The NATURE & TOURISM FILM FESTIVAL (NTFF) NATOURALE takes place every two years in Wiesbaden / Germany. The venues are the famous Murnau-film theatre (part of the Deutsche Filmhaus),, the Museum Wiesbaden, the Kurhaus Wiesbaden, the Caligari cinema Wiesbaden and the Kronberger Lichtspiele (Kronberg).

See our winners of 2022: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gXqxgQmenDY&t=9s

NATURE / ENVIRONMENT/ TRAVEL / TOURISM
Submit DOCUMENTATARIES, FEATURE FILMS & COMMERCIALS
NOT produced before 2016

An international panel of experts awards the most impressive films of recent years in the fields of nature, the environment, travel and tourism. A combination that has been chosen as a sustainable combination of these sectors is becoming increasingly important for modern society. Filmmakers who recognize and implement this will have an important impact on the future development of our world and will gain an important forum with NATOURALE.

The NATOURALE is a film festival for documentaries, reports, commercials and feature films from the fields of nature, the environment, travel and tourism. Submitted films are intended to document the beauty of our planet or to point out abuses in this context. Films from the areas of tourism and travel are given special consideration if they are committed to sustainable and environmentally friendly tourism. Film submissions are only possible under consideration and recognition of the regulations. Please read them carefully. To submit, please use the attached form on the NATOURALE-homepage or submit your works directly via FilmFreeway. Deadline: 01. September, 2024.

Awards & Prizes

Awards are given in 16 categories: 6 Hessian Lions / 10 Golden Owls
Some Awards may will include a cash price. Please visit our homepage for updates. Winners get two free hotel nights per winning film during the festival and free festival passes for the team.

1) White Hessian Lion for the best film over 30 minutes (Nature / Environment)

2) White Hessian Lion for the best film over 30 minutes (Tourism / Travel)

3) Golden Hessian Lion for the best film under 30 minutes (Nature / Environment)

4) Golden Hessian Lion for the best film under 30 minutes (Tourism / Travel)

5) Red Hessian Lion for the best commercial under 10 minutes (Nature / Environment / Tourism / Travel)

6) Sustainability Award / Red Hessian Lion (open for all films)

7) GfdS-Award / Best Film in German language

About the award:
The Hessian lion is one of the best-known works of art, which are in direct contact with the state of Hesse. It was created by the world-famous artist Prof. Ottmar Hörl. For the festival, he creates a special connection between his artwork and a pedestal, which achieves a special uniqueness and thus high value of the award.

Invited award winners will receive 2 overnight stays in one of our partner hotels for the duration of the festival. Included is also a program for the award winners.

Furthermore there are 10 Golden Owls awards. These are designed by artist Prof. Ottmar Hörl.

The awarding of the special prizes is possible in the following categories and is arranged on the recommendation of the jury. A film can get several awards. The following categories can be awarded:

01) Best Director
02) Best Screenplay
03) Best Editing
04) Best Music
05) Best Camera
06) Scientific and Engineering Award
07) Best Passion Project
08) Best Cinematic Idea
09) Best Story
10) Best film in German language

Rules & Terms

It is permitted to submit documentaries, reports, commercials and feature films in the categories of nature, the environment, tourism and travel

For all filmic forms, a distinction in length for film up to and from 30 minutes applies. An exception is advertising films, which must not exceed a maximum length of 15 minutes.

The respective submitter guarantees the full rights to the submission, this also applies to attached press and advertising material. As part of the festival, this is guaranteed by the submitter, film screenings of the submitted films are free of charge for the organizer. Demo fees, license fees and / or costs of any kind will not be due or will be borne by the submitter. Rights of third parties must not be violated, the responsibility lies with the submitter. Costs of any kind are not covered by the festival and are the responsibility of the submitter.

Submitted films may not have been published before 01.01.2016.

Film must be submitted in German or English. If another language is the main language of the film, German or English subtitles are also permitted.
The submitter is responsible for the correctness of the translation.

Special category Films in German: Films for the category "Best Film in German language" must be in German. Productions in High and Low German, as well as dialects and mixed languages of the German language are permitted.

Submission is only possible via FilmFreeway or via the form on the NTFF NATOURALE homepage. All films must be available either via Vimeo or YouTube link.

All films should be submitted electronically, DVDs or other media will not be accepted.

Please do not send any press material before being asked to do so.

Unsolicited submitted materials will not be returned.

The submission fee may vary depending on the submission platform and the time of submission. Film submissions are available through FilmFreeway and the NATOURALE Homepage. The fee is payable on the day of submission and the context of submission, by mentioning the film title and the director. Payment is possible via PayPal or bank transfer (Please check our festival homepage for details). The FilmFreeway fee is paid in US dollars and adjusted to the exchange rate. FilmFreeway also offers an exclusive early bird discount.

More than one film per submitter may be submitted. Each submission requires separate submission documents and a separate fee.

All submission documents must be complete.

A refund of the festival fee is not possible under any circumstances.

The jury proposes films for Official Selection and Honorable Mentions. From this selection, the festival management selects the films for a public cinema screening. A right to the screening of the film cannot be derived from this.

A pre-jury, organized by the festival management, will nominate between 5-10 films in each category for the main awards.

The main jury selects the respective winners from the nominated films.

All nominated films and the respective winners must be confirmed by the festival management.

The result of the festival management is final, legal recourse is excluded.

Should no worthy winner be found for one or more categories, then the festival management can also refrain from awarding a prize.

Winners of an award should be present in person or send a representative from their team to award the prize in Wiesbaden during the Festival days. Awards will not be sent by mail. The cost of the accommodation for the winners will be covered by the Festival for two days. The Festival offers the stay in on of th partner hotels of the Festival. Private reservations will not be accpted. Further travel expenses must be paid by the winner.

Submission to this festival is not permitted if prohibited by law in the country of submission.

With the submission, the submitter assures that he has read, understood and accepted all regulations of the Festival..

All submitted data of the participant may be used in connection with this or future festivals.

Updates and further information can be found on the NTFF homepage.

Changes to the regulations can be made by the festival management at any time.

Jurisdiction is Wiesbaden.

Submission deadline is 01.10.2024

66 Reviews
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  • Light & Shadow GmbH

    Great festival and nice people, who are passionate about wildlife films!

    January 2025
    Helpful
  • Heike Grebe

    Great festival, lovely people. The Award ceremony was a bit too long, but on the other hand very exciting as nobody knew about nominations.

    January 2025
    Helpful
  • Christian Machacek

    It was a fantastic journey to be included into the festival as FINALIST with our documentary DREAMSCAPES, narrated by Academy Award winner KATE WINSLET. To be honored there with two awards - and appreciated by the audience with open arms - was an overwhelming experience. Thanks to the organizers for this great festival!

    January 2025
    Helpful
  • Tobias Pützer

    Great Festival. Great People. Great Films!

    January 2025
    Helpful
  • Arturo González

    Amazing festival! The organization and communication were superb and it was a pleasure to be part of it! Enjoyed it so much, will go back again all the time!

    December 2024
    Helpful