The RIGA IFF Short Film International Competition seeks to highlight new auteur films of various genres and techniques from all over the world. RIGA IFF is one of the 30 festivals that nominates one short film as a candidate for the European Film Awards. The curator and the selection committee evaluate submissions, look for individual works at other film festivals, film and art schools, and reach out to independent short filmmakers. There are as many films as there are opinions, and as many creators as there are stories.  The only things the selected films have in common is a maximum running time of 30 minutes and a distinctive voice. Audience members are guaranteed to find reasons to laugh, quarrel, or even shed a tear or two – often together with the filmmakers themselves!

The local film scene is particularly dynamic when it comes to short films. The films that are selected for the Short Film National Competition represent a variety of genres and forms and have to have been made in 2024 or later. The competition is judged by an international jury to ensure that the unique features of Latvian-made films are acknowledged in a broader perspective.