Submit your film for LIFF 2026
Do you think your short film deserves a spot at LIFF? Submissions for the 21st edition of the Leiden International Film Festival are now open. We’ll announce which films have been selected in early September.
Early bird deadline: July 16, 2065
Late deadline: August 16, 2026
Notification date: September 6, 2026
American Indie Shorts
Since 2013, the Leiden International Film Festival has featured the American Indie Competition, featuring independent Feature films by North American filmmakers. In our American Indie Shorts competition, we are looking for North American filmmakers with unique visions and stories to tell, on universal or region specific experiences.
Bonkers Shorts
Bonkers Shorts (formerly Extraordinary Shorts) has solidified itself as an unmissable part of the festival. This category is suitable for all films that will either get a very low or a very high score from audiences: films that are completely bonkers. Whether they are absurd, shocking, or hilarious, they make audiences ask themselves: “What did I just watch?”
OOGST: New Dutch Shorts
This category is intended for young Dutch filmmakers. More information is available on the Dutch-language page.
Check FilmFreeway for more information on submitting short films to LIFF.
About LIFF
Founded in 2006, the Leiden International Film Festival (LIFF) has become one of the leading film festivals in the Netherlands showcasing feature films that examine the border between arthouse and mainstream from all over the world. The 2025 edition lasted 11 days and screened over 100 films.
The 21th edition of LIFF will be from October 8 to 18, 2026.