***IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT RE THE 2021/22 EDITION***
LAST YEAR'S 2021 EDITION THAT WAS POSTPONED UNTIL 2022 IS NOW GOING TO TAKE PLACE FROM THE 19TH - 30TH OCTOBER 2022. IF YOU HAVE NOT HEARD FROM US YET, PLEASE NOTE WE ARE STILL CONFIRMING SOME FILMS FOR INCLUSION AND YOU MAY STILL HEAR FROM US IN AUGUST THAT YOUR FILM IS INCLUDED, WE EXPECT TO HAVE CONFIRMED ALL FILMS BY THE END OF AUGUST 2022.
PLEASE CHECK THE WEB SITE FOR UPDATE AND OUR SOCIAL MEDIA CHANNELS.
Welcome to Kino Manchester, we operate Kinofilm, the North West of England's longest running short film festival. PLEASE NOTE: the new dates for the next Festival (18th edition) are 19th - 30th October 2022.
SUBMISSIONS ARE CURRENTLY CLOSED
Re recommend submitting your films early to benefit from the early bird prices and to make sure you do not miss out should be close our submissions earlier than planned in the event that we bring the festival dates forward. The Early Bird deadline will be open for 2 months until the ******
Entree fees for all categories are the same apart from the following categories listed below. Fees open at just $10.00 or $8.50 for Gold Members of FFW.
1. Student entries in which we offer a discount of a third less that standard prices ((33%). Student filmmakers must submit to the student category KINO EXPOSED to obtain this discount.
2. Kino Alumni filmmakers (directors) that have previously screened at Kinoflim - you can also submit for 33% off all entry fees - but you MUST submit to the Alumni programme section to get this special additional discount. You will be asked to enter a code that you will receive after providing evidence of your previous film screened at Kinofilm. Please also put these details in a cover letter on your FilmFreeway entry to us stating the year, director's name (which should be the same), the film's title and the programme it was in (if you can recall).
3. REDUCED ENTRY FEES for filmmakers residing in EASTERN EUROPE and the Russian Federation - also receive 33% off. To obtain the discount those filmmakers must submit under the Eastern European section to obtain this discount. You must first contact us to provide evidence of residence and country of production to obtain this code to submit to this section.
4. Filmmakers from GREATER MANCHESTER - can also receive 33% off but must submit under the GREATER MANCHESTER FILMMAKERS programme section to obtain this discount.. You must upload evidence to your entry of residence within Greater Manchester and the film must be produced within the region.
5. REDUCED ENTRY FEES for MICRO SHORTS (5 Minutes and under) - 33% off, please submit under the MICRO SHORTS section to obtain this discount. This section is primarily aimed at lo/no budget filmmakers producing shorts of under 5 minutes
6. BAME programme section. For Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic filmmakers who wish to be considered under a section focusing on BAME filmmakers. We welcome films on any subject, issues or themes in this section. Entrants to this section can also claim 33% of all entry fees. Please read fully the description under Iranian submission for full instructions on how to apply.
7. SUBMISSIONS FROM IRANIAN FILMMAKERS - We offer a Waiver code for Iranian filmmakers residing in Iran. We realise the difficulties Iranian filmmakers experience by Western imposed sanctions on their country. We also recognise the importance of new stories coming by both established and young filmmakers and we are thrilled to have the ongoing special section in the festival for Iranian Filmmakers. Therefor we offer a free waiver code this year for entries submitted from IRAN. You will need to enter a waiver code to submit your film. However, please do not contact us asking for the code without first reading the section under Categories for Iranian Cinema (to the right of the page) and by providing the evidence requested.
We will provide the code to filmmakers and agents who follow the simple instructions detailed to obtain the code - you must the information requested to obtain the code to submit under this section. PLEASE READ THE INFO (ABOVE) AND FULLY IN THE INFO SECTION FOR IRANIAN SUBMISSIONS (on the right under CATEGORIES) WHERE IT GIVES DETAILS OF HOW TO OBTAIN THE CODE.
8. Women in Film Section
Women play an important role in filmmaking and there are many talents out there and to continue our long standing celebration of Women in Film we have two categories. One programme is a focus solely on Women directors, the second programme category will focus on the work of women practitioners in the roles of writers, actors, producers and Directors of Cinematography but please note the film lead roles must be female led. If you have a film that has a strong female led role or strong female writer etc and you want to be considered for this section of the festival please submit to the Women Practitioners category. Female Directors should submit to the Women in Film (directors category).
General Information.
Established in 1995 the festival is now in it's 17th International Shorts Edition. Kinofilm has a unique reputation for showcasing the best short films from around the world, whilst being renowned for seeking out diverse, challenging and groundbreaking new films. We welcome filmmakers that are pushing the boundaries of the short film art form. The festival maintains a high standard with many European & International award-winning shorts featured in the Festival. It includes special programmes in North West Shorts (UK), British New Wave, Euro Cine, International Panorama, Kino Exposed (student and youth shorts), low/no budget shorts, Animation and various themed programmes, giving new and emerging filmmakers the opportunity to have their work screened alongside that of critically acclaimed, established short filmmakers.
Please note for 2021, the festival will provisionally move dates to OCTOBER. We will further welcome short films and animations from Eastern Europe as we extend the Polish festival to include more Baltic countries. This year we welcome films for this section from Romania and Russia.
All short films should have been completed since January 2019 to present and be no longer than 20 mins (accept documentaries which can be up to 23 mins including credits). PLEASE NOTE FILMS SHOULD NOT BE ONLINE FOR PUBLIC VIEWING AT THE TIME OF SUBMISSION AND AT ANY TIME PRIOR TO OUR FESTIVAL (APART FROM PRIVATE LINKS). ANY FILMS THAT ARE SEEN TO BE IN THE PUBLIC DOMAIN WILL FACE DISQUALIFICATION AND NO REFUND WILL BE OFFERED.
WE ARE OFFERING STUDENTS (world wide) , GREATER MANCHESTER FILMMAKERS, Youths and community groups, Eastern European Filmmakers and Alumni Filmmakers and BAME filmmakers 33%% OF ALL SUBMISSION FEES (please see offers at the top of this entry). The discount is automatically applied when you submit your film to the relevant sections, entry fees start at just $10.00 Please note PROOF OF ELIGIBILITY MUST BE SHOWN in all these categories in advance of submitting the film, you will then receive a code to submit your film.
IRANIAN Filmmakers can submit for free (see above details).
Please note, if your film is selected for screening in one of the CINEMA screenings you must be able to provide either a DCP of your film. Please contact us if any issues with this and we will try to resolve it by showing the film in one of the other programmes not requiring either this format. If it playing in one of our other venues then we will require a digital version, details supplied if your film is accepted.
REFUNDS GIVEN ONLY IN THE FOLLOWING CIRCUMSTANCES: Please note if you make a genuine mistake and submit your film to us not realising that it does not fit all of the criteria, or you have to withdraw it for other reasons, we will refund your fee if the request is made only within the first two weeks from the date of your submission. Films withdrawn later for other reasons such as you wish to withdraw it as your film has been accepted in another festival that requires premier status, will not receive a refund. (Please note that any refunds will be after FFW (8%) and PP (3.5%) commission fees already deducted from your fee, you will only be refunded the net amount that the festival receives).
Aims of the Festival:
1. To deliver a film festival of regional, national and international significance.
2. To nurture new talent and support the work of culturally diverse, emerging filmmakers.
3. To attract an industry base of filmmakers and media industry professionals, to encourage the exchange of ideas and development of partnerships.
4. To attract cinema goers and diverse audiences that would not normally experience the short film art form or film festivals.
5. To focus on the needs of the regions filmmakers, visiting filmmakers and the region’s audiences.
The festival will be competitive but award prizes are only announced if and when we have secure prizes. In addition, certificates and/or trophies will be presented and off course you will honoured with the acknowledgement of being awarded one of the best films in the festival. The award categories will be:
Best International Short
Best Eurocine Short
Best UK Short
Best North West Short
Best Female Director
Best Animated Short
Best Documentary
Best Screenplay
Best Actor
Best Actress
Best UK Student
Best International Student
After you submit your film, please remember to tell your friends and colleagues by Tweeting the news "I have submitted my film to @Kinofilm" . You can do this easily by using the Tweet facility on this site that shows directly after you have completed your entry. Please do it to help spread the news of our Open Call for Entries.