Competition Rules and Terms
1. The competition is open to all film formats and genres. However, works which go against human dignity and/or contain messages of hostility or hatred towards specific groups of people will not be accepted.
2. The film must have been produced after September 1, 2024.
3. Short films have a duration between 1 and 30 minutes.
4. Feature films have a duration of between 31 and 100 minutes.
5. Each director or producer may submit as many films as desired, but each film must be submitted separately.
6. Films must be submitted via Film Freeway. We will not accept submissions via any other method.
7. Film nominations for each category will be announced by 31 March 2026. We encourage all nominees to come to the award ceremony during the Festival.
8. We will request nominees to submit Electronic Press Kits (EPKs) which include high-resolution production stills, key art, bio and filmography of the director, production notes and full cast and crew credits.
9. The Festival may require specific participants to sit in Festival panels, roundtables, or Q&As.
10. The Festival may retain digital copies of all submissions for archival purposes. Submission of an entry gives the Festival permission to have excerpts of accepted work, including film trailers, shown in all promotional activities related to the festival.
11. Every precaution is taken when handling your film once submitted but we cannot accept responsibility for lost or damaged files that are submitted to us. The Festival is committed to screening all films in the best technical environment possible. However, the Festival declines any responsibility in cases where the film screening is not satisfactory due to technical reasons.
Competition Eligibility
• The Festival prioritizes authentic representation. We welcome submissions involving individuals who identify as Deaf, DeafBlind, DeafDisabled, late-deafened, or hard of hearing. For the purposes of community integrity, we seek individuals who:
• Have a significant hearing loss that impacts daily communication
• Use a sign language as a primary or fluent language
• Identify with and/or are actively engaged in the Deaf and hard of hearing community
• While we recognize that hearing loss exists on a spectrum, this project specifically centers lived experiences aligned with cultural Deaf/HoH identities — not mild hearing loss or temporary impairment. If you're not sure whether this applies to you, please reach out.
• Hearing individuals who have produced projects in collaboration with, and featuring, the Deaf and hard of hearing community are welcome to submit.
• All films must have open subtitles in English for every signed and spoken word, as well as background audio. It is the responsibility of the filmmaker to provide a copy of the film with burned-in subtitles, in addition to a separate SRT file as an attachment. The SRT files will be used and converted into transcripts for DeafBlind attendees. If your film is in LSF and/or French, this requirement does not apply. The festival will add open subtitles in English for you.
Financial Support for Category Nominees
If your submission has been nominated for an award, the Festival will sponsor the following:
1. Transportation:
- From France to Reims: €50 to €200
- From European countries to Reims: €200 to €300
- From outside Europe to Reims: €500
2. 100% of accommodation costs for 3 nights (2-5 July 2026). (Additional nights are at your own expense).
3. Village Pass Admission to the Awards Ceremony.
4. 1 Festival Pass (4 days).
Please note we do not arrange transfers to/from the train station or airport to Reims city center.
