Submit to Flatpack Festival
Our 19th festival takes place 9-17 May 2025 and we're now accepting all types and genres of short films to be considered for the 2025 programme. We are a BAFTA Qualifying Festival, so not only will successful submissions earn a place in our shorts programme - they could also go on to win a BAFTA!
Read on for an overview of our categories, cash prizes and what you can submit, or head straight to our FilmFreeway page:
The facts
- Submissions need to have been completed since January 2023 and must be under 20 minutes long;
- Earlybird deadline is 11:59pm, Friday 13 December 2024 and the final deadline is 11:59pm, Sunday 19 January 2025;
- Nine awards up for grabs including cash prizes for the Best Short Award, the Screendance Award, the Optical Sound Short Film Award, the Colour Box Award, the WTF award, the Reel Brum Award and the Animation Award (new for 2025!);
- Submission fees for films over 5 minutes (and under 20) are £23 before 13 December and £29 after or £17/23 for Film Freeway Gold Members;
- Submission fees for films under 5 mins fall under our new Short Short category and are £10 before 13 December and £15 after or £8/11 for Film Freeway Gold Members;
- If you're looking to submit a live audiovisual performance, installation, exhibition, or anything else which doesn't fit under the category of 'short film', get in touch with submissions@flatpackfestival.org.uk for further instructions.
Awards
The Short Film Award
Recognises the most outstanding piece of work across all genres.
Selected by the short film jury (£1,000 CASH PRIZE)
The WTF Award
Hails the film which is the most innovative and extraordinary. It recognises vision, boldness, and originality.
Selected by the short film jury (£500 CASH PRIZE)
The Audience Award
The crowds’ favourite.
The Animation Award
New for 2025, this award has been a long time coming, celebrating the best short animation
(£300 CASH PRIZE);
The Optical Sound Short Film Award
The very best short selected from our music/sound/audio-inspired strand
(£300 CASH PRIZE)
The Screendance Award
The best short selected from our strand incorporating dance and movement
(£500 CASH PRIZE)
The Colour Box Award
Celebrating the best short in our family programme
Awarded by the Colour Box jury (£300 CASH PRIZE)
The Colour Box Audience Award
The kids’ favourite.
The Reel Brum Award
The best short film from the West Midlands (either shot in the West Midlands or 50% of cast and crew are from the West Midlands)
(£200 CASH PRIZE)