Drama International Short Film Festival announces 49th edition

The 49th Drama International Short Film Festival is scheduled to take place from September 6 to 12, 2026, in Drama, Greece. The upcoming edition will feature 157 films from around the world, including 45 world premieres. The festival's programming includes National, International, Student, and a newly established International Documentary program.

Winners in the National and International competitive categories will receive automatic eligibility for Oscar consideration. The festival holds significant prestige, having recently received certification from the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) in addition to its European Film Academy recognition. For the first time, the event will host the annual meeting of the Short Film Network, a member network of the European Film Academy.

Special programming for this edition includes ‘Balkan Tales,’ a retrospective of Balkan films that have won European Film Academy awards over the last 20 years. Additionally, the festival will honor the late documentary filmmaker Alinda Dimitriou with a tribute screening of her restored short films, including ‘Oi Karvouniarides’ (1977) and ‘Spata’ (1978).