Berlin Film Week

1. Berlin Film Week is being held in Berlin, from June 28th to July 1st 2023. The Festival takes place annually at the end of June.

2. The aim of the Festival is to raise awareness and promote the various aspects of international cinema in all its forms: as art, entertainment and as an industry, in a spirit of freedom and dialogue.

3. In addition to the sections mentioned in the following paragraphs, the Festival also organises special events such as film workshops Co-Production days.

4. Official Selection

4.1 Feature Films

An international competition featuring seven feature films, from anywhere in the world. This section will present films that represent the latest aesthetics and expressive trends in international cinema.

In order to submit to this category, the total running time of the film needs to be 45 minutes or over (including credits).

We welcome narrative and documentary feature films at Berlin Film Week.

4.2 Short Films

An international competition featuring seven short films, from anywhere in the world. The aim of this section is to showcase short films demonstrating innovation and creative originality.

In order to submit to this category, the total running time of the film needs to be of less than 45 minutes (including credits).

We welcome narrative, documentary and animation short films at Berlin Film Week, as well as music videos.

5.Film Industry

5.1 Co-Production Days
Co-Production days will be organised during Berlin Film Week. This is on invitation only, filmmakers/producers will be able to apply by following the submission process. Please visit our website for more information.

6. Juries and Awards

6.1 Feature Films Jury

An International Jury composed of personalities from the world of cinema and culture from various countries, excluding any person involved in any capacity in the production of the invited films or who may have an interest in their distribution, will award the following prizes for the feature films:

+ Best Film
+ Jury Prize, for the film demonstrating the most creative originality
+ Best Director
+ Best Acting (features both male and female nominees)
+ Best Screenplay

6.2 Short Films Jury

An International Jury, composed of personalities from the world of cinema and culture from various countries, excluding any person involved in any capacity in the production of the invited films or who may have an interest in their distribution, will award the following prizes:

+ Best Short
+ Jury Prize

There will be no joint winners.

7. Selection of films/projects

7.1 Selection Procedure

Only films that have been registered can be considered for selection.
Film registrations are accepted exclusively online on FilmFreeway.
Only films completed from 1 January 2022 may be registered for the 2023 edition of Berlin Film Week.
The Festival Director will be assisted by his staff of programmers, as well as by a group of correspondents and international consultants, each responsible for different geographical areas, in order to select the Projects.
Selection will be made under the following criteria: latest aesthetics and expressive trends in international cinema, films demonstrating innovation and creative originality.

7.2 Submission Deadlines

Following deadlines must be met without exception:
Early Submission Deadline: 10 October 2022
Regular Submission Deadline: 28 February 2023
Late Submission Deadline: 08 May 2023
Extended Submission Deadline: 29 May 2023

All the films have to be registered by 29 May 2023, via FilmFreeway.

All the screeners have to be received by 29 May 2023 (screener has to be submitted online or if sent by DVD received at the office by this date).

Late submissions can only be made with the express approval of the respective section head.

7.3 Registration Fees

For each film submitted to the selection of the Festival, a registration fee is requested to cover administrative and programming costs. Films will only be considered for selection after the entry fee is received.

Fees are depending on the submission deadline:
Short films: $25 > $50
Feature Films: $35 > $70
Music Videos: $25 > $50
Virtual Reality Projects: $25 > $50

There are special conditions for film schools and film institutes. Please contact the Programme Coordinator on our contact page for further details.

This fee will not be reimbursed under any circumstance.

7.4 Materials to submit

Films are to be submitted in their original version for the selection process. Films in English do not require translation. Films in other languages must be subtitled in English.

All Projects must be uploaded via FilmFreeway Secure Online Screener system, via a Vimeo link entered directly on the online application, or on a DVD sent via post.

If you send us a DVD, clearly label film title + submission number on the DVD (our office address below).

Berlin Film Week reserves the right to disqualify, without refund of any or all submission fees previously collected from the applicant, any Project that is not submitted via one of these formats.

7.5. Dialogues/Subtitles

If your project includes non-English dialogues, please ensure all subtitles are hardcoded to your video file (we do not accept a translated list of dialogue on paper).

7.6 Completion

Projects need to be completed from January 1, 2022, to be eligible for consideration for the 2023 edition of the Festival.

7.7 Premiere Status

Short Films do not need to retain any sort of premiere status. Short Films do not forfeit their eligibility for submission to the Festival if they were previously released theatrically or via any home video platform, broadcast or streamed on television or the internet, or screened at any number of film festivals anywhere in the world.

Feature films need to be Preview screenings in order to be considered. They may have screened in Germany beforehand, but may not be on general lease before BFW23.

Feature films that have been or will be broadcast or streamed on television or the Internet or released via any home video or other public distribution platform (Blu-ray, DVD, streaming, VOD, etc.) in Germany prior to BFW23 are not eligible.

7.8 Re-submission

Projects that have been submitted for Festival consideration in previous years are eligible for re-submission only if the content of the submitted project has changed significantly since the previous year in which the Project was submitted.

7.9 Shipment

Selection screener DVDs not submitted via FilmFreeway should be sent to the following address:

Berlin Film Week
66 Karl-Marx-Straße
Berlin 12043
Germany

The full cost of sending the material, including customs fees and insurance, must be borne by the submitter or their authorised representative.

DVDs should be marked as “Sample” and with the following declaration: “For cultural purposes only. No commercial value”. Their declared value for customs should not exceed 10€.

All shipments from outside the European Single Market must get customs clearance before being imported. For this purpose, all shipments sent by courier from outside the EU must have three copies of proper customs documentation, containing all the necessary information (i.e.: proforma/commercial invoice), attached on the outside of the package together with the courier’s waybill.

7.10 Return Shipment of Submissions
All media submitted for selection screenings will not be returned unless by specific request and paid for by the applicants themselves. Requests should be sent as early as possible, and no later than two months after the end of the festival, with explicit shipping instructions as well as information about the preferred mode of payment.

7.11 Declaration of Rights Upon Submitting a Film

Berlin Film Week (BFW) will only accept the submission of a film if the submitter is the holder of all usage rights to the film necessary for the submission and use of the film within the context of participation in BFW and if the submitter can also effectively grant the BFW these rights. BFW reserves the right to demand appropriate proof of these rights and to reject the submission upon failure to provide it.

7.12 Notification

All the submitted films will be notified on 2 June 2023 in writing, if their film has been successful or not.

If your film is invited to the official selection of Berlin Film Week, you will be contacted by the Festival in regards to all the logistical and practical details of your screening during the Festival.

8. Selected Films/Projects

The invitation to participate is issued by the Festival Director or the section heads, respectively. Only officially selected films/projects can participate in the Berlin Film Week.

Upon completion of the Festival selection process, BFW will attempt to contact the Applicant using the contact information provided on the submission form to notify the Applicant of the Project’s acceptance status. BFW disavows any responsibility for, and will not be held responsible for any failure to contact the Applicant using the contact information provided on the submission form. It is the sole responsibility of the Applicant to ensure that the contact information provided on the submission form is correct.

9. Participants Obligations

No film may be withdrawn from the festival program after its participation has been publicised. During the festival, no participating film may be screened outside the festival venues prior to its official presentation at the festival.

Participation in the festival requires the unconditional adherence to all regulations set out in these guidelines.

The Director of Berlin Film Week reserves the right to rule on any cases not provided for in these guidelines.

9.1 Acceptance Form

Selected films will receive an Acceptance Form to be duly completed and returned no later than 6 June 2023. Receipt of the form by the Festival implies the legal acceptance of the invitation by all concerned and will be considered definitive and irrevocable.

9.2 Announcement

The invitation of a project to participate must remain confidential until the announcement of the program by the Berlin Film Week. Failure to comply will result in its exclusion from the selection. The general scheduling and screening times are the sole responsibility of BFW.

9.3 Screening Formats

Short + Feature Films

Selected films MUST provide a Digital Cinema Package (DCP) in order to be screened at Berlin Film Week, as well as a back-up Blu-ray. (Except VR films).

DCP (and backup Blu-Ray) must be received at least 10 days before the start of the Festival. The DCP and backup Blu-Ray must be in original version with English subtitles

Should the film copies not be delivered to the Festival 10 days before the start of the Festival, the relevant screenings will be canceled.

The Festival reserves the right to refuse any copy which, on the advice of the Festival technicians, is considered to be of inadequate quality for public screening.

9.4 DCP Specifications technical aspects

Our technical team will get in touch with selected projects regarding DCP specifications.

9.5 Catalogue

All the material required for the Festival catalog (synopses, cast and credits, biography and a complete filmography of the director, photographs of the director, of actors and scenes from the film in b/w and color, plus a brief director’s comment on the film) must reach the Festival as soon as possible, but no later than 6 June 2023.

9.6 Press Material

The presenters of films participating in the Festival must send the promotional material for distribution to the press and potential buyers (press book, digital images of the film and the director, video material, audio clips, etc.) under separate cover, at their own expense, no later than 6 June 2023, in the quantities that will be requested after the invitation.

9.7 Official Logo

All forms of promotional activity after the presentation of the program by Berlin Film Week must mention their participation in Berlin Film Week, including the official logo of the BFW, as supplied by Berlin Film Week. Films awarded a prize must also state which award was won, in accordance with the official graphic designs predetermined and supplied by BFW.

10. Hospitality

Berlin Film Week invites film directors and leading actors to attend the presentation of their films in Berlin. The festival is not in the position to cover travel expenses, although a certain number of hotel rooms are made available during the event. Our Hospitality department will be in touch accordingly.

11. Shipping

All shipping costs to and from Berlin Film Week (including customs charges for films sent from outside the European Union), will be at the expense of the participants.

With regard to DCP films, submitters should contact the Print Traffic Department beforehand for instructions regarding shipment.

Copies of films on Blu-Ray disc, together with any press materials sent for selection, must be sent by courier or post directly to the address of Berlin Film Week:

Berlin Film Week
66 Karl-Marx-Straße
Berlin 12043
Germany

All shipments from outside the European Single Market must get customs clearance before being imported. For this purpose, all shipments sent by courier from outside the EU must have three copies of proper customs documentation, containing all the necessary information (i.e.: proforma/commercial invoice), attached on the outside of the package together with the courier’s waybill.

11.1 Shipping Insurance

All insurance costs covering the transport of films and press material to and from Berlin Film Week will be at the expense of those presenting the films.

12. Insurance during Berlin Film Week

Berlin Film Week provides insurance coverage for the entire period during which the copies are in the care of the Festival. The insurance value of a film may not exceed the average laboratory costs for a standard copy. Furthermore, all necessary measures will be taken by the Festival to protect the author’s copyright for works entrusted to the Festival, in accordance with the FIAPF dispositions regarding safeguarding against piracy.

13. Usage Rights

The participant declares and guarantees that he/she is the holder of all usage rights necessary for the use of the film in the context of this agreement and that he/she is in a position to effectively grant Berlin Film Week these rights. The participant affirms that any third parties involved in the production and distribution of the film have agreed, where necessary, to its use in the context of Berlin Film Week as specified in this agreement. The participant guarantees that by using the film in the context of this agreement, no rights of third parties, including persons depicted in the film, are infringed.