WHO CREATES? – Youth Film Festival is an international, research-based film festival for children and young filmmakers aged 10 to 25, dedicated to exploring how creativity, authorship, imagination, and artistic responsibility are formed in the era of artificial intelligence.
The festival is organized by the YOUNIVERSE Foundation for the Creative Development of Children and Youth, together with the FAR-1946 Community Center, with the support of the Burgas Municipality, Bulgaria. It is held annually in a off-line format, each year in various international cultural and creative centers around the world. This nomadic format reflects the festival's philosophy, based on cultural dialogue, global accessibility, and respect for diverse creative contexts. Traveling between countries and cities, the festival remains connected to local communities while simultaneously creating a global platform for young voices.

COMPETITION CATEGORIES:

1. Classic Production
Films created using traditional filmmaking approaches without the use of generative artificial intelligence at key creative stages, such as scriptwriting, image generation, animation, or sound creation. Standard digital tools for editing, color correction, and sound post-production are permitted.
This category focuses on human-driven storytelling, authorship, and personal creative vision.

2. AI Production
Films created using artificial intelligence at one or more stages of production, including but not limited to script development, visual creation, animation, sound or music generation, and editing assistance.
Artificial intelligence is considered a creative tool, not an author. The responsibility for artistic decisions remains with the human creator.

3. Student Film Competition
Films created within film schools, academies, universities, or educational programs, including works developed under professional mentorship.
The director of the film must have been a registered student of a creative or film-related educational institution at the time of production. Proof of student status (such as a student ID, enrollment confirmation, or an official letter from the institution) may be requested during the selection process.
This category is evaluated separately from independent youth films to ensure fair and ethical comparison.

4. Music Video / Visual Storytelling
Music-driven audiovisual works exploring rhythm, visual expression, and contemporary screen language. This category reflects the influence of digital culture and short-form platforms on the creative thinking of children and young people.

5. Animation
Animated films created using any technique, including 2D, 3D, stop-motion, and AI-assisted animation. Evaluation focuses on visual language, world-building, narrative coherence, and emotional impact, rather than technical format alone.

6. Experimental / Hybrid Cinema
A curated, non-competitive selection of films exploring experimental, hybrid, or cross-media cinematic forms. This section highlights artistic courage, research-driven approaches, and new forms of audiovisual expression. Films in this section may receive Special Jury Mentions.

Awards & Prizes

AWARDS & PRIZES
Awards recognize creative development, conscious artistic choice, and authorship, rather than commercial success or competition.
Universal Recognition
• Official Laurel, Certificate, Festival Screening, Printed Festival Catalogue
Selective Awards
• Best Classic Production
• Best AI Production
• Best Creative Choice
• Best Human Vision
• Best AI Integration
• Best Student Film
• Best Music Video / Visual Storytelling
Selective awards may include mentorship sessions, publications or interviews, and recommendation letters, as determined by the jury.
Main Festival Award – YOUNIVERSE AWARD
The main prize of the festival includes an Invitation to Future YOUNIVERSE Projects, which may involve:
• inclusion in the YOUNIVERSE Talent Database,
• status of Talent under Development,
• 50% discount on tuition at VISTA Film Academy
• an offer of producer support and professional development, subject to mutual agreement.
All awards are non-monetary.

Rules & Terms

Official Rules & Terms

1.Age Requirements:
• The director or main creative author of the film must be between 10 and 25 years old at the time of film production.
• For group projects, at least one key creative author (director or main author) must meet the age requirement.

2. Production Date
• Films must be completed no earlier than two (2) years prior to the current festival edition.

3. Film Length:
• Short Film: up to 20 minutes
• Music Video / Visual Storytelling: up to 5 minutes
• Animation: up to 20 minutes
• Experimental / Hybrid Cinema: up to 20 minutes
Films shorter than 5 minutes are accepted within the Short Film category

4. AGE GROUPS
(Applied within Classic Production and AI Production)
• 10–13 Discovery – first steps in cinematic language
• 14–17 Emerging Voices – development of personal expression
• 18–21 Young Authors – conscious authorship and experimentation
• 22–25 New Generation Cinema – transition toward professional cinema
Age groups are used for fair evaluation and research purposes and do not imply artistic limitations.

5. AI DISCLOSURE REQUIREMENT
All films submitted to the AI Production category must include a clear and honest disclosure of artificial intelligence tools used during the creative process.
Participants may be asked to describe:
• which AI tools were used,
• at which stage of production,
• how AI influenced creative decision-making.
Failure to disclose AI usage may result in reclassification or disqualification.

6. LANGUAGE & SUBTITLES
• Films in languages other than English must include English subtitles.
• Subtitles must be accurate, clearly readable, and properly synchronized.

7. Submission Materials:
During submission, participants are strongly encouraged to provide complete and accurate information about their film, including:
• film synopsis,
• film poster,
• director’s photo,
• stills from the film,
• full credits of the creative team,
• any additional promotional materials available.
These materials may be used for festival promotion, catalogue publication, screenings, and official communications. Providing complete materials at the time of submission significantly improves communication and reduces the need for follow-up requests.

8. Contact Information:
Participants are responsible for providing a valid and active email address during submission. All official communications, including selection notifications, festival invitations, awards, and prizes, will be sent to the email address provided.
The festival is not responsible for missed communications due to incorrect or inactive contact information.

9. SUBMISSION FEES & DONATIONS:
WHO CREATES? – Youth Film Festival is a non-profit, mission-driven initiative organized by YOUNIVERSE Foundation.
• Submission is free of charge for individual child and youth filmmakers whose films were created independently.
• Films submitted by film schools, academies, or educational institutions may be subject to an administrative processing fee, used exclusively to cover organizational and technical costs of the festival.
• Participation fees are never charged to children or their families.
• An optional donation may be offered to participants or supporters who wish to support the festival’s educational and research mission.
• Administrative fees and donations are non-refundable.
• Fee waivers may be granted to selected partner institutions.

10. SELECTION & JURY
Selection Process:
• All films are reviewed by the festival selection committee.
• The official selection of the winning films is carried out by a professional jury.
Jury Structure:
Films are evaluated by international juries composed of film professionals, AI and new media experts, educators, and researchers.
Classic Production and AI Production are evaluated independently and are not compared directly.

11. RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS
By submitting a film, participants confirm that they hold all necessary rights to the submitted material and that the film does not infringe on third-party rights.
Participants grant the festival a non-exclusive right to screen the film during the festival and to use excerpts (up to 30 seconds) for promotional purposes.
No commercial distribution rights are transferred.

12. RESEARCH PARTICIPATION
Selected participants may be invited to take part in anonymous surveys, interviews, or research documentation as part of the festival’s research activities.
Participation is voluntary and does not affect jury decisions.

13. ACCEPTANCE OF TERMS
Submission to WHO CREATES? – Youth Film Festival implies full acceptance of these Rules & Terms.
The festival reserves the right to make necessary updates to the regulations, with all changes published on official platforms.