Swedish Cinema House Short Film Festival
Opening Date for Film Submission (Feature Film): January 20, 2025
Celebrate the power and creativity of filmmaking! Watch short films from around the world and experience unique stories on the big screen
Swedish Cinema House Short Film Festival is an annual celebration of the art of short film. It brings together creative filmmakers from all over the world to share their unique stories. The festival offers a platform for both new and established talents to showcase their work, compete in multiple categories and network with industry professionals. Submit your film and be part of this unique film experience!
Program and competition categories
Swedish Cinema House Short Film Festival offers an exciting program that highlights short films in various genres and styles. Our competitions offer filmmakers an opportunity to show their creativity and compete in several categories, judged by a professional jury.
Categories in visual blocks:
Each category is presented in a separate visual block
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Best Short Film – For the festival's most creative and engaging film.
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Best Director – For the director who creates a unique and powerful vision.
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Best Actor – For the most memorable acting performance.
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Best Screenplay – For the most original and well-crafted screenplay.
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Best Cinematography – For technical brilliance and visual storytelling.
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Best Film Score – For the most captivating and memorable film scores.
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Best scenography – For creativity and craftsmanship in stage solutions.
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Best Short Documentary – For strong and insightful documentary stories.
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Best Foreign Film – For international films of impressive quality.
Competition conditions
To participate in the Swedish Cinema House Short Film Festival, you need to follow these rules and conditions:
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The film may be a maximum of 20 minutes long.
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Format: MP4 or MOV with at least Full HD resolution.
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If the film is not in English, it must have English subtitles.
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The film must have been produced within the last two years.
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Only original works are accepted; plagiarism is prohibited.
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By submitting your film, you agree that we may show it during the festival and use it in our marketing materials.
Festival schedule
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Deadline for submission: April 30, 2025
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Announcement of selected films: May 4, 2025
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Festival days: May 31, 2025
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Award ceremony: May 31, 2025
What do participants win?
The winners in each category will receive the prestigious Swedish Cinema House statuette and a unique opportunity to participate in the festival's panel discussions and workshops.
Short Film Festival Venue: ABF Stockholm – Zätasalen
Möt juryn
Our jury consists of award-winning screenwriters, directors and film educators with extensive experience in storytelling and cinematic craft. Each jury member brings their own unique perspective – together they represent a strong and diverse voice that highlights the most moving short films of 2025.
Fredrik Lindqvist – Playwright and screenwriter
Fredrik Lindqvist is an experienced dramaturg and screenwriter who has been a central part of Swedish film education and script development for over two decades. He was for several years a permanent teacher and supervisor in screenwriting at Kulturama Filmskola (2009–2018) and Manuspiloterna (2009–2017), and has also been active as a guest teacher at Dalarna University, Umeå University, Stockholm Film School, Skrivarakademin and Filmpool Nord, among others.
Fredrik is the author of the acclaimed handbook Att skriva filmmanus (2009), and has participated as dramaturg or co-writer in a large number of films and series – including Goliat (2018), Tjuvheder (2015), Populärmusik från Vittula (2004) and the upcoming Netflix series Synden directed by Peter Grönlund.
His work is characterized by deep narrative understanding, structural precision and a strong commitment to the emotional core of the stories. We are proud to welcome Fredrik as a jury member of the Swedish Cinema House Short Film Festival 2025.
Reza Bagher – Director and Screenwriter
Reza Bagher is an award-winning Swedish film director and screenwriter with a versatile and accomplished career. He has written and directed several acclaimed feature films, including:
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Wings of Glass (2000) – Winner of the Children’s Film Prize at the Nordische Filmtage Lübeck in 2001
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Capricciosa (2003) – Winner of the Golden Starfish Award for Best International Feature at the Hamptons International Film Festival
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Popular Music from Vittula (2004) – Screened at Berlinale and awarded the Just Film Award for Best Youth Film at the Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival
His films are known for their strong characters, cultural richness, and deep emotional storytelling.
We are proud to welcome Reza Bagher as a jury member of the Swedish Cinema House Short Film Festival 2025.
Oskar Willers – Film Educator, Director & Film Theorist
Oskar har en lärarexamen och har studerat psykologi vid University of Toronto samt filmteori, filmhistoria och filosofi vid Stockholms universitet. Han har även genomgått praktisk filmutbildning vid Stockholms filmskola och Biskops Arnös manusutbildning.
Oskar har arbetat som kommersiell filmfotograf och stillbildsfotograf. De senaste tio åren har han varit konstnärlig ledare för Kulturama Filmskola.
Amir Mohammad – 3D Character Animator and VFX Compositing
Amir Mohammad began his professional career in 2009, quickly transitioning from working on television series to contributing to the film industry. Over the years, he has served as a Visual Effects Supervisor and Compositing Supervisor on six feature films.
He holds a Bachelor's degree in Software Engineering and pursued further education in Italian Language and Literature at the University of Milan, Italy. Additionally, he completed specialized training in animation at Animation Mentor School, with a focus on advanced body mechanics—providing him with both a technical and artistic foundation in animation and visual storytelling.
His portfolio includes producing two animated mini-series (with a combined runtime of approximately 100 minutes), directing a feature film, and creating several commercial shorts. One of his most notable works is the Google Space Shelter commercial, a high-profile project that garnered international attention.
We are proud to have him as a jury member in the Animation & VFX category of the Swedish Cinema House Short Film Festival 2025.
Hooman Sadeghloo – Director, Screenwriter, and Director of Photography
Hooman Sadeghloo has over 26 years of professional experience in media and filmmaking. Throughout his career, he has worked across various fields including directing short films, screenwriting, documentary production, television program production, and serving as a director of photography (DOP).
He has produced seven short films that have been showcased and awarded at numerous international film festivals.
Hooman has also been actively involved in multiple documentary projects and television content production, gaining extensive experience in visual storytelling and creative media production.
In 2024, he founded Swedish Cinema House, a cultural platform dedicated to nurturing talents, offering educational opportunities, and fostering collaboration within Sweden's film industry.
