The films are screened
Films selected by the jury are screened at the live event in Rotterdam.
Saturday 16 January 2027
An indie festival for films and screenplays
For independent filmmakers and screenwriters. Films and screenplays are entered on FilmFreeway and reviewed by the festival jury. In January the selected films are screened and the selected screenplays are pitched live in Rotterdam, with masterclasses and time to meet other filmmakers.
The event
Live screenings and live pitches
The first edition of the Rotterdam Indie Festival closes with a live event in Rotterdam on Saturday 16 January 2027. Films selected by the jury are screened, selected unproduced screenplays are pitched live, and the awards are presented in person.
The running order
What happens at the festival
The screenplays are pitched
Screenplays selected by the jury are pitched live at the same event, so a script that has not been shot yet is presented alongside the finished films.
The awards are handed over in person
Trophies, diplomas and laurels are presented at the event. You do not have to attend to win an award.
Time for networking
The programme leaves time for the selected filmmakers, screenwriters and their guests to meet and talk about their work and their next projects.
What winners get
Prizes chosen by the jury
The cash prize and the industry package go to the Grand Jury winners. Trophies are presented at the live event, and every category winner receives the festival's diploma and laurels.
$500
Cash prize
Paid to the Grand Jury winners, with nothing to claim back.
Trophy
The official award
A physical trophy, presented at the live event in Rotterdam.
$5,000+
Industry package
For the Grand Jury winners: PR distribution, network exposure and production service discounts from the festival and partner service providers.
How we judge
The same jury review for every project
Every submitted film and screenplay is reviewed by the festival jury under the same criteria, whatever its category, deadline or fee. No fee, discount or extra service changes the jury's decision, and nothing is selected or awarded without that review. There is no premiere policy: work that has already screened elsewhere, or is 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 2027Live event at a cinema in Rotterdam
Deadline tiers run from August to December. See them all.
Rotterdam Indie Festival
Enter your film or screenplay
Features, shorts, documentaries and unproduced screenplays, from anywhere, with English subtitles where they are needed. Every entry goes through the same jury review, and the selected work is screened or pitched at the live event in Rotterdam.