moonlight Short Film Festival celebrates emerging directors and the new languages of contemporary cinema. Together with the filmmakers, we want to push past the boundaries of what cinema can be.
Next deadline: 30 September 2026Submissions and fees on FilmFreeway
Two editions, a growing community
- 2completed editions
- 800+submissions received
- 650+selected projects
- 50+awards handed out every edition
About
A festival built by people who make films
Moonlight Short Film Festival was founded in Italy in 2024 out of the passion of a group of film lovers and industry professionals. Our goal is simple: to give a real platform to emerging directors, and to everyone stepping into filmmaking right now.
We are constantly looking for innovative uses of cinematic language, without closing the door on more classic approaches. There are no limits of theme or genre: what counts is an original point of view.
Best Moonlight Award 2025 — C’è da comprare il latte, by Pierfrancesco Bigazzi
Categories
Our categories,
one for every way of telling a story
Whatever the format, the genre or the technique, there is a section for you. Pick the one that fits your work best and submit on FilmFreeway.
Short Film
The festival's main section: short films of every genre, open to directors of all ages and nationalities.
Student Short Film
For students and young filmmakers, giving a voice to the new generation of storytellers.
Animated Short Film
Traditional animation, CGI, stop-motion and hybrid techniques: every form of animation belongs here.
International Short Film
Celebrating cultural diversity and global perspectives in cinema from around the world.
Experimental Short Film
Unconventional narrative languages, found footage and new storytelling technologies.
Videoclip
Music content: official videos and lyric videos where image and music meet.
Script
Original screenplays, judged on writing and character development, with no video production required.
Documentary Short
Short documentaries telling real stories with an authentic and original perspective.
Feature Film
Feature films of every genre, style and theme, with no format restrictions.
Sea / Undersea
Short films, photography and underwater footage dedicated to the sea in all its forms.
Best Use of A.I.
The best use of artificial intelligence in film creation and production.
Awards
50 awards for every edition.
Every edition we award around fifty recognitions across technical, artistic and special prizes, to give visibility to as many works, and as many of the people behind them, as possible.
Technical Awards
- Best Director
- Best Screenplay
- Best Editing
- Best Cinematography
- Best Sound
- Best Visual Effects
- Best Actor
- Best Actress
- Best Supporting Actor/Actress
- Best Cast
- Best Hair & Make-up
- Best Costumes
Special Recognitions
- Best Use of A.I.
- Audience Award (Best Poster)
- Best First Work
- Mares Award
- Honourable Mentions
- Young Jury Award
And many more.
Dates
2026 edition dates
Mark the deadlines and submit in time: the earlier you enter, the less it costs.
- Submissions open17 Mar 2026
- Earlybird deadline24 May 2026
- Regular deadlineNext deadline30 Sept 2026
- Late deadline31 Oct 2026
- Extreme late deadline13 Dec 2026
- Official Selection announcement14 Dec 2026
- Awards ceremony20 Dec 2026
Hall of Fame
Hall of Fame
The winners of our past editions. Each name here went through the same selection you are about to enter.
2nd edition 202545 awards handed out
5 awards wonBest Moonlight Short FilmC’è da comprare il lattePierfrancesco Bigazzi
3 awards wonBest Student Short FilmThe FrogSimone Paggetti
1 awards wonBest Mares Short FilmWaterborne – Into the bluePaola Beatrice Ortolani
1 awards wonBest ScreenplayVitriolageLuca Cavalli
1 awards wonBest Supporting ActorL’interrogatorioElena Coletta
1 awards wonBest Young ActressQuando vorraiGiulia Di Battista
1 awards wonBest First-Time FilmmakerTransumanzaGiovanni Bertoia
1 awards wonHonorable MentionAwaiting the Lightning BoltMarco Russo
Entering
How to enter, in four steps
- 1
Get your work ready
Make your work in complete freedom, with no constraints or limits.
- 2
Choose your category
Pick the one that describes your project best.
- 3
Submit on FilmFreeway
Submit through the FilmFreeway platform.
- 4
Wait for the results
We announce selections and awards by email and on the festival’s official channels.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Directors and filmmakers of any age and nationality, with works in Italian or in any other language subtitled in Italian or English.
Blog
Behind the scenes
Interviews with selected filmmakers, production stories and notes from past seasons.
Contact
Let’s talk
Still unsure about something before submitting? Write to us: we answer every email.
- @_moonlight_shortfilmfest_
Partner
Our official partner and sponsor is Superia
Superia backs the festival as its official sponsor, standing beside Moonlight as every edition grows: from the awards to the selected filmmakers, to the channels the festival uses to reach people who make films.
Visit Superia
SUPERIAOfficial sponsor