Welcome to the inaugural edition of the Seven Issues Film Festival, a global platform dedicated to showcasing and celebrating the creative voices of young filmmakers addressing the most important global issues. With a focus on impactful storytelling, the festival features animated, fiction, documentary, and experimental short films from talented creators aged 18 to 30.

The Seven Issues Film Festival highlights seven pivotal global topics of the International Youth Media Summit: Discrimination, Environment, Health, Poverty, Violence, Women’s Rights, and Youth Empowerment.

Our mission is to raise awareness, inspire action, and provide a platform for young filmmakers to present their perspectives on these pressing issues. Over two screening nights, the festival will showcase 28 short films—four outstanding works for each category—selected by a committee of seven acclaimed young filmmakers and storytellers. This curated selection ensures diverse and thought-provoking content that resonates with audiences worldwide.

Why Submit?
- Be part of a global movement for change under the umbrella of the International Youth Media Summit.
- Have your film screened in front of an engaged and socially-conscious audience.
- Gain recognition with official selection laurels and certificates.

Eligibility
- Open to filmmakers aged 18 to 30.
- Films must address one of the seven issues and not exceed 15 minutes.
- Animated, fiction, documentary, and experimental films are welcome.
- Non-English films must include English subtitles.

Key Dates
- Submission Deadline: June 1, 2025
- Official Selection Announcement: June 20, 2025
- Festival Screening Nights: July 27 - 28, 2025

Submissions are free of charge and open worldwide. For more details on the submission process and festival guidelines, please visit our official website, www.iyms.org.

Join us in using the power of film to spark conversations, challenge perspectives, and inspire action. We look forward to seeing your stories on the big screen!

This festival is co-funded by the European Union (European Solidarity Corps, Agency for Mobility and EU Programmes). This publication reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.

• Grand Prix
• Audience Award
• Best Film (Discrimination)
• Best Film (Environment)
• Best Film (Health)
• Best Film (Poverty)
• Best Film (Violence)
• Best Film (Women's Rights)
• Best Film (Youth Empowerment)

1. General Information
- The Seven Issues Film Festival is organized by the Teen International Media Exchange.
- The SIFF aims to spotlight films addressing critical global issues, categorized under Discrimination, Environment, Health, Poverty, Violence, Women’s Rights, and Youth Empowerment.
- The festival is open to filmmakers worldwide, aged 18 to 30 at the time of submission.
- Submissions can be in the form of animated, fiction, documentary, or experimental films.
- Individuals can submit an unlimited number of films.
- The festival will feature two screening nights, showcasing 28 short films (four films per category).

2. Eligibility Criteria
- Film Duration: Submissions must not exceed 15 minutes in length, including credits.
- Completion Date: Films must have been completed after January 1, 2023.
- Originality: The film must be the original work of the entrant and not infringe on the rights of any third party, including AI.
- Language: Non-English films must include English subtitles.
- Categories: Each film must address only one of the festival’s seven issue topics.

3. Submission Process
- Platform: Films must be submitted through the official festival submission platform, FilmFreeway.
- Deadline: All submissions must be received by June 1, 2025.
- Entry Fee: Submissions are free of charge.
- Materials: Per request, the entrants must provide a high-quality digital copy of the film, a completed submission form, and promotional materials (e.g., a short synopsis, film poster, and filmmaker bio).

4. Selection and Notification
- A selection committee consisting of seven filmmakers, each specializing in one of the festival’s categories, will evaluate the submissions.
- Films will be judged based on thematic relevance, creativity, technical quality, and storytelling.
- Official selections will be announced by June 20, 2025.
- Selected filmmakers will be contacted via email.

5. Screening and Rights
- Screening Rights: By submitting a film, entrants grant the festival non-exclusive, royalty-free rights to screen the film during the festival and use excerpts, stills, and promotional materials for marketing and publicity purposes.
- Archive Rights: By submitting a film, entrants grant the festival the rights to store the film in their own film archives for protection and preservation.
- Withdrawal: Selected films cannot be withdrawn from the festival program after official confirmation.

6. Awards and Recognition
- The festival does not include monetary prizes but provides official laurels and certificates of selection.
- The festival gives out 9 awards: Grand Prix, Audience Award, Best Film (Discrimination), Best Film (Environment), Best Film (Health), Best Film (Poverty), Best Film (Violence), Best Film (Women's Rights), and Best Film (Youth Empowerment).

7. Terms and Conditions of Entry
- By submitting, entrants agree to abide by these rules and certify that all information provided is accurate.
- Entrants must ensure all necessary permissions for music, images, and other copyrighted materials included in their films.
- The festival is not responsible for any copyright infringement or unauthorized use of intellectual property in the submitted films.
- The festival reserves the right to disqualify any submission that violates the rules or is deemed inappropriate.

8. Contact Information
For any questions or concerns regarding submissions, please contact info(a)iyms.org.