Flatpack Festival 2027 Calls for Short Films and Experimental Animation: Final Deadline 17 January
Flatpack Festival, an established independent film festival in the United Kingdom, is accepting short-film submissions for its 4–9 May 2027 edition. Experimental moving image, animation and other short-film approaches can be considered within its open genres. The festival identifies itself as a BAFTA-qualifying festival; that designation does not mean a selected film automatically receives or qualifies for an award.
Eligibility and film length
The festival says entries must have been completed after January 2025 and run for less than 20 minutes. Short animation and experimental moving-image filmmakers should check that their chosen film and category comply with the submission platform’s current rules. The organizers have not specified a nationality restriction in the published announcement.
Submission costs and closing dates
The early-bird deadline is 1 November 2026 and the final deadline is 17 January 2027, both stated as 11:59pm on the organizer's page. For films over 5 and under 20 minutes, the standard fee is US$30 before 1 November or US$38 afterward. For films under 5 minutes, the Short Short category costs US$13 before 14 December or US$20 afterward. FilmFreeway Gold members are offered separate discounted prices. These fee tiers are not interchangeable: calculate cost from actual runtime and application date.
Selection and awards
The festival announces four cash awards, ranging from £300 to £1,000. Submission is not a promise of selection, award, distribution or travel support. Selected projects are considered for the short-film programme, giving filmmakers screening exposure.
Organiser background and safety
Flatpack publishes its own festival archive, current edition dates, previous winners and the application route. Its published charity registration number and direct contact email offer additional ways to verify the call independently. For a video artist, the most important practical check is whether the final exported work has the right runtime and completion date.
Official guidelines
Festival call: https://flatpackfestival.org.uk/posts/flatpack-festival-2027-submissions-open . Submission is via the FilmFreeway link on that official page. Contact: submissions@flatpackfestival.org.uk.