We are looking for short films (up to 20 minutes) that engage seriously and thoughtfully with love, sex, intimacy, desire, and human connection.

Sex does not have to be present.

Films centered on love, longing, consent, self-love, coming of age, emotional intimacy, relational tension, etc. are just as welcome. What matters to us is not explicitness, but depth and intention.

We welcome:

• Narrative shorts

• Documentary shorts

• Experimental work – as long as there is a clear story, idea, or emotional through-line.

Form, tone, genre are all flexible.

Explicit sexual content – including real sex – is welcome when it is used with intention. Sex can be provocative, confronting, sensual, unsettling, or even titillating. We are interested in work that understands sex as a cinematic tool, something that can carry meaning, tension, pleasure, power, or purpose.

What matters to us is that intimacy, bodies, and sexual acts are doing something within the film: shaping character, advancing an idea, challenging the viewer, or deepening the emotional or narrative experience, rather than existing in isolation or as empty spectacle.

We are less interested in work where sex is the entire point, and more interested in work where love or sex is part of a larger cinematic conversation. We are drawn to films that trust the audience, resist simplification, and approach intimacy with emotional honesty and cinematic intention.

A Note on Transparency

On Night 2 of this year’s festival, we will present a one-off special screening of our feature film, ForeFans. This film reflects the kind of bold but intimate character-driven cinema the festival is drawn to.

As the festival develops, we will be looking to expand the programme to include feature films in future editions, with ForeFans serving as a test run, but for now, Love, Sex & Cinema Film Festival is focused on short film submissions only. Click on the FilmFreeway image below to submit your work.

Love, Sex & Cinema
Film Festival