1. Film profile. DOC.Coimbra – International Documentary Film Festival is interested in documentaries that reflect the complexities of the contemporary world and its relationship with the past. We are primarily seeking films that address social, political and cultural themes, whilst at the same time demonstrating technical excellence and pushing the boundaries of documentary filmmaking.
2. Festival Dates. DOC.Coimbra 2027 – 4th Edition – will take place from 16 to 21 March 2027, in the city of Coimbra, Portugal.
3. Acceptance of the Regulations. Submission of a film to DOC.Coimbra implies knowledge of and acceptance of these regulations.
4. Films. The Festival accepts short films (up to 49 minutes) and feature-length films (over 50 minutes), with no restrictions on themes or countries. Only films completed after 1 January 2025 are eligible.
5. Priority and Premiere Status. Priority is given to world premieres (films never before screened), international premieres (films screened only in their country of production) and Portuguese premieres (films never before screened in Portugal). Films that have already been shown on television channels, via streaming services or are available without a subscription on platforms such as YouTube and Vimeo will be disqualified.
6. Submission – Submissions for all categories open on 1 June 2026 and close on 31 October 2026. Entries can be submitted via the FilmFreeway and FestHome platforms, or directly via the festival’s website, doccoimbra.com. Entry fees range from €8 to €30 depending on the category and date of entry.
7. Definition of a Lusophone Film – Films shall be considered Lusophone if, regardless of the predominant language used, they have been produced or co-produced with any of the following countries: Portugal, Brazil, Angola, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Equatorial Guinea, Mozambique, Sao Tome and Principe, and East Timor.
8. Submission Materials – Participants must submit copies of their films via a password-protected link or through the platforms mentioned in the previous point. All films not spoken in Portuguese or English must be submitted with subtitles in English or Portuguese.
9. Selection – Once all films have been reviewed by the festival’s selection committee, those selected to participate in the festival will be notified of their selection. The expected date for the announcement of the selection is 1 February 2027.
10. Selected Films – Selected films will have 15 days from being notified to confirm their participation and submit screening copies. Copies must be in h264 (ProRes 422) or DCP format, with 2.0 or 5.1 stereo audio, and clean (without subtitles). All selected films must submit an English subtitle file in SRT format. The festival does not guarantee any payment of screening fees or technical production costs for copies relating to the screening of films in competition.
11. Participation in the Festival – All selected films will be entitled to two nights’ hotel accommodation for one representative of the film, a festival pass granting access to all sections, a festival kit, and an invitation to all social events, such as the festival party.
12. Award Categories. The festival’s award categories are as follows:
International Feature Film Awards
Best International Feature Film Award
Honourable Mention for International Feature Film
International Short Film Awards
Best International Short Film Award
Honourable Mention for International Short Film
Portuguese-Language Film Awards
Best Portuguese-Language Feature Film
Honourable Mention for Portuguese-Language Feature Film
Best Portuguese-Language Short Film
Honourable Mention for Portuguese-Language Short Film
13. Awards. The festival presents a ‘Cravo de Ouro’ trophy for each category, along with gifts provided by sponsors. No cash prizes are currently planned. Should this possibility arise, the information will be published on the festival’s website and social media channels.
14. Enquiries. Should you have any queries regarding these regulations, the festival team can be contacted via email at info@doccoimbra.com. The Festival will decide on all matters not covered by these regulations.
