The official languages of WFAF Varna are Bulgarian and English.
1. TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF PARTICIPATION
Any animated film, meeting the following requirements, will be considered eligible for the Festival:
• Projects in any animation techniques (digital 2D/3D, hand-drawn 2D, cut-outs, puppets, etc.) are accepted, including combinations with live action, with the condition that at least 50% of the total length is animated.
• The film must have been completed after January 1st, 2023, and must not have participated in any competition program of previous editions of WFAF Varna.
• All necessary information, as required in the entry form on our page in FilmFreeway, must be filled in.
• Submitters with selected projects must send a link to a high-quality screening copy of the selected films by June 12th, 2025. Acceptable formats: DCP, H264, HEVC/H265 with a constant bitrate no less than 15 Mbps.
• English subtitles must be submitted if the film includes dialogue or narration in languages other than English or Bulgarian.
• The duration of the project must fit the category it is submitted to: 1 - 25 minutes for Short films, Student films, Children’s films, Bulgarian films, Horror films, Erotic films, and over 45 minutes for Feature films.
• By signing the entry form, the participant takes responsibility for using only materials (including sound and music) covered by appropriate copyright permissions.
2. THE FILMS WILL COMPETE IN THE FOLLOWING CATEGORIES:
• Short films – from 1 to 25 minutes
• Feature films – over 45 minutes
• Children’s films – from 1 to 25 minutes
• Students’ films – from 1 to 25 minutes
• Bulgarian films – from 1 to 25 minutes
• Horror films – from 1 to 25 minutes
• Erotic films – from 1 to 25 minutes
3. PARTICIPATION
The deadline for submitting projects for selection is MAY 21st, 2025. No entry forms will be accepted after this date.
• All entry forms must be submitted only through our page on FilmFreeway until MAY 21st, 2025.
• After filling out and sending the application, every participant will receive a confirmation email.
• The copies for the official selection are to be uploaded only via a non-temporary download link.
• The selection copy must be in the formats H264 or HEVC/H265.
• The preview copy of the film can only be in these formats: H264 or HEVC/H265.
• The file name should be the same as the title of the film.
• All materials for participation in the selection will remain in the festival’s archive.
• Only one participation form may be submitted per film.
4. REQUIRED INFORMATION FOR THE ONLINE ENTRY FORM
Every filmmaker has to have this information filled in in FilmFreeway regarding the film:
• Three static frames from the film (resolution of 300 dpi, 1920×1080 in JPEG format);
• A high-resolution poster is mandatory for feature films (minimum format A4, 300 dpi);
• A logline for the film (up to 150 words);
• A digital copy of the film;
• If the film has text and/or dialogue in a language different from the official languages of the festival, English subtitles in .srt format along with an Edit Decision List in one of the two official languages must be provided;
• Additional commercial materials for showcasing the film (e.g., poster, flyer).
5. SELECTION COMMITTEE
• The selection committee selects the films that will take part in the competition program.
• The members are professionals, who are in touch with the Art of Animation.
• The films in each category will be evaluated based on their conceptual, aesthetic, and technical qualities.
• The decisions of the Selection Committee will be final and CANNOT be appealed.
6. OFFICIAL SELECTION
• The decisions of the Selection Committee will be announced on June 5th, informing the submitters via email.
• Screening copies of selected films must be submitted via a non-temporary download link no later than June 12th, 2025.
• The Festival does not pay screening fees for the works selected.
• Children’s films: All projects for the Children's films category are also automatically submitted for the children mini-edition of the event - WFAF Kids Burgas festival 2025.
7. JURY
• The jury will consist of 5 members who are prominent names in the world of animated films and cinema.
• Their names will be announced on the official website and social media of the festival.
• The decisions of the International Jury members will be final and CANNOT be appealed.
• After the official closing ceremony of the festival there will be a screening of the winner films.
8. ACCOMMODATION AND ACCREDITATION
• WFAF’s organizers will cover hotel expenses for 2 nights, full accreditation, and food expenses (breakfast and lunch) for the director in the official competition program for 2 days during the Festival.
• Contestants cover their own travel expenses.
• Individuals wishing to attend the Festival as guests can apply for accreditation at varnafest@gmail.com. All directors with films in the competition program and official guests will receive free accreditation for screenings and events.
9. RIGHTS
• If a film is selected, the director or producer must provide a copy of the film in the specified format.
• Applicants to the Children’s films category authorise the festival to dub the films to Bulgarian.
• Participants grant the festival the non-exclusive right for a maximum of 5 screenings and one on a national TV broadcast. The Festival reserves the right to use the selected films for strictly non-commercial, educational purposes. Any additional screenings or promotional efforts will require explicit permission from the rights holder.
• The entrant grants the Organization Committee the right to use short clips (up to 30 seconds) and still images from the film for promotional purposes on social media, websites, and in marketing materials.
• All selected films will remain in the Festival’s archive for record-keeping and may be showcased in future editions of the Festival under the same non-commercial terms. Any other future use of archived films will require additional permission from the rights holder.
• The festival reserves the right to change the category of any selected film, modify the Festival program without prior notice, and remove delayed or poor-quality submissions from the competition.
• The International Jury may withhold an award in any category if none of the entries meet their quality criteria.
• The entrant is responsible for securing all literary, dramatic and musical rights for their film. WFAF assumes no responsibility for any copyright violations related to audio or visual materials.
• By submitting the entry form, the participant agrees to all terms and conditions outlined in these regulations.
