Playgrounds International Film Festival (PIFF) is an annual film festival organized by Stichting Playgrounds.
At Playgrounds International Film Festival we showcase and celebrate the creative image. we screen some of the most beautifully crafted films and focus on the art behind the scenes. We put the spotlight on films that are audio-visually innovative, eye-candy, trailblazing new techniques or showcasing incredible craftsmanship in creative visual storytelling.
The 2026 edition will take place between 15-19 April. The films will be screened in Natlab, Filmtheater of Eindhoven.
Entry of works in the Playgrounds International Film Festival competitions implies acceptance of these terms and conditions and the decisions made by the festival staff.
GENERAL CONDITIONS FOR SUBMISSIONS
Festival submissions are open to short films of all genres: animation, live-action, documentary, experimental, music videos as well as hybrid formats. Films need to have been finished after January 1, 2023, and not previously submitted to our festival.
AI generated films are not eligible.
Conditions for submissions:
- The film is no longer than 20 minutes.
- The film stands out in its (audio)visual form. All genres are accepted.
- Work in progress is NOT accepted.
- The film has English encrypted subtitles, or no dialogue.
- 3 high-res stills (including 1 behind the scenes / making of photo), synopsis, trailer and viewing link need to be uploaded upon submission.
- DCP is the only accepted film format. Please make sure that the DCP is not encrypted and that is has been tested in a cinema beforehand.
- A director can submit max. 3 films.
• A film can be submitted to max. 2 categories - A film selected for a previous edition of PIFF is not eligible
For Student Film Competition:
The film was a graduation project in (2024 or) 2025 from one of the Benelux film or art schools (MBO/HBO).
For Saucy Selection
Open to Female and Queer directors, all genres accepted.
Should exceptional circumstances occur, Playgrounds reserves the right to make exceptions to these terms and conditions.
DEADLINES:
Early Bird: € 10,- / submission
Deadline: 14 September
Regular: € 15,- / submission
Deadline: 31 October
Student – Free
This includes VAT- and PayPal charges. This is a low entry fee, primarily meant to ensure the quality of the selection process. The film you submit is handled with care by our professional team and is being viewed by professional curators and programmers. After you submitted the film, the fee can’t be reclaimed.
Distributors, film institutions can get a discount for multiple submissions. To be considered, please get in touch with our programming team: piff@weareplaygrounds.nl
A film will be considered by the Festival’s appointed selection committee once the online form has been filled out and the screener of the film has arrived before 31 October 23.59 CET 2025.
CATEGORIES
Films can be submitted in the following categories:
Student Film Competition (Benelux)
Imagine Everything Competition
Saucy Selection (open to female and queer makers)
FEE & AWARDS
Selected Films (except for the Student Films) will be entitled to a reimbursement of their entry fee + a small screening fee. This payment is ONLY eligible for those being able to send an official invoice. Per Award category the jury will select 3 nominees.
All prizes will be awarded by a professional external jury. Films will be eligible for the following awards:
– Best Student Film – € 1000,-
– Best Imagine Everything – € 1000,-
SUBMISSION PROCEDURE
Only fully filled in submissions, including stills and screener, will be taken into consideration.
All films with dialogue or narration should have English subtitles, including English spoken films. Playgrounds International Film Festival aims to be accessible to the hearing impaired. Adding subtitles to your film helps us to achieve this goal.
SELECTION & PROGRAMMING
Film selection is carried out by the Artistic Director, Head of Program and a team of programmers and curators. At Playgrounds International Film Festival inclusivity is a key value we are aiming to showcase both through the program and via our diverse programming committee.
– Filmmakers will be informed about selection and programming in December 2025. After this notification filmmakers have one week to notify the festival in the event that they would wish to withdraw their film.
– If the film is selected to be screened at the festival, the submitter must follow the technical procedures and criteria regarding the master copy. These are specified in the document available on our Festival Portal.
– Per selected film one festival pass is granted giving access to all screenings and special events.
– In case of a film’s selection, we expect a representative of the film to accompany the screenings in order to take part in a Q&A and/or interview.
– The festival does not cover accommodation or travel costs, apart for the Award nominees, that will receive a contribution towards screening fee, travel & accommodation.
– The festival programming and schedule is entirely at the discretion of the festival.
– Playgrounds International Film Festival is a versatile festival with various programs. We might want to screen films that are not selected for the competition, in other programs. In this case, the submitter will be notified about this and asked for permission.
SCREENING COPIES
– Please see the Master specs document available on our Festival Portal for details. Please note that Playgrounds International Film Festival does not accept encrypted DCPs for short films.
– Screening copies can be sent online.
USAGE OF THE SUBMITTED MATERIALS
Playgrounds International Film Festival is granted the right to screen the submitted films, with multiple screenings, during the festival period at the festival location(s) in Eindhoven.
Playgrounds International Film Festival is granted the right to use excerpts (max 10% of the film’s length) and film stills for promotional purposes on the internet, television and in other media. For (private) press viewings Playgrounds International Film Festival has the right to screen your full film as a preview.
– The information provided in the entry form by the submitter will be used for festival publications. We reserve the right to make small text alterations if it better fits our needs.
– Playgrounds International Film Festival is entitled to keep the high-res video files and DCPs of selected films in its archive for non-circulating use and educational purposes.
RIGHTS
The submitter states that they are in possession of the rights of the submitted work (explicitly including rights to all music used in the work), clears Playgrounds International Film Festival of all liabilities from third parties and grants PIFF the right to screen the submitted works. Participation in Playgrounds International Film Festival’s competitions implies acceptance of these regulations and decisions made by the management and board. Playgrounds International Film Festival reserves the rights to exceptions to the regulations if there are extreme circumstances that require so.