Submit Your Smart Phone Film

Submit Your Smart Phone Film – Unleash your inner filmmaker with your smartphone! Capture your unique vision and share your story with the world. Submit your short film today and compete for exciting prizes and global recognition.

Why Submit?

Our live event with public screenings provides a stage for your films, and an opportunity to connect with audiences and industry professionals. We reward filmmakers with Official Selection Laurels, Winner Laurels, and category awards.

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Submission Information

June 1st, 2025 Opening Date
July 31, 2025 Early bird Deadline
February 1, 2026 Regular Deadline
March 3, 2026 Notification Date
March 28, 2026 Event Date

Full Price: 16 Euro

All films must be shot exclusively on a smartphone or tablet device. Submissions filmed with DSLR cameras, GoPros, camcorders, or other non-mobile devices will not be accepted.

Use of additional production equipment — such as lights, tripods, boom mics, and sound gear — is permitted and encouraged to enhance your film’s quality.

Post-production work may include editing software for audio and visual effects. The use of filter apps (such as Prisma) is also allowed and encouraged to add artistic flair. However, entries created using auto-editing apps that generate or assemble the film without significant creative input will not be accepted.

AI-assisted films are welcome, provided that all AI-generated elements are created, assembled, and edited directly on a smartphone or tablet. The filmmaker must maintain creative control, and the AI tools should be used to support the storytelling process rather than replace it.

All entries must be an original production and must not infringe on the copyright, trademark, or intellectual property rights of any individual or entity.

Films must not exceed 15 minutes in total runtime. Submissions exceeding this limit will not be accepted or refunded, and they will be excluded from the judging process.

We welcome films in any language. However, English subtitles are required for entries not in English.

A small entry fee is charged to help cover the administrative costs of running the festival.

It is the sole responsibility of the applicant to ensure that all content has been cleared for use prior to submission. Any copyright infringement issues are the responsibility of the filmmaker. The Dublin Smartphone Film Festival and its team accept no liability for any such violations.

By submitting a film, participants agree to the reproduction and dissemination of their work for promotional purposes, including display in media, at other film festivals, and on television.

Drone footage is permitted, but must not exceed 5% of the total film. The majority of footage must be shot on a smartphone.

When do submissions open?

Submissions open for 2026 on June 1st, 2025

Does the Film have to be shot on a phone?

Yes, all films must be shot exclusively on a Smartphone or Tablet. DSLR, GoPro, camcorders, and similar devices are not accepted. However, additional production equipment such as lights, tripods, booms, and sound equipment are permitted. Insert or additional footage captured using drones or zoom is allowed in moderation.

Do the films have to be edited on the phone?

No, you can use additional editing software for post-production, audio, and Visual effects. Filter apps (Prisma) are allowed and encouraged, but auto-editing apps will not be accepted.

How long can a film be?

Entries should not exceed 15 minutes in duration. We accept longer films on a case-by-case basis. Films that are longer than 15 minutes and have yet to be cleared by the festival team will be automatically disqualified without notification to the filmmaker or a refund of the entry fee.

Which countries are eligible to participate?

The festival is open to filmmakers from every country. We welcome submissions in any language, but please include English subtitles if your entries are not in English.

How much is it to enter?

The Dublin Smartphone Film Festival charges a small entry fee of €11 to cover administration costs.

Do all the films have to be original works?

Yes, all entries must be original productions and must not infringe on any individual's copyright, trademark, or other rights. Submissions must have full clearance for all content before submitting. Any issues arising from copyright infringement are the applicant's sole responsibility. The Dublin Smartphone Film Festival and its members are not responsible for any copyright infringements.

Is drone footage permitted?

You can use drone footage in moderation. 5% of footage shot using a drone is acceptable in conjunction with footage shot on mobile phones.

Programming

Each year, we program between 25-30 of the best smartphone films from around the world and share them with you. The selected films are programmed as part of our annual Gala event.

FAQ's

Catagories

Our festival includes an amazing range of film categories, such as Irish; Fiction; Documentary; Music Video; Animation; Under 16; AI Short.

Rules

awards

As a way to reward the beautiful work shown at our festival, we give trophies to our incredible talented filmmakers and their outstanding productions. Click below to find out more about our awarding system.

Submit

Book a filmmaking class for your school or youth group

You want to start your smartphone filmmaking career and don’t know how? We can help you! Have a chat with our founder, Rob, and book a class to learn more about the magic of telling stories through the screen.

Contact Rob

Schools and Organizations we work with..

We work with a number of schools and organizations around the country helping to make filmmaking accessible to students of all ages. Expensive technology shouldn’t be a barrier to entry. Expensive cameras and access to them limit students choices in terms of a career in film. We help show students that film and a future career in film is possible using the power they have in there pocket.

Download Case Study

What People Says

We had the pleasure of working with Rob during the Nenagh Children’s Film Festival 2024, and it was a tremendous success! Rob’s expertise and wealth of practical knowledge, combined with his captivating teaching style, made a lasting impact on our young participants.

Anielka Nowak

Marketing Manager, Nenagh Arts Centre

Great teacher with lot of passion. The teacher put available free resources also after the course. Recommend it. Thank you very much Rob for providing this course and resources.

Alicia Casu

Workshop Attendee

Rob is a fantastic facilitator who imparts his vast knowledge with ease, humour and smart learning. Highly recommended.

Raymond Keane

Workshop attendee

Great festival! I learned a lot in the mobile phone filmmaking workshop, can’t wait to participate next time!

Christian Hernandez

Workshop Attendee

Work of Our Students

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