Program
Novi Sad Film festival has following competitive and non-competitive selections:
Competitive selection consists of:
- Feature film - international competitive selection
The Novi Sad Film Festival’s main international selection presents the year’s most successful feature films by directors from around the world.
- Student short film – international competitive selection
International selection of a student short feature film is an opportunity for young, unestablished directors and future filmmakers to introduce themselves to an audience and win rewards for their efforts. We wanted to stimulate future directors to create, to be active agents of the city’s film life by integrating student films in the competitive selections, to awaken the competitive spirit, and to provide an opportunity for the first showings to a wider audience.
- Animation short film – international competitive selection
The selection for the animated short film additionally accentuates the Novi Sad animated scene and provides a perspective for the exchange of ideas, knowledge and influence with colleagues and authors around the world.
- Children's Film – international competitive selection
The most important festival selection. We believe that film audiences and film authors are created and nurtured from a young age.
- Game Cinematics – international competitive selection
Game Cinematics is a selection by which we connect and promote the collaboration between the IT scene and cinematography. Given the structure and form of Game Cinematics, which directly relies on and arises from the film structure of NSFF, there is room for presentation, better acquaintance, and exchange of experiences of creators from the world of gaming and the world of film. As one of the most developed segments of the economy, the IT industry is an integral part of the film industry and in that sense, we want to promote this integration, and we have introduced the Game Cinematics as part of the competition selection.
- Highschool film “Wednesday in school” – national competitive selection
Even teenagers filmmakers will have the opportunity to demonstrate what filmmaking means to them and how amateurs build the groundwork for future professionals.
- Work in progress – international selection
Selection, which is one of the main elements of the industry part of the festival, which we attach great importance to. The idea of NSFF is to actively provide a platform for the exchange and development of the film industry in addition to the screening segment of the film industry and art.
The films for each of the competitive selections are chosen by the selector, and the three-member jury decides the winners.
Non-competitive selection consist of:
- A Sad Novi – movies from Novi Sad based authors
- Eco film – movies with ecology theme
- World cinemas - Every year at NSFF, one world cinematography is presented with a selection of selected films from that country
- Selected Laureate films for the current year
Films for non-competitive selection are chosen by the festival council.
1. Terms and conditions:
Only those films that meet the following conditions may be considered for selections.
General conditions that apply to all selections:
• Submitted films should not be publicly screened before 1st of January 2025.
• It must have English subtitles (if the English is not language of the film)
• The applications must include full information and documents requested within the application form.
• By applying to NSFF, applicants agree to NSFF regulations.
• Informations about the decisions of the selection committee will be announced no later then August 9th 2026 (midnight GMT).
1.1 Feature film
• It must last longer than 60 minutes
• It must have at least a national premiere at the Festival (first time shown in Serbia)
• Advantage will have films whose screening on the festival includes also regional, international (worldwide) premiere.
• advantage will have films that are produced in co-production
1.2 Student short film
• The film must be made within the official student education program
• It must last no longer than 30 minutes
• Deadline for submitting student film is June 1st 2026.
• notification date only for student film is July 1st 2026.
1.3 Animation short film
• It must last no longer than 15 minutes
• animated content must be at least two-thirds of the entire length of the film
1.4 Children's Film
• Movies should have content intended for children.
• There is no time limit for the duration of the film in this selection.
1.5 Game cinematics
• Production of the video game of which game cinematics is part, must not be older than 1.1.2025.
• It must last no longer than 15 minutes
1.6 Highschool film – national selection
• One of the authors of the film must consist of high school students (editor, director, screenwriter, and cinematographer)
• It must last no longer than 30 minutes
• preference will be given to films that were entirely realized by high school students
1.7 Work in progress
Submitted project-the feature film is intended for theatrical release (minimum length of 60 minutes).
The project should have at least national (development) funding or third-party investment secured when submitting the project.
The project should be potentially prepared for the international market.
The winner of the Work in progress selection signs a contract with the NSFF, according to which he is responsible for the truthfulness of the data in the application and respects the regulations of the NSFF.
The projects will be selected by the selection committee composed of film industry professionals.
The selection committee’s decisions cannot be appealed.
1.7.1 Program Information
The projects will be pitched by the team of two representatives - director and producer.
During the preparation period - Prep Your Pitch, selected project representatives will take part in an one-day-prep program. Pitch will take place on the following day and each team will have up to 7 minutes to present their film project.
1.7.2 Award
The international jury of film industry professionals will vote for the awards during the pitching session.
Selected projects will compete for the:
- NSFF Best Pitch Award: Cash prize towards development of one NSFF Work in progress project.
1.7.3 Eligibility
Submissions are open for feature fiction film projects, wich are in the process of production or post-production.
The project can be from any part of the world.
1.7.4 Deadlines
The deadline for submitting projects is August 1st 2026 (midnight GMT). Projects must be submitted by using the Application form.
The applications must include full information and documents requested within the application form.
Information about the decision of the selection committee will be announced until August 9th 2026 (midnight GMT).
1.7.5 Specific Conditions
If a project is selected NSFF will invite two members of the team (director and producer) to publicly present the project during the NSFF Work in Progress. It is obligatory for the selected project representatives to take part in the preparation and to be available during the whole event.
NSFF Work in Progress offers accommodation (one room with two beds) for two members of the team for the duration of the market.
In addition, applicants agree that their contact data as provided in the submission form will be published in the catalogue, participants guide and on the NSFF Work in progress web site.
The winning project of the NSFF Work in Progress selection is obliged to mention NSFF by display its logo in their final credits.
E-mail adress: competition@nsff.rs.
Application documents are on the official web site www.nsff.rs
2. Submission guidelines and materials
2.1 Entry form, screener and additional materials
All submissions must contain the following:
• A duly completed online entry form
• Preview copy of the film on the link
• Film submission fee processed for the programs requiring payment.
The application form should be accompanied by all available promotional and press materials (in English) of the film such as synopsis, director's explication, biography and filmography of the director, and a list of all members of the cast and crew of the film. In the event that any of these materials are not available at the time of application, the material will be required if the film is included in the Festival program.
If the selector decides that the film does not meet the requirements for the submitted selection, there is a possibility to transfer the film application to the appropriate selection without first sending an e-mail or other type of notification.
Please read the rules carefully, and if you are not sure which selection your film fits in, contact us via e-mail competition@nsff.rs.
2.2 Submission deadlines
Unless otherwise stated, all necessary links and film submission materials for the
Competition Selections programs must be submitted no later than: 01st of July 2026 and for student film selection 01st of June 2026.
Applications submitted after the deadline, the Festival is not obliged to consider, nor to comment on why some films are not included in a particular selection.
2.3 Submission fees and obligations
Before completing the film application process and paying the fee, contact your film crew, producers, sales agents and/or distributors to verify that the film has not already been submitted or to submit the application to the correct program selection or whether your film application meets all our criteria, and thus will not be rejected.
The Festival reserves the right to refuse or disqualify any ineligible applications, without a refund.
It is possible to submit more than one film. Special submissions must be completed for each film you intend to submit. Please note that each application is paid separately, unless otherwise stated.
Participation fees are expressed in currencies: US dollars (USD). The price of the registration fee refers to one film title, and is not subject to refund. The festival reserves the right to disqualify the application, if not all the conditions are met, including the change of eligibility status after the application, without any refund of any kind.
Depending on which selection you are applying for and depending on what time you apply, the amounts of registration fees vary.
2.4 Preview copy
All films must be submitted in their original language, and if the original language of the film is not English, the selection copy must be subtitled in English (unless otherwise specified). All films are submitted via the FilmFreeway platform. When submitting a film, all the requirements stated on the film application platform must be complied with. If any of the requests have not been properly filled out or not submitted, the Festival is not obliged to consider that application or to explain in writing why it did not consider it.
The authors of the films selected by the Festival for the official selection must submit their film in DCP format to the address provided by the festival organizing team. In the event of a change of e-mail address, a change of password or a change in the review link after sending it, you must immediately notify the Festival at the competition@nsff.rs with that change, so that we can update your information in the application. If the Festival is not notified of the change and if the link is found to be inactive or the code is incorrect, the application may be considered unacceptable.
2.5 Announcements
Unless otherwise stated the date for the announcement of which films entered the selection is 09th of August 2026 and for student films is 01st of July 2026.
The selection of all films to be included in the program is carried out by the Festival selectors. The deadline for inviting films to the Festival is 09th of August 2026. and for student films is 01st of July 2026.
The Festival is not obligated to inform the authors of submitted films that have not been selected. The complete Festival program with screening schedules will be announced in September 2026, no later than SEVEN days before the beginning of the Festival.
3. Selected films
3.1 Participant obligations
After the film is included in the selection, and the authors accept the invitation via e-mail or contract to participate in the Festival, it is not possible to withdraw the film from the festival program.
Authors of films who receive an invitation to participate in the competition programs of the Festival must keep the information that their films have been included in the festival selection secret until the Festival officially announces it.
3.2 Catalogue materials
After accepting the invitation to participate in the Festival, contact persons for all selected films will receive a request to submit materials for the festival catalogue.
In order to be able to print the Festival catalogue, for each selected film, the Festival must receive a properly completed application form and other requested materials, namely: the film trailer, the duration of the film, the year of production, a high-resolution link, a synopsis of the film, a biography and filmography of the director and a list of the author's team and other members of the team whose names will be listed in the catalogue, information about the type of premiere, as well as three official photos of the film in high resolution.
The requested materials must be submitted within seven days after accepting the invitation to participate in the Festival. The Festival will not be held liable for misinformation in the submitted materials printed in the official festival publications.
The festival can use all the above mentioned materials exclusively for promotional purposes of the Festival. The festival reserves the exclusive right to decide on the contents of the festival catalogue.
3.3 Promotional materials
Representatives of films included in the Festival selection will receive a request to submit promotional materials. The materials will be used in festival publications and distributed to media representatives and festival guests.
After a film has been included in its program, and for the purpose of promotion, the Festival exercises the right to use excerpts from the film, in the country and abroad, where this applies to a maximum of three minutes of film (in the case of short films, the clips that the Festival will use must not represent more than 10 percent of the total duration of the film). In the event that the clips are not available, and it is clearly established that a copy of the entire film may not be transferred to third parties under any circumstances, The Festival has the right to copy one or more excerpts from the film no longer than maximum 3 minutes in total, in strictly controlled conditions solely for the purpose of promotion before and during the Festival.
The festival will also require the submission of a trailer (on the link) and a poster in digital format.
3.4 Programming and official selection
The general planning of the program and the determination of the dates of public film screenings, as well as screenings for representatives of the media and the film industry, are under the exclusive competence of the Festival's executives.
3.5 Subtitling
Selected films will be screened in their original language.
The following subtitles will be integrated on the copy of the film that will be broadcast at the festival for all selected films:
• English-language films must have integrated subtitles or VF subtitle files in Serbian
• Serbian-language films must have integrated subtitles or VF subtitle files in English
• Films in any language other than English or Serbian must have integrated subtitles or VF subtitle files in English and Serbian
3.6 Format
The projection format of the festival is DCP. On request, it is possible to screen films in another format, depending on the technical conditions of the cinema in which the film will be shown. If the package is encrypted, it is necessary to submit DKDM or KDM, both for test and for official projections.
Submission of films in other formats and on other video systems, as well as on some other type of disc, in another format or with different licenses is possible only in agreement with and with the express approval of the Festival. The festival reserves the right to exclude from the program films that are submitted without authorization in a format that is different from the standard festival format.
3.7 Delivery of a screening copies of films
Screening copies of all selected films must be submitted to Serbia, no later than 15 days before starting the Festival. They must be available throughout the festival unless otherwise agreed. Participants must follow the instructions for the submission of films to the Festival (which will be sent to the producer, director or other representative of the film). Copies are delivered by mail or digitally via the festival server, depending on the agreement with the organizer.
4. Conclusion
Consent to participate in Novi Sad film festival is also considered acceptance of the obligation to respect all the above mentioned rules and criteria. The organizers of Novi Sad Film Festival reserve the right to decide on all disputed issues that are not explicitly regulated by the current festival rules and regulations.
