Kinofilm is a short film festival in Manchester that describes itself as the North West of England's longest-running short film festival. The first Kino festival took place in 1995; the festival is produced by Manchester International Film Festival, a not-for-profit company founded in 2006, and it has taken occasional breaks over the years. Recent editions focus on British and European shorts, with programmes of British New Wave, North West of England and Pan-European films, Spanish and Italian shorts, animation, documentaries, UK student work and films by women directors. Between festivals the organisers run Kino Shorts, regular screening nights in Manchester with filmmaker Q&As.
The 20th edition took place on 12–18 May 2025, mainly at Mini Cini on Ducie Street, with around 100 short films in 17 programmes and an additional Spanish shorts programme on 29 May.
Awards and prizes
Award certificates are presented by the festival jury; there are no cash prizes.
Award categories of the 2025 edition: Grand Prize (Best Overall), Best UK Short, Best European Short, Best Eastern European Short, Best North West Short, Best Manchester Film, Best Women in Film, Best Animation, Best Documentary, Best UK Student Short, Best Overall Student, Best Director, Best First Film, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Cinematographer, Festival Choice. Runners-up and honourable mentions are also named.
Audience awards are given in the Spanish and Italian shorts programmes.
Festival rules
Recent editions accept short films from the UK and Europe only. Sections: British New Wave (UK), North West of England, Spanish Shorts, Italian Shorts, Pan European, Animation, UK Student Shorts, Women in Film (women directors from the UK and Europe) and UK Documentary.
Films should normally be no longer than 20 minutes (animation and student films have lower limits) and completed within 18 months of the festival (12 months for student films).
Films must not be available online for public viewing before the festival. Films that have screened in Greater Manchester must be declared at submission; once selected, a film should not screen elsewhere in Manchester before the festival.
Submissions are made through FilmFreeway. Selected filmmakers receive a festival pass; the festival does not pay screening fees.
