The Meetings of Young Cinema is the largest international film festival in Bulgaria dedicated to children and young audiences. Founded over a decade ago, the festival has been a vibrant platform for nurturing a love for cinema and visual storytelling among children and young people aged 3 to 19 years old. Each year, the festival brings together a carefully curated selection of international films, workshops, cineconcerts, and interactive events that inspire creativity, critical thinking, and cultural exchange.

Through its rich program, the festival not only showcases diverse and thought-provoking films but also creates opportunities for young participants to engage in hands-on filmmaking experiences, meet industry professionals, and deepen their understanding of cinema as an art form. Rooted in the belief that cinema is a powerful educational tool, the festival continues to play a vital role in promoting film literacy and fostering a new generation of curious, culturally aware viewers.

Awards & Prizes

Prize for the Best Short Animation Film
Prize for the Best Short Fiction Film
Prize for the Best Short Documentary Film

Rules & Terms

Welcome to the Meetings of Young Cinema Film Festival! By submitting your film to our festival through FilmFreeway, you agree to the following terms and conditions:

Eligibility:

Submissions are open for three categories:

Best Short Animation, Best Short Fiction Film, Best Short Documentary / First or Second film of the director

Films must be no longer than 30 minutes, including credits.

The submitted film must be the director's first film in the respective category.

Films must have been completed after January 1, 2024.

Submission Guidelines:

All submissions must be made through FilmFreeway.

Submissions must include:

A high-resolution digital file of the film.

A completed submission form.

English subtitles (if the original language is not English).

A filmmaker may submit more than one film, but each film must be submitted separately and meet all criteria.

Screening Rights:

By submitting your film, you grant the Meetings of Young Cinema Film Festival the non-exclusive right to screen the film during the festival.

The festival will not acquire or hold any ownership rights to the film.

The filmmaker retains all intellectual property rights and copyrights to their work.

Films selected for screening may be included in promotional materials, including stills or short clips (no longer than 30 seconds), for festival promotion.

Selection Process:

The selection of films is at the sole discretion of the festival's programming team.

All filmmakers will be notified of the selection status by 30 March, 2025.

Exhibition:

Films will be screened in their original format as submitted.

The filmmaker must provide a high-quality digital file for exhibition purposes, as requested by the festival.

Responsibilities:

The filmmaker is responsible for securing all necessary permissions, including music, images, or any other copyrighted material used in the film.

The festival is not responsible for any claims regarding unauthorized use of copyrighted materials.

Additional Terms:

By submitting your film, you confirm that all information provided is accurate and complete.

The festival reserves the right to make changes to these terms and conditions at any time.

We look forward to receiving your submissions and showcasing your creativity at the Meetings of Young European Cinema Film Festival!
2 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
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Networking
  • Melle Windig

    Thank you very much for hosting our short stop motion film Cell Buddies as Meetings of Young European Cinema. Unfortunately we could not attend but the communication with the festival was excellent.

    June 2025
    Helpful
  • Pegbar Animation

    gtreat festival thank for the opportunity

    June 2025
    Helpful