Participation Terms

PARTICIPATION TERMS

Film Submission

January 3 - April 30, 2023

1. The opening date for film submissions to the International Documentary Film Festival of Castellorizo "Beyond Borders" is set as 3/1/2023, while the final date for film submissions is 30/4/2023. The films that will qualify for the Festival will be notified electronically by 1/6/2023.
2. The film must be produced in the last 4 years (2020-2023). In the event of a tie between two or more films by the Festival's programming team (preselection committee), films that will be world, international or Greek premieres for the Festival, will have precedence.
3. The festival also hosts a second, non-competitive section called Panorama, showcasing remarkable films from all corners of our planet upon invitation only.
4. As from 2022 onwards, the Festival has launched its second competition screening stage, μicro. μicro is dedicated to short documentary films and give prominence to young and upcoming filmmakers. Undergraduates and postgraduates students of film schools from all around the world are more than welcome to submit their films for the μicro section. Well – experienced professionals filmmakers are, also as well, welcome to join the short documentary competition of Beyond Borders.
5. Nominations will be submitted either through the completion of the corresponding application form via the Festival’s website  ( www.beyondborders.gr), either  through the FilmFreeway platform and the Festival's official profile on the platform.
6. Participants are requested to have filled out in detail all information of the candidates and the films to be evaluated.
7. The creators of the films that will be selected should submit their film to the Festival: Online : A Gmail account should be created in order to receive a link to send the material to a Google Drive folder.
   Specifically:
   • Greek speaking films, where only Greek language is used:
     Copy of the movie with hardcoded (burned) English subtitles.
     Individual file with synchronized English subtitles in .srt format.Copy with hardcoded English subtitles on the movie.
     Attention: the .srt files must keep up with the movie frame rate. If not so, the participation will be disqualified.
   • Greek speaking films, where other languages are also used:
     «Clean» copy of the movie (no hardcoded subtitles).
     Individual file with synchronized English subtitles (for the whole movie) in .srt format.
     Individual file with synchronized Greek subtitles (for the parts where any other language than Greek is used) in .srt format.
     Attention: the .srt files must keep up with the movie frame rate. If not so, the participation will be disqualified.
   • Non-Greek speaking films:
     «Clean» copy of the movie (no hardcoded subtitles).
     Individual file with synchronized English subtitles in .srt format.
   • A trailer with English subtitles for promotional use.
   • A declaration form signed by the producer and the director.
8. The final copy that would be screened should have the following format:
   • File: mp4
   • Encoding: H.264
   • Resolution: 1920x1080
   • Aspect ratio: 16:9
   • Scan type: Progressive
   • Bitrate: 10 – 12 Mbps
   • Frame rate: 25fps or 30 fps
   • Audio: AAC, Bit Rate: 256 – 320 Kbps, Sample Rate: 48 kHz
9. Files should be sent to the Google Drive link you will receive from the Festival.
10. Qualified participants can electronically send photos, posters, press releases, etc., for promotional purposes to the Google Drive link.
11. The films that will be selected must be sent to the Google Drive link that you will receive from the organization by 6/21/2023.
12. The nomination fee for each participant via FilmFreeway is set at 3 euros and is free for those who are Gold Members of the platform.
13. The Festival does not provide screening fees for the final film selections. The films can win a cash prize in case of winning one of the ten prizes of the Festival.
14. Juries made up of established film/television industry professionals decide and award the following awards:
    • Best History Documentary
    • Best Social Documentary
    • Best Political Documentary
    • Best Greek Documentary (Greek Film Center)
    • "Odysseus" Special Award (General Secretary for Greeks Abroad and Public Diplomacy)
    • Special Mediterranean Friendship Award (EKOME)
    • FIPRESCI Award
    • Gold Phoenix μicro
    • Silver Phoenix μicro
    • Bronze Phoenix μicro
15. Due to its cross-border nature, the Festival reserves the right to screen the awarded and nominated films three more times after the end of the official event, within the framework of the promotional development of the Festival.
16. The directors, whose film will qualify for the Festival, will be hosted by the Festival in Castellorizo ​​(travel & accommodation expenses).
17. The Festival reserves the right to reject any application if it is not completed correctly or if the material does not arrive within the deadline at the Festival offices.
18. The Festival has the exclusive authority to determine the schedule of film screenings (day and time) and may organize screenings of the films at any venue during the Festival.
19. The Festival reserves the right to reject any material that is not relevant to the nature and purposes of the Festival’s programme.
20. The Festival may use specific excerpts from the film or trailer for promotional purposes.
21. The final selections should have attached to Google Drive and complete promotional material (press kit), as well as an official poster, which will be placed in the official catalogue of screenings and actions of the Festival.
22. Participants will be required to give interviews to media sponsors and be photographed if requested.
23. Part of the Festival will be filmed for the purpose of preserving archive material of the "Beyond Borders" Festival and for its promotion to the general public. The audience or the participants whose presence will be visible in these parts do not have the right to raise any demands from the organizing company.
24. Parallel cultural and educational activities will take place during "Beyond Borders" Festival.
25. The organizing team of the "Beyond Borders" Festival reserves the right to cancel the Festival, if this is deemed necessary.
26. If your film is selected in the μicro section, you agree that it will be shown for a period of five years (October 2023-2028) in a special screening on the German channel, Phoenix/ZDF.
27. Participation in the International Documentary Film Festival "Beyond Borders" implies acceptance of all the above articles.

«Beyond Borders» Organizing Committee