Central Scotland Documentary Festival celebrates creative documentary and non-fiction filmmaking. The Festival is curated and presented by Macrobert Arts Centre in Stirling, Scotland - a city with a strong history of and association with documentary.

Having launched in 2017 as a fully curated and programmed Festival, we are now inviting documentary and non-fiction filmmakers to submit their recent work for the 2023 edition of the Central Scotland Documentary Festival.

We welcome the submission of documentary and non-fiction feature films (50 minutes plus) from all around the world, to be considered as part of our 2023 official selection.

For 2023 we are working towards delivering our regular in-person edition , but in the context of the global pandemic please be aware that our plans may be subject to change. We will update all submitting filmmakers as and when definitive decisions are made concerning the shape of the Festival and its programme.

The Audience Award - £1,000
This Award will be voted for by the audience in attendance at Central Scotland Documentary Festival

The Jury Award - £1,000
This Award will be voted for by a jury of industry professional selected by Central Scotland Documentary Festival

Other Awards may be announced prior to the commencement of Central Scotland Documentary Festival

GENERAL RULES

1. Central Scotland Documentary Festival (CSDF) screening programmes are curated and all submissions will be fully considered by the Programming Team.

ELIGIBILITY
2. CSDF accepts feature documentary films (50 minutes plus) on all subject matter, originating from anywhere in the world.
3. CSDF only accepts submission of documentary films, completed after 1 January 2022
4. All entries must be in English or contain English subtitles. Non-English entries submitted without subtitles, or supplementary printed translations, will be automatically disqualified.

SUBMISSION
5. Only complete entries (Entry Form, Preview Screener, Payment) will be processed and considered for screening.
6. Each submission must be accompanied by the appropriate Entry Fee. Entry Fees are non-refundable. Projects submitted with the incorrect entry fee will not be considered for selection.
7. CSDF will only accept FilmFreeway and Vimeo Secure Online Screeners for preview purposes.
8.CSDF accepts completed films and films at fine cut stage for consideration.

COSTS AND FEES
9. Waivers (free entry) are granted only to select applicants who have been invited to submit by the Programming Team.

10. If selected, the cost of postage and packing of screening copy (inbound print transport) to the Festival will be covered by CSDF. The filmmaker must cover the costs associated with the return or forwarding of screening copy (outbound print transport) after the Festival. CSDF cannot be held responsible for screening copies delayed or lost during transport.
11. CSDF offers standard screening fees to submitted projects selected for the Festival. CSDF’s standard screening fees are £75 (inc. VAT) for feature-length projects for a single public screening. CSDF offers an additional standard screening fee of £25 (inc. VAT) for projects also included on VoD.

NOTIFICATION
12. If a project is selected for screening, the Festival will contact the entrant by e-mail. It is the sole responsibility of the applicant to ensure that the contact information provided on the submission form is correct throughout the entirety of the Festival selection period. All entries will be notified by September 11 August 2023 at the latest, barring unforeseen circumstances. If for some reason you haven’t received an email by this date, please check Festival website for programme announcements or contact the Programming Team.
13. Following selection, the Festival will provide all successful entrants with a Screening Agreement and delivery schedule.

SELECTION
14. All entries are viewed and chosen by the Programming Team. Final selections are at the sole discretion of the Festival.
15. CSDF is under no obligation to provide to the applicant or any other representative of the Project any comments or feedback regarding the submitted project, any information relating to the manner in which the project is, will be or was reviewed; any views that CSDF or any reviewers of the project may hold concerning the project; any reasons why the project, should it not be accepted for exhibition at CSDF, was not accepted; or any other information relating to the Festival’s review, consideration and/or selection process regarding the project specifically or submissions generally beyond the information set forth in these rules and regulations.
16. All projects selected will be made available for public viewing. All timings, date and venue details will be assigned by the Festival.
17. All projects selected may also be offered the opportunity to be made available on our VoD platform for the duration of the Festival.

18. Films which have been distributed theatrically in the UK prior to the Festival are ineligible for submission.
19. If selected, the entrant grants CSDF the right to utilise publicity materials related to the production (e.g. press kits, posters, stills, etc.) for promotional purposes and to broadcast or screen clips of a maximum of five minutes.
20. If selected, the entrant must provide CSDF with a secure online screener of the complete project for the Festival to make available to members of the press and jury (if applicable).
21. Successful entries may also be used for private press screenings prior to the Festival. In this case, the Festival would contact the entrant in advance.
22. All films will be required to be certified by Stirling City Council before screening and will be submitted by CSDF for this purpose. CSDF cannot be held responsible for any delayed or cancelled screening caused by this process.

AWARDS
23. All films selected for CSDF 2023 and screening as Scottish Premieres, are eligible for awards. Shortlisted films will be determined by the Programming Team.

GENERAL
24. Entrant confirms and warrants required legal authority to submit the entry into the Festival and to use all music, images and content in the entry.

Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • My film No One Told Me was selected by several festivals and I have to say that the Central Scotland Documentary Festival was by far the most professional and well organized. Online promotion of the festival was timely and looked great. Quality screening room - screening DCP. I was unfortunately unable to attend so can not say anything about networking or hospitality but all communication was straight forward and personal. Winning the Jury Award was an amazing bonus.

    November 2022
  • Patrick Sharkey

    Absolutely brilliant festival. Grahame is an excellent organiser with a passion for film. We’d recommend this festival to anyone!

    November 2022
  • Oliver Guy-Watkins

    This festival is so well curated. The programme was of a very high quality and it was a pleasure to be included. A wonderful venue and city in which to screen, and also to meet other film makers. Great communication and a very warm welcome. One of the best festival experiences so far!

    December 2021
  • Marco Federici

    This is Scotland's only dedicated documentary festival and is clearly becoming a significant event on the filmmaker calendar. Held at the Macrobert Centre as part of the University of Stirling campus, the cinema is one of the most contemporary and luxurious in Scotland. The festival itself is extremely well organised, offering both theatrical and online screenings of a diverse international programme. I wholeheartedly recommend any filmmaker to participate in this, even as an audience member. An exceptional festival!

    November 2021
  • I was pleasantly surprised by the attention and welcoming approach by festival representatives as they expressed real interest in our film Incendios. Happy to be a part of official selection!

    November 2021