IndieLisboa is an international film festival in Lisbon that focuses on films outside the regular distribution circuit. It screens more than two hundred feature and short films each year, and with rare exceptions the selected films have their Portuguese premiere at the festival. The International Competition is reserved for first, second and third works never shown publicly in Portugal, while the National Competition presents recent Portuguese features and shorts, most of them world premieres. Other competitive sections are Silvestre, Brand New, IndieMusic and Smart7; IndieJúnior programmes films for children and young audiences, and Mouth of Madness covers genre cinema.
The festival is run by the cultural association IndieLisboa – Associação Cultural, and its edition archive begins in 2004. An industry programme with the IndieLisboa Lab, the Portuguese Film Fund, Lisbon Screenings and LisbonTalks runs alongside the screenings. The 24th edition takes place from 29 April to 9 May 2027.
Awards and prizes
The 2027 regulations provide a €15,000 International Feature Film Grand Prize, a €4,000 International Short Film Grand Prize and two €500 Special Jury Awards for international shorts. National Competition prizes are €5,000 for Best Feature Film, €1,000 for Best Director, €2,000 for Best Short Film and post-production services for New Talent.
The Brand New Award includes €1,000, promotion and sales by Portugal Film, and a ULHT scholarship. Silvestre awards €1,500 for Best Feature Film and €1,000 for Best Short Film. IndieMusic awards €1,000. Juries may give special mentions; additional independent juries and audience awards cover features, shorts and IndieJúnior.
Official jury prizes normally go to the film’s production. National Best Director and New Talent, Brand New, and audience awards go to the director. Prizes may change in exceptional circumstances.
Festival rules
The 2027 regulations accept fiction, animation, documentary and experimental films completed in 2026 or 2027. Shorts run up to 59 minutes; features run at least 60 minutes. International Competition covers directors’ first three works, excluding school films, and requires a Portuguese premiere. A short by a director who has already made a feature goes to Silvestre. Silvestre accepts fourth and later works and also requires a Portuguese premiere. National Competition accepts Portuguese productions or films by permanent residents of Portugal, with their first public presentation in Portugal at the festival. Brand New supports emerging filmmakers in Portugal, including students and self-taught directors.
IndieJúnior submissions are short films registered in its FilmFreeway category; Lisbon premieres receive priority, with educational exceptions. Other sections prefer Portuguese premieres. The festival may make exceptions to eligibility requirements.
Entries for 2027 go through FilmFreeway until 18 December 2026. International features submitted in the final period, 19 November–18 December, must be completed after 1 November 2026 and require a deadline waiver from the programming team. Fees vary by category and deadline. A screener or viewing link is required and must stay active until 2 April 2027. Non-English films need English-subtitled screeners and screening copies, except IndieJúnior screening copies must be unsubtitled. Portuguese-language dialogue lists are required for National Competition features and specified multilingual Portuguese films.
Accepted films cannot withdraw or screen elsewhere publicly in Portugal before their festival screening. Required publicity and technical materials are due within 15 days of acceptance; screening copies are due by 2 April 2027. Participation requires acceptance of the full regulations and Code of Conduct. Festival extensions require the rights holder’s authorization.
