1. General Conditions
The competition is open to all film or video formats and doesn't commit to cinematic forms, themes or genres. Films that are not selected for the competition, can be considered for screenings in special program. The participation of the film at the festival can be canceled until the beginning of the eighth week before the start of the festival.
2. Organization
The Short Film Festival of Cologne is organized by the Kurzfilmfreunde Köln e.V. The festival is funded by the city of Cologne, the Film- and Media Foundation NRW and the Ministry for Culture and Science of the State of North Rhine- Westphalia.
3. Submissions for preselections
Closing date for film submissions is August 1st, 2020. The running length of the film should not be longer than 45 minutes and the date of completion should be in the year of the festival or in the prior year. Only completed films may participate. The submissions can only be made by submitting a digital screener via https://filmfreeway.com/KFFKfestival/
German Competition: Only films with the production site located in Germany are admitted. German co-productions are also accepted.
Cologne Shorts: Films with production site located in Cologne are accepted, submitted films are automatically considered for selection for the German Competition
360°/VR, Shorts For Kids & New Aesthetic: international productions accepted.
4. Accepted film formats
The screening copy of the film can be a DCP, 16mm or 35mm. Films in German should have subtitles in English, films in English should have subtitles in German. If the original language of the film is neither German nor English, the film should be subtitled in in English.
5. The selection
The entrants of the selected films will be contacted by email in mid-september. After that, the selected films will be published on the website of the KFFK. After the invitation to the program, the entrant has to complete the application form with a short synopsis, a crew list, biography and filmography of the director and stills. Without the proper submission of this form the film selection will not be complete.
6. Awards
The festival will give out three jury awards and one audience award in the German Competition, one audience award in the Cologne Shorts and one jury award in the 360°/VR Competition. In addition to the jury and audience awards, there is also the WDR award. This award consist of a purchase by these TV stations. For this reason, the films participating in this competition, have still to be the holders of the broadcasting rights. The awarded films will be shown again in two reruns.
7. Screening Copies
The applicant is responsible for the costs of sending the viewing and screening copies to the festival. Preview copies as well as screening copies from non-EU countries must be marked: "temporary import- for cultural purposes only, no commercial value", and be accompanied by a proforma invoice of maximal 20 euros.
8. Return of Screening Copies
The festival take care of returning of the screening copies to the supplied return address.
9. Video Library
During the festival, all the selected film might be made available for the professional visitors, except otherwise agreed in writing four weeks before the festival. The Video Library can be used freely by all accredited persons. The participation is free of charge
10. Recognition of the regulations
Any participation in the KFFK festival presupposes recognition by the participant of the present regulations. Any special cases not adequately covered under the terms of the regulations shall be decided by the festival management.
