Make a ShortDoc - CALL FOR ENTRIES
Edition 11 of the MegaCities-ShortDocs Film Festival is officially open
from June 1st 2025 to January 18th 2026.
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Register on this website and you will receive by email and WhatsApp all information about the festival.
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By registering as early as possible, you get a proper guidance and counselling from our team and increase your chances of making a great ShortDoc.
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Once your ShortDoc is ready, you will need to send it to us using one of the methods suggested.
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Your ShortDoc may be selected, awarded and take you to the Cannes Film Festival !
are now open
BEFORE REGISTERING,
PLEASE CAREFULLY READ THE INSTRUCTIONS BELOW:
By registering, you agree to the Terms & Conditions of the contest (Terms & Conditions - 2025-2026)
Your ShortDoc film must :
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Show a challenge in your city and solutions or ideas of new initiatives that could tackle such issues.
For inspiration and subject ideas, take a look at the themes with social or environmental impact covered by one of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals from the United Nations (such as education, climate change, feed, transportation, refugees, health, poverty, gender equality…).
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Be shot in a urban environment.
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Last no more than 4:00 minutes (including closing credits).
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Integrate English subtitles (if your film is selected for the festival, you will also be asked, in a second phase, to submit a version without subtitles and a text file with English subtitles and time codes).
Criterias :
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Power of the solution in terms of inhabitants’ benefits and importance of the challenges associated with it.
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Replicability of the initiative and information enabling other people elsewhere in the world to draw inspiration from it.
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Originality of subject, ability to bring to the world's attention things that have not been seen before.
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Description of the initiative, explanation of how it works, evidence of its positive impact on the problem it addresses.
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Quality of the writing and storytelling, particularly in terms of the clarity of the message, but also the ability to create a sense of attachment to the characters and their story.
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Cinematographic quality of the documentary (in terms of image, editing, etc.).
Key Dates :
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January 18th 2026 : ead of the call for entries.
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February to April 2026 : jury process.
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May 2026 : screenings in Paris and all around the world.
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May 20th to 23rd 2026 : winners films are screened as part of the 11th Positive Cinema Week. One of the winners is going up the red steps of the Cannes Film Festival.
The Megacities-Shortdocs Festival Awards
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The Best ShortDoc, in partnership with Positive Cinema Week, under the auspices of the Cannes Film Festival
Rewards the best film of the edition
1000 € for the ShortDoc Maker
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The Best Student's ShortDoc
Rewards the best film shot by a student
1000 € for the ShortDoc Maker
Special Prizes from our partners
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The Greater Paris Metropolis Prize, supported by Greater Paris Metropolis
Rewards a film that promotes an initiative with a social and/or environmental impact, carried out by a collective or an inhabitant of the Greater Paris Metropolis, and filmed on its territory
1000 € for the ShortDoc Maker
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The Happy Proximity Prize, supported by Chaire ETI Paris la Sorbonne
Rewards a film which addresses urban challenges by encouraging debates on the need to rethink city design and living spaces
1000 € for the ShortDoc Maker
One of the winners will also be invited to the Cannes Film Festival (transport and accommodation), and will climb the steps at the Cannes Film Festival, in addition to the prizes mentioned above. (Jury decision)
One of the winners will also receive a production grant and editorial support from the Festival team to turn their ShortDoc into a 10 to 15 minute documentary, through our Films4SustainableWorld programme.
Other prizes could be added up.
The Total of the 2 Awards & 2 Prizes represent a total value of around 15 000€.
The Greater Paris Metropolis Prize is only open to ShortDocs shot in the Greater Paris area.
The Happy Proximity Prize criteria are detailed in the Terms and conditions.