A way to promote and grow young artists, independent productions, youtubers, influencers or aspiring documentarists with the passion for water and everything that happens underwater.

Y-40 FILM FESTIVAL was born in the Production Studios of Y-40® The Deep Joy the deepest thermal water pool in the world, thanks to the partnership with the producer and video maker Matt Evans, creative director of the event.

A real Photo and Video Set in which were made many video clips, scenes of movies, TV broadcasts, documentaries, advertising campaigns, art and fashion photographs, which will be available for a whole day for the winner of this competition, to make next jobs.

The best videos, selected by a jury of experts, will be screened in Y-40 in a evenings open to the public the 10th October 2026.

Y-40 FILM FESTIVAL is an international underwater contest open to all audiovisual, film, television and web productions, documentary, fiction, animation, traditional or experimental.
The competition is also for independent productions, filmed underwater in any environment, from the sea to the lakes, from rivers to swimming pools, to encourage the meeting and collaboration between creatives and professionals.
Participation is open to all Italian and foreign directors, film-makers and video-makers.

The call is open to short films of less than 10 minutes, including titles.

Short films must be horizontal and be shot underwater for at least 30% of the duration.

All works shot underwater and produced between 2018 and 2026 can compete in several categories:

1-DOCUMENTARIES / EDUCATIONAL: Chronicles and documented research.
2-ARTISTIC SHORTS: Emotional videos without commercial purpose.
3-COMMERCIAL VIDEO: Advertising or music clips.

There is no limit to the number of entries per participant, but each entry must be registered and paid for individually. 

All entries in languages other than Italian must have English or Italian subtitles.

Ten short films will be selected by the jury. In addition, five short films from the REEL category will be selected to compete in the final.
The selected videos will be published on Y-40’s social networks and screened at Y-40.
The selected videos will receive the ‘Official Selection Y-40 Film Festival’ crown.

Please send the following to info@y-40.com:

1) the download link of the official video from Youtube or Vimeo,

and shall be attached

2) online payment receipt to Y-40 Film Festival,
3) the registration form completed and signed with permission to use as described,
4) parental permission in the case of underage video makers,
5) a summary of the film with Italian or English loglines and synopses,
6) the biography and possible filmography of the director and, if of interest, of the protagonists.

In case of selection, you will also be asked, subsequently:
7) a list with Author and Title of all the musical pieces used in the Corto (for SIAE use)
8) a trailer not exceeding 1 minute in full HD format,
9) suitable photographic documentation in digital format (high-resolution jpg) whose publication is authorised and free of charge, to be used for press releases, website and promotion.

The Technical Jury consists of experts in the world of videomaking, underwater directors, artistic producers, experts in the world of communication, art and entrepreneurship, and has the specific task of establishing, in compliance with this Regulation, the eligibility or not for the Prize of the proposed works.
Works that have received other awards can also be chosen.

The first three ABSOLUTES will be awarded.

The 3rd and 2nd place winner will get some material that will be revealed later by the sponsors, while the 1st place will have in prize a day of production in Y-40 Studios with the setting of the film set worth 10,000 euros.

This prize cannot be sold or sold to third parties.