OCTOPUS SHORTS

Octopus Shorts 2026 – International Short Film Competition

As part of the 9th edition of the Octopus Film Festival, Octopus Shorts – the International Short Film Competition returns! We are looking for films that explore genre cinema in a creative, bold, and unconventional way.

The competition is divided into two categories:

MAIN – short films and animations,
LAB – experimental films, short animations, and all kinds of cinematic oddities.

If you create comedies, action films, sci-fi, fantasy, horror, gore, experimental works, or anything else that falls within the broad definition of genre cinema – submit your film! The maximum runtime is 30 minutes.

The best productions will be screened during the 9th edition of Octopus Film Festival (August 11–16, 2026) and judged by an international jury. The winner will receive a cash prize and eternal glory.

Films can only be submitted via FilmFreeway: https://filmfreeway.com/OctopusFilmFestival

Competition rules: https://octopusfilmfestival.com/regulaminy/

Have questions? Email us at: jarek.tokarski@velvetspoon.pl

Submissions are open until May 31, 2026.