Since its foundation in 1979, the Efebo d’Oro Award has explored the connections between cinema and narrative by awarding the best film based on a literary work. It has also opened itself increasingly to new audio-visual languages, by observing how the arts influence each other and exchange experiences. The festival is held in Palermo, a city which is famous for being welcoming and for its brilliant artistic life. It has been supported so far by the Department of Cultural Heritage and Cultural Activities of the Sicily Region and by the City of Palermo, while since its first edition the Banca Popolare S.Angelo has been the main sponsor.
The festival is organized by the Centro ricerca narrativa e cinema

Awards & Prizes

1: Golden Efebo for the best film based on literary work;
2: Golden Efebo of Banca Popolare Sant’Angelo for Life Achievements;
3: Golden Efebo for New Languages;
4: Efebo Prospettive, for the best first or second feature;
5: Special Efebo ‘Corrado Catania’ to a prominent figure in the field of cinema crafts;
6: Special Efebo ‘Nicolo’ Lombardo’ for the best cinema essay.
The Centro ricerca narrativa e cinema may award other special prizes at its sole discretion also in cooperation with Non-Profit Organisations and cultural associations.

Rules & Terms

REGULATION
Article 1. – Organising Body.
The Centro ricerca narrativa e cinema (Research Centre for Cinema and Narrative) shall organise the 44th edition of the Efebo d’Oro, hereinafter referred to as EdO, an international festival of cinema and writing to be held from 6 to 12 November 2022 in Palermo.
More information can be found on the website of the festival (www.efebodoro.it), and the other social channels, such as the Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/efebodoro/) and Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/efebo_doro/).

Article 2. – Objectives.
The festival intends to promote the relationship between cinematic culture and writing, by organising screenings of films, talks with authors, and masterclasses by promoting the participation of schools, the academia, and audience of different ages and walks of life. To this end, it establishes cooperation projects and partnerships and seeks coordination with other festivals and/or other local cultural initiatives.

Article 3. – Competition sections.
The festival is divided into two sections:
a) EFEBO D'ORO, for films based on literary works;
b) EFEBO PROSPETTIVE, for debut and second works of any subjects.
As for a), feature films of any genre can apply as long as they are based on literary works. They can be Italian premiere or, exceptionally, they may have already been distributed in Italy and produced not earlier than 2020. The selection committee will choose a maximum number of 8 films among the applicants to be presented to the public.
As for b), new feature films, including those already distributed in Italy, can apply as long as they have NOT been produced earlier than 2020 and screened in Sicily. The selection committee will choose a maximum of 8 of them to be presented to the public.
Application deadline is 15 July 2022.

Article 4 – Awards.
An international jury shall award the best film of the EFEBO D'ORO section with the Golden Efebo and may decide to award the author of the book on which the film was based and/or the author of the screenplay with a special Efebo prize.
An international jury shall give a special Efebo prize for best director in the Efebo Prospettive (debut and second works) section.
The juires will be free to assign special prizes.
The ‘Centro ricerca narrativa e cinema’ also gives the following prizes:
- Golden Efebo of Banca Popolare Sant’Angelo for Life Achievements;
- Golden Efebo for New Languages;
- Special Efebo ‘Corrado Catania’ to a prominent figure in the field of cinema crafts;
- Special Efebo ‘Nicolo’ Lombardo’ for the best cinema essay.
The Centro may award other special prizes at its sole discretion also in cooperation with Non-Profit Organisations and cultural associations.

Article 5 – Admission to the Competition.
Admission to the competition is unquestionably decided by the Selection Committee made up of the artistic director of the festival, members of the ‘Centro ricerca narrativa e cinema,’ and external experts, if any.
The list of the films admitted to the competition of both sections will be published by 10 September 2022.

Article 6 – Invitation.
The ‘Centro ricerca narrativa e cinema’ shall be free to invite films it deems suitable at its sole discretion.

Article 7 – Awarding Ceremony.
It will take place on 12 November 2022 at 6.30 pm in Palermo.

Article 8 – Entry Form.
To participate in the festival, it is necessary to fill out the entry form and send a copy of the film in original language; for all non-Italian films, we request the submission of a copy sub-titled in Italian or in English, via link by 15 July 2022 (late deadline). To be admitted, it is necessary to fill out the on-line form.

Article 9 – Statement.
The author or producer of the admitted film is fully responsible for the content of the works they have sent and declare of having fulfilled any obligations towards third parties arising from the use of copyright materials, hereby providing express authorisation to the use of those works.

Article 10 – Catalogue.
All information concerning shortlisted films, biographies, filmographies and photographs will be used to draft the catalogues. To this end, participants provide EdO with authorisation to use film clips, set photos, biographies and filmographies of the authors for the catalogue and publicity of the festival itself on the Festival website and relevant social channels, and on information media. EdO reserves the right to use short clips (no longer than 30’’) of the presented works to promote the festival on TV channels or the Internet.

Article 11.
Admission forms shall be presented with a summary of the film, biography and filmography of the director, not less than three HD photos taken from the work which is being submitted, and at least one photo of the director. These materials may be sent in Italian or English (or at least in English) via email to:
films@efebodoro.it

Article 12.
The authors of the shortlisted films invited to the festival agree to participate in talks with viewers and students.

Article 13 - Format of films to be screened.
The Festival Director reserves the right to accept the following projection formats:
DCP, High-Quality Files (H264, Pro Res), Blu-Ray.
The Secretariat shall agree on timing and modes of delivery with the person in charge of organising the shipment of the copy for projection. All copies shall be in original language with subtitles in Italian (best option) or in English. Is requested the dialogue list with time-code (in English or French) synchronised with the on-screen dialogue. Copies of invited films must send on or before 10 October 2022.

The screening copies of selected films coming from non-EU countries must be sent via express courier with the: wording ‘No commercial value. For cultural purposes only’.
Production companies of the screened films shall also send a digital copy of the trailer.

Article 14.
The Organisation of the Efebo d’Oro festival shall not take responsibility for damages or loss that the works may incur during transport or delivery.

Article 15.
It is responsibility of the producers, distributors or other subjects who present the film to be legitimately authorised to ask admission of the film to the EdO.

Article 16.
By participating in the competition, the organisation is implicitly authorised, and receives, a release to use the film during the festival.