Categories & Awards

Pharos Beyond Images Short Film Festival (PBISFF) is proud to announce its 2026 categories. Submissions are now open on FilmFreeway.

Whether your film is a polished production or made with a phone and a dream, there is a place for it here. We celebrate stories of every length, budget, and form.

Main Awards

Best Short Film: the festival’s top honor, for the film that moves us most.
Best Animation: for imaginative work in any animation technique.
Best LGBTQ: for stories that explore LGBTQ+ lives and experiences.
Best Director: for outstanding vision and craft behind the camera.
Best Actor: for performances that stay with us.
Best Actress: for performances that stay with us.
Best Screenplay: for original, powerful writing.
Best Audience Award: chosen by the people in the room at our live screening.
Best Student Film: for emerging talent still in education.

Special Categories

Micro Short Films (up to 5'): big ideas in very little time.
Experimental / New Forms: for work that breaks rules and invents new ones.
Music Videos: where image and sound meet.
First-Time Filmmaker: for those presenting their very first film.
Low Budget / No Budget Films: proof that creativity matters more than money.
Mobile & Vertical Films: cinema shot on phones and made for vertical screens.
AI & Hybrid Cinema: for films that explore artificial intelligence and the blend of human and machine creativity.

The Experience

All selected nominees are invited to our live screening at our cinema, a chance to see your film on the big screen and meet filmmakers and industry people who share your passion.

All winners receive:

an official “Winner” laurel
a hard-copy certificate
a special engraved PBISFF trophy, presented at the live screening on the Event Date

Prices, deadlines, rules, and terms and conditions for each category can be found on our FilmFreeway page.