I. BASIC PROVISIONS
• International films festival about sustainable development Ekotopfilm – Envirofilm is organized by MFF Eko, s.r.o. (hereinafter only the organizer) in cooperation with the Slovak Environmental Agency and other partners. The festival aims to change society's behavior toward the environment in an inspiring way and to create space for an open discussion on issues of sustainable development.
• The 53rd year will take place in Bratislava (September/October 2026).
• Part of the festival is the Junior festival for children and youth, which cooperates with primary and secondary schools. Its main goal is environmental education and the education of pupils and students.
• ADMISSION to all events of the festival program is FREE.
II. TERMS OF PARTICIPATION
FESTIVAL IS FEE-FREE!
• Films made after January 1st, 2025, elaborated on topics arising from the competition categories. Participation in other festivals does not prevent participation in the current year.
• Registration for the Ekotopfilm – Envirofilm 2026 festival is possible from May 1st, 2026 exclusively through online applications on the FilmFreeway.com application platform. Without a filled-out application, by July 31st, 2026, the film will not be accepted for international competition.
• The applicant may not withdraw the film from the festival program after having officially confirmed its inclusion by submitting the film.
• Transport and insurance fees in the case of sending materials are paid by the applicant.
• The applicant honestly declares that he is capable and entitled to such a legally binding act, or is the holder of film copyrights to the submitted films and that this submission does not infringe the property rights of other persons or the personal and property copyrights of the author or authors of the given film. The organizer is not responsible for possible infringements of rights resulting from the unauthorized submission of films to the competition.
III. REQUIREMENTS FOR SUBMITTED FILMS
• Submitting a film means properly filling out and submitting the form with the film on the FilmFreeway.com platform.
• A dialogue list with a time code (time-code) in the English language version must be sent to the submitted film.
• Films in a language other than Slovak, Czech, or English must contain integrated English subtitles.
• Movies with dialogue, if possible provide an international copy (version with dialogue as a separate track for dubbing the film).
• The applicant undertakes to upload promotional materials – synopsis, information about the director, and direct contact for the director of the film as well as poster, photos from the film, and trailer (mandatory), as part of the FilmFreeway application. The mentioned materials remain in the festival archive and the organizer reserves the right to use them in its promotional materials and to provide them to the media to inform about the festival.
• Technical requirements for films: Online Screening Format
Video format: High-quality and web-friendly video encoding like H.264 or HEVC in specific resolutions (e.g., 1080p)
Audio format: Stereo or multi-channel audio formats commonly used for online platforms (e.g.HD 1080p, codec H.264 or HEVC)
Container format: Common online video container formats like MP4 or MOV, AVI, DCP.
• All selected films must provide an exhibition copy of the film by August 1, 2025, in a Theatrical Screening Format (DCP).
• The applicant agrees that the organizer can use a maximum of 3 minutes of the total length of the film to promote the Ekotopfilm – Envirofilm festival in any medium.
• Failure to meet the stated requirements entitles the organizer not to include the film in the competition.
IV. INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION
• Admission to the international competition is decided by the selection committee. The selection committee is entitled not to include a film whose technical quality or content does not correspond to the status of the festival and its mission.
• The selection committee selects a limited number of films. It reserves the right to move the submitted film to another competition section.
• Films included in the international competition are evaluated by an international jury.
• The international jury awards:
Grand Prix – Slovak Government Prize,
6 main Prizes in individual categories (A-F),
International Jury Prize,
other prizes and honorable mentions.
• The international jury has the right to not award a winner in a category in which not enough films are submitted, or their quality is not sufficient.
• Competition films will be screened within the current edition of the festival.
• Films submitted to the competition will be evaluated in the following categories:
A | Explore Nature - Nature and Natural Science (max. 60 min) Informational and entertaining nature films that creatively explore ecosystems and their inhabitants (people, flora, fauna). They mainly point to the relationship between the inhabitants of the Earth and their environment.
B | Success stories (max. 60 min) Films represent activities, projects, or new technologies improving the environment or sustainability. They inspire and encourage a change in thinking and behavior toward our planet.
C| Current Affairs (max. 60 min) The films point to current environmental problems or crises and their impact on the environment and culture on a global or local scale. Problems can be the result of natural phenomena, e.g. climate changes, drought, storms, floods or earthquakes. Or they can be the result of human activity, e.g. population growth, destruction of the environment, plundering of natural resources, or poor waste management.
D | Short (max 15 min) Short films also animated for thought and inspiration focused on ecology, natural sciences, environmental problems, and sustainability. We do not accept advertising spots and films.
E| Kids (max 60 min) Films also animated aimed at children and youth and environmental education (e.g. collection and recycling, endangered animal and plant species, environmental protection, etc.), which develop a loving and respectful relationship with our planet Earth.
F | Debut (max. 60 min) Directorial debut focusing on the topic of ecology or environmental protection. It may have penetration into other categories.
V. FESTIVAL TOURS
• By submitting a film, the applicant consents to its inclusion in the Ekotopfilm – Envirofilm Tour program without entitlement to a royalty or fee for screening rights in the territory of the EU for a limited time until October 2028. Ekotopfilm – Envirofilm Tour organizes film screenings of selected films with free entry on the territory of the European Union.
• Selected films can be used free of charge for non-commercial purposes, such as in the educational and educational process.
VI. PERSONAL PARTICIPATION
• The festival budget is limited. If you are interested in personal participation in the festival, please contact us: program@ekotopfilm.sk
• Personal participation, which is not connected to the accompanying program, is paid for by the participant himself.
VII. FINAL PROVISIONS
• Submitting a film to the festival means agreeing to the wording of the statute. Program change reserved.
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We thank the partners of the Ekotopfilm | festival Envirofilm
