FFilmic Festival Rules and Guidelines

FFilmic is an annual international film festival founded in Wales and based in the United Kingdom. The Festival presents bold, original cinema from Wales and around the world while supporting emerging, established and underrepresented filmmakers through theatrical screenings, filmmaker Q&As, workshops, masterclasses and networking opportunities.

1. General Eligibility

FFilmic welcomes professional, emerging and student filmmakers of all ages and nationalities.
Entrants under the age of 18 must have permission from a parent or legal guardian. Separate rules apply to the Take 8 youth programme.
Films must have been completed within the two years preceding the final submission deadline.
Each film must be an original motion picture for which the entrant controls all necessary rights.
Entrants may submit multiple films. Each film and category entry requires a separate submission unless otherwise stated.
Premiere status is not required. Previous festival screenings, theatrical exhibition, television broadcast or online availability do not automatically disqualify a film.
Short films must have a total runtime of 40 minutes or less, including all credits.
Documentary features must have a runtime exceeding 40 minutes.
Commercials, trailers, promotional films, unauthorised re-edits and individual episodes from an ongoing television or streaming series are not eligible for the principal short-film awards.

2. Direct-Entry Categories

FFilmic accepts submissions in the following nine categories:

Best Live Action Short Film
Best Animated Short Film
Best Documentary Short Film
Best Feature Documentary
Best Director
Best Cinematography
Best Editing
Best Original Film Score
Best Welsh Film – Live Action Short

The following special distinctions are selected by the jury from eligible films in the Official Selection and are not separate direct-entry categories:

Women in Film Excellence Award
Screen Culture Award
Best Student Film
Audience Award
Special Jury Mention

The Women in Film Excellence Award honours a woman whose creative achievement, leadership or contribution represents an inspiring example within the film industry.

The Take 8 categories for filmmakers aged 14 and under and filmmakers aged 15 and over operate under separate registration and eligibility rules available at:
https://www.ffilmic.com/rules-take-8

3. Category Requirements

Best Live Action Short Film

Eligible films must be original live-action short films with a runtime of 40 minutes or less, including credits. Documentary films and predominantly animated films are not eligible for this award. All narrative genres and subject matters are accepted.

Best Animated Short Film

Eligible films must be original short films with a runtime of 40 minutes or less, including credits, in which animation is the principal filmmaking technique.

Best Documentary Short Film

Eligible films must be original nonfiction motion pictures with a runtime of 40 minutes or less, including credits.

Best Feature Documentary

Eligible films must be nonfiction motion pictures with a runtime exceeding 40 minutes.

Best Welsh Film – Live Action Short

Eligible films must be original live-action short films with a runtime of 40 minutes or less, including credits, and demonstrate a substantial Welsh connection through one or more of the following:

a Welsh or Wales-based director, writer or producer;
a Wales-based production company;
principal photography undertaken in Wales;
Welsh-language content; or
subject matter substantially focused on Wales, Welsh culture or Welsh communities.

FFilmic may request reasonable evidence of the film’s Welsh connection. Entry to this category is free.

Craft Categories

Films submitted for directing, cinematography, editing or original score awards must meet the general eligibility requirements and be selected for theatrical screening in the Festival’s competition programme to receive an award.

4. Submission Procedure and Deadlines

Submissions must be made through FFilmic’s official FilmFreeway page.
The opening date, regular deadlines, final deadline and notification date are published on the submission platform for each edition.
Entries received after the final published deadline will not be accepted unless the Festival formally announces an extension.
Submission forms and supporting information must be complete and accurate.
Entrants are responsible for maintaining a working, password-accessible online screener throughout the evaluation period.
FFilmic may request proof of student status, production dates, rights ownership or eligibility for a specific category.

5. Entry Fees and Waivers

Most paid categories carry a submission fee of approximately USD 25, depending on the category and submission deadline. The exact fee displayed on FilmFreeway at the time of entry applies.
Entry to the Best Welsh Film category is free.
Limited fee waivers may be granted at FFilmic’s discretion where cost represents a genuine barrier, with consideration given to emerging, student and underrepresented filmmakers.
Entry fees support administration, evaluation, theatrical presentation and filmmaker programming.
Fees are non-refundable, including where a film is not selected or is withdrawn by the entrant.
Payment of an entry fee has no influence on selection or award decisions.

6. Evaluation and Selection Process

Submissions are evaluated on a rolling basis throughout the entry period.
Every eligible film is viewed in full by at least two members of the FFilmic Programming and Pre-Selection Committee.
Films are assessed according to artistic merit, originality, storytelling, direction, performances, technical execution and their relevance to the Festival’s programming goals.
Scores and written evaluation notes are consolidated. Close decisions are reviewed collectively by the Committee.
The final competition programme is approved following the final submission deadline and before official filmmaker notifications are issued.
Selection decisions are made independently of submission fees, commercial relationships or personal connections.
No specific genre, viewpoint, identity or subject matter automatically disqualifies an otherwise eligible film.
Selection decisions are final, and the Festival is not required to provide individual evaluation notes.

7. Jury Qualifications and Awards

Principal awards are decided by an independent jury of experienced filmmakers and film-industry professionals.
Jury members are selected according to their professional credits, relevant expertise, independence and ability to evaluate the applicable film category.
FFilmic seeks a balance of professional disciplines, genders, backgrounds and Welsh and international perspectives.
Jury members must agree to confidentiality and declare all actual or potential conflicts of interest.
A jury member may not evaluate or vote on a film in which they have a personal, professional or financial interest.
Each principal juried competition has one winning film. Ties are not permitted.
The principal juried award in each competition is presented at every Festival edition in which an eligible competition is held.
Audience awards, runners-up, honourable mentions and special mentions are separate from the principal juried awards.
Jury decisions are final.

8. Theatrical and Technical Requirements

All films selected for competition are screened in person in a theatrical setting.

Since 2016, FFilmic competition screenings have been presented from DCP in a 5.1-capable theatrical environment.

Selected films must provide:

an unencrypted, DCI-compliant DCP, preferably 2K at 24 or 25 fps;
5.1 audio, with alternative audio configurations accepted only by prior technical agreement;
a ProRes 422 HQ or high-quality H.264/MP4 backup file;
accurate English subtitles for all non-English dialogue; and
a dialogue list or subtitle file where requested for Welsh-language subtitling and accessibility.

Encrypted DCPs require prior approval and timely KDM coordination. Original aspect ratio and frame rate must be preserved.

All exhibition files undergo technical quality control and a playback test. Failure to provide suitable screening materials by the stated deadline may result in withdrawal from the competition.

FFilmic may prepare or commission Welsh subtitles for designated screenings in consultation with the filmmaker.

9. Filmmaker Participation and Industry Programme

Selected filmmakers are encouraged to participate in screenings, Q&As, workshops, masterclasses and networking events.

Selected films receive complimentary festival accreditation for up to two representatives. The Festival provides practical assistance with invitation letters, local travel information, accommodation options and accessibility arrangements.

Travel or accommodation support may be offered to invited participants where agreed in advance and subject to available funding. Attendance is encouraged but is not a condition of award eligibility.

10. Diversity, Inclusion and Accessibility

FFilmic is committed to respectful, inclusive and impartial programming.

The Festival actively welcomes films and filmmakers from underrepresented communities, including women, LGBTQ+ filmmakers, disabled and neurodivergent filmmakers, culturally diverse communities and filmmakers facing socioeconomic barriers.

Mature, challenging, political or unconventional subject matter does not by itself make a film ineligible. However, submissions must comply with applicable law and must not unlawfully promote hatred, harassment, discrimination or violence against protected groups.

FFilmic supports Welsh-language participation through Welsh-language industry programming, Welsh-subtitled screenings and its dedicated Welsh film competition.

Reasonable accessibility requests should be communicated to the Festival in advance so that appropriate arrangements can be considered.

11. Rights and Screening Authorisation

By submitting a film, the entrant confirms that they:

are authorised to submit and exhibit the film;
have secured all necessary copyright, music, performance, archive and other permissions;
accept responsibility for any claims resulting from the exhibition of unauthorised material; and
grant FFilmic a non-exclusive licence to screen the selected film during the Festival.

FFilmic may use the submitted trailer, poster, still images and excerpts of up to 60 seconds for Festival publicity, press coverage, social media and programme promotion.

Any screening outside the announced Festival programme requires separate permission from the rights holder.

12. Notification, Withdrawal and Scheduling

Selected entrants will be notified using the email address provided with their submission.
Entrants are responsible for monitoring their email and responding within the stated deadlines.
Selection information must remain confidential until the Festival makes its official announcement if requested.
Screening dates, times and programme placement are determined by FFilmic.
Once a film has accepted its selection and the programme has been announced, withdrawal is permitted only in exceptional circumstances.
FFilmic may adjust the screening schedule where operationally necessary and will communicate material changes to affected filmmakers.

13. Code of Conduct

All filmmakers, jurors, staff, volunteers, guests and attendees must behave respectfully and professionally.

FFilmic does not tolerate harassment, discrimination, intimidation, abuse, retaliation or conduct that threatens the safety or dignity of another participant.

Concerns may be reported confidentially to festival@ffilmic.com. Reports will be reviewed promptly and proportionately. Appropriate action may include a warning, removal from an event, disqualification or exclusion from future editions.

14. Disqualification

A film may be disqualified for:

providing false or materially misleading information;
failing to meet eligibility or category requirements;
infringement of copyright or other third-party rights;
undisclosed conflicts of interest;
failure to provide suitable screening materials;
serious or repeated breaches of the Code of Conduct; or
attempts to improperly influence programmers, jurors or Festival personnel.

Where practicable, the entrant will be informed of the issue and given an opportunity to respond before a final decision is made.

If an eligibility breach is discovered after an award has been announced, FFilmic may revoke the award and recognise the next eligible film following consultation with the jury.

15. Liability and Festival Changes

FFilmic takes reasonable care when handling submitted and selected materials but is not responsible for loss or damage arising from circumstances beyond its reasonable control.

The Festival may change dates, venue arrangements or delivery methods because of public safety requirements, venue unavailability, force majeure or other exceptional circumstances. Material changes will be communicated to affected participants.

If the Festival is cancelled in full and cannot provide the submitted service, refund arrangements will be communicated in accordance with applicable law and the submission platform’s policies.

16. Acceptance of Rules

Submission to FFilmic constitutes acceptance of these Rules and Guidelines.

These rules apply equally to all entrants. Any eligibility question not expressly covered will be determined by FFilmic in a fair, transparent and category-consistent manner.

Questions regarding submissions may be directed to:

festival@ffilmic.com
https://www.ffilmic.com