Rome International Documentary Festival

1.Description

The aim of the Rome International Documentary Festival (RIDF) is to present the best Italian and International productions of the last year to Roman audiences. The RIDF is a festival founded by filmmakers, targeted to the general public. It also aims to become a networking hub, where documentary lovers and professionals can meet up and exchange ideas. The festival schedule will be enriched by masterclasses, Q&As and social opportunities.

2.Organisers

The RIDF is organized by Botteghe Visive APS in collaboration with DOCfest srls; both companies boast a predominantly female staff.

In particular, the APS Botteghe Visive, born from the collaboration of 7 female audiovisual professionals. The aim of the association is to promote cinema, film culture and the visual arts in general, ensuring the conditions of equal opportunities in access to and enjoyment of cultural initiatives organized, and participation in the association’s own work activities, with regard to gender issues, minorities and people with disabilities.

3.Selection criteria

The 3rd edition of the Rome International Documentary festival will be held in Rome from December 2 to 6th 2026. The Program includes

WORLD DOC COMPETITION -8/12 films in competition (Italian or International), finished after01/01/2026, will run for a €2000 cash prize, to be voted by an international jury of film professionals. Minimum 45 minutes running time.

ITA-DOC- 8/10 Italian documentaries, finished after 01/01 2025, will run for the €2000 audience award. Minimum 45 minutes running time.

SHORT-DOC, a competition will be dedicated to short documentary films, maximum 45 minutes running time. These films will be shown online or at the cinema venue.

Minor awards were also given for Best Photography, Best sound and best editing.

The festival directors and the selection committee will base their choices on the artistic quality of contenders, their originality and the relevance of the ideas and themes portrayed, aiming to present a complete picture of the complex and varied international and Italian documentary film landscape.

4.Admissibility

Applicants can submit films of any nationality. Total running time must 45 minutes or over, and production must have been completed after the 01/01 2025 for both the WORLD DOC and the ITA DOC sections.

The films of the SHoRT-DOC section must be maximum 45 minutes in length and be completed after Jan1st 2025.

Though priority will be given films never screened in Italy, it is not required that submitted films be national premieres. Roma premiere is required for international films. The pre-approved format for films is DCP, other formats will have to be reviewed by the Festival’s programming office.
All films must be submitted through the designated link at www.filmfreeway.com and must have paid the entry fee indicated on the website.

Awards
• WORLD DOC film €2000
ITA DOC €2000
• Audience award for best film €1000
• Best Editing
Best Cinematography
Best Sound
• Best short Doc Prize TBD

Submission procedure

Submissions require an entry fee to cover administrative and programming costs. Films will only be considered for selection once the fee is received.

Film submissions must be exclusively made through www.filmfreeway.com. In exceptional circumstance it is possible to submit through the festivals programming office.

Note: The registration fee will not be reimbursed under any circumstance; including if the film does not get selected, if a submission is withdrawn or in the case of accidental multiple entrees.

Submission must be made by the 15th of September 2026-

For selection, films must be submitted in the following form:
A protected link: Accessible through the internet (preferably through Vimeo and downloadable), providing the URL and Password on the online application.

Important
This link must be active and accessible until December 2026-

5. Films must be submitted in their original version and must include English or Italian subtitles. In case of selection additional material must be sent to the festivals programming office.

By submitting a film to RIDF, applicants and producers declare to own all content and usage rights within their film, INCLUDING STILLS and herby grantee to not include content that is under copyright or protection. Applicants affirm that in distributing the film no rights of third parties involved in the project have been infringed.

By registering, applicants agree that, if selected, all material sent will be placed in the RIDF archive, with the possibility of utilising it for future archival, educational and research purposes. They will not be used for any commercial purposes.

6. Notification of selection

The festival’s director and management are responsible for the selection of films, the festival's general programming and screening schedules. Successful applicants will be sent an official invitation via email by November 1st 2026. The official selection will be publicly announced n November 2026. Notification of a Films selection into RIDF to any third parties prior to the press conference is prohibited, unless previously notified by the festival's press office.

All applicants will be notified from November 1st 2026 whether their submission was successful or not.

7. Documentation Required upon selection

Upon being notified of selection, applicants must present the following documentation.

-The film’s trailer for promotional purposes (MOV. Or MP4)
-The films credits (indicating; country and year of production, format and length, language)
-Film synopsis in English and/or Italian
-A director's note commenting on the intent of the film and its process
-The director’s biography in Italian and/or English (min. 200 max 400 characters including spaces)
-Directors filmography (complete list of titles with years of production)
-Photograph of director (1280x960 or 1024x768 pixel, proportion 4:3. Format PNG or PG)
-Stills from the film, with authorisation for publication.(details will be communicated by the festivals programming office)
-Complete list of dialogues and subtitles (if included), in Italian and/or English
-A downloadable screener corresponding to the original DCP version (low resolution SD, MAX 1 GB in size), which will be used as a reference for translation and to assist in the synchronisation of subtitles. Online screeners will also be accepted, as long as they are identical to the DCP copy.
-Posters, playbills, postcards or any other promotional material.

8. Use of logo

Producers and distributers of all selected films are asked to include the official RIDF logo, as supplied by the festival, on their final DCP copy and in all promotional material (including posters, trailers, website). This Logo should not be altered or modified in any way, unless authorised by the festival.

9. Shipping

Screening DCP copies, together with a second spare copy (both preferably in Blu ray) must be received by the festival venue no later than the 15th of November 2026, as indicated by the RIDF’s programming office.
All shipments from outside the EU must include a proforma invoice, proper customs documentation (including the title of the film and the description of material included). Furthermore, a shipping invoice must be sent to the festival office via email, providing the film’s title, date of shipment and further shipping details (including AWB number)
Shipping costs and custom clearance expense must be covered by the sender. RIDF will however cover the costs of the return shipment, including costs of transport and customs clearance. However, if after a films screening at the festival another festival requests for a copy of the film those shipping expenses are to be covered by the applicant. In any case RIDF will only cover the expenses of a single shipment for the screening copy.
In the event that an applicant chooses to withdraw their film from the festival after receiving an official invite, a payment of 3000e will be required as compensation for damages.

10. Donations to the RIDF archive

Donations of the film to the RIDF archive are welcomed and encouraged. This donated copy of the film will be kept for the purpose of conserving and disseminating knowledge of cinema.

11. Covid - 19
RIDF continues to closely monitor the Covid-19 situation in Rome and will adhere to any changes in guideline or regulations recommended by government health officials. We will promptly communicate any changes to our participants.

12. Conditions for participation

An applicant’s involvement within the festival is governed by their acceptance and adherence to the conditions listed above. These regulations are available also in their original Italian version, with this English copy acting only as a direct translation. In the case of misinterpretation, the Italian version of the festivals regulations is to be considered as the valid and lawful copy and will take precedence. Any disputes will be covered by the court of Rome.