top of page
QUICK CUT
Quick Cut is Cornwall Film Festival’s brand-new micro-film competition — a celebration of bold, original, and independent storytelling told in just 90 seconds.
Running alongside our BIFA-accredited short-film competition, Quick Cut proves that great stories don’t need long runtimes — only creativity, precision, and heart.
There’s only one rule: Your film must be 90 seconds or less, including credits.
Entry Categories
Drama – Stories that move, challenge, and captivate in miniature form.
Comedy – Big laughs in small doses; from slapstick to satire.
Documentary & Environmental – Real stories, told with clarity, compassion, and creativity.
Animation & Experimental – Bold visual storytelling, from stop-motion to surreal abstraction.
Young Creators (Under 25) – Fresh voices and emerging talent
Music and or Dance pieces – where sound meets cinematic imagination
Key Dates
-
Entries open: 1 December 2025
-
Deadline: 1st May 2026
-
Winners announced: At a special showcase screening in June 2026
-
Selected films will be screened as part of a special Quick Cut showcase at the Cornwall Film Festival 2026.
Submission Guidelines
-
Films must be 90 seconds or less, including titles and credits.
-
Submit via FilmFreeway link portal | MP4’s files are recommended
-
Films can be shot on any device | We only accept digital files.
-
Make sure your file is named as the title of your film.
-
Open to filmmakers in the South West, and entry is just £5
Prizes
£250 Winner | £100 runner up | Individual prizes for category winners | plus hats, T-shirts & mugs
Story Labs
To help you develop your ideas and craft a brilliant 90-second story, Cornwall Film Festival is running two Quick Cut Story Labs this Spring
🧠 Story Labs
To help you shape your ideas and craft a brilliant 90-second story, Cornwall Film Festival is hosting two online Story Labs this winter — open to all entrants and emerging filmmakers taking part in Quick Cut: The 90-Second Film Challenge.
Creative Writing: Story Structure
🗓️ Monday 15 December 2025, 5:30 PM (online)
Learn how to turn your idea into a compelling short-form narrative. Explore structure, tone, and emotional impact in under two minutes. Book Now
Visual Storytelling for Screen
🗓️ Monday 12 January 2026, 5:30 PM (online)
A practical 90-minute workshop on translating ideas into image, rhythm, and sound — perfect for filmmakers planning their Quick Cut entry.
Sessions are free to attend, but booking is essential.
WHAT'S ON
Lifelong Learning week
3–7th November 2025
Creative Careers Month
November
Community week
10-16th November 2025
2025 IntoFilm Schools Festival
11-28th November
BFI Blockbuster season Too Much
A Season Of Melodrama
Previews week at The Poly Falmouth
17th - 22nd November 2025
INDUSTRY FOCUS 2025:
PRODUCING
EXPLORING THE ART AND BUSINESS OF SCREEN PRODUCTION
At Cornwall Film Festival 2025, our annual Industry Focus shines a spotlight on the vital and often misunderstood role of the Producer. Whether you're working in short films, feature narratives, factual TV, or digital platforms, producing sits at the heart of the screen industry. This year’s focus explores all facets of producing—from development and financing, to production logistics, distribution strategy, and creative leadership. Through talks, panels, roundtables, and networking, we’ll be lifting the curtain on what it really takes to get a story from script to screen.
STORIES FROM ALL CORNERS OF THE WORLD -
OUR FUNDERS & PARTNERS
_edited.jpg)
bottom of page