The Stockholm International Film Festival is a leading European film festival promoting visionary directors through competition sections and showcases. It presents awards across feature films, documentaries, shorts (including a category specifically for Swedish short films), and series segments. Selected participants gain festival screening exposure and eligibility for various awards.
What selected participants may receive
Screening at the festival (minimum 3 times, maximum 5 times per film).
Eligibility for competition awards including Best Film (Bronze Horse), Best Documentary (Bronze Horse), Best Director (Aluminium Horse), Best Screenplay (Aluminium Horse), Best Cinematography (Aluminium Horse), Best Actor (Aluminium Horse), Best Actress (Aluminium Horse), Best First Feature Film (Aluminium Horse), Best Short Film (Aluminium Horse), Best Nordic Short Film (Aluminium Horse). Winners may receive an additional screening.
Eligibility
Films must not have had their world premiere before November 15, 2025.
Films must not have been broadcast, publicly screened, screened at any festival in Sweden, or made available to the public online (VOD, SVOD, etc.) before the festival.
Films not in English must have English subtitles.
Submission only accepted through FilmFreeway.
Submission only accepted digitally (secure online link).
Full submission fee payment required for consideration.
Specific sections have defined focuses (e.g., Stockholm Nordic Shorts for Nordic directors, 1 Km Film only for Swedish short films).
Fees
Application fee: Required (fees implied by deadlines/categories; amounts not specified).
Other costs: Rights holders responsible for shipping costs from Stockholm; costs associated with creating screening copies; subsequent transportation charges.
Key dates
Opening Date: January 12, 2026
Earlybird Deadline: March 23, 2026
Regular Deadline: July 9, 2026
Late Deadline: August 18, 2026
Final Deadline: September 15, 2026
Notification Date: October 9, 2026
Event Date: November 11 – 21, 2026
Work-in-progress finalization deadline: October 1st, 2026 (if applicable)
Print delivery deadline: 14 days before first screening (unless special arrangements made).
Print return: Within two weeks after festival closing.
Application materials
Digital screener (secure online link).
Completed entry form (via FilmFreeway).
Additional notes
Films must have cleared rights for festival screenings.
Rightsholders grant festival screening rights (up to 5 times; 6 for Best Film winner).
Festival handles shipping costs *to* Stockholm via UPS if prepaid door-to-door; rights holders cover costs *from* Stockholm.
Films submitted as work-in-progress must be finalized by October 1, 2026.
Festival covers insurance while prints are in Stockholm.
Festival uses Festival shipper if not prepaid by participant; otherwise, rights holders pay charges.
Rights holders must inform festival if film rights are transferred post-submission.
Rules subject to change at festival's discretion.
Official jury decides awards.
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