INDEPENDENT DAYS 2026: Call for Submissions

Die nächsten INDEPENDENT DAYS - Internationale Filmfestspiele Karlsruhe finden vom 15. bis 19. April 2026 in der SCHAUBURG Karlsruhe statt. 

Filmschaffende haben ab sofort die Möglichkeit ihre Arbeiten online über Filmfreeway einzureichen. Gesucht sind sowohl Kurz-, als auch Langfilme jeden Genres, inhaltliche Beschränkungen gibt es nicht. 

Neben zwölf Filmpreise im Wert von 13.000 Euro werden auch noch Produktionen gezielt für die Sektionen “Immersive Realities”, “Demokratie und Menschenrechte”, “Indie goes India”, “Trash is Fun!” und “Films for a sustainable Future” gesucht.

Am 15. Juli 2025 endet die Earlybird Einreichungsfrist. Filmemacher*innen können aber noch unter anderem bis zur Regular Deadline am 30. September 2025 und zur Last Chance am 30. November 2025 ihre Filme einreichen.

Awards & Prizes 

Film Award of the Cultural Foundation Sparkasse Karlsruhe, prize money 2,500 Euro 
Film Award of The City of Karlsruhe, prize money 1,500 Euro and Award Trophy KARLINA 
Best Short Shortfilm Award (shorts up to 5 minutes) 500 Euro and Award Trophy KARLINA 
Indie Award for Best Feature Film 1,000 Euro and Award Trophy KARLINA 
Newbie Award for Best First Time Movie 1,000 Euro and Award Trophy KARLINA 
Female Award for Best Female Director 1,000 Euro and Award Trophy KARLINA 
Film Award of Karlsruhe Press Club: 1,000 Euro 
Best Independent Actor Award: 500 Euro and Award Trophy by Vollack Group 
Best Independent Actress Award: 500 Euro and Award Trophy by Vollack Group 
Best Film Composer Award: 500 Euro and Award Trophy KARLINA 
UNESCO Creative City of Media Art - Film Award for the Best Experimental Shortfilm: Award Trophy KARLINA 
Best Medium Length Film: Award Trophy KARLINA

Rules & Terms 

Films should be produced within the years 2022 to 2026. Short films as well as feature films can be submitted. We also accept medi length films.

All contents and genres are acceptable (except for advertisements, image films) as long as they do not imply any illegal exposures according to German StGB law (e.g. pornography, excessive violence or sedition etc.).

Low Budget production costs have to be below 2,500 Euro per minute run-time, feature films (60 minutes and longer) shall not have more than approx. 250,000 Euro total costs and short films up to 30 minutes not more than approx. 50,000 Euro. No Budget production costs have to be below 100 Euro per minute run-time, feature films (60 minutes and longer) shall not have more than approx. 10,000 Euro total costs and short films up to 30 minutes not more than approx. 2,500 Euro. Besides the actual production costs, other indications like production facilities or infrastructure (company or film academy) are considered as well for classification.

Screening copies (e. g. USB-Storage, harddisk), which you have sent to the festival will be delivered back to your official adress (or to the next festival) with a postal service of our choice. Please note that cannot influence the speed of delivery.

Films that have been formally submitted to us and selected by our program committee can not be withdrawn.