Kinolime Shorts Competition

Objective

Submit your 5-20 page script to KinoLime’s inaugural Short-Film Competition for a chance to win a $7,500 production grant with an additional $500 for Film Festival submissions. KinoLime’s team will also provide hands-on support to help you make your Short-Film a reality. No entry fees. No gatekeepers. KinoLime members will vote to determine which screenplay is declared the winner!

Deadline/Entry Fees

Deadline	Date Days till:	Entry Fee
Final	August 23, 2026 8	Free

Notification:

• Top 26 announced: Sep 7 (Thinktank review complete)
• Community voting begins: Sep 7 (The community votes 26 down to 10)
• Judges round: Oct 5 - Oct 25 (Panel narrows 10 to 3)
• Final vote: Oct 26 - Nov 8 (Community picks the winner)
• Winner announced: Nov 9

Eligibility

Please see website.

Rules

Eligibility & Rules

• Free to enter — no submission fees
• Must be 18 years or older to submit
• Up to 3 submissions allowed per person
• Narrative fiction only (no documentaries or experimental films)
• Screenplays must be between 5 and 20 pages
• All languages welcome, but screenplays must include English subtitles
• Any use of AI or large language models must be disclosed. Scripts found to contain more than 25% AI-generated material may be flagged for additional review and risk disqualification.

Submission Requirements

• Screenplay (PDF format, 5–20 pages)
• Director’s Statement (why you need to tell this story)
• Planned shooting location

Awards

• $7,500 production grant to make your short film
• $500 festival submission grant to help get your film seen
• Mentorship and support from Kinolime producers