The films are screened
Official selections play at KINO Rotterdam, on a real screen in front of a real audience of filmmakers, industry professionals and dedicated film lovers.
Saturday 16 January 2027
A premier European indie festival.
For independent filmmakers and screenwriters. Screenings, live pitches, masterclasses and the kind of networking that actually moves a project forward, in the city that built its name on raw creative energy. This January, the screen at KINO Rotterdam is yours.
The event
Live screenings and live pitches.
On 16 January the Rotterdam Indie Festival takes over KINO Rotterdam to celebrate authentic, uncompromising storytelling. Dozens of exceptional independent films are screened and awarded, and unproduced screenplays are pitched live to an audience of industry professionals, creators and dedicated film lovers. It is a collision point for the indie community, not a quiet afternoon in a dark room.
The running order
What happens at the festival
The screenplays are pitched
Unproduced screenplays are pitched live to that same room. A script that has never been shot gets the same platform as a finished film, which is rarer than it should be.
The awards are handed over in person
Trophies, diplomas and laurels, given on the night rather than emailed afterwards. Attending is not required to win, but it is most of the point.
Networking with the indie industry
Independent filmmakers, screenwriters, producers and industry professionals spend the day in the same place, and the room stays open around the programme. That is where most collaborations actually start, and for a lot of people it is the reason to come.
What winners get
The best prizes for indie filmmakers.
Winning here is not just a line on a poster. Official selections get cash, industry exposure and services from us and our partners, the kind of support that puts a project in front of people who can move it forward.
$500
Cash prize
Paid to the Grand Jury winners, with nothing to claim back.
Trophy
The official award
A heavy physical trophy, handed over on the night in Rotterdam.
$5,000+
Industry package
PR distribution, network exposure and production service discounts from us and our partners.
How we judge
A professional jury with years of industry experience.
Every submitted project is guaranteed a review by active filmmakers and industry experts who respect the craft and understand the indie standard. No automated screeners, and nothing handed down to interns. There is no premiere policy either: work that has already screened elsewhere, or sits online today, is welcome.
Dates
When to enter
Entries run through FilmFreeway, where the current deadline and fee are always shown. There is no form on this site.
20 Aug 2026Submissions open
9 Dec 2026Final deadline
16 Dec 2026Notifications
16 Jan 2027The festival, KINO Rotterdam
Deadline tiers run from August to December. See them all.
Rotterdam Indie Festival
Put your work in front of the industry.
Features, shorts, documentaries and unproduced screenplays, from anywhere, in any language. Reviewed by a professional jury, screened or pitched at KINO Rotterdam, and awarded in person.