1.) This is a discovery festival, a place to meet and a springboard for young talents up to the age of 27 years from Germany and all over the world. Important: Please don't forget to indicate the year of birth of the director in your submission. The age of the director in the year of production is decisive.
2.) Applicants may enter one or more works.
3.) There are no limitations regarding the subject or duration of your film.
4.) Completion Date: after the 1st of January 2022.
5.) There are 2 categories a film can be submitted to: the international competition for films from all countries except Germany and the national competition for films only from Germany.
6.) The director and the team of each selected film are invited to a meeting with the audience and all members of the jury (in person or digital).
If you can travel sutainably to Hanover, we very welcome you to the festival and pay for your lodging (2 people) during the festival. Otherwise we recommend your digital participation. You will get the details, if you are nominated.
7.) If you have not the possibility to travel sutainably to Hanover, you can nevertheles take part on our online-panels and -workshops. Even if you are not nominated.

We will do everything in our power to create a warm and familiar atmosphere at the festival (digitally and on the venue) as ever.

The festival is both a German and an international competition. Each selected film and its director will be introduced by the festival presenters.

At the end of the festival, the jury will award prizes: 'UP-AND-COMING INTERNATIONAL FILM AWARD' in the international competition and 'Deutscher Nachwuchsfilmpreis' (GERMAN NEWCOMER AWARD) in the national competition.

The philosophy of this festival is: Just be yourself. trust yourself. Have your own visions and create without limitations.

We invite young directors not older than 27 years from all countries to submit their films (produced either alone or in groups). The age of the director in the year of production is decisive. Applicants may enter one or more works.

All works must have been completed after the 1st of January 2022. If the original language of the film is neither English or German, the film should be subtitled in one of these two languages. Otherwise an English or German dialogue list should be enclosed.

The selection criteria do not emphasize technical perfection but originality, autonomy of the concept and how the concept has been translated into film.

The participant guarantees that by using the film in the context of the up-and-coming Int. Film Festival Hannover 2023, no rights of third parties (picture, sound and music), including persons depicted in the film, are infringed.

Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Yvan King Mukunzi

    Thank you Up-and-coming! Amazing films by young people from all around the world, great program and organization, particularly loved the online/in-person hybrid form; everything about the festival truly felt/was career-launching.

    February 2024
  • Lea Haufler

    Such a great festival! The networking possibilities are so good, the quality of the programmes and of the whole festival is really extraordinary!

    February 2024
  • Mariia Felenko

    Really unique film festival with great communication, a variety of workshops, and a strong, interesting program! I want to thank you once again for choosing my film for your festival and this opportunity to present my film.

    December 2023
  • Dominik Gasser

    Awesome festival. We had a very good time and met a lot of amazing people. Thanks for the great effort that was put into place by the team and everybody involved! We're glad that we had the chance of being part of it! :)

    December 2023
  • Coireall Kent

    Amazing, amazing, amazing. It was the first in-person festival I could attend with my film, and gosh, has it set the bar high. Communication and organisation was great and the selection of films was second to none (kept my attention and kept me guessing over the course of a dozen film programmes!). Lovely, helpful organisers. Wonderful hosts. A week of pure excitement. Thank you up-and-coming!

    December 2023