Submissions for Edinburgh International Film Festival 2026 have now closed.
If your film has been selected for the programme, we will contact you by the end of June 2026.
Before the Festival begins, make sure your film:
● has not been made available online
● has not been screened anywhere else in the UK
● is brand new (has not – been previously sent to our submissions panel)
● films must not be older than 12 months by the start of EIFF 2026 i.e. cannot have been publicly screened anywhere, online or in person, prior to 13 August 2026.
For a film to be eligible for Edinburgh International Film Festival, it must be a UK Premiere. This means it cannot have been screened for a UK audience, or been made available to view or download in the UK prior to EIFF.
Edinburgh International Film Festival runs from 13-19 August 2026. The Home of Independent Cinema, EIFF is a platform for the best new work, supporting filmmaking talent from Scotland, the UK and around the world.
Running alongside a host of exciting festivals across Edinburgh, including The Fringe,Edinburgh International Festival and Edinburgh International Book Festival, EIFF is a key part of Scotland’s cultural scene and a highlight of the capital city’s creative calendar.
If you have encountered problems submitting your film via FilmFreeway, please contact support@filmfreeway.com as soon as possible. Or, if you have specific questions about your work as part of the Festival, contact the EIFF Submissions team at submissions@edfilmfest.org.uk.
● Films must have, at minimum and without exception, the UK Premiere available. EIFF is particularly interested in World Premieres.
● Films must not be older than 12 months by the start of EIFF 2026 i.e. cannot have been publicly screened anywhere, online or in person, prior to 13 August 2026.
● EIFF regards a short film as 30 minutes or under and a feature film as anything over 30 minutes.
● Films that are available to purchase are not eligible. This includes Blu-ray/DVD/online digital download formats.
● Promotional films are not eligible (e.g. films promoting tourism, charitable appeals, etc.).
Submissions open on Tuesday 6 January 2026 and final deadline for receipt of submissions is Friday 17 April 2026.
There are three submissions deadlines:
EARLYBIRD Friday 6 February 2026
SHORT – $55 / FEATURE – $80
REGULAR Friday 13 March 2026
SHORT – $75 / FEATURE – $100
LATE Friday 17 April 2026
SHORT – $95 / FEATURE – $125
EXTENDED Friday 24 April 2026
SHORT – $95 / FEATURE – $125
PLEASE NOTE – the submissions fee is non-refundable. If your film does not match the criteria listed above and you still submit your film, we will not consider your film and will not refund your fee. If in doubt, we recommend reaching out to our Submissions team via email to clarify the eligibility of your film before submitting.
● We are unable to provide fee waivers.
● All films should be submitted online via FilmFreeway.
The final selection of all films presented at the Festival and their placement in the EIFF programme is at the discretion of the Festival Director.
For any questions about the submissions process, please contact submissions@edfilmfest.org
We strongly encourage you to read our EIFF 2026 Submissions Rules & Regulations for information on how to submit and our eligibility criteria. Please also see our EIFF 2026 Submissions FAQs.
The Sean Connery Prize for Feature Filmmaking Excellence creates a powerful platform to showcase today’s most talented and original filmmakers by linking their success to the legacy of Scotland’s most famous global star.
The award, which carries a cash prize of £50,000, is open to features of any genre that will have their World Premiere at EIFF in August 2026.
Eligible films are selected at the discretion of the Festival Director.
The Thelma Schoonmaker Prize for Short Filmmaking Excellence will celebrate excellence in short filmmaking.
The award, which carries a cash prize of £15,000, is open to short films of any genre that will have their World Premiere at EIFF in August 2026. EIFF classifies a short film as 30 minutes or under.
Eligible films are selected at the discretion of the Festival Director.
Edinburgh International Film Festival (EIFF) is a British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) Qualifying Festival.
For filmmakers, this means that by submitting your film to EIFF, you are one step closer to eligibility for BAFTA consideration.
We are proud to have EIFF recognised in this way and to be named alongside so many fantastic film festivals. You can view the full list of qualifying festivals via BAFTA’s official website, and find out more by visiting their site.
Edinburgh International Film Festival (EIFF) is a British Independent Film Awards (BIFA) Qualifying Festival.
For filmmakers, this means that by submitting your film to EIFF, you are one step closer to eligibility for BIFA consideration.
We are proud to have EIFF recognised in this way and to be named alongside so many fantastic film festivals. You can view the full list of qualifying festivals via BIFA’s official website, and find out more by visiting their site.
