IMPORTANT: Our Sprouts Film Festival 2024 call for submissions ONLY accepts fiction films that could be categorised as ecocinema. Although Sprouts does also select socially critical debut films, we use FilmFreeway exclusively to find suitable eco stories. Please read our Rules & Terms to find out if your submission is eligible.

>> Only films submitted through FilmFreeway, not through email, are taken into consideration. We don't have the capacity to respond to inquiries about the status of your submission. Please respect our notification date March 4.

In 2007 a new cinema was added to the rich cultural landscape in Amsterdam, NL. Studio/K is a unique cultural centre in that it is fully run by approximately fifty dedicated students. It is from this breeding ground that in 2022 the Sprouts Film Festival came to be. Initiated by a group of passionate colleagues that were extremely frustrated by how slow the fight against climate change was (and still is) progressing. After two successful editions our seed for change has turned into our own Foundation Sprouts Film Festival. Returning once again to our festival heart Studio/K for the third edition May 7-12 2024 we are also welcoming MACA | Moving Arts Centre Amsterdam as our brand new satellite location. Our ambition to become the leading Dutch film festival for green content and diverse new talent by 2026 is very much taking shape.

The yearly Sprouts Film Festival showcases cinema of the future by focussing on three parallel competitions, all of which are solely made up of FICTION and HYBRID films. We at Sprouts believe in the power of imagination and therefore fiction is in our festival DNA.

Our Debut Competition is made up of socially critical debut films. As students and aspiring system changers we know how difficult it can be to get your foot in the door. Through presenting fresh and unreleased gems to Amsterdam's international audience we hope to help further kick-start new talent. Our Eco Competition is made up of fiction feature films with a strong environmental focus. It is through ecocinema that we hope to strengthen our voices and motivate people to start acting now. As an extension of our Eco Competition we bring short environmental stories to Amsterdam through our Eco Shorts Programme.

After our festival dates the film selection will go On Tour to cinemas outside of Amsterdam. But Sprouts is more than just film. Two of our central pillars are the Eco EXPO, consisting of commissioned artworks that question our relationship with the more-than-human, and audio visual performances, that spark a closer connection to our lived environment.

Awards & Prizes

We hand out four honorary awards every edition:

>> Jury Award - Eco Competition
>> Jury Award - Eco Shorts Programme
>> Audience Award

*the jury is allowed to give special mentions

>> Jury Award - Debut Competition (not open to FilmFreeway submissions)

Rules & Terms

RULES | THEMATIC
- Your short or feature is a work of fiction or a hybrid film. We do not accept documentary form.
- We at Sprouts work with a very broad definition of ecocinema, as long as ecology is at the heart of your film. A by no means exhaustive list of possible themes; ecology, environmentalism, sustainability, climate activism, (collapsing) ecosystems, queer ecology, ecofeminism, indigeneity, animal-human relation, ecocide, rural-urban, elemental etc.
- Your film has the potential to warn, inspire, educate and/or move (to action) our audience.

* We highly encourage female directors, directors of colour and directors that are part of the LGBTIQ+ community to submit their work, since Sprouts Film Festival finds it crucial to represent the film industry in its entirety.
** We are also especially on the lookout for films by Dutch makers

RULES | TECHNICAL
- The film is completely finished
- The film is available as a DCP
- The film has English subtitles
- The film is produced between 2022 and 2024
- Ideally the film has not been theatrically shown in the Netherlands prior to May 7 2024
- A short is under 50 minutes, a feature is 50+ minutes

TERMS
- Submissions close on February 25 2024
- We will inform you of our decision by March 4 2024
- Due to limited staff we do not provide you with feedback
- If selected your film will receive two physical screenings in Amsterdam, NL (we will pay a screening fee)
- If selected you will receive an official festival laurel
- Due to the ecological nature of our festival inviting cast and/or crew to physically attend is an exception