FEATURES
• Films must have been made after 1st January 2025.
• Films must be over 50 minutes.
• Films must not have been screened in Wales (Welsh premiere required).
• Someone from the film's team must be available for a Q&A.
SHORTS
• Films must have been made after 1st January 2025.
• Films must be under 20 minutes (including credits).
FREE PASSES
Selected filmmakers will receive a FOCUS Wales Pass (worth up to £160), allowing them to attend any event across the film, music and conference strands during the film festival (subject to venue capacity).
SCORES & FEEDBACK
We are committed to supporting filmmakers. Those that are not selected will be offered their score and the score they required for selection, plus any comments left by our jury members.
SELECTION PROCESS
Shorts will be reviewed with submitter information removed, by a minimum of 2 unconnected jury members. Those with the highest aggregate score in each section will be selected. A minimum of 1 Welsh film per category will be selected.
Features will be selected at the discretion of the head programmer.
WELSH & CELTIC DEFINITION
To be eligible for the Best Welsh Short Film Award, we use the BAFTA Cymru definition. A key member of the creative team (writer, director or producer) must have either been born in Wales, be a current resident, or identify as Welsh (having spent a considerable amount of time here).
Submissions not matching this criteria will automatically be considered for the Best International Short Film Award.
Similarly, to be eligible for the Celtic Film Award, a key member of the creative team (writer, director or producer) must have either been born, be resident, or have spent significant time in one of the Celtic Nations: Brittany (Breizh), Cornwall (Kernow), Wales (Cymru), Scotland (Alba), Ireland (Éire) and the Isle of Man (Mannin or Ellan Vannin).
SUBTITLES
We are happy to accept films in any language, however if your film is not in the English language we require you to provide English subtitles.
If your film is selected for screening, we may also request English captions to assist those attending the festival who are deaf or hard of hearing.
MEDIA
By submitting you are allowing us to also screen your film at the festival and use any images/media connected with the film as part of our festival marketing.
If selected, your submission will automatically be considered to be part of other FOCUS Wales events throughout the year. We will be in touch regarding these additional screenings (which may take place physically or digitally) if we believe your film would benefit.
There will be no refunds if your submission is not eligible to be considered.
