The competition takes place monthly, having a total of 12 selections by the end of every competitional year. 

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You can find the season deadline, as well as the notification date and specific category details in the right-grid competition timeline.

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A jury of film professionals will review all eligible submitted films, evaluating from an independent point of view, seeking the energy and new ideas that will contour the future of the cinema.

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The festival team will curate and publish an Official Selection out of which there will be nominations for all the categories mentioned in the ‘Awards & Prizes’ section.

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If a particular category does not have at least 3 nominated films, then the category won’t be considered for Competition within that season.  

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Physical event planning has become even more challenging, therefore at this moment only competition-awarded films will be eligible for live screenings. 

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This means that, at least for a while, the number of annual physical events will be limited to 1 or 2, in order to make sure that we can showcase all winning films safely & responsibly.

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Only short films with a duration between 1 minute and 35 minutes are accepted. 

 

All films must have been made in or after 2016 and have English subtitles (except for music videos and unless English is the native language of the film). 

 

Any genre and format is accepted (from 1 minute films to long, narrative/artistic films, to documentaries, experimental films or student projects). 

 

In case we do not receive enough entries for a category (at least 3 entries must be received in order for that category to be eligible) we will move those entries into a corresponding category. 

 

The filmmaker/institution that is submitting the film must own the rights to do so and is responsible for the content they are providing. 

 

By entering your film for consideration for Film in Focus, you authorize that your work is cleared for festival exhibition and accept full legal responsibility for the intellectual property therein. 

 

Entry into the festival constitutes permission to exhibit your work online at Film in Focus. 

 

Film in Focus is also hereby granted the right to utilize the e-mails through which the entries were submitted as well as excerpts from any film submitted and accepted for exhibition at the Festival for promotional purposes. 

The undersigned shall indemnify and hold harmless Film in Focus from and against any and all claims, liabilities, losses, damages, and expenses (including but not limited to attorney’s fees, and costs of the court) which may be incurred by reason of any claim involving copyright, trademark, credits, publicity, screening, and loss of or damage to the screening videos entered. 

 

By submitting, you agree to all of these rules, terms and conditions. You acknowledge that no submission fee refunds are given once this application has received the notification.

Refunds or project withdrawals are possible prior to the notification. 

 

You understand and acknowledge that, if you are under 18 years of age, your parent or guardian must agree to the terms of this Filmmaker Release on your behalf. As a Parent or Guardian of a minor filmmaker, if applicable, you understand and acknowledge that you are agreeing to the terms of this Filmmaker/Guardian/Representative Release on behalf of your child or a child for whom you are a legally designated Guardian.