Fidan Calls for Iranian Short Films for 2025 Selection

Tehran, Deadline: 30 February 2026, Only Iranian Directors

Fidan, Iran’s leading short film platform, has opened submissions for its annual selection of the Best Iranian Short Film of 2025. The program, now in its 10th consecutive edition, highlights outstanding works made between 2024 and 2025 in fiction, documentary, experimental, and animation.

The call is open to all Iranian filmmakers, both inside and outside the country. Iranian filmmakers living abroad can submit their works under the Diaspora Filmmakers category, while those based in Iran should apply through the main section titled Best Short Film of the Year. All films will be evaluated equally by Fidan’s editorial team.

Unlike a festival, this is not a competition with prizes or screenings. Instead, it is a year-end editorial selection by Fidan’s critics to showcase the most notable Iranian shorts of the year. Finalists will be announced in two lists, semi-final and final, published exclusively on Fidan’s website.

The initiative is directed by Hadi Alipanah (@hadialipanah), founder and editor of Fidan. He is also the founder of the Eestar Cinephilia Portal and Director of Film Production and Distribution at Shahid Saless Cultural Art Institute. With years of experience as a film critic, Alipanah has played a key role in shaping Iran’s independent short film scene.

• Deadline for submissions: 30 February 2026

• Submit via: FilmFreeway – Fidan Magazine

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I’ve always admired how Fidan keeps a steady, independent voice in Iranian cinema. This annual list has become something more than a ranking. It’s a reflection of how our filmmakers think, change, and experiment each year. It’s a quiet yet powerful space that documents the evolution of short filmmaking in Iran.