Final two weeks to Submit Films to the 21st International Labor Film Festival
From our opening night held on May 2nd in Istanbul
Final two weeks to Submit Films to the 21st International Labor Film Festival (ILFF 2026),
Istanbul, Turkey – Submissions for the 21st International Labor Film Festival (ILFF 2026) with the deadline for all entries are set for 15 December 2025.
Filmmakers around the world are invited to submit their work. The festival seeks films that bring new perspectives to labor and working life, as well as issues related to gender, urban and environmental struggles, migration, and human rights.
A Festival of Solidarity, Free for All
For over twenty years, the International Labor Film Festival has been organized entirely by volunteers. ILFF remains non-commercial, non-competitive, and free of sponsors; it charges no submission fees, and all screenings are free of charge. The festival aims to create a space of solidarity, critical thinking, and collective reflection through cinema.
Open Call for Diverse Voices
ILFF 2026 welcomes a wide range of genres and formats, including:
· short and feature-length films,
· documentaries,
· experimental works,
· and animation.
The festival particularly encourages films that explore the changing conditions of labor, the experiences of workers, and the social struggles shaping our contemporary world.
Festival Journey Across Turkey
The 21st edition will open on 1 May 2026 International Workers’ Day, with simultaneous screenings in Istanbul, Ankara, and Izmir. Following the launch, ILFF will continue to travel to more than 19 cities across Turkey throughout the year, presenting free screenings to local communities, workers’ organizations, independent cultural spaces, and university audiences.
Submission Details & Contact
Filmmakers are invited to submit their work through the festival's page on FilmFreeway:
Submission Portal:
https://filmfreeway.com/iscifilmfest
For all inquiries, please contact:
About the International Labor Film Festival (ILFF)
Founded in 2006, the International Labor Film Festival is a grassroots cultural initiative dedicated to making cinema accessible while amplifying stories of labor, justice, and social struggles. The festival’s volunteer-driven model has enabled it to reach tens of thousands of viewers each year without commercial influence, maintaining its commitment to freedom of expression and solidarity.
The festival has a collaborative network with other workers' film festivals worldwide, notably Laborfest.
