15 Feb 2024 to 5 May 2024
10 May 2024 to 16 Jun 2024
1 Jun 2024 to 3 Aug 2024
When
Thursday, October 19, 2023 to Sunday, October 22, 2023
Where
6000 Cebu City Cebu
Philippines Connect with this festival
Short+Sweet Cebu Film Festival
MAKING THE WORLD A MORE CREATIVE PLACE - TEN MINUTES AT A TIME
The world's largest little festival has finally arrived in Cebu, the heart of the Visayas! Entries to our film festival are open to all Cebuano and Filipino filmmakers, with the best films selected to be screen in Cebu in our inaugural film festival October 2023.
In keeping with the Short+Sweet tradition, all films must be 10 minutes or less and can be shot and edited on any device. There are no more limits other than your imagination.
SUBMISSIONS NOW OPEN - SUBMIT YOUR SHORT FILM HERE
The Short+Sweet Cebu Festival will be screened in three groupings - Cebuano Films, Filipino Films and International Films, with the winning films as voted by judges and audience to progress to the finals in Manila, and will also be screened in our Film Festivals in Illawarra, Essex and some may even be selected to be screened in Hollywood!
Background to Short+Sweet Founded in 2002 by Mark Cleary, Short+Sweet began as a small festival of 10-minute plays in Sydney, Australia. Since this time, this unique brand has extended to multiple performance mediums; from theatre to dance, cabaret to Bollywood, musicals to stand-up comedy; all maintaining the single rule, being 10 minutes or less. Short+Sweet has made a huge impact on the Australian theatre scene through developing new, original work with emerging artists and providing a platform for established artists to showcase their talents. The expansion of Short+Sweet within Australia has also taken short-form theatre internationally, with ever increasing popularity and ever increasing festivals. Short+Sweet is currently active across the USA, Australia, India, Philippines, Zimbabwe, New Zealand, Malaysia, and the United Arab Emirates, with growth planned for additional cities in these countries, as well as across the UK and Europe.
Enquiries, contact Festival Director Luke Berman (Australia) - luke.berman@shortandsweet.org
Principal Festival Partners 
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Thank you for your interest in submitting to our inaugural SHORT+SWEET CEBU FILM FESTIVAL!
All our short films are submitted via FILMFREEWAY.
CLICK HERE to go to our Filmfreeway submission page.
If you are unable to make payment for, or cannot afford the submission fee. You can apply for a fee waiver code.... read more
Production Team
Luke Berman | Festival Director
luke.berman@shortandsweet.org
Bee Louise Pike | Associate Producer
bee@blackboxtheatre.org
SHORT+SWEET HEADQUARTERS
INTERNATIONAL EXECUTIVE
Mark Cleary | Artistic Director, Short+Sweet International
Luke Berman | International Coordinator
Festival Awards + Progression
FESTIVAL AWARDS
Our Film Festival has 6 Major Awards presented at the end of the Gala Final Screening. These are
- Best Film
- People's Choice Award
- Best Cebuano Film
- Best Filipino Film
- Best International Film
- Festival Director's Award.
JUDGES CHOICE
Our judges will vote for films at the live screening, and will issue the following awards:
- BEST FILM
- Best Cebuano Film
- Best Filipino Film
- Best International Film
PEOPLES CHOICE WINNER
Our audience attending the event vote for their top three films across (all three film groups), ranked from 1st to 3rd preference. A film receiving a first place vote will be given 3 points, with 2nd preference receiving 2 points, and 3rd place receiving 1 point. Votes are tallied and the film with the highest votes will be crowned the PEOPLES CHOICE WINNING FILM of the Short+Sweet Cebu Film Festival 2023, and will progress to our Manila Finals.
FESTIVAL DIRECTOR AWARD
Our Festival Director will also select one film for the Festival Director's Pick to the most outstanding film that did not win any categories in the Judges or Audience voting. It may be awarded to a film for outstanding merit, or as an encouragement award to recognise the work done by exceptional filmmakers.
FILM PROGRESSION
It should be noted that while our festival is not rich with prizemoney, it does offer a wonderful opportunity for progression. Our winning films are often selected by other Short+Sweet Festivals such as Short+Sweet Hollywood, Sydney, Essex and many more - our winning films will be screened in the following locations:
BEST FILM & PEOPLES CHOICE WINNER
Will progress directly to the Filipino Films group at the Short+Sweet Manila Film Festival Gala Final and the Short+Sweet Illawarra Film Festival Gala Final (Australia)
BEST CEBUANO FILM + BEST FILIPINO FILM
Will progress to the Filipino Films group at Short+Sweet Manila Film Festival (Semi-Final), and the International Group at the Short+Sweet Illawarra Film Festival (Australia)
BEST INTERNATIONAL FILM
Will progress to the International group at Short+Sweet Manila Film Festival Gala Final and the Short+Sweet Illawarra Film Festival Gala Final (Australia)
DEADLINES AND SUBMISSION FEES
DEADLINES
Standard Deadline: 1st July 2023
Late Deadline: 21st July 2023
SUBMISSION FEES
All prices are listed in Philippine pesos
CEBUANO & FILIPINO FILMS
FREE SUBMISSIONS FOR ALL FILIPINO FILMMAKERS FOR OUR INAUGURAL YEAR ONLY (2023)
(Applies to both Standard and Late Deadlines)
FEE WAIVER APPLICATIONS (For International Filmmakers)
If you are a non-Cebuano or an international filmmaker and are unable to pay the submission fee, please email ShortSweetFilmFest@blackboxtheatre.org to request a fee waiver. In your email please include the following:
+ Name of your film
+ Which Group your film will enter (Filipino or International)
+ Description of the story / Synopsis
+ Link to the film for viewing
+ A brief reason as to why you are unable to pay the fee waiver
Please note there are only a limited number of Fee Waiver applications available.
Enquiries, contact Festival Director Luke Berman (Australia) - luke.berman@shortandsweet.org
Terms + Conditions
No restrictions on the device(s) used to record or create video and audio.
No restriction on Software used to create, edit or enhance video and audio.
Film in any language are welcome, but must be subtitled in English.
The festival is open to filmmakers of ALL ages and levels of experience.
By entering your film to Short+Sweet Film Festival Cebu, you are agreeing to the following:
1. The running time of my film is 10 minutes or less (inclusive of credits). Films longer than 10 minutes and 59 seconds (including credits) will not be considered, and entry fee will be forfeited.
2. I am the creator of the Film and I give permission for the film to be presented at any Short+Sweet festival or event for which it is eligible. If I am not the (sole) creator of the film, I warrant that I have obtained all necessary permissions of writers, originators or contributors.
3. Should my film be selected for a S+S Festival or event, I understand I will receive no royalties or other payment for any screenings, live or virtual, but may be eligible for awards and professional development opportunities.
4. I understand that my film will be assessed by a selection committee and that no communication will be entered into by S+S regarding this process. The selection decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into.
5. I give S+S the right to screen/record/photograph my film for archival, marketing and publicity purposes (including in unpaid public forums such as YouTube, Vimeo or similar).
6. A film which has been publicly screened in the host city of any S+S Festival is still eligible for entry and consideration in any of our S+S Festivals and Cities.
7. All plays which have been adapted into films must have the permission of the playwright.
8. I understand copyright material cannot be used unless I have documentation to prove legal authorisation from the musician, artist, writer or record label.
9. I may also be required to provide Actor Release Forms to be signed by the people appearing in the film.
10. I understand that films in any language are eligible, but must be subtitled in English.
11. The festival is open to filmmakers of all ages and levels of experience.
12. All content submitted must be in accordance with the law and any perceived illegal activity will be reported to the appropriate authorities.
13. I understand that if my film is selected as a finalist, I will be required to provide Short+Sweet with the highest quality of recording of the film so that it can be screened.
14. No restrictions on the device(s) used to record or create video and audio.
15. No restrictions on software used to create, edit or enhance video and audio.
16. The festival is open to filmmakers of all ages and levels of experience.
17. Entry to Short+Sweet Film Cebu Film Festival is only free for Cebuano Films. Non Cebuano films submitted in the Cebuano films group will not be considered for the festival. Please submit your film in either the Filipino Films Group or the International Films group and pay the relevant fee.
Privacy Statement
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