COP31 Climate Short Film Competition Opens for Entries Under “Our World, Our Common Home” Theme

September 5, 2026 — The COP31 Climate Short Film Competition has officially opened for entries, inviting filmmakers worldwide to give artistic voice to the climate crisis under the theme “Our World, Our Common Home.” Organized in collaboration with the Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change and COP31 Türkiye, the competition will see selected films screened in Antalya during the COP31 festival week in November.

Background

Water resources are diminishing, drought is spreading, and nature is changing at a pace that is becoming increasingly difficult to reverse. Against this backdrop, the competition aims to translate environmental awareness into tangible action through storytelling, ahead of COP31 — the 31st Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) — which will take place in Antalya, Türkiye, from 9–20 November 2026, hosted by Türkiye and bringing together government representatives, scientists and civil society organizations from around the world.

Competition Focus

The competition welcomes fiction, documentary and animation short films exploring the climate crisis, ecological destruction, awareness of water and soil, recycling, or the relationship between humanity and nature. Submitted films must focus on at least one of the following topics:

• Global climate crisis
• Environmental disasters caused by the climate crisis
• Water scarcity and drought
• Recycling, zero waste, and the circular economy
• Ecological destruction, biodiversity loss, and environmental degradation
• Climate migration and the human-nature relationship

Turning Awareness Into Action

In a distinctive twist, the competition ties each submission directly to conservation impact: the 3 EUR submission fee for every entry will go toward planting one tree sapling as part of the “COP31 Memorial Forest,” to be established by the Ministry — meaning each film submitted contributes to a tangible environmental legacy regardless of competition outcome.

Eligibility Requirements

• Films completed on or after 1 January 2024 are eligible
• Maximum running time is 20 minutes, including credits
• Fiction, documentary and animation films are all eligible
• Films that use Artificial Intelligence (AI) in their production or content will not be considered for evaluation
• Films in languages other than English must include Turkish or English subtitles
• Submissions are open to both national and international participants
• Finalist films must be represented in person by at least one representative during the festival

Awards

A total of 14,000 EUR in cash prizes and screening fees will be awarded:

• First Prize: 5,000 EUR + Award Statuette
• Second Prize: 3,000 EUR + Award Statuette
• Third Prize: 2,000 EUR + Award Statuette
• Jury Special Award: 1,000 EUR + Award Statuette
• Screening Fee: 500 EUR for each of the 6 finalist films
• COP31 Documentary Special Award: A symbolic plaque presented to an outstanding documentary film

Key Dates

• Opening date: 5 September 2026
• Submission deadline: 10 October 2026
• Notification date: 25 October 2026
• Festival week: 11–19 November 2026, Antalya

Entries are accepted through FilmFreeway via the COP31 Climate Short Film Competition submission page. Beyond the screening opportunity, selected filmmakers will be able to engage with industry professionals through panels, masterclasses and talks during the festival week, offering a platform for creative and professional development alongside the competition itself.

Conclusion

As COP31 approaches, the Climate Short Film Competition offers an unconventional but potentially powerful complement to the formal negotiations taking place in Antalya — channeling storytelling and artistic expression toward the same urgent themes of water scarcity, ecological collapse and climate resilience that will dominate the summit’s official agenda. With a submission deadline of 10 October 2026, filmmakers around the world have roughly five weeks to submit work that could not only earn recognition and prize money, but also contribute directly to the growth of the COP31 Memorial Forest.