PIFF Student Film Competition 2026

Join us for an extraordinary collection of graduation films that have navigated their way through our open call. Twelve remarkable short films have made it to the competition for the Best Student Film at the Playgrounds International Film Festival. These short films fearlessly tackle technical challenges and soar in craftsmanship and production, showcasing emerging talents from Dutch universities. This selection highlights impressive works that innovate and challenge the realm of audiovisual storytelling. One of these films will receive an encouragement award of €1000 and the title of Best Student Film, presented by our esteemed jury: Narjes Mohammadi, Monique van Kessel, and Michael Hauwert. The films are divided into two blocks: **Block I:** - 🌟 Houses, directed by Paula Socías Villanueva - 🌟 Charli & The Wolf, directed by Gwenaëlle de Ville - 🌟 Harmonies, directed by Doortje Schoonbrood - 🌟 Novocaine for the Soul, directed by Mike Versluis - 🌟 Tunnel Vision, directed by Lucas Petersen - 🌟 Closing Hour, directed by Tim Smink - 🌟 Showtime, directed by Bram Fokkens **Block II:** - 🌟 Cold Bathroom, directed by Eleni Aerts - 🌟 The World is My Idea, directed by Alexander Wolfgang Smadja - 🌟 How Beautiful You Are, directed by Lara Verschuren - 🌟 Should Have Said ‘Yes’ More Often, directed by Nina Broers - 🌟 Straight Forward, directed by Lucas Tepper