RULES AND REGULATIONS 2026
1. GENERAL
1.1 PLONS! - International Short Documentary Film Festival Bartlehiem (from now: PLONS! Film Festival) is a non-competitive filmfestival with live screenings in a remote place in the north of the Netherlands.
1.2 The 7th edition of PLONS! Film Festival will be held in Bartlehiem at Scheepsatelier Eestroom on Oktober 2, 3 and 4, 2026. There will be a Winter Edition every 1st Friday of the month from November until March. The festival is organized by Stichting Thuishaven.
1.3 PLONS! is seeking for cinematographic, creative documentaries in a broad understanding of the word documentary. Priority is given to documentaries that challenge the traditional borders of the genre, whatever the subject or form. The Festival is not seeking news reports, current affairs programs, promotional or corporate films. Videoclips and works of pure fiction will not be accepted.
2. SUBMISSION DEADLINE
2.1 The Festival is accepting films from the 13th of January until the 13th of May 2026.
2.2 Submission costs 5 EURO’s (earlybird) or 7 EURO’s (standard) per film.
2.3 Incomplete entries will not be accepted. Works in progress may be accepted when the work is in a final stage of completion (for example: picture lock version without final sound design).
2.4 All films can be submitted in one way:
www.filmfreeway.com
Submission per email will not be accepted.
2.5 All submissions must include a secure working online screener link. It is the submitters responsibility to make sure this link is workable until the end of the festival.
3. SUBMISSION CATEGORIES
3.1 The festival accepts submission in only one category:
INTERNATIONAL SHORT DOCUMENTARY PROGRAM (see point 4.1)
A selection of beautiful, moving, amazing or groundbreaking documentary films from countries worldwide. Priority will be given to creative and cinematic documentaries, innovative in subject and form. Submission is open only for short documentary films of maximum 30 minutes (including credits).
4. SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS
INTERNATIONAL SHORT DOCUMENTARY PROGRAM
4.1 Submission is open only for documentary films, in the classical or the non-classical sense of the word. Only two films per director are accepted. Priority will be given to creative documentaries that will push the boundaries of the form even further.
4.2 Maximum duration of films is 30 minutes.
4.3 The production date for all submissions must be after 1st of January 2024.
4.4 Submission is open for films of any country in the world.
4.5 There are no premiere requirements.
4.6 All non-English films must have English subtitles. Dubbing is not acceptable.
4.7 The submitting party must have the authority to submit the film to PLONS! and the exclusive rights (including all music clearance rights) to screen the documentary film in the Netherlands.
5. SELECTION
5.1 Submitters will be notified of programming decisions by July 1st 2026 latest. Our decision is final and cannot be negotiated.
5.2 PLONS! is under no obligation to provide comments or feedback regarding the submitted film to the applicant or any other representative of the submitted film.
5.3 It is the sole responsibility of the applicant to secure clearance from all copyright holders of materials and music included in the submitted film.
5.4 The Submitter warrants to keep PLONS! indemnified against all claims for the unauthorized inclusion of copyrighted materials or music within or relating to the submitted films.
5.5 PLONS! reserves the right to disqualify any film with unauthorized copyrighted materials or music.
6. EXHIBITION
6.1 Due to the location of our cinema on a ship, we are not able to exhibit films in the DCP format or with 5.1 surround sound. Therefore we will need a digital file of the selected film with Cinema Stereo Sound. Accepted formats are: .mov (Prores 422 or H264) or .mp4. Complete details will be provided upon selection to the submitter.
6.2 The screening format of the films must reach the festival at September 1, 2026 at the latest.
6.3 PLONS! has the right to schedule up to two screenings during the festival for short documentaries. The organization decides in which part of the program the film will be shown. This can be during the festival weekend as well as during the winter edition.
7. REQUIRED MATERIALS AFTER SELECTION
7.1 3 film stills (jpeg, high resolution, at least 300dpi or 2Mb each)
7.2 One poster file of the film in a High Resolution for printing, if available.
7.3 One high quality (1080p) video file of the trailer (preferably max 1 minute).
7.4 One high quality (1080p) video file of the film.
7.5 The required materials must reach the festival as soon as possible after confirmation of the selection results.
8. TRAVEL AND STAY FOR FILMMAKERS
8.1 PLONS! Film Festival warmly welcomes filmmakers to Bartlehiem. Selected filmmakers are invited to stay with us on site, either on one of our sleeping ships or in shared guest rooms. Please note that accommodation is shared and availability is limited.
We offer a modest travel reimbursement of up to €100 per selected film. Details on reimbursement will be provided after selection.
During your stay, all meals are provided by the festival (breakfast, lunch and dinner). Accredited filmmakers receive free access to the full festival programme, including screenings and events.
PLONS! takes place in a rural and remote area in the north of the Netherlands. We do our best to assist with practical travel arrangements and will share detailed information with invited filmmakers in advance.
9. WITHDRAWAL
9.1 Once the film's submitter has confirmed the festival’s decision to select and show the film it cannot be withdrawn.
10. PUBLICITY
10.1 Upon selection, PLONS! is authorized to use the publicity materials related to the film (i.e. press kits, posters, stills, etc.) for promotional purposes and to broadcast or screen clips up to a maximum of three minutes.
11. AGREEMENT
I, the Submitter, have the sole and exclusive ownership of all rights related to the submitted production and/or have the full authority to submit the production to PLONS! and bind all other third parties with an interest in the film (director, producer, sales agent or film distributor) to this Agreement.
I undertake that the information provided in this Entry is complete and correct. By submitting the film, I understand, accept and agree to comply with this Agreement.
