The prestigious Light In Motion (LIM) competition, sponsored by City of Derry Crystal, reopens to filmmakers and animators across the world on Friday 10 March 2023.


The festival’s Oscar® and BAFTA affiliated Light In Motion (LIM) Short Film Competition showcases the best films from around the world and recipients of the LIM Awards qualify for consideration in the Live Action and Animated Short Film categories of the Academy Awards® without needing the standard theatrical run. Foyle Film Festival is also an IMDb Qualifying Festival, granting all eligible film submissions a fast-tracked title page on IMDb.com.

The three competition categories under Foyle Film Festival Light in Motion Awards 2023 are:

· Best Irish Short

· Best International Short

· Best Animated Short

Previous Foyle Film Festival winners and competitors who have proceeded to win the Oscar® include: Guy Nattiv and Jaime Ray Newman for Skin (2019), Chris Overton and Rachel Shenton for The Silent Child (2018), Terry George for The Shore (2012), Martin McDonagh for Six Shooter (2006), Andrea Arnold for Wasp (2004), Adam Elliot for Harvie Krumpet (2003), and Eric Armstrong for Chubbchubbs (2002).

Previous Foyle Film Festival winners and competitors who have proceeded to win the BAFTA include: Paloma Baeza, Ser En Low for Poles Apart (2018), Nina Gantz, Emilie Jouffroy for Edmond (2016) and Grant Orchard, Sue Goffe for A Morning Stroll (2012).


Deadlines for Light in Motion Awards:

Regular Deadline for submission: Friday 9 June 2023

Late Deadline for submission: Friday 11 August 2023

Extended Deadline for submission: Friday 8 September 2023

Winners of the Light in Motion awards will be announced at the Closing Night ceremony on Sunday 26 November 2023.


All entries for the 2023 Foyle Film Festival Light in Motion competition must be submitted through our submission website.

You can read more information on Foyle Film Festival Light in Motion competitions via our Awards page or you can email the awards team foylecompetition@nervecentre.org

Foyle Film Festival 2023 will take place from Friday 17 – Sunday 26 November in Derry~Londonderry.


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