Submission

 

CALL FOR ENTRIES

5th Edition: October 4 8, 2022

 

Submission DEADLINES:

  • Open Call
  • Early-Bird Deadline
  • Deadline
  • June 3, 2022                     Extended Deadline
  • Notification Date
  • Event Date

 

 

FESTIVAL VISION: “The cultural dialogue in all its aspects with emphasis on diversity is our main ambition to create solidarity in society.”

Linz International Short Film Festival is the first international short film festival in Linz, Austria, which is a unique film event for short filmmakers and film lovers to network and discover future SHORT FILM trends on a worldwide level.

Linz International Short Film Festival is established for showcasing and celebrating the best INDEPENDENT short films from already established filmmakers as well as great work from new upcoming TALENTS and artists from all around the world.

We focus on finding DIVERSE independent films with strong characters and storylines, from filmmakers who share their visions in a powerful, creative and entertaining way and encourage ALL independent filmmakers to submit their films.

NETWORKING is a very important issue for the Linz International Short Film Festival. To achieve that, we would like to invite as many filmmakers as possible to participate to the festival. There will be also a special hall with some snacks and drinks for filmmakers gathering. We try to make our own community and stay in touch with the filmmakers also after the festival. 

 

The 2022 festival is also taking a hybrid approach, attempting to hold both an online and a physical event. Linz ISFF presents films in three competition sections as well as in Special Programs. Submitted films can cover any topic:

Fiction- international short fiction films max 20 minutes
Documentary- international short documentary films max 30 minutes
Animation – international short animations max 20 minutes

***Make sure you submit your film in the correct category to take advantage of the student, Austrian, Middle Eastern, and African film discounts! Each film can only be submitted in ONE category.

In order to provide more opportunities for Middle Eastern & African filmmakers to present their work due to their limited access to the mainstream, and to promote local cinema, the Linz ISFF does not charge a fee for Middle Eastern & African films, and also for AUSTRIAN films. A discount is also available for student films.***

The LINZ INTERNATIONAL SHORT FILM FESTIVAL was founded in 2018 with the aim of supporting young, talented filmmakers in their qualitative work and giving them the opportunity to present their creations in a professional setting. The thematic focus is on diversity and “independent films” with strong characters and plots, virtuoso creative and entertaining narratives.

With hundreds of independent short films on 5 festival days, the festival throws a spotlight from the screens of Linz cinemas, beyond the borders of Europe, into the wide world and underlines the lively interest of the international short film scene for the festival as well the location of Linz. The focused and multifaceted supporting program is enhanced by a diverse range of discussions, night-lines, and workshops for filmmakers and other guests.

With the help of numerous, motivated film enthusiasts and the CLOSEFILM Association, the festival founders Parisa Ghasemi & Ashkan Nematian managed the first festival edition 2018, which immediately met with great approval. 800 submissions for the first edition, from which 114 favourites from around 40 countries were selected, speak for themselves and for the diversity of the festival. In 2019 we received around 800 submissions from 75 different nations, and 2020 we pleased more than 3400 submissions from 121 countries for our online edition of the festival, and 2021 we have received 1050 films.

From the very beginning, the Linz ISFF has made an important contribution to the Linz cultural scene, creating a productive environment for local artists and filmmakers as well as space for collaborative artistic exchange. In the long term, the festival aims to support filmmakers in building up an international network.

AWARDS

  • Best Short Fiction Award
  • Best Short Documentary Award
  • Best Short Animation Award
  • Best Austrian film Award
  • Best Directing
  • Best Screenplay
  • Best Cinematography
  • Best Edit
  • Best Sound-Design
  • Best Acting

* The prizes could be changed every year.

 

COMPETITION ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

Please take into consideration that all the films from Austria, the Middle East, Africa, and every other country will participate in the international competition. However Austrian films will automatically be considered the best Austrian film too.

By submitting your film in each category, the film will automatically be considered for the online festival too.

1.FORMATS: All (except the vertical formats)
Please note, however, that submissions must be sent on an online secured screener and, if selected, filmmakers are required to provide a screening file.

*Linz ISFF accepts No VERTICAL format.

2.GENRE: All
All genres of non-commercial shorts are accepted. No music videos.

*Linz ISFF accepts No music videos.

3.PRODUCTION COUNTRY: All
Submissions will be considered in two categories:
Austrian, and International as Official Competition. Eligibility for each category will be determined by the festival based on the following criteria: Director’s nationality, film location, the language of the film, the nationality of casts’ and source of funding.

*Austrian films should submit in Austrian competition, but their film will be considered for all international awards of the festival too.

4.RUNNING TIME: Under 30 minutes.

*Running time includes end credits should be under 30 minutes.
*Animation & fiction films could be between 1-20 minutes.

5.YEAR OF PRODUCTION: after 2020
The film must have been produced after January 1, 2020, for all competitions. The festival committee will determine the production date of your film based on the copyright year listed in the end credits.

6. PREMIERE: Not screened on Internet, Not broadcast-ed on TV
Films that have screened on the internet or shown theatrically or been broadcast on television in Linz prior to the Festival or are available on DVD or VOD are not eligible for competition.

*It is NOT mandatory for films to premiere at Linz International Short Film Festival.
*By submitting your film in each category, you agree that your film will automatically be considered for the online festival as well.

7.ENGLISH SUBTITLE: Required
Required for submissions with a language other than English. Also for GERMAN films, we need an English subtitle.

*English subtitles for submissions with the English language would also be encouraged.

8. MULTIPLE ENTRY: Possible.
You may submit multiple entries but must fill out a separate entry form and pay an entry fee for each.

9. COMPETITION
The festival presents films in three competition sections as well as in Special Programs. The film can be submitted to one of three competitions. The festival reserves the right to assign the film to a category that is different from the category it has been submitted to originally.

*Please submit films with Austria as at least one country of production, or with an Austrian director or producer to the Austrian competition. Austrian films will automatically be considered for the best Austrian film too. The competitions are:

Fiction- international short fiction films
Documentary- international short documentary films
Animation – international short animations
Best Austrian Film

*All submitted films will also be considered for the Closefilm Online Festival. If your film is accepted, we will notify you.

10.SCREENING COPIES

1. Accepted formats: Mp4, MOV,
2. A backup file must be submitted along with the screening copy.
3. The screening copy must arrive at the festival office no later than the 15th July 2021.
4. If the film has dialogue or text that is not in English, the film must be submitted with English subtitles.
5.The selected filmmakers are not awarded financial compensation for participating in the competition.

11.ADDITIONAL MATERIAL

In addition to a screener file you are asked to at least submit the following*
1. At least one film still (300 dpi)
2. Poster of the film
3. A Trailer up to one minute in this format: MP4 HD 1920 1080
4. Director’s filmography
5. 100 words description of the film
5. A list of previous screenings of the submitted film, including awards
6. Main credits
7. Information about previous screenings in Austria
*film still, trailer, poster, and the info you send may be used on our Website and social media, to promote the festival and your films.

12. DISPATCH AND SHIPPING OF SCREENING COPIES
An ONLINE SERVER will be provided, to easily upload your film on Festival Computer.
Please note: Preview copies will not be returned, but stored in the Linz International Short Film Festival archive.

 

 

RIGHTS

1. You guarantee that you own or otherwise control all of the rights to the film you submit to us and that you are entitled to transfer the rights to us as specified in this agreement.

2. By submitting the film, you guarantee that all (intellectual property) rights needed for screening during the Linz International Short Film Festival and other uses described in this agreement have been cleared.

3. By submitting the film you guarantee that the screening or other use of the film by Linz International Short Film Festival does not infringe rights held by third parties.

4. By submitting the film you agree to indemnify the festival against all third-party claims in connection with screening the film during Linz International Short Film Festival and other uses described in the terms. This includes covering any legal costs that might be incurred.

5. Screening: The festival is entitled to show the selected films during the duration of the festival any number of times at online and physical events.
*As a non-profit association, we pay no Screening-fee.

6. Best-of programs: If the film receives an award or nomination at Linz International Short Film Festival the festival reserves the right to show the film free of charge two times within a year from the festival as part of a best-of program to promote the films/filmmakers as well as the festival.

7. Press screeners & archive: You grant Linz International Short Film Festival the nonexclusive, royalty-free, worldwide, perpetual and unlimited right to make copies of the film in order to make these copies available to the press or industry representatives only and to archive these copies. The festival guarantees to exercise this right within reason and always with the benefit of the filmmaker in mind. These copies will not be used for commercial screening purposes by any means.

8. Educational use: You grant Linz International Short Film Festival the nonexclusive, royalty-free, perpetual, and unlimited right to use the archived copies for noncommercial educational purposes.

9. Video Library: You grant the festival the nonexclusive and royalty-free right to include the film in the Video Library regardless of the selection status of your film. The Video Library is open to accredited national and international industry guests only; the films may be made available at screening booths or online. You furthermore grant the festival the right to share your contact information with interested industry guests.

10. Promotion: If your film is selected to be included in the program you grant Linz International Short Film Festival the nonexclusive, royalty-free right to show – online, via television or in cinemas, in a single form, or as part of a showreel – a trailer of the film up to 1 minute for advertising and promotion purposes.

11. Metamaterial: If your film is selected to be included in the program you grant Linz International Short Film Festival the nonexclusive, royalty-free, unlimited, and irrevocable right to publish submitted metamaterials such as (but not limited to) film stills (in an edited/altered form if necessary), the title and credits of the film, and the director’s name.

12. If a provision of this agreement is or becomes illegal, invalid, or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, that shall not affect:
A) the validity or enforceability in that jurisdiction of any other provision of this agreement; or
B) the validity or enforceability in other jurisdictions of that or any other provision of this agreement.

13. This agreement is governed by Austrian law. The place of arbitration shall be Linz, Austria, the language of the arbitration shall be German.

 

If you have any further questions please contact info@linzisfilmfestival.com