OFFICIAL RULES & REGULATIONS - LONDON DIRECTOR AWARDS
1. Festival Scope
London Director Awards is open to film directors and screenwriters from around the world. We welcome submissions from both emerging and established directors and screenwriters across all genres and styles.
2. Accepted Categories
The festival accepts:
• Short Films (up to 40 minutes, including end credits)
• Feature Films (over 40 minutes, including end credits)
• Documentary Films
• Animation
• Music Videos
• Web Series and TV Series (pilot episodes)
• Experimental Films
• Genre Films (Drama, Comedy)
• Fantastic Films (Horror, Sci-fi, Fantasy, Thriller, Mystery)
• Student Films
The final categorization of each project is determined by the festival programming team.
3. Production Eligibility
All films must have been completed after January 1, 2023.
4. Language Requirements
All non-English language films must include embedded English subtitles in the final screening copy.
5. Screening & Format
London Director Awards is a physical, in-person event. Selected films must provide a high-quality MP4 file.
Failure to provide the required format may result in disqualification.
The festival will handle DCP conversion.
6. Premiere Policy
We prefer films with at least a London premiere status; however, premiere status is not required.
7. Multiple Entries
Multiple submissions from the same filmmaker or entity are permitted.
8. Submission Fees
All entry fees are non-refundable. No fee waivers are available.
9. Originality & Copyright
Submitted projects must be the original work of the entrant and must not infringe upon any copyrights or third-party rights.
Entrants confirm that all required permissions and licenses have been secured.
10. AI-Generated Content
AI-generated content is accepted; however, its use must be clearly disclosed in the end credits.
Failure to disclose may result in disqualification.
11. Content Standards
The festival does not support films containing extreme violence, pornography, hate speech, or discriminatory content.
Such projects may be disqualified without refund.
12. Submission Authority
Films must be submitted by a legally authorized individual or entity holding full rights.
Accepted applicants include production companies, registered companies, professional representatives, and film schools.
Directors must be at least 15 years old.
13. Promotional Rights
By submitting, participants grant the festival the right to use excerpts (up to 2 minutes), trailers, posters, and promotional materials for marketing purposes across all platforms.
14. Awards & Recognition
London Director Awards offers non-monetary and financial recognition designed to enhance visibility and professional opportunities.
🏆 BEST SHORT FILM
Winner receive:
• CASH PRIZE – £100.00
• Exclusive Gift Voucher for Aesthetica Film Festival (BAFTA Qualifying Festival)
• Premium Access to MasterClass — learn directly from world-renowned filmmakers and Oscar-winning artists such as Martin Scorsese, James Cameron, Spike Lee, Jodie Foster, Natalie Portman, and Hans Zimmer
• Professional Film Review by a BAFTA Member (British Academy of Film and Television Arts)
• Extensive Media Exposure Package including: VIP Filmmaker Interview, Dedicated Social Media Campaign, Official Trailer Showcase on our YouTube Channel
ELIGIBILITY (Short Film Categories)
All short-form projects up to 40 minutes are eligible across categories including Fiction, Documentary, Animation, Experimental, Fantasia, Student Film, Music Video, Super Short, Low Budget, First-Time Director, British Director, LGBTQ Director, Female Director, Asian Director, Cinematography, Actor/Actress, Young Director, Senior Director, Director Drama & Comedy.
🏆 BEST FEATURE FILM
Winner receive:
• CASH PRIZE – £100.00
• Gift Voucher for Aesthetica Film Festival (BAFTA Qualifying Festival)
• Professional Film Review by a BAFTA Member (British Academy of Film and Television Arts)
• Comprehensive Media Exposure including: VIP Interview Feature, High-visibility Social Media Promotion, Official Trailer Distribution on our YouTube Channel
ELIGIBILITY (Feature Film Categories)
All feature-length projects over 40 minutes are eligible across categories, including Feature Fiction, First Time Director Feature Film (Debut) and Low Budget (Independent) Feature Film.
🏆 BEST FEATURE DOCUMENTARY
Winner receive:
• CASH PRIZE – £100.00
• Gift Voucher for Aesthetica Film Festival (BAFTA Qualifying Festival)
• Full Media Package including: VIP Interview, Social Media Spotlight Campaign, Trailer Promotion
• Professional Film Review by a BAFTA Member (British Academy of Film and Television Arts)
🏆 BEST STUDENT FILM
Winner receive:
• CASH PRIZE – £100.00
• Gift Voucher for Aesthetica Film Festival (BAFTA Qualifying Festival)
• Full Industry Exposure Package including: VIP Interview, Social Media Campaign, Trailer Showcase
• Professional Film Review by a BAFTA Member (British Academy of Film and Television Arts)
🏆 BEST SUPER SHORT FILM
Winner receive:
• CASH PRIZE – £100.00
• Gift Voucher for Aesthetica Film Festival (BAFTA Qualifying Festival)
• Full Media Exposure including: VIP Interview, Social Media Campaign, Trailer Showcase
• Professional Film Review by a BAFTA Member (British Academy of Film and Television Arts)
🏆 BEST SCREENPLAY
Winner receive:
• Gift Voucher for Aesthetica Film Festival (BAFTA Qualifying Festival)
• Professional Industry Development Package, including an in-depth interview feature and comprehensive script coverage based on industry standards by an AMPAS Member (Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences)
• Exclusive access to an OSCAR-nominated screenplay (read-only educational material)
ELIGIBILITY: Feature Screenplay, TV Pilot Screenplay, Short Screenplay, Genre Screenplay: Drama, Comedy, Horror, Thriller, Fantasy, Super Short Screenplay, First-Time Screenwriter (Feature & Short)
To receive any cash prize, winners must issue a valid invoice.
Failure to provide an invoice will result in forfeiture of the financial reward.
To claim awards, winners must contact festival support, which will provide further instructions.
Official Laurels
All winners and officially selected films receive official laurels.
15. Jury & Selection
All decisions are final and not subject to appeal.
16. Legal Responsibility & Indemnification
The submitter assumes full legal responsibility and agrees to indemnify the festival against any claims.
17. Program & Schedule
The festival reserves the right to modify schedule, venue, and program without prior notice.
18. Withdrawal Policy
Selected films cannot be withdrawn.
19. Marketing Communication
Participants agree to receive marketing communication from the festival and its partners.
20. Additional Regulations
20.1 Feature Film Screening Policy
For categories Best Feature Film, Best Feature Documentary, and Best First-Time Director Feature Film, only the trailer will be screened.
The director will be invited to present the project in person.
20.2 Cinematography & Acting Categories
Submissions to Cinematography are allowed only if the director is also the cinematographer.
Submissions to Actor/Actress are allowed only if the submitter is the performer.
20.3 Actor & Actress Categories
Actor and Actress are judged and awarded as separate categories.
20.4 Age Categories
Young Director: maximum 30 years old at the time of production.
Senior Director: 31 years or older at the time of production.
20.5 Low Budget Category
Low Budget Short Film applies to films produced with a budget up to £25,000.
20.6 Screenwriting Eligibility
Screenplays may only be submitted if:
• The script has not yet been produced
• The screenwriter intends to direct the project
20.7 Professional Film Review Category (Short)
The review will be delivered within 3 months from category purchase.
Submission automatically qualifies the project for Best Short Film competition.
Discount codes cannot be applied to this category.
20.8 British Director (Short Film Category)
The British Director Short Film category accepts short films created by directors who are either originally from the United Kingdom or have been residing in the United Kingdom for more than one year.
20.9. Screenplay Competition
Screenwriting categories are open to unproduced (unrealized) short and feature-length screenplays across all genres. A short film screenplay must not exceed 40 pages. A feature-length screenplay must exceed 40 pages. The writer must also intend to direct the project.
20.9.1 Genre Screenplay (Drama, Comedy, Horror, Action, Sci-fi, Thriller, Fantasy)
Both short and feature-length screenplays are accepted in this category; however, short and feature scripts are evaluated separately based on their format and length. Each genre is judged as a separate category. Awards will be presented in genre categories such as Drama, Comedy, Horror, Thriller, Sci-Fi, Fantasy, and Action.
