Open Call: Big Short Films 2026
The future of Greek cinema is here
For the fourth year, we invite Greek and international filmmakers and producers based in Greece to submit their proposals. Five short films will be funded to go into production. Submit your proposals by March 8, 2026.
Photo: Penelope Gerasimou
How much emotion can fit into just a few minutes? Onassis Culture consistently and actively supports emerging creators and artistic experimentation, offering space for new cinematic ideas.
For the fourth year running, it issues an open call for short fiction, documentary, and animation films. Five selected projects will each receive €10,000 in funding. The first completed Big Short Film was MJ by Giorgos Fourtounis, which premiered at the 2024 Drama International Short Film Festival and was awarded the Silver Dionysus, while later it also received the Golden Athena Award for Best Short Film at the Athens International Film Festival. Three Big Short Films were presented at the Open Call: Big Short Films 2026, and were warmly received by audience and critics alike. "Last tropics" by Thanasis Troumpoukis earned Best Photography, Best Sound, Best Design awards, and "Nothing and everything" by Lia Tsalta earned the Best Visual Effects award.
Candidates who wish to apply must create a personal account at the Onassis Directory through the link below and may fill out the application and upload the required supporting documents gradually until the submission deadline for applications and supporting documents.
The submission of an application as part of this Open Call constitutes the complete and unreserved acceptance of its terms.
Submitted film proposals can be based either on an original screenplay, or on a pre-existing idea (with proof of copyright, or an option on a pre-existing work). The submission of a proposal does not guarantee its selection. It is expressly stated here that the submission of a proposal does not entail the transfer of any copyright over the work to Onassis Culture. Any such transfer of copyright shall occur only, and as necessary, in the event a proposal is selected, and by means of a written agreement to be signed after the announcement of the results. The exact amount of funding each selected film proposal shall receive is to be decided on a case-by-case basis, and is contingent on the number of submissions to be selected. The results are to be announced four months after the submission deadline.
For further information regarding the announcement, the relevant terms and the supporting documents please review the Rules and Regulations or contact through email: film@onassis.org
"Last Tropics" by Thanasis Troumpoukis, Big Short Film 2023
2025
Amnesia - Nikos Kolioukos
Meridian - Markela Kontaratou
Highway! - Fokion Xenos
ADA - Sophia Kourou
Final Girls - Pinelopi Mavropsaridi
2024
The Peeling - Krysianna Papadakis, Stergios Dinopoulos
Free Eliza (The Unlikely Story of an Anatomical Anomaly) - Alexandra Matheou
Sparoza - Catriona Gallagher
Caps - Dimitris Theocharidis
Zebra’s Island - Alexandros Kostopoulos
2023
Nothing and Everything – Lia Tsalta
Fouetté – Dimitris Zouras
MJ – Yiorgos Fourtounis
Last Tropics – Thanasis Trouboukis
The Animals in the Forest – Dimitra Mitsaki
"Nothing and Everything" by Lia Tsalta, Big Short Film 2023
