Terms and conditions:
All data and material must be provided via FilmFreeway. This information and files should be uploaded in the form that FilmFreeway provides. The following list includes various requirements like "subtitles" and what kind of format the video file has to have. But we highly encourage you to fill out your entire data sheet, including social media links and stills, to be able to promote your film as optimally as possible.
If you experience difficulties we will gladly provide how to properly manage the FilmFreeway data sheet.
Language: The submission is open worldwide, but all films that are not in English, must have English subtitles.
Multiple submissions: There is no limit to the number of entries you may submit.
Production date: Films may have previously been publicly screened anywhere. Furthermore there are no limits when films were finalized.
Genre & duration of films: Any short films, documentaries, feature films, music videos, promos, animated films or other cinematic contributions related to historical structures are permissible. Quality and creativity are the most relevant factors whether your film will be selected.
Submission procedure: Submissions open on the 8th of May 2025.
Deadline beyond which no further submissions are accepted is the 1st of June 2026.
Filmmakers can only submit their films online here via FilmFreeway. The non-refundable submission fee per entry is € 15 (runtime up to 40 minutes) or € 40 (runtime over 40 minutes). Please make sure you submit the correct fee for your submission. If your film does not match the criteria listed here and you still submit your film, we will not consider your film and we cannot refund your fee.
It is the filmmakers’ responsibility to ensure that the submitted film meets the eligibility criteria. If a film becomes ineligible once submitted, while we would be grateful if you let us know, we are unable to provide refunds for films already submitted.
We do not accept extremist content from religious or political organisations, or otherwise illegal content.
Receipt of submission: After your submission FilmFreeway sends a confirmation e-mail. FilmFreeway also allows you to check the status of your submission through their website.
Entries must be received on or before the deadline and the submission fee payment must be made in full at time of the submission.
Technical requirements: We screen from a wide variety of formats. Preferred format: mp4 or mkv with H.264/H.265 codec.
All entries have to be provided via FilmFreeway as downloadable file. Please don't send discs, film spools or video tapes to us.
Change of contact details: Please make sure that you inform us of any changes to your data sheet or uploaded file via mail@history-filmfestival.com.
E-mail is the main form of communication used by the festival team. It is vital that we have the correct information should we require to contact you about your submission.
Entrants are prohibited from contacting the judges during the competition by trying to influence their judgment. Any entrant who attempts this will be disqualified and their entry fee forfeited. The decision of the judges is final.
We may have outside input, but all judging and all decisions are made at our sole discretion.
Official selection: The films chosen by the jury will form the official selection. The filmmaker is notified via e-mail through FilmFreeway. The selection of all films presented at the festival and their placement in the festival is at the discretion of the programming team and the jury. All selected participants can obtain our “official selection” laurel via the FilmFreeway website.
Competition: The competition start and end will be published on the festival website and on FilmFreeway. The official selection will be announced on the 15th of July 2026 (CET) at the latest. At the live event the winning films will be awarded.
Accepted filmmakers attending the festival are responsible for their own expenses. In case you want to come to the festival for the onsite event, please let us know to be able to prepare the schedule of the event as well as possible. We will be happy to help with accommodation and provide information for public transport.
Awards: The awards will be decided by a jury. All winners are presented at the onsite event. On the next day after that ceremony event the winners will be published on the festival’s Facebook and Instagram page.
The organizers reserve the right not to award all of the prizes and further reserves the right to revoke recognition status at any time.
Copyrights: The filmmaker/institution that is submitting the film must own the rights to do so and is responsible for the content they are providing. You have to make sure that it does not infringe on any existing copyright.
The submitter is responsible to provide the correct data on FilmFreeway in each section about the film and the team.
The material submitted must not be encumbered by any obligation to, or option held by, a third party prior to entering the competition.
By submitting your film to the festival you commit to a possible public screening of your film (and sequences of it) online and during the onsite event.
The competition, the judges, and the team accept no liability whatsoever for any claims of damages, real or perceived, by any entrant(s) as a result of their participation in this contest.
If there is a trailer available (in English or with English subtitles), please mention the link in FilmFreeway as we would like to present your film online on the festival website as good as possible. If the trailer is not yet published online, we can offer to publish it on our YouTube channel. Furthermore please provide a digital film poster and stills as well as a short description of the film and your social media details - also from cast & crew - for promotional and website use and to connect you in the best possible way.
By submitting your film you agree that the festival, its team and its external partners may use parts of your film, trailer, teaser, behind the scenes material and poster/still for promotional purpose and for the award ceremony.
Submission to HISTORY International Film Festival Austria constitutes agreement to all terms and conditions contained here and your consent that your film will be considered for any awards that may be given at the festival. Submission also certifies that all film and music rights and clearances have been obtained (in accordance with the Austrian copyright laws). By submitting, you agree not to withdraw your film from HISTORY International Film Festival Austria after it has been accepted by the selection board.
The applicant confirms that he/she has the requisite authority or has obtained the requisite authority from the producer/right holder to enter this film in the HISTORY International Film Festival Austria and hand over the right to the HISTORY International Film Festival Austria to entitle the crew to use the film online and during the live event including the necessary time to provide everything on the festival website and to remove it's public availability after the end of the festival.
The applicant also confirms that there will be no financial demands towards HISTORY International Film Festival Austria for the usage of the film: The film will be available online for the time of the online event, for free and worldwide.
If you provide a screener, for the online festival, via youtube/vimeo that is public, unlisted and not password protected, we use this link for the festival's online activities, especially the online festival's streaming services.
The festival organizers keep the right of changing the section/category of the selected film from the section which is submitted and also to change the event location if needed.
The festival organizers keep the right to disqualify the film in case of unresponsive e-mails for the (online) screening, violating messages or comments against the terms and conditions and it can be followed up with legal action.
The festival is situated in Austria and the law of Austria shall govern any interpretation of these terms and conditions. The Austrian courts shall have exclusive jurisdiction in any disputes between us.
All winners are responsible for their own income tax withholding. Contest is void where prohibited by law, be it state, federal, or local.
By submission / entering the competition you hereby agree to have read and accepted these terms and conditions for participation in the HISTORY International Film Festival Austria.
We are very much looking forward to receiving your submissions!
Contact details festival team:
E-mail: mail@history-filmfestival.com
Telephone/WhatsApp: +43 699 1925 8179
