Application Specifications
International Anti-War Film Festival
The International Anti-War Film Festival is a new, annual event organized by the Spartacus Arts and Culture Association, to be held this year in Ankara, Istanbul, and İzmir.
Its primary focus is on short films centered on anti-war themes. Works addressing related subthemes—such as peace, resistance, justice, equality, and social struggle—will also be considered.
Spartacus Arts and Culture Association is an open, public organization founded to promote, share, and produce dissident, socially engaged, and revolutionary art and culture. Through regularly scheduled seminars and talks, it aims to bring high-quality knowledge in art, science, history, philosophy, literature, politics, and many other fields to the people.
The Association also seeks to reach millions who have been cut off from the arts due to life circumstances, using cinema and theatre to propagate a socially engaged understanding of art.
It also strives to reach the millions who have been disconnected from the arts due to their living conditions, using cinema and theatre as a means to promote a socially engaged understanding of art.
It also strives to reach the millions who have been disconnected from the arts due to their living conditions, using cinema and theatre to advance the idea of “art for the people.”
Application Requirements for the International Anti-War Film Festival
1. Fictional and documentary short films of 20 minutes or less are eligible.
2. There is no restriction on the filming format.
3. Only films produced after January 2000 are eligible.
4. Applicants may submit more than one film.
5. Prior participation in, or awards from, other festivals does not disqualify a film.
6. The deadline for applications is June 7, 2026. Applications submitted after this date will not be considered. Applications may not be withdrawn after June 7, 2026.
7. Submissions must be made via www.filmfreeway.com/antiwarfilmfestival or www.savaskarsitifilmfestivali.org.
8. Applicants must fill out the Online Application Form on either of the mentioned websites ( www.filmfreeway.com or www.savaskarsitifilmfestivali.org) by the deadline. While filling out the form, password-protected video links (hosted on platforms such as YouTube, Vimeo, Dailymotion, or personal websites/blogs) must be provided along with the password. The applicant is responsible for ensuring that the link remains functional throughout the selection period. Broken links and incomplete contact information will result in disqualification.
9. Once selected, films may not be withdrawn from the festival. Each applicant is deemed to have accepted this condition.
10. Films selected for screening by the jury will be announced on the festival’s official website and social media platforms. Applicants whose films are not selected will not be notified.
11. Members of the pre-selection jury, main jury, or festival team, as well as their first-degree relatives, are not allowed to apply.
12. Screenings will take place in venues and at times determined by the festival management. No changes in venue, session, or schedule will be accommodated.
13. No living creature should be harmed during filming. Otherwise, the film will be disqualified.
14. Travel and accommodation expenses are the responsibility of the selected participants. The festival committee accepts no liability for these expenses.
15. Regarding the submission fee: The Festival Board of Directors reserves the right to make changes to submission fees and category-based pricing during the ongoing application process when deemed necessary.
Any fee changes shall take effect upon being updated on the application system and shall not be applied retroactively.
The current submission fee is the amount displayed on the application screen within the application platform. The fee appearing on the system at the time of the applicant's payment shall be considered valid.
A fee change shall not affect the payments of participants who have completed their applications prior to the date of the change; for these individuals, the application is subject to the fee schedule in effect on the exact date the payment was made.
Within its discretionary power, the Festival Management may issue waiver codes that provide discounts or full exemptions for specific individuals, institutions, projects, or categories. The terms of use, duration, and scope of waiver codes are determined exclusively by the Festival Management, and these codes are strictly non-transferable.
16. Films must have a minimum resolution of 1920×1080.
17. Films not in Turkish must include English subtitles.
18. Trailers must also be submitted along with the film.
19. By applying, participants consent to the use of their trailers in TV, press, and social media for promotional purposes.
20. Films Finalist films will be announced via the festival website. The filmmakers of the selected works will be contacted directly.
21. Upon request, finalists must send screening copies, promotional materials, and a signed approval form to the festival’s mailing address. Otherwise, the film will not be presented to the jury.
22. Within one year after the festival, selected films may be screened in non-commercial events, with prior notification and approval of the directors. This condition is considered accepted upon application.
23. The applicant is responsible for any copyright issues that may arise during screenings.
24. Short films that pass the preliminary selection and are included in the screening program will be presented during the International Anti-War Film Festival, which will take place in the first week of December 2026.
25. The festival organizers reserve the right to change the number and type of awards. The jury’s decisions are final, and no correspondence or objections will be considered.
26. The festival participation rules consist of 26 articles, including this one. Every applicant is deemed to have accepted these terms. The festival officials reserve the right to make changes to the conditions.
