FeKK 2026
General Regulations
1 General information
2 Competition programs
2.1 Entry requirements
2.2 Technical requirements and fees
2.3 Premiere rule
3 Selection procedure
4 Selected short films
4.1 Hospitality
4.2 Presentation of the film at the festival
4.3 Jury and awards
5 Final provisions
1 General information
FeKK—Ljubljana Short Film Festival is a central Slovenian event dedicated to short film. Operating as both an association and a platform, it has, over the years, developed into a consistent meeting point for filmmakers, professionals, and audiences, engaging with the short film scene on national, regional, and international levels. Through ongoing collaborations and exchanges, particularly in recent years, FeKK has become part of a broader network of festivals and film initiatives that support the circulation and visibility of short film.
The festival was founded in 2015 in response to the lack of a structured, continuous platform for short film production and exhibition in Slovenia. At the time, short films were experiencing a noticeable increase in production, largely driven by the greater accessibility of digital filmmaking tools, while audiences and professional infrastructure remained limited. FeKK was initiated by a small group of film publicists, filmmakers, and enthusiasts gathered within Društvo Kraken (the Kraken Association for the Promotion of Short Film), established in 2014. The association has since remained the main organiser of the festival, alongside a range of year-round activities dedicated to the short film form.
Over time, FeKK has established itself as a stable framework for the presentation, discussion, and development of short films. Its programme and activities reflect the growing presence of Slovenian short films within international festival contexts, as well as the sustained interest of local audiences in the format. Increasingly, the festival has also turned its attention to films that engage with the social realities of the present moment, opening space for works that reflect on political contexts, collective experiences, and how cinema responds to a changing world.
The festival is part of several international networks supported by Creative Europe MEDIA and the global festival association Short Film Conference.
2 Competition programs
At the heart of the festival are short film screenings, curated into several thematic programs.
FeKK features three competition programs. FeKK SLO showcases the latest Slovenian short films, highlighting the diversity and vitality of national production.
FeKK BAL focuses on contemporary short films from Southeastern Europe, bringing together works from the wider Balkan region, including Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Romania, Serbia, Cyprus, and Moldova.
The Children’s Competition Program presents short films from around the world, carefully selected and divided into age groups, offering young audiences an engaging, age-appropriate festival experience.
Together, these competition programs form the core of FeKK, celebrating short film creativity across generations and borders.
2.1 Entry requirements
We accept short films of all genres and formats across our three competition programs.
For the FeKK BAL competition, eligible films must come from the following countries: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Greece, Kosovo, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Romania, and Serbia.
The FeKK SLO competition is open to Slovenian short films and films by Slovenian filmmakers.
The Children’s Competition Program is open to films from all countries. Filmmakers can apply to one or both age groups: 4+ and 8+.
To be eligible for any competition program, films must be under 30 minutes (20 minutes for the FeKKids programme) in length and completed after January 1, 2025.
2.2 Technical requirements and fees
Short films must be submitted via the FilmFreeway platform. Please note that submission fees are non-refundable.
Rough cut versions are accepted if the film is not fully completed by the submission deadline. In this case, the final version must be delivered within 30 days after the final submission deadline. At the time of submission, the film must already be picture-locked, meaning that all image editing is finished.
If the film includes dialogue or on-screen text in a language other than English, English subtitles are required. This also applies to films in the Slovenian language.
The submission deadline for the 12th edition of FeKK is May 1, 2026.
2.3 Premiere rule
FeKK considers all submitted films for selection. However, preference may be given to films that have not yet been screened at other festivals in Slovenia or internationally. This allows FeKK to offer its audience and guests fresh, previously unseen films that reflect the festival’s focus on discovering and showcasing new work.
3 Selection procedure
All submitted films are viewed by FeKK’s programming teams. Each competition program has its own team responsible for selecting the films.
The selection process for all competition programs will be completed by June 15, 2026, which is also the official notification date. All applicants will be informed of the results via FilmFreeway. If you do not receive a notification by that date due to possible technical issues, please contact us at info@fekk.si
Selected films will receive the official “FeKK 2026 – Official Selection” laurel, which can be used for promotional and communication purposes.
4 Selected short films
Films selected for one of the three competition programs will be notified by email shortly after the selection is finalized. The festival team will then provide all necessary information, including deadlines for submitting the screening copy, catalogue materials, and any additional requirements.
Filmmakers whose films are selected for the FeKK BAL competition will also receive an invitation to attend the festival in person. Our hospitality team will get in touch with further details regarding travel and accommodation.
4.1 Hospitality
FeKK encourages filmmakers to attend the festival in person and take part in Q&A sessions following the screenings. Meeting filmmakers in person adds an extra layer to the festival experience and creates a more meaningful connection among films, authors, and audiences.
When possible, the festival offers accommodation for up to 3 nights to a maximum of 2 representatives per film. Travel costs may also be partly covered. In line with FeKK’s commitment to environmentally responsible travel, we prefer public transportation (trains and buses).
Please note that hospitality conditions may vary from year to year, as accommodation and travel support depend on the festival’s available financial resources.
4.2 Presentation of the film at the festival
If selected, filmmakers agree to the public screening of their film at the festival and/or to potential geo-blocked online screenings during the festival period. If online screening is not possible for your film, please inform the festival team in advance.
All competition films will be featured in the online festival catalogue, including a short description and other relevant information. Selected films will also be promoted through FeKK’s website and social media channels as part of the competition programs.
For public screenings at FeKK venues, films must be provided in DCP and HD formats and include English subtitles. Screening copies must be available via a download link upon request.
FeKK reserves the right to translate competition films into Slovenian, using dialogue lists when available.
By accepting selection, filmmakers agree that their films will be screened to the public free of charge. Once the applicant confirms the selection, the film cannot be withdrawn. Screening fees are not paid for films included in the competition programs.
4.3 Jury and awards
At FeKK, awards are decided by two juries and the audience. In total, six jury members take part across the International Jury and the Young Critics Jury, while one award is decided by the children’s audience.
Both juries are made up of film professionals. The International Jury comprises international filmmakers and industry experts, while the Young Critics Jury brings together a new generation of European film critics.
International Jury Awards
- FeKK Grand Prix Award
- FeKK BAL Award
- FeKK SLO Award
Young Critics Jury Awards
- FeKK BAL Critics’ Jury Award
- FeKK SLO Critics’ Jury Award
Audience & Special Awards
- Audience Award for Best Slovenian Short Film (presented by the ESFAA Festival Network)
- FeKKids Audience Award (awarded to four films in the FeKKids Competition Program)
- Best VR Audience Award
Distribution Award
- The distribution company Radiator Sales presents the Distribution Consulting Award to the film of their choice in the Slovenian Competition Programme.
Selected films may also receive a nomination for the NCNA (New Critics New Audiences) Award 2025, presented by The END – Network for Short Film Discourse.
5 Final provisions
By submitting a film, applicants agree to all of the rules and terms listed above.
The festival reserves the right to make changes to the program, screening schedule, or festival dates if necessary, as well as to decide on all other matters related to the festival, its competition programs, and overall production.
If you have any additional questions, feel free to contact us at info@fekk.si — We’ll be happy to help.
