For filmmakers

Almaty Indie Film Festival 2027 will be presented in a hybrid format, combining online programming with selected in-person screenings and festival events in Almaty, Kazakhstan.

The festival may include secure online screenings of selected films during limited viewing windows; curated in-person screenings of selected works in Almaty; filmmaker Q&As, panel discussions, workshops, masterclasses, and other educational or industry events; an awards presentation and/or announcement of the festival winners.

1. Open the festival’s FilmFreeway page and choose a category.

2. Complete your project page and provide an online screener.

3. Check the language and English subtitles, then submit through FilmFreeway.

You may enter multiple works. Each film requires its own entry form and entry fee.

All films in languages other than English must have English subtitles, regardless of their country of production.

All films must be submitted as online screeners. Works in progress may be considered if they will be completed before the festival.

The selection screener does not itself authorize public online exhibition. Please do not send stills or press kits in advance; the festival will request the required materials after selection.

FilmFreeway lists Kazakhstani and international categories for narrative films, documentaries, shorts, short and feature animation, and music videos. Kazakhstani web series and an international screenplay category are also available.

Our Awards page describes the festival’s competition programmes and prizes. Choose your submission category from the current FilmFreeway list.

Entry fees vary by category and submission period. Check the exact fee and available terms on FilmFreeway before completing your entry.

The dates on this page follow the festival’s published schedule. Check FilmFreeway for any updates.

Submission to Almaty Indie Film Festival does not automatically grant the festival permission to publicly stream or exhibit a film online.

Films selected for the online programme will be contacted separately after the selection process. The festival will request specific authorization from the filmmaker, producer, distributor, sales agent, or other authorized rights holder before any online screening takes place.

The rights holder may authorize both online and in-person screenings; authorize an in-person screening only; discuss or request specific conditions regarding online availability, including territory, dates, or viewing period.

Declining an online screening will not affect a film’s Official Selection status or its eligibility for festival awards.

Where online exhibition is authorized, the festival intends to use limited-access streaming with defined viewing dates and reasonable measures to prevent unauthorized downloading or distribution. Geographic restrictions and limited viewing windows may be applied where appropriate or requested by the rights holder.

Any online exhibition permission granted to the festival will be non-exclusive and limited solely to the agreed Almaty Indie Film Festival 2027 screening period and conditions.

Due to programme capacity, not every Official Selection is guaranteed an in-person screening.

The festival will curate a selection of films from the Official Selection for public or invited screenings in Almaty. Filmmakers and rights holders whose films are considered for an in-person screening may be contacted regarding screening materials and exhibition authorization.

Selection for an online programme, an in-person programme, or both does not by itself determine award eligibility unless otherwise specified for a particular category.

If a film is selected for exhibition, the festival may request an appropriate screening file, subtitle file, trailer, poster, still images, synopsis, filmmaker biography, and other materials reasonably required for festival presentation and promotion.

The festival will not knowingly use a submitted film outside the specifically authorized festival exhibition conditions.