Kurdistan covers in big parts the region of former Mesopotamia. Being one of the oldest cultures in the world, Mesopotamia is widely considered as the cradle of civilisation, where writing was invented and the origins of philosophy can be traced back to. With its ancient, highly developed and socially complex states it had a profound impact on the development of the western civilisation and culture.

The Duhok International Film Festival wishes to return a cultural identity to this region, so that it is perceived again as a place of development instead of a place of political conflict. The fertile land that Mesopotamia once presented is now the land that can breathe quality, cinema and epic stories, growing to new strength.

The festival aims to showcase innovative films of high artistic value with a notable handwriting made throughout the world. It shall work as a pinnacle point for all wishing to learn more about the possibilities the Kurdish regions have to offer. Duhok IFF wishes to create an atmosphere of exchange between different cultures and human values. The city becomes an encounter of civilisations, where ancient culture connects with modern culture and the Kurdish film landscape with world cinema. Unique film experiences can be made and people can share their thirst for new discoveries and a passion for cinema in all its diversity.

A major task of the festival is to build a bridge between Kurdish film production and worldwide filmmaking. It wishes to create a launch platform for films from Kurdistan, taking the pulse of new tendencies and offering the opportunity to explore a terrain opening up in contemporary filmmaking. As a unique festival in this region, it understands itself as a forge for new talents and meeting place for up and coming filmmakers.

The programme does not only present a wide selection of international productions from all over the world, it also aims to spotlight Kurdish film in the world’s film landscape. It focusses both on new films from the four parts of Kurdistan (Iran, Iraq, Syria and Turkey), as well as on films from abroad including films made by Kurdish filmmakers who live in Diaspora.

It is time to open ourselves to the thoughts, images, myths and stories of Kurdistan, to its culture, to its films. Welcome to Duhok!

The Duhok International Film Festival is organised by the General Directorate of Culture, Arts, Sports and Youth of Duhok City and by the Cinema Directorate Duhok in cooperation with mîtosfilm Berlin.

1- Yilmaz Güney Award for the Best International Feature-Length Film. (10.000 USD)
2- New Talent Award for the Best First or Second International Feature-Length Film. (5.000 USD)
3- French Institute Award for best International Documentary Film (5.000 USD)
4- Award for best International Short Film. (5.000 USD)
5- Award for the Best Kurdish Feature Film. (10.000 USD)
6- Jury Award for the Best Kurdish Director of a Feature Film. (5.000 USD)
7- Award for the Best Kurdish Script. (4.000 USD)
8- Award for the Best Actor of a Kurdish Feature Film. (3.000 USD)
9- Award for the Best Actress of a Kurdish Feature Film. (3.000 USD)
10- Award for the Best Kurdish Documentary Film. (5.000 USD)
11- Duhok Cinema Directorate Award for the Best Short Film made by a Kurdish director. (8.500 USD)
12- Goethe-Institute Award for the Best Director of a Short Film (for the production of a new film) (5.000 USD)
13- Short Film Jury Award for a Short Film. (1.500 USD)
14- Duhok City Award for the Best Feature-Length Film shot in the Bahdinan Region sponsored by Duhok City Government. (10.000 USD)
15- Award of the Kurdish Writer’s Association for the Best Kurdish Diaspora Film. (4.000 USD)

Please read the following guidelines carefully before completing the entry form.

1. ORGANIZERS
The Duhok International Film Festival is organised by the Kurdistan Regional Government’s Ministry of Culture and Youth, General Directorate of Culture and Arts of Duhok City and the Cinema Directorate of Duhok in cooperation with mîtosfilm Berlin.

2. FESTIVAL DATES
The 3rd Annual Duhok International Film Festival will take place in Duhok, Kurdistan Regional Government from 09 to 16 September 2014.

3. PROGRAMS
The Festival is composed of several sections, which accept films shot in any format.

The World Cinema Section presents a selection of fiction feature films and documentaries and shorts from all over the world. This panorama of contemporary auteur cinema includes films by young talents alongside work by established filmmakers.
The Kurdish Cinema Section presents a selection of Kurdish films; Feature, Documentaries and shorts, made in a Kurdish speaking region (Iraq, Iran, Turkey, Syria).
Country Focus, each year the Duhok International Film Festival brings certain talent from different countries into focus, aiming to create a network with the country in spotlight.

4. CATEGORIES
Submissions should fall into these categories:

A. WORLD CINEMA
- Feature films: narrative fiction features from around the world with a minimum length of 60 minutes.

- Documentaries: documentary films from around the world with a minimum length of 60 minutes.

- Short Films: the short film with a maximum length of 30 minutes can be narrative fiction or documentary.

B. KURDISH CINEMA

- Feature Films: narrative fiction features from Kurdistan (Iraq, Iran, Turkey, Syria) with a minimum length of 60 minutes.

- Documentaries: documentary films with a minimum length of 30 minutes.

- Short Films: the short film with a maximum length of 30 minutes.

5. ELIGIBILITY & ENTRY CONDITIONS
All films selected for the Festival must be screened in their original language with English subtitles. English-speaking films do not need to be subtitled.

Films completed within the years 2012 and 2013 are eligible for submission and can be part of the program.
Films selected in the Kurdish Cinema Competition Section must not have been previously released in the Kurdistan Regional Government of Iraq in any format, including online screenings, or shown on Kurdish television prior to 16.09.2014.

The submitter additionally has to provide the festival with an English dialogue list of the film, after his film is selected.

A Selection Committee made up of film experts will assist the Artistic Directorship in the scouting and selection of films for the Festival.

Press kits are requested only upon acceptance into Festival.

Previously submitted films are not eligible for submission and cannot be part of the program.

Entrants are permitted so submit works-in-progress (without final colour correction or sound mixing), but please note that updated versions can only be sent when requested by the programming committee and that the film has to be completed by the start of the festival.

All rights, permissions and clearances must be obtained prior to submission and applicants must ensure that they have the right to submit the work with regard to third parties connected with the production of the film in question. By entering your work, you agree to this and the responsibilities involved. The Duhok International Film Festival assumes no responsibility for violation of copyright law.

6. OFFICIAL PRIZES
The Festival presents the following awards:

World Cinema Competition:

1- Yilmaz Güney Award for the Best International Feature-Length Film. (10.000 USD)

2- New Talent Award for the Best First or Second International Feature-Length Film. (5.000 USD)

3- Award for best International Documentary Film (5.000 USD)
Award for best International Short Film. (5.000 USD)

Kurdish Cinema Competition

1- Award for the Best Kurdish Feature Film. (10.000 USD)
2- Jury Award for the Best Kurdish Director of a Feature Film. (5.000 USD)
3- Award for the Best Kurdish Script. (4.000 USD)
4- Award for the Best Actor of a Kurdish Feature Film. (3.000 USD)
5- Award for the Best Actress of a Kurdish Feature Film. (3.000 USD)
6- Award for the Best Kurdish Documentary Film. (5.000 USD)
7- Duhok Cinema Directorate Award for the Best Short Film made by a Kurdish director. (8.500 USD)
8- Goethe-Institute Award for the Best Director of a Short Film (for the production of a new film) (5.000 USD)
9- Short Film Jury Award for a Short Film. (1.500 USD)
10- Duhok City Award for the Best Feature-Length Film shot in the Bahdinan Region sponsored by Duhok City Government. (10.000 USD)
11- Award of the Kurdish Writer’s Association for the Best Kurdish Diaspora Film. (4.000 USD)

7. FILM SUBMISSION

The submission of Feature Films, Documentaries and Shorts are free.
Films must be submitted through the online registration procedure on our website. Filled in online and then printed and signed, must reach our festival no later than the established closing date.

DVDs accompanied by an incomplete entry form (or by annexed material not giving all the information required) will not be considered.
Each entry form must necessarily be accompanied by 2 DVDs of the film in original version with English subtitles, as well as any other documentation that might be of use in selection of the work.

The submission and participation of a film in the Festival imply acceptance of the Rules and Regulations for participation. In any unforeseen eventuality, the decision of the Festival Directorship is final.

8. CLOSING DATE FOR SUBMISSION AND DELIVERY OF PRESELECTION MATERIAL

Submissions will be accepted from: 10.02.2014.
Entry forms, screeners, as well as the required accompanying material for the selection of the film must be sent no later than 10th June 2014 to the following address:
Worldwide
Duhok IFF c/o mîtosfilm
Reichenberger Str. 36,
10999 Berlin
Germany

Middle East, Asia and North Africa
Directorate of Cinema Art – Duhok
Panorama Azadi
42002 Duhok
Kurdistan Region - Iraq

With the following customs declaration: “Of no commercial value, for cultural purposes only”.

The participant is liable for all costs of transportation and customs clearance. The Festival management reserves the right to refuse any shipments entailing additional costs. DVDs and documentation submitted to the Festival will not be returned.

9. SHIPMENT OF SCREENING COPIES OF SELECTED FILMS

Screening copies of films invited to the Festival must arrive in Duhok by 20th of August 2014, after which date the presentation of a film at the Festival cannot be guaranteed. Exceptions to this deadline may be granted in writing by the Festival management.
Please be aware of the fact that for shipments to and from Kurdistan may involve delays.
Our Digital Cinema screenings are only on a server basis. Films will have to be shipped on a physical drive containing just the DCP (Digital Cinema Package) of the selected film, encoded following DCI or SMPTE standards. To assure the best handling of the DCP and the distribution of the KDMs of your film, you have to provide the D-KDM (Distribution Key) to our partner lab: they will generate the KDMs for all playback servers in use at the Festival, open from the 1st until the 21st of August. We strongly suggest shipping the DCP to our festival lab for a Quality Check in order to avoid problems during the Festival screenings.
The participant is liable for all costs of transportation and customs clearance for both outward and return shipment. If the return shipment of the selected films entails costs, these will be billed to the participant before the end of the year. The Festival reserves the right to refuse any shipments entailing additional costs.

10. SELECTION

The festival reserves the right to decide which section the selected films will be programmed in.
We aim to inform successful applicants before 15.08.2014. Unfortunately we will be unable to offer individual feedback or enter into any discussion about your work.
All successful submissions will be listed on our website and successful applicants will be notified by e-mail or phone. Please make sure that we can reach you in the month of August so that we can confirm your film‘s inclusion in the festival program. We will also request that you arrange print transport and additional material during that period.

11. FESTIVAL SCREENINGS AND SCHEDULING

All screenings during the festival period will take place in Duhok and be scheduled by the festival. We reserve the right to make changes to the advertised schedule at any time for given reasons and will not accept liability for any costs incurred as a result of such changes.
No film may be withdrawn from the Duhok International Film Festival program after its selection/participation has been confirmed.
The film must be available to screen in at least one of the following formats: DCP or Blu-Ray
Prints of selected films must be received by the festival not later than 20.08.2014
Duhok International Film Festival will accept responsibility for technical damage to prints of selected titles while they are in the possession of the festival and will reimburse the value of the print stock only.

12. INFORMATION AND PUBLICITY MATERIAL
All documentation material, entry forms and any other correspondence must necessarily be addressed to:

Duhok IFF Office
Panorama Azadi
42002 Duhok
Kurdistan Region – Iraq
Tel: 009647504674499
Tel: 009647504808446
Email: submission@duhokiff.com