The 7th International Independent Feature Film Festival (OSKARIADA) is not only a festival of the independent/underground cinema, it is an event that looks at independent filmmaking at different angles and presents it’s various genres.
The core of the event is a film contest incorporating the most interesting productions conceived by the independent stream.
The criterion of independence in case of OSKARIADA is treated relatively widely – the competition will see student shorts as well as professional full length feature films and entirely amateur productions will not remain unnoticed.
The aim of OSKARIADA is not only to present the best films but also to reveal the numerous aspects of the phenomenon labeled as independent cinema and its forms in various parts in the world. OSKARIADA will be accompanied by numerous retrospectives and presentations prepared by partner festivals (including Japan, France and Czech Republic). OSKARIADA will also feature open film workshops prepared in cooperation with Warsaw Film School.
The Festival will be held in the cinema "KINOTEKA" in Warsaw, Poland between 16 – 20 April 2008. The deadline for the films along with entry forms is 17 March 2008 and they should be sent to the following address:
Warszawska Szko³a Filmowaul.
Œwieradowska
4302-662 Warszawa, Poland
With a note "7. IIFFF "Oskariada"
Submission of films is free of charge.
The regulations for entry and entry forms as well as more details on OSKARIADA can be found at: http://www.oskariada.filmforum.pl

The 5th European Youth Film Festival (EFeMKa) is a competition which presents the work of young film-makers from all over Europe. The Festival is an open contest intended for all young filmmakers who create their films outside of the commercial system, who were under 26 years of age at the moment of finishing the film and preferably are not students of any film schools yet (the restrictions regard directors only).
The 5th European Youth Film Festival will take place in "Kinoteka" Multiplex, the best cinema in Warsaw, located in the city centre, December 2008. The films may be a documentary, animation or a feature film. The choice of subject is entirely free and running time is unlimited. There is no limit of films to be sent by one author (collective authors).
During the Festival nominations for the OFFskar Award are also awarded. The OFFskar is an award designed for all filmmakers who create their films outside of the commercial system, and the nominations are granted during the most prominent Polish independent film festivals. In its assumption the Award is supposed to be the most important Polish film award for independent filmmakers.
For more details and regulations visit our website: http://www.mlodekino.pl

The 5th edition of the SEDICICORTO International Film Festival Forli will take place in Forli, Italy, from October 6th to October 12th. Competition will be divided into 6 sections: “Fiction – World,” “Fiction – Italy,” “CORTOonia (Animation Films),” “D/O/C (Documentary Films),” “CORTOlab (Experimental Films),” and “CORTOexpress (films with a maximum running time of 5 minutes)”. In 2007, the festival’s program included 130 films from Europe and beyond.
Entry to the competition is free and the deadline for submission is July 7th, 2008. Authors may submit more than one film. Each entry must include:
a) a DVD copy of the film
b) a copy of the completed online entry form
c) one or more stills from the film (if possible in digital format);
d) a photo of the author(s) (if possible in digital format)
Entries should be sent to:
SEDICICORTO International
c/o casella postale n. 8
Via Gandhi n. 22
47010 S. Martino in Strada (FC)
Italy
More information about the festival is available on its website, www.sedicicorto.it.

The VII Open St. Petersburg Film Festival will be held on September 25-30, 2008, at Dom Kino, St. Petersburg. The aims of the festival are to encourage audience interest in the works of young filmmakers, as well as to short-length films, and to highlight different developmental trends in young cinema from different countries. Founded by the St. Petersburg Filmmaker’s Union, the Committee of Culture of St. Petersburg Government, and a number of other Russian cultural organizations, the festival is committed to helping filmmakers gain experience, develop their contacts, and promote their films.
In addition to the main competition, the festival also offers several special competition categories, including a “5-minute Fiction Films” and “Social Commercials.” As well, master-classes in filmmaking are open to the public, as are student exhibitions of film décor sketches, art photography, computer graphics, and posters.
The festival management will assume booking and hotel accommodation costs for selected participants. Applications are now open, and should be sent to:
General Director Evgeny Markovich Tartarsky
Open St. Petersburg Student Film Festival “Beginning”
St. Petersburg Filmmaker’s Union, Karavannaya Street, 12
Saint Petersburg, 191023
Russia
More information about this festival is available at http://www.festival-nachalo.ru/eng.

The Portobello Film Festival is the largest independent film competition in the UK, and the third largest UK film festival, with a 2007 attendance of 14,350. Created as a reaction to the moribund state of the British film industry to provide a forum for new filmmakers, the festival is now in its twelfth year. It has been dubbed “the wild side of Brit film” (Metro), “the biggest celebration of independent film in Europe” (The Independent), and “London’s biggest filmic free-for-all” (Time Out).
In 2008, the Portobello Film Festival will take place between August 28 and September 14, and will show approximately 700 films from 35 countries. In addition to the main events, the festival will also offer a bring-your-own-video café and a winter filmmaker’s convention. All events are free and open to the public.
The Portobello Film Festival is currently accepting submissions. DVDs should be sent to:
Portobello Film Festival, ACAVA
54 Blechynden Street
London
W10 6RJ
An application form can be found on the festival’s website, www.portobellofilmfestival.com. Admission for all applicants is free of charge.