Dublin International Film Awards

Term & Rules

All films in all genres under 50 minutes will be considered. We consider a short short to be under 5 minutes. Filmmakers certify they have the rights to music used in their films. Please upload a digital screener to FilmFreeway
1. The festival is open to short films of all production techniques, forms, genres and budgets.

2. The primary contact completing the submission process must be authorised to submit the film for consideration including permission from a distributor or sales agent representing the film and must have obtained necessary permissions for the inclusion of copyrighted music and/or images within the films. With this submission, the applicant confirms that they possess all rights necessary for the screening of the submitted film at this film festival.

3. Films must have been completed after 30 September 2015 with a maximum duration of 50 minutes including credits.

3. Films previously submitted to previous editions of the festival will not be considered. If substantial structural changes have been made to the film since a previous submission, please contact us through email to discuss your entry.

4. The festival has no premiere status rule, and accepts works that are available online.

5. The festiva does not have the facility to apply refunds. Please ensure your film meets the eligibility criteria before submitting.

6. Applicants may enter as many eligible films as they wish. A separate entry form, upload and additional entry fee is required for each film submission.

7. Discounts for multiple submissions must be sought before the films have been submitted. Multiple discounts cannot be applied retrospectively after the films have already been submitted.

8. The festival accepts submissions via FilmFreeway. You are able to upload your film as a digital file via a secure external link, or to provide a password-protected Vimeo link, once your registration details have been completed. Dublin International Film Awards guarantees that your film will never be used in any way other than that to which you agree and will not be available online to the public.

9. Please ensure that your upload adheres to the specifications supplied by FilmFreeway.

10. Please submit your film digitally.

12. It is up to the applicant to ensure that the preview copy is in full working order.

13. For all enquiries please contact@dublinfilmfestival.com.

14. If the original language of any dialogue or text featured in the film is not English, the preview and screening copy must be subtitled in English, unless this is at variance with the filmmaker’s intention.

15. Submitted films are viewed by two or more members of the selection team. All programming selections are at the discretion of the Director, whose decision is final.

16. The festival will not provide comments on films prior to submission, nor reasons for rejection of a submitted film,

17. The festival will not confirm the receipt of submissions and preview copies. All applicants will be notified via e-mail about the selection or rejection of their film.

18. There are no fees for participating in the festival competitions. Participants are not entitled to claim rental or other fees for the screenings of their films at the festival.

19. In the event of the live festival being unable to go ahead due to extreme circumstances such as the COVID-19 crisis, the festival will take place online. Films will be screened on a password-protected VoD hub for a period of no more than 48 hours, geo-blocked for public access, but available for all accredited international industry attendees. Selected filmmakers will be informed in advance of this change, and will have the opportunity to withdraw their film from selection if they so wish. In the event of withdrawal, submission fees will not be refunded.

20. In addition to the reproduction of stills of selected films for all the Festvial publications and press, selected films may also be screened as part of preview screenings to promote the event .

21. At the point of payment on your submission you will be asked if you have read and agreed with the festival’s regulations. By agreeing to proceed with your submission you are agreeing to these regulations and your application can then be processed. Entry of a film is binding and implies acceptance of these regulations.

22. In the event of disagreement concerning the interpretation of the regulations, the interpretation of the festival will take precedence.

23. Failure to comply with these regulations may result in the submission being disqualified.

24. These regulations are subject to change without prior notice.

25. Full delivery instructions will be provided on notification of selection.

26. It is the responsibility of the submitter to inform the festival of any change to the onward delivery address, otherwise the festival reserves the right to return the screening copy to the contact address as specified during submission.