Vienna’s first International Human Rights Film Festival — this human world is a platform for filmic and critical discourse, a space of encounter and dialogue, a meeting point for young, innovative local and international filmmakers. For us, cinema is not only an art form in which narrative experiences are performed and created. Cinema is also an opportunity for audiences to step out of their comfort zones and into dialogues that challenge their everyday realities.

The 17th edition of this human world is taking place in Vienna, from November 28th to December 8th, 2024.

this human world is Austria‘s first festival devoted to the subject of human rights and one of Vienna’s largest film festivals.

The movies screened at this human world are showcased in an International competition schema consisting of four different sections and a number of thematic cornerstones, curated by the festival team, NGOs, and partner festivals.

this human world spotlights outstanding documentary and feature films, shorts, animations and experimental films which, in one way or another, thematize human rights issues. These are movies that encourage people to scrutinize and reflect on their views, movies that uplift human rights, and movies that reveal systems in which human rights are neglected. Moreover, the festival program contains lectures, workshops, talks, panel discussions, and performances.

this human world’s annual competition program hosts films that raise awareness regarding human rights issues outside the framework of mainstream films. The application for the competition program is open for films from all categories: features, documentaries, animations, experimental films as well as animated/feature shorts produced after January 1st, 2023.

We have elected music and its resonances as one of our focal points this year because of music’s unique capacity to transcend language and other social barriers. Music and dance are forms that can serve as a kind of escape from reality, but they can also be forces that incur cultural symbiosis; they produce social havens and generative hubs for local and global movements alike. For this year’s submissions, films are not obligated to directly focalize music and its communal effects, but we will prioritize submissions in our curation process which directly (or indirectly) explore the worlds of music.

TBA

Competition Sections

The festival‘s competition programme comprises 4 different sections:

International Competition
Up and Coming (1st or 2nd feature length film)
Austrian Competition
Exp:an:ded Shorts (feature, animation, and experimental shorts)

The Future is Ours to See - Out of the competition programme, selected films, dealing with youth relevant topics are taken in consideration for the Youth Award, assigned by the this human world Youth Jury.

Each section will have a renowned Jury assigning a section award.

Audience Award - All the films in the competition programme are eligible for the Audience Award.

APPLICATION

International Competition
• All films - documentary and narrative features, animations and experimental films - produced after January 1st 2023 are accepted.
• All films must have a minimum running time of 60 minutes.
• Only films that haven't had a premiere or a theatrical release in Austria can be submitted. World and Austrian premieres may be given priority.
• Films may have been released theatrically in their country of origin.
• Films must not have been broadcasted on the internet or on TV.

Up and Coming
• Films shown in this section are directors' first or second feature length films.
• All films - documentary and narrative features, animations and experimental films - produced after January 1st 2023 are accepted.
• All films must have a minimum running time of 60 minutes.
• Only films that haven't had a premiere or a theatrical release in Austria can be submitted. World and Austrian premieres may be given priority.
• Films may have been released theatrically in their country of origin.
• Films must not have been broadcasted on the internet or on TV.

Austrian Competition
• All films, including documentary and narrative features, animations or experimental films produced in Austria after January 1st 2023 are accepted.
• All films must have a minimum running time of 30 minutes.
• An Austrian premiere is NOT a must.
• Premieres may be given priority.
• Films must not have been broadcasted on the internet or on TV.

Exp:∆n:ded Shorts
• In this section, ONLY short animations and features will be accepted.
• High priority will be placed on shorts that explore our current sub-theme: music and its resonances
• All short films produced after January 1st 2023 are accepted.
• All short films must have a maximum running time of 15 minutes.
• An Austrian premiere is NOT a must.
• Premieres may be given priority.

SUBMISSION
• Screeners must be in original language with either English or German subtitles.
• You can upload your films via this human world’s FilmFreeway account.
• Entry Fee: up to 20€ (Euro)

SELECTION
• The festival’s selection committee makes the first selection of films, videos and new media works
• Selection decisions made by the festival committee are final
• Priority might be given to works that are examples of formal and technical innovation
• We will inform all directors who submitted a film about the final selection of the competition program. Due to the sheer number of entries, we unfortunately cannot give individual statements or feedbacks. Thank you for your understanding!

If a film is selected,…

Authorization

• this human world does not cover screening fees for films shown in its competition program!
• A separate application form will be sent after the selection of a film. The form must be completely filled in and signed
• The application form, all the necessary documents, and the viewing copy must be received by submission@thishumanworld.com
• The following exhibition formats are accepted for the festival: DCP and on request master files (Pro Res HQ)
• Use three minutes of a feature film and one minute of a short film for broadcasting purposes on television and on the internet

• Publicity material (press books, posters, stills, etc.) must be received by the festival organization to promote the festival
• There will be an additional screening of the winner films on the 12th of December
• Filmmakers must send a 30 second clip of the film that might be shown at the Award Ceremony on the 9th of December

SHIPPING

The applicant is responsible for the one-way shipping costs
of the projection print to the festival. The festival will bear the costs for returning the print to the sender.

The deadline for films to arrive in Vienna is November 1st, 2024. Works that arrive after this date will not be guaranteed inclusion in the festival.
In addition, the sender will be asked to send a dispatch note to the festival by airmail, or E-mail, indicating the date of shipment. A pro-forma-invoice for maximum $ 50 (it must not be higher) should be enclosed in shipping per courier service from non-EU countries, stating the name of the sender, the title of the film, its size, length,
number of reels, and whether it is in color or black and white. The festival will return the material within four weeks after the festival unless otherwise arranged. Please bear in mind that the consignee is responsible for the re-importation charges at the country of destination.

Insurance
The films and videos will be insured from the time of reception by the film festival to the time of their return to the shipping company. Transport insurance in both directions is the responsibility of the participants. Upon gaining possession of the film or video from the shipping company which, in consultation with the festival organization, is responsible for shipment of film or video, the festival will only then accept limited responsibility for the film or video extending to the time that the festival
organization returns the film or video to the shipping company. The definition of this limited responsibility only includes a refund of laboratory expenses for making a new print of the roll or rolls of film damaged, or in case of a video, a duplication of the videotape. This refund will be calculated according to current German laboratory prices. It does not extend to negatives, positives or any other type of film component. In case of faulty projection, the festival cannot be held responsible for immaterial damage suffered by director, producer or distributor. Complaints will only be considered if you lodge them within 6 weeks of the festival’s end. Press kits, photos, videocassettes and other material are not included in this limited insurance
responsibility. It should also be pointed out that guests of the festival are not covered by the festival insurance. The inclusion of any film or video considered technically unfit for public screening may be refused. The appropriate laws of the Federal
Republic of Austria apply.

Important dates
Application Deadline: July 30st, 2024
Festival Opening Night: November 28th, 2024
Award Ceremony: December 7th, 2024

General
The festival director’s and jury’s decisions are final. Entry and inclusion of films implies acceptance of the regulations.
In unspecified cases, the festival management will make a final decision.

CONTACT
this human world KG - International Human Rights Film Festival
Schleifmühlgasse 8/14
1040 Vienna
AUSTRIA
Tel: +43 (0)1 585 58 88-24
submission@thishumanworld.com
www.thishumanworld.com

We are very much looking forward to your submissions and to an exciting an inspiring this human world!

Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Great festival and great hospitality.

    December 2023
  • meetra javed

    kind people and great communication leading up

    December 2022
  • Gabriela Martinez

    Great international film festival with a very well accurate selection of films worldwide.

    January 2020
  • Amie Shea

    I wasn't able to attend the festival but communication with the staff was excellent! Thank you for the experience. :)

    January 2019
    Thwlogo2016 sw nodates
    Response from festival:

    Thank you Amie!