The fifth edition of the World Food Forum Youth Film Festival is now open for submissions.
The World Food Forum (WFF)’s Global Youth Action Initiative (Youth Initiative) is thrilled to announce the launch of its fifth Youth Film Festival. Over the past years, this global short film competition has grown into one of the most influential platforms for visual storytelling for agrifood systems.
With its first in-person awards ceremony held at the headquarters of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in Rome in 2022, the festival continues to empower young filmmakers to lead advocacy and education for agrifood systems transformation.
This year’s competition introduces new categories focusing on timely themes, expanding the platform for filmmakers to spotlight critical issues in agrifood systems through visual and narrative storytelling.
The five categories for 2025 include:
Best focus on rural transformation: Recognises films that depict the transformation of rural areas including through sustainable practices, education, technology and economic opportunities.
Best focus on women in agrifood systems: Films that highlight the critical role of women in agrifood systems.
Best focus on biodiversity: Films highlighting the importance of biodiversity, and its inextricable linkage to our agrifood systems.
Best focus on climate: Films emphasizing the vital connection between our climate and agrifood systems
Best fiction film: Celebrates fictional films that creatively explore themes around agrifood systems.
“Are you a passionate filmmaker eager to share powerful stories that drive awareness and action?” WFF said. “Now is the time to submit your short film! We are looking for impact-driven films – both fiction and non-fiction – that inspire, educate and spark collective action.”
The WFF Youth Film Festival is calling on filmmakers to:
Raise awareness of pressing issues within agrifood systems, from food security and nutrition to farming, food loss and waste, and the role of women in agrifood systems.
Promote innovative solutions that address these challenges and drive transformation in the agrifood sector.
Celebrate real-life changemakers—including farmers, scientists, entrepreneurs and activists, who work tirelessly to change agrifood systems for the better.
The directors of the five winning films will receive a cash prize of USD 1 000 and their films will be showcased at the WFF flagship event at FAO headquarters in Rome, Italy. This is a unique opportunity for emerging and established filmmakers to gain global visibility, connect with industry leaders and make an impact through storytelling.
Together with a growing network of partners and filmmakers, the WFF Youth Initiative uncovers untold stories and amplifies voices of frontline heroes protecting and preserving the future. The films are designed to inspire hope, drive action and show that a better future is possible. Ready to make an impact? Submit Your Film Today!
Awards & prizes
The directors of the five winning films will receive a cash prize of $1,000 and their films will be showcased at the WFF flagship event at FAO headquarters in Rome, Italy. This is a unique opportunity for emerging and established filmmakers to gain global visibility, connect with industry leaders and make an impact through storytelling.
The five winners will be judged based on the following categories:
- Best focus on rural transformation – $1,000
- Best focus on women in agrifood systems – $1,000
- Best focus on biodiversity – $1,000
- Best focus on climate – $1,000
- Best fiction film – $1,000
The authors of the five winning films will receive a cash prize, and their films will also be featured during the World Food Forum flagship event in Rome in October 2025, allowing the artists to promote their work, gain visibility, and facilitate networking with other attending independent filmmakers and participants.
The Competition is open only to individuals or a group of individuals (entrants) who have reached the age of 18 and under 40 at the time of entering the call for submissions.
Submissions are now open on FilmFreeway until July 21, 2025.
