Article 1 - Organization and Mission
The first edition of the Dubbing Italy International Film Awards (DIIFA) is conceived, produced, and managed by Dubbing Italy, a premiere post-production, dubbing, and localization studio.
The festival's primary mission is to dismantle linguistic barriers in independent cinema, providing international filmmakers with a definitive, high-value gateway into the European and Italian markets. Instead of standard symbolic trophies or cash, DIIFA awards 100% service-based prizes including broadcast-quality Italian dubbing, adaptation, industry localization, and distribution representation.
Article 2 - Eligibility Criteria and Language Restrictions
The competition is open to independent creators worldwide whose projects adhere to the following strict parameters:
Short Films: Maximum runtime of 40 minutes (including credits).
Feature Films: Runtime exceeding 40 minutes.
TV / Web Series Pilots: Pilot episodes or first episodes of a series, with a maximum runtime of 60 minutes.
Completion Date: Projects must have been completed on or after January 1, 2010.
Strict Language Restriction: The festival is open to projects shot in any language from around the globe, WITH THE ABSOLUTE EXCLUSION OF THE ITALIAN LANGUAGE. Since the ultimate prizes consist of professional Italian dubbing and localization, projects originally spoken in Italian are ineligible.
Subtitles and Dialogue Lists: English subtitling is not mandatory at the time of submission. However, all selected projects must provide a technical timecoded dialogue list in both English and their original language.
Article 3 - Submission Categories
Filmmakers may submit their projects under the following categories on FilmFreeway:
Best Narrative Short - Drama
Best Narrative Short - Comedy
Best Short Film: Documentary / Animation / Genre (Sci-Fi, Horror, Thriller)
Best Narrative / Documentary Feature Film
Best TV / Web Series Pilot
Article 4 - Deadlines and Submission Fees
Submissions must be finalized exclusively through FilmFreeway. Fees vary according to windows to support the administrative costs of technical pre-screening:
Earlybird Deadline (June 1 - July 31, 2026): Shorts $20.00 | Features $35.00 | Series Pilots $30.00
Regular Deadline (August 1 - October 31, 2026): Shorts $30.00 | Features $45.00 | Series Pilots $40.00
Late Deadline (November 1 - December 31, 2026): Shorts $40.00 | Features $55.00 | Series Pilots $50.00
Extended Deadline (January 1 - February 15, 2027): Shorts $50.00 | Features $65.00 | Series Pilots $60.00
Article 5 - Prize Structure (100% Service-Based & Industry Laurels)
No cash prizes are awarded. Winners receive official certificates, high-resolution digital laurels, industry services, and localization-distribution contracts. The Festival Jury and the Dubbing Italy Management reserve the right to withhold or not assign any of the scheduled awards, including the Grand Prizes, if the selection committee determines that no submitted project in a given category meets the minimum artistic, technical, or commercial quality standards required for professional localization.
🏆 GRAND PRIZE WINNER - SHORT FILM
Receives a 100% Free Localization and Full Dubbing Package for the winning film. Services include professional script translation, dialogue adaptation to Italian sync standards, voice-actor casting, full recording studio sessions, audio synchronization, and final stereo mix.
Includes: Official Winner Laurel and Digital Certificate of Excellence. Simultaneously, the project enters an exclusive distribution representation deal for Italy backed by Dubbing Italy's distribution channels (See Art. 8). Estimated commercial value: up to €5,000.
🎬 GRAND PRIZE WINNER - FEATURE FILM
Receives an elite Technical Co-production Grant due to the industrial scale of full-length films. This includes: 100% free Italian dubbing & mixing of the film's official trailer (up to 3 minutes, a crucial asset for Italian distribution acquisition) and a 60% Discount Voucher for the full dubbing of the feature film.
Includes: Official Winner Laurel, Digital Certificate, and a formal Italian Distribution Agreement Proposal. Estimated commercial value: up to €15,000.
📺 GRAND PRIZE WINNER - TV / WEB SERIES PILOT
Receives 100% Free Localization, Adaptation, and Full Italian Dubbing for the submitted pilot episode. Simultaneously, the project enters an exclusive distribution representation deal for Italy backed by Dubbing Italy's distribution channels (See Art. 8). Includes: Official Winner Laurel and Digital Certificate.
🎖️ CATEGORY WINNERS & OFFICIAL SELECTIONS
Category Winners receive the Official Category Winner Laurel, Digital Certificate, and a 50% Discount Voucher for full Italian dubbing services. Official Selections (Nominees) receive the Official Selection Laurel and a 20% Discount Voucher applicable to any localization, post-production, or subtitling service offered by Dubbing Italy. All vouchers are valid for 12 months.
Article 6 - Mandatory Technical Requirements for Prize Redemption
Due to the technical nature of professional localization, winners and voucher holders must provide the following materials within 60 days of notification, or risk forfeiting their service prize:
Music & Effects (M&E Track): The filmmaker must supply a completely clean, fully separated M&E audio track, entirely free of any original spoken dialogue. Any lip-sync breathing, grunts, or background sound design linked to actors' delivery must be isolated or reproducible.
Dialogue Scripts (English & Original Language): A final dialogue script/list with precise Timecodes (LTC IN-OUT) for every single line of dialogue, provided in BOTH English and the project's original language. Dubbing Italy will not process translations directly from rare dialects or native tongues without the accompanying English script.
High-Resolution Video Master: A high-bitrate video file (ProRes 422 or H.264), preferably textless (clean of burns, text overlays, or hardcoded subtitles).
Article 7 - Voucher Terms of Use and Project Flexibility
Validity: All service vouchers (60%, 50%, and 20%) and grand prize options expire exactly 12 months from the date of the official winners' announcement.
Filmmaker Project Flexibility: While the 100% free Grand Prizes are bound to the submitted film, the 50% and 20% Discount Vouchers can be applied either to the submitted film OR to a future project (e.g., an upcoming feature film or a new series in development) produced or directed by the same submitting rights-holder.
Financial Restrictions: Vouchers are non-cumulative, non-transferable to outside third-party companies, and are absolutely under no circumstances redeemable for cash or direct financial compensation.
Article 8 - Intellectual Property, Copyright, and Distribution Clauses
As a baseline rule for Feature Films, creators retain 100% of their intellectual property, copyright, and commercial revenue streams. Dubbing Italy does not automatically claim equity or sales cuts. Acceptance of any dubbing prize requires the filmmaker to insert a dedicated card in the end credits of all future dubbed iterations. Furthermore, the filmmaker explicitly grants Dubbing Italy the right to publicly promote and advertise the production of the Italian dubbing, allowing the use of official promotional materials (e.g., posters, stills) and dubbed footage for corporate showreels, press releases, social media, and online portfolio promotion. The distribution agreement proposals for Feature Films are fully optional and subject to a separate contract.
SPECIAL DISTRIBUTION CLAUSE FOR THE TV / SERIES PILOT AND SHORT FILM CATEGORIES (Recoupment Deal):
In consideration for the substantial industrial investment of providing 100% free localization and broadcast dubbing, the winners of the "Best TV / Web Series Pilot" and "Grand Prize Winner - Short Film" categories unconditionally agree to sign an exclusive commercial representation contract granting Dubbing Italy the sole worldwide distribution and exploitation rights for the ITALIAN VERSION ONLY (dubbed audio variant).
Dubbing Italy shall retain 100% of the initial distribution revenues generated by the sale or licensing of this Italian dubbed version until all industrial and studio costs incurred during the dubbing process have been fully recouped. Once full recoupment is achieved, all subsequent profits and royalties generated worldwide from the Italian version will pass directly and entirely to the rightful owners of the project.
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RULES FOR THE SCREENWRITING CATEGORIES
1. Formats and Page Limits:
Authors can submit an original script/screenplay formatted to industry standards. To be eligible, the following limits must be met:
Short Script & Series: The maximum length allowed is 15 pages (equivalent to approximately 15 minutes of audio runtime for the free production).
Feature Script: For feature-length screenplays, a minimum length of 60 pages is required.
2. Language:
Scripts can be submitted in Italian or English for the judging phase. However, the final audio adaptation and production of the winning work will be exclusively in Italian.
3. Copyright & Intellectual Property:
Authors retain 100% of the literary copyright of their screenplays. By accepting the Grand Prize, authors grant DIIFA the right to realize, produce, and commercialize the audio and musical adaptation of the work (Audiofilm) worldwide. The final audio master and sound design remain the exclusive property of the festival.
