🎬 CALL FOR ENTRIES 2024 🎬

National and international short films with a production date later than January 1, 2023, and a maximum runtime of 30 minutes are invited to submit for the competition.

Short films can also be submitted for free through our submission platform at film.openeyes-filmfest.de.

SUBMISSION DEADLINE GOT EXTENDED TO THE 1ST APRIL, 2024

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FESTIVAL INFORMATION
The OpenEyes Film Festival is an independent international short film festival in Marburg/Lahn, Germany. The open-air festival showcases the latest national and international short films (up to 30 minutes) in a public competition and also provides platforms for independent, local, and underrepresented short films.
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Das OpenEyes Filmfest ist ein unabhängiges, internationales Kurzfilmfestival in Marburg an der Lahn.
Das Open-Air Festival zeigt neueste nationale und internationale Kurzfilme (max. 30 Min.) im Publikumswettbewerb und bietet auch Plattformen für eigenständige, lokale und unterrepräsentierte Kurzfilme.
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EVENT HISTORY
In 1994, the OpenEyes Film Festival in Marburg began for the first time to project moving images onto the screen. Originally arising from a cinema group within a socio-cultural center, its goal was to capture the attention of a film-interested audience for (independent) short films that typically do not find their way into commercial cinemas.
Over its nearly 30-year history, the film festival has evolved into a solid cultural event and attracts 2000 visitors each year.
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Im Jahr 1994 begann das OpenEyes Filmfest in Marburg erstmals damit, bewegte Bilder auf die Leinwand zu projizieren. Ursprünglich aus der Kinogruppe eines soziokulturellen Zentrums hervorgegangen, hatte es sich zum Ziel genommen, die Aufmerksamkeit eines filminteressierten Publikums auf den (unabhängigen) Kurzfilm zu lenken, der normalerweise nicht den Weg in die kommerziellen Kinos findet.
Während seiner fast 30-jährigen Geschichte hat sich das Filmfest zu einem festen kulturellen Ereignis entwickelt und zieht jedes Jahr 2000 Besucherinnen und Besucher an.
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THE SCENERY
For 13 years, the OpenEyes film festival performed at the Amöneburg Castle ruins, then moved to the Botanical Garden in Marburg for three years, and for eleven more years to the premises of the G-Werk cultural center.
Since the year 2023, both the OpenAir program and all other screenings and events are held in the Waggonhalle Marburg. The historic industrial architecture from the early 20th century lends this location the cozy, summery atmosphere that has accompanied the festival since its first edition.
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Das OpenEyes Filmfest nutzte über einen Zeitraum von 13 Jahren eine Burgruine (Amöneburg) als Spielort, danach gastierte es für drei Jahre im Botanischen Garten in Marburg und schließlich für elf weitere Jahre auf dem Gelände des Kulturzentrums G-Werk.
Seit dem Jahr 2023 werden sowohl das OpenAir-Programm als auch alle anderen Screenings und Veranstaltungen in der Waggonhalle Marburg abgehalten. Die historische Industriearchitektur aus dem frühen 20. Jahrhundert verleiht dieser Location die gemütliche, sommerliche Atmosphäre, die das Festival seit seiner ersten Ausgabe begleitet.
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ORGANIZATION
Since 2021, the festival is funded and organized by the nonprofit “Verein zur Förderung der Filmkultur in Marburg e.V. (Association for the Promotion of Film Culture). The festival office and archives are located in Marburg, Germany. There is year-round organizational and planning work involved. The festival office and film archive are located in Marburg, Germany.
The festival collaborates with regional and national cooperation partners. It also conducts its own seminar at Philipps University in Marburg and is a member of various networks and associations. Additionally, there is cooperation and participation in academic festival research.
The pre-selection for the competition is made by a rotating, annually assembled jury consisting of 15-20 members. The program selection is handled by an artistic leadership team consisting of four individuals.
The art direction and festival design are announced anew each year. The festival is supported annually by approximately 50-80 volunteers.
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Seit 2021 wird das Festival vom gemeinnützigen 'Verein zur Förderung der Filmkultur in Marburg e.V.' veranstaltet. Es besteht eine ganzjährige Organisations- und Planungsarbeit. Sitz des Festivalbüros und des Filmarchivs befinden sich in Marburg, Deutschland.
Das Festival arbeitet mit landes- und bundesweiten Kooperationspartnern zusammen. Es veranstaltet ein eigenes Seminar an der Philipps-Universität Marburg und ist Mitglied in verschiedenen Netzwerken sowie Verbänden. Zudem besteht eine Kooperation und Beteiligung in der wissenschaftlichen Festivalforschung.
Die Vorauswahl für den Wettbewerb wird von einer wechselnden, jährlich neu zusammengestellten 15-20-köpfigen Sichtungsjury getroffen. Die Auswahl des Programms wird von einer künstlerischen Leitung, bestehend aus vier Personen, übernommen.
Die Art-Direction und das Festivaldesign werden jährlich neu ausgeschrieben.
Das Festival wird von etwa 50-80 ehrenamtlichen Helferinnen und Helfern unterstützt.
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FILM PROGRAM
TThe competition program is designed to showcase a spectrum of originality and innovation across multiple dimensions, celebrating a mix of unique techniques, engaging aesthetics, and groundbreaking ideas, while also embracing cultural richness and tackling pressing societal issues
For more details concerning the requirements, please refer to the Rules & Terms.
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Das Wettbewerbsprogramm zielt darauf ab, ein Spektrum an Originalität und Innovation in mehreren Dimensionen zu präsentieren, indem es eine Vielfalt an einzigartigen Techniken und ansprechenden Ästhetiken sowie bahnbrechende Ideen hervorhebt, kulturelle Vielfalt respektvoll integriert und sich aktiv mit aktuellen gesellschaftlichen Herausforderungen auseinandersetzt.
Details zu den Einreichbedingungen unter 'Rules & Terms'

Awards & Prizes

Audience-prize with one winner and two runner-ups in each category.

• Fiction Film | Audience Prize: 1 Winner, 2 Runner-ups
• Documentary | Audience Prize: 1 Winner, 2 Runner-ups
• Animation | Audience Prize: 1 Winner, 2 Runner-ups
• Experimental/Music Video | Audience Prize: 1 Winner, 2 Runner-ups

Rules & Terms

General Information:
The OpenEyes Filmfest is an independent film festival. It is organized by the Verein zur Förderung der Filmkultur in Marburg e. V. Films of every possible area and genre are welcome – there are no thematic restrictioins. Age certification assigned to the festival in general is 18/NC-17.

Selection of Films:
All films submitted are viewed and selected by independent juries, which are also responsible for curating the program. All entrants will be informed by e-mail no later than June 15th, 2024 if their film has been selected.

Audience Award:
The OpenEyes festival’s audience awards one winner and two runner-ups in every category (feature film, documentary, experimental film/music video, animation).

Application Requirements
The submitter certifies that all rights and clearances have been obtained for a public screening in the course of the OpenEyes Filmfest.

The following requirements must be met by every film submitted:
a. RUN TIME: 30 minutes max [incl. credits]
b. PRODUCTION: The final production date must be later than January 1st, 2023. Films from 2022 are accepted, provided that the film has not yet been screened at any festival in Germany.
c. SUBMISSION FEE: The festival does not charge a fee for submissions via the festival's own platform. Submissions via other platforms (e.g. FilmFreeway) are excluded from this. Any fee paid through these platforms is non-refundable under any circumstances.
d. VIEWING COPY: DVD, Blu-ray Disc, File, Online-Screener LANGUAGE/SUBTITLES: The dialogue of the viewing copy must be in German or English, if not, German or English subtitles must be provided.
e. SCREENING COPY: DVD, Blu-ray Disc, HD-File [H.264/265, ProRes422, max. 80Mbit/s], DCP. Different formats of screening copies are only possible after consultation with the OpenEyes Team. LANGUAGE/SUBTITLES: All films will be screened in their original language version. All festival selections must have English subtitles. [Upon request the OpenEyes Filmfest can offer support with creating subtitles.]
f. Every film must be submitted in only one of the following CATEGORIES: feature film, documentary, experimental film/music video, animation. Thereby, the chosen category is the same as the category in which the film will be judged. The responsible jury reserves their right to adapt the category if necessary.
g. The festival reserves the right to use any PHOTO and PRESS MATERIAL that has been submitted for press and public relation purposes. Furthermore, the OpenEyes Filmfest may create stills from submissions for use in print and online media, as well as film sequences for possible use in the festival’s trailer. In case that only the photo and press material already submitted may be used, it must be noted as such in advance.
h. The festival has the right to make the viewing work public and for this purpose to discuss the submission publicly (podcast). This also applies to criticism and rejected films.
In the event that only the submitted visual and press materials may be used, or the film may not be discussed publicly, this must be stated separately in the submission.
i. Screening copies must be submitted by July 1st, 2024. Should a copy arrive too late, the festival reserves the right to use the viewing copy for screening at the festival.

Viewing and Screening Copies:
a. Viewing copies are not returned to the sender. Viewing copies will remain in the archive of the Filmfest, which is entitled to show the film in follow- up events in course of the OpenEyes Festival.
b. The sender is responsible for the delivery of the screening copy. This includes all shipment fees. Screening copies will be returned or forwarded to other festivals as a parcel at the expense of the festival. The address for postal submissions is:
OpenEyes Filmfest c/o Waggonhalle Marburg
Rudolf-Bultmann-Straße 2A
35039 Marburg | Germany
c. Screening copies which have not been delivered until July 1st, 2024 might not be considered for the festival. In this case, the sender will be charged for the return.
d. Shipments from non-EU countries must be declared as:
Temporary import
For cultural purpose only
No commercial value
e. Screening copies are insured for the duration of the OpenEyes Filmfest by Verein zur Förderung der Filmkultur in Marburg e.V.
f. Verein zur Förderung der Filmkultur in Marburg e.V. cannot be held responsible for screening copies that are damaged during return shipment.
g. Complaints for damaged copies can only be filed in the span of up to seven days after receiving the return shipment.

Data Protection:
By submitting their film to the festival, the submitter agrees that their personal data can be used for the aforementioned course (festival, call for entries, archive), in line with Article 6, paragraph 1, section a of the GDPR. The data will only be saved as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes referred to above and will not be passed on to third parties. More detailed information about data protection and the rights of the data subject according to the GDPR can be found at http://openeyes-filmfest.de/privacy-policy/.