BAFTA-qualifying film festivals
BAFTA recognises a set of festivals whose awards make a film eligible for the British Short Film and British Short Animation categories — an alternative to the standard theatrical qualifying route.
As with the Oscars, eligibility comes from winning a specified award at a recognised festival and meeting BAFTA’s entry criteria for the cycle.
The festivals below carry BAFTA-qualifying status. Plan where to submit, then run the screening on Screening Studio.
The BAFTA-qualifying list is being refreshed.
Check back shortly, or browse all festivals.
Frequently asked
- What does “BAFTA-qualifying” mean?
- The festival is recognised by BAFTA, and winning a designated award there makes a British short film or animation eligible for the corresponding BAFTA category.
- Is BAFTA eligibility the same as Oscar eligibility?
- No — they are separate schemes with separate festival lists and rules. A festival can be on one, both, or neither.
Planning a screening of your own?
Build a branded screening page, collect submissions, and — for UK public showings — prepare the cinema licensing in one place.
Status flags reflect published lists by the respective bodies. Data attributions on the credits page.