Lisboeta International Short Film Festival

04/09/2026

We are thrilled to feature photographer Rita Ansone on AVFRI.com! A 2025 Lisboeta International Short Film Festival jury member and co-creator of the 'People of Lisbon' project, Rita shares insights into her photography and visual storytelling. Read the full interview and explore her work now on AVFRI.com!

https://www.avfri.com/persona

Persona brings together the guiding principles from inspiring artists, writers, and visionaries. Through concise, thoughtful answers, they share the values and ideas that shape their lives and work. This section offers timeless insights—simple yet profound reflections to inspire, challenge, and gu...

29/08/2026

✨Important announcement!✨

A New Direction for LISFF: Expanding How We Showcase Film
For our upcoming 6th edition, Lisboeta International Short Film Festival is evolving.

Note on Screenings: Moving forward, LISFF is stepping away from the traditional, fixed annual screening schedule. While we will continue to host select physical screenings and special events throughout the year, our primary official selection model has shifted to a permanent digital showcase.

While traditional screenings offer a brief moment in a dark room, we want to give selected indie films a lasting legacy and real, actionable value.

What this means for filmmakers:
Dedicated Editorial Coverage: Selected films will receive in-depth critical reviews and feature spotlights published directly on AVFRI.com.

Global, Permanent Visibility: Instead of a single evening screening, your work will be permanently archived and promoted to our international audience.

Direct Professional Feedback: Option to receive detailed constructive insights into narrative structure, performance, and technical ex*****on.

We can’t wait to watch and write about your work. Click the links below to read the full details and submit your project:
https://www.avfri.com/
https://www.avfri.com/lisff
https://www.avfri.com/lisff-review-submission

26/08/2026

Why do 1.3 million YouTube views still miss the mark for LISFF selection?

In our latest AVFRI review, we break down Anthony Sutcliffe’s short film Cope. Slick editing and great timing aside, find out how generic score choices and over-narration can kill a film's selection chances.

Read the full breakdown at AVFRI.com:

https://www.avfri.com

https://www.avfri.com/lisff

14/08/2026

As a new festival season approaches, Lisboeta International Short Film Festival (LISFF) has prepared something especially for filmmakers.

Before You Submit: 10 Common Mistakes Filmmakers Make When Submitting to Film Festivals is our practical guide based on what we see every year on the other side of the submission process.

From incomplete film information and problematic screeners to subtitles, public online releases and missed deadlines, these small mistakes can sometimes make a big difference.

Before you press Submit, take a moment to check.

Your film deserves the best possible submission.

Lisboeta International Short Film Festival | News & Updates

15/07/2026

A quick update regarding the AVFRI Talent Network.

We've received several messages from filmmakers asking why they have not yet been invited to join, and we'd like to clarify how the network works.

Every invitation is sent personally to filmmakers whose work has been viewed through the Lisboeta International Short Film Festival (LISFF). However, in many cases, films are submitted by producers, film schools, sales agents or distribution companies rather than by the filmmakers themselves. When that happens, the invitation is sent to the contact details provided with the submission, and unfortunately it does not always reach the director or other members of the creative team.

The AVFRI Talent Network is not built on coincidence or open registration. It is a carefully curated community of filmmakers whose work has genuinely impressed us.

If you submitted your film to LISFF yourself and believe you should have received an invitation, or if your film was submitted on your behalf and the invitation never reached you, please don't hesitate to get in touch with us by sending us an email to [email protected]. We'd be happy to hear from you.

The network continues to grow, one remarkable filmmaker at a time:

https://www.avfri.com

02/07/2026

The AVFRI Talent Network is an international directory connecting emerging and established artists and creative professionals across borders. Created to encourage collaboration, exchange, and new artistic partnerships, the network brings together filmmakers, actors, writers, visual artists, musician...

26/05/2026

We always find it inspiring when acclaimed actors continue to take part in short films - supporting emerging filmmakers, independent cinema, and powerful storytelling beyond budgets.

Varvara Shmykova, known for her performances in 'Loveless' and in Andrey Zvyagintsev’s recent film 'Minotaur', which won the Grand Prix at the 79th Cannes Film Festival, also appeared in the short film 'Inflatable Bear, Hourly', officially selected and screened at the 5th Lisboeta International Short Film Festival.

Just a reminder that short cinema is not “lesser cinema,” but a space where talented artists continue to work creatively and collaboratively.

27/04/2026

In an exclusive interview to AVFRI.com, Polina Biliaieva, the director of the film 'F**k Them All' -awarded Best Film at the 5th Lisboeta International Short Film Festival - talks about a deeply personal and politically charged reflection on war, motherhood, and the limits imposed on the body.

Avfri is an online voice and inspiration for creative and critical minds.

02/04/2026

This year, the Jury Special Mention is awarded to two films; “The Land of Wanting More” and “Color of Tea”...
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Jury Special Mention – “The Land of Wanting More”

For its intimate and poetic exploration of womanhood, “The Land of Wanting More” is awarded a Jury Special Mentionat the 5th Lisboeta International Short Film Festival.

Blending fragmented storytelling with a raw, cinéma vérité aesthetic, the film weaves a nonlinear tapestry of desire, memory, and lived experience. Both personal and collective, it unfolds as a quiet yet powerful reflection on the complexities of being, becoming, and wanting more.

Our congratulations go to the film’s director, Marianna Rantou, as well as to the cast and crew.
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Jury Special Mention – “Color of Tea”

For its subtle yet powerful portrayal of dignity, resistance, and everyday injustice, “Color of Tea” is awarded a Jury Special Mention at the 5th Lisboeta International Short Film Festival.

Through a simple, deeply human story, the film sheds light on entrenched social hierarchies and the quiet strength of those who challenge them. With restraint and clarity, it transforms an ordinary moment into a profound reflection on identity, belonging, and equality.

Our congratulations go to the film’s director, Raj Sargam, as well as to the cast and crew...

01/04/2026

For its courage, humanity, and unflinching gaze at a reality too often reduced to headlines, “F**k Them All” is awarded Best Film at the 5th Lisboeta International Short Film Festival.

With striking realism and emotional precision, this powerful student film confronts autonomy and survival in the shadow of war - a raw and deeply human story of grief, exile, and impossible choice.

Our congratulations go to the film’s director, Polina Biliaieva, as well as to the cast and crew...