UNICEF Innocenti Film Festival (UIFF)
21-24 October 2021, Florence & Online
2nd edition

UIFF is a showcase of the best independent world cinema on childhood. The theme for 2021 is once again: "Growing up. Narratives from all over the world." The main organizer of the festival is the UNICEF Office of Research - Innocenti, Florence Italy. We are equally interested in fiction and non-fiction cinema narratives.

The aim of UIFF is to curate the best cinema art narratives of childhood to take stock of the dynamic forces shaping childhood and promote reflection on children’s experiences in different contexts. There are many global cinema traditions that have produced compelling bodies of work depicting childhood. Childhood is a universal human theme that filmmakers everywhere return to, again and again, to connect audiences to memories of the forces that shape our lives in the earliest years.

UIFF promotes the idea of rich dialogue between cinema artists, specialists in children's rights/development and the public. Entries to be included in the festival will promote deep reflection on the experiences that shape childhood – in the child's individual life, in the family, the community, in institutions and societies. of both the Global South and North.

Emphasis will be placed on films that authentically represent the thoughts, voices and experiences of children themselves. While UIFF has no age limits for entry, in keeping with the Convention on the Rights of the Child, special priority will be given to films that have been written, directed or developed by and/or with children, young people and young adult artists. Even so , entries from filmmakers and producers of any age are fully encouraged.

The UNICEF Innocenti Film Festival is a collaboration between the UNICEF Office of Research - Innocenti and the Cinema La Compagnia di Fondazione Sistema Toscana.

In 2021 UIFF will introduce prizes for the first time. Three categories of films will be awarded prizes:

1. Open Category – fiction or non-fiction films of any length focusing on narratives of childhood of any kind.
2. Reimagining the future – fiction or non-fiction films of any length focusing on the theme of children re-emerging from the pandemic crisis to reimagine a better future.
3. Under 18 category – fiction or non-fiction films of any length produced by a film crew made up primarily of artists who have not reached their 19th birthday focusing on narratives of childhood of any kind.

A professional jury will assign the Awards for Open Category, Childhood in the Pandemic and 18 and Under categories.

A jury composed by high schools students and professionals will assign the award for the UNICEF 75 prize (best film in festival).

UIFF Directors shall introduce Special Mentions and other prizes.

(WE CAN ONLY ACCEPT FILMS IN ENGLISH, OR FILMS WITH ENGLISH SUBTITLES)

1. ORGANIZATION
UIFF is a Festival organized by the UNICEF Office of Research - Innocenti, Florence, Italy that has all copyright on the name and logo.

2. AIMS
Films to be included in the UNICEF Innocenti Film Festival must be explicitly centred on child or adolescent characters. Films will promote deep reflection on narratives of childhood and the experiences that shape them – as individuals, in the family, the community, in institutions and societies.

We are searching for fiction and non-fiction films of the highest quality visual artistry and production craft.

Emphasis will be placed on films that authentically represent the thoughts, voices and experiences of children themselves.

In keeping with the Convention on the Rights of the Child, we are making a conscious effort to select films that have been produced by and/or with children, youth or young adult artists and producers.

In order to portray a wide diversity of childhood narratives we are making a deliberate effort to promote entries from filmmakers and artists in in both the Global South and North.

3. DATES
UIFF 2021 will be held from 21-24 October 2021 in both virtual (online) and live settings provided by Cinema La Compagnia, Florence, Italy. A gala (Live) opening ceremony and screening followed by dialogue will be held at Cinema La Compagnia on 22 October following COVID social distancing protocols.
A closing session and award ceremony will be held live event following COVID 19 social distancing protocols on 24 October.
All other screenings will be virtual.

4. PROGRAMME
UIFF official program will include an estimated 20 (not more than 24) films in the Open, Under 18, Childhood in the Pandemic categories.
Both fiction and non-fiction films ranging from short to feature length will be considered
Only films where childhood is the main theme and child (under age 21) characters are the main protagonists of the narrative will be considered.
For more information and film entries: https://filmfreeway.com/unicefinnocentifilmfestival
Special programs to be announced also in collaboration with others organizations

5. OTHER ACTIVITIES
UIFF Directors will organize post screening dialogues (live and online) at the end of all screening sessions involving film directors, UNICEF experts and the public.
A programme of participation with and for young people will be organized with the Lanterne Magiche centre of Fondazione Sistema Toscana.

6. JURIES AND AWARDS
In 2021 UIFF will introduce prizes for the first time. Three categories of films will be awarded prizes:

1. 18 and Under - written and/or directed by filmmakers aged 18 and under.
2. Childhood in the Pandemic - films which articulate children's experiences during and after the COVID-19 pandemic
3. Open category - all films selected for screening eligible
4. UNICEF 75 - distinction for the best film narrative of childhood in the festival

A professional jury will assign the Awards for Open Category, Childhood in the Pandemic and 18 and Under categories.

A jury composed by high schools students and professionals will assign the award for the UNICEF 75 prize (best film in festival).

UIFF Director shall introduce Special Mentions and other prizes.

7. SELECTION OF FILMS
7.1 Eligibility Criteria
All film submissions must be recent productions completed not prior to 1 January 2019. UIFF Directors shall make exceptions at the admissions rules above.
No film will be accepted for consideration by the UNICEF Innocenti Film Festival without the verified date of birth of the primary writer and director.

We will only consider ONE ENTRY PER FILMMAKER.
We reserve the right to request verification of date of birth, if necessary.
IMPORTANT: We can only consider entries in English or with English subtitles.

7.2 Preselection formats
In order to be considered for selection presenters must send a link to the final version of their film.

7.3 Selection modalities
Works will be selected at the sole discretion of UIFF's Directors and Selection Committee. The general programme, venues and screening schedules shall be decided by the Artistic Direction exclusively.

8. SELECTION

8.1 Selection Entry form
Films invited to participate in the Festival will receive a selection entry form that must be duly completed and returned by a certain date (TBA).

8.2 Acceptance of the invitation
The receipt of the entry form by the Festival implies the legal acceptance of the invitation by all concerned and will be considered definitive and irrevocable, giving to UNICEF Innocenti Film Festival the authorization to insert the film in the festival program and screen it. UNICEF Innocenti Film Festival may allow exception to Rules and Regulations themselves in specific and well-motivated cases and has the right to eliminate a selected title from the official program if conditions will change.

8.3 Program
The invitation of a film must remain absolutely confidential until the program of the Festival has been officially announced. Programming and scheduling of the screenings are at the sole discretion of the UIFF Expert Panel. Acceptance of the invitation by the film’s presenters entails the commitment not to withdraw the film, as well as the commitment to allow at least one public screening of the film at no additional cost, and up to 7 days of online on-demand screenings on the platform MyMovies.it

9. SELECTED FILMS
If your film is selected to be screened at the festival, you will be required to provide the following:

9.1 Film copies
The .mp4 file of the film (min. H264 1920x1080 px; Bitrate: min 10000 kb/sec max 25000 kb/sec) for live screening (with English subtitles burnt in);
The .mp4 file of the film (min. H264 1920x1080 px; Bitrate: min 10000 kb/sec max 25000 kb/sec) for live screening (clean);
Link to mp4 file of the film in low resolution (same frame rate) for subtitling and press;

9.2 Subtitles
English dialogue list with time code for the translation and subtitling.
English subtitles in srt file.
Italian subtitles (if existing) in srt file.

9.3 Press kit
Press kit in word format with synopsis, full credits, high def (300 dpi) film stills, director's bio with a headshot.
Trailer without watermark.

9.4 Official Logo
Acceptance of the Festival’s invitation of a film to take part in the event obligates the submitter to display UNICEF Innocenti Film Festival official logo provided by the Organization on all advertising materials for the promotion of the film (posters, press kits, trailers, opening credits, official website), as well as on the copies that will be presented at the Festival and circulate in the theatres. Moreover, all promotional material accompanying the release of films that have won awards at the Festival is required to indicate the award won, using the official graphics provided by the Organization itself.

9.5 Permission for Image/Video/Audio Submission
It’s a condition of participation that all participants agree that any photograph, recording, or broadcast of their participation in the Festival will be the property of the Festival to use, rebroadcast, publish, distribute or reproduce in future promotional materials. Furthermore, all participants agree that this right is extended to televisions and media partners that will cover the Festival and consent to the recording for free.

For more information contact: florence@unicef.org

Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Mumin Latifi

    Было очень рад участвовать на этом кинофестивале

    November 2021
  • Rajesh Prasad Khatri

    My film 'A Scarecrow' has been selected in this prestigious film festival and also has been awarded with 75th Unicef Iris award. It really brings a new wave on my career and motivated a lot to work more with children. Thank you very much UNICEF.

    November 2021
  • It is one of the best Festivals of world where you find very interesting line up and very cooperative people .It is an Honour that My film Prashna (India ) wins The Iris Award Special Mention ( Writing ) at Unicef Innocenti Film Festival 2021 Florence , Italy . I am very grateful to all the Jury Members ,Curators and selection Committee for selecting each and every film carefully and giving an Award . Thank You ..

    November 2021
  • Daniela Vieitas

    We present the short Angola's Path (Nzila Ngola), directed and with soun track made by a group of young people from Luanda. Making the film was an extremely important experience for them, but when the film began to be selected for festivals, the joy and pride were greater than the neighborhoods in which they live, it crossed borders that the difficulties in getting documents will never cross. Thanks to the UNICEF Innocenti festival for the opportunity, the way you welcomed our film and the respect and attention you have always had with us.

    October 2021
  • sammy Hossenny

    This selection was a great honor fo us. We have been able to screen our film in Florence, in front of people highly committed to promote children's rights. We really hope that the festival continues in the next years!

    January 2020