How the Kinolime Shorts Competition Works (and Why It’s Different)
Throw a rock and you might hit a short film competition somewhere online - but very few offer what Kinolime does: no submission fees, audience voting, and real funding to bring your story to life.
If you're a filmmaker who wants to make your dream a reality with a no-fee, no BS opportunity, then here's everything you need to know.
What makes Kinolime different from other contests?
Most contests end with a certificate, some vague exposure, or a meeting or two that never leads anywhere. We do things differently.
$7,500 grant to produce your short film
$500 festival submission stipend
Hands-on mentorship from Kinolime producers to help guide your project from script to screen
No submission fees. Ever.
Full rights remain with the filmmaker
We truly love stories and want to see yours get made.
How does the voting and judging process work?
Just like our feature film screenplay competition guidelines, we will be using the same structure, and letting the audience have the final say.
Initial Review: Kinolime’s team reads every screenplay and selects the Top 26.
Audience Voting: Our community helps decide the top 10.
Judges Panel: Kinolime picks their top favorite 3 screenplays based on story quality, production feasibility, and originality, etc.
Final Decision: The audience votes for their favorite short (hopefully yours) to get our Kinolime Grant and go into production.
Who owns the film?
You do.
The filmmaker retains full rights to their film and screenplay. By accepting the grant, you grant Kinolime a non-exclusive license to promote and screen the finished film on our platforms and at affiliated events—but you keep all ownership and control.
What happens if I win?
The winner receives:
$7,500 to produce your short film
$500 to help with festival submissions
Producer mentorship and guidance throughout production
Promotional support when the film is finished
Optional: Kinolime may assist with crew referrals, gear access, or post-production strategy depending on project needs.
Why is there no submission fee?
Because we want no restrictions on filmmakers.
We believe in investing in talent—not profiting off submissions.
How to submit
Submissions are open to all filmmakers worldwide. Here’s what you need:
A narrative short screenplay (5–20 pages, PDF)
A director’s statement (why this story matters to you)
Planned shooting location
Optional: pitch deck, cast/crew attachments, sizzle, or lookbook
You may submit up to three scripts. Projects in any language are welcome—just include English subtitles or an English translation if the dialogue is not in English.
What happens after I submit?
You’ll receive a confirmation email once your script is received. Our team will begin reviewing submissions starting August 18th with the winner announced November 24th. The winner will be contacted directly and publicly announced.
Is this open to international filmmakers?
Of course! We're all about foreign stories and global submissions as long as your script includes an English translation or subtitles if not in English.
