Duhok IFF Submissions FAQ

THE BASICS

1) When do submissions open?

Submissions open on June 10, 2023. Please visit to submission.duhokiff.com for more

information.

2) How do I submit?

To submit your film, you must fill out our online application form via submission.duhokiff.com

3) Do I really have to fill out the online application?

All submissions must be issued a unique tracking number to be recognized by our submission system. The only way to get a tracking number is to fill out the online application at submission.duhokiff.com. Unregistered submissions will not be reviewed.

If you are having trouble with the online form, please email us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., and we will be glad to help guide you through the process.

4) Does the world cinema section include a category for short films?

Yes, we accept both international and Kurdish short films for in and out of the competition. To be qualified for the short film categories, your film must have a runtime of 30 minutes or less.

5) How much does it cost to submit?

Submissions for all categories and sections are free, no fees are required.

6) What are your deadlines? Are they postmarked deadlines?

The official Deadline is September 1st, 2023.

The deadline is postmarked, meaning they must be in the mail on or before that date.

7) Do you accept works‐in‐progress?

Yes, our programmers are used to watching films that have final elements outstanding. Please indicate on the screener itself and the Online Submission form that it is a work‐in‐progress. Unfortunately, we cannot consider updated versions as final elements are put into place.

ELIGIBILITY

1) Do you accept re‐submissions?

No, films that have been submitted and reviewed before are not eligible for re-submission.

2) Can you provide more information on premiere statuses and completion dates?

Of course, we can! See below:

Completion Date:

To be eligible for the Festival official competition, your film must have been released no earlier than December of the previous year (i.e., films must have been released by December 2022 or after that to be considered for the December 2023 Festival competition).

Premiere Status Requirements:

Duhok IFF is strict in that all short, documentaries and features Kurdish films presented are, at the minimum, Kurdistan Region of Iraq premieres. We will accept submissions that have already premiered in the Middle East, but the film’s premiere status will be taken into consideration when final programming decisions are made.

Premiere Status Definitions:

World Premiere: The film has not had a public screening anywhere

International Premiere: The film has not had a public screening outside the country of production.

Asian Premiere: the film has not had a public screening in any Asian Countries.

MENA Premiere: The film has not had a public screening in North Africa and the Middle East.

Middle East: the film has not had a public screening in the Middle East.

Iraqi Premiere: the film has not had a public screening in Iraq, but has previously screened in the Middle East.

Kurdish films that have had theatrical releases in Kurdistan (all parts), have been publicly posted online, for sale on DVD/VOD, or have broadcasted on television are not eligible for the Festival. It is OK for a film to have had a trailer publicly posted online or broadcast on television. Please note that Duhok IFF is under no obligation to refund the cost of submission if your film does not adhere to the Premiere Status rules listed above. If you have questions regarding premiere statuses, please email us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

3) How do I know if my film falls in the Kurdish Cinema or World Cinema category?

If the director of the film you are submitting is a Kurdish citizen or originally a Kurdish director in an ethnic, permanent resident of any other country than Kurdistan, and his film is about Kurds (Story or characters), or any other Kurdish element measured by our selection committee. Then your film should be submitted to the Kurdish Cinema Section Features, Documentary or Shorts category. The festival selection committee makes the final decision.

4) Do I need to meet a minimum age requirement in order to submit a project?

No, we encourage filmmakers of all ages to submit their work. However, we do not have any separate submission categories or Festival programs related explicitly to young or student filmmakers. All officially-submitted projects compete against each other for available slots in each of our Festival programs. If you are under the age of 18 and your project is accepted, we will require signed, written permission from your parent or legal guardian before we can exhibit your project at the Festival.

SENDING YOUR FILM

1) Where do I send my film?

Please upload your online screener via any private Portals (Vimeo, Google Drive, Dropbox, etc.. ) then send it to us via our online Submission Form or mail it to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

If you are submitting a feature film, please send your DVD screener to one of the addresses below:

2) Do you accept DVD or Blu‐ray screeners?

While the Festival prefers to receive DVD screeners, we can accept Blu‐ray screeners. If you are sending a PAL screener, please note the format on the DVD itself.

3) How should I package my DVD screener?

In the interest of reducing waste, please send your DVD screeners in a simple paper DVD sleeve, as opposed to large jewel cases. Label your DVD with the title, director’s name, runtime, and Form tracking number. It is helpful to include a declaration of goods, which can just be a note that states “Goods on loan for Film Festival purposes only. No commercial value. Non‐pornographic.”

 4) How can I tell when you’ve received my film?

Unfortunately, due to the high volume of submissions we receive, we are unable to confirm receipt of your film on an individual basis. Please note that this process may take several weeks. If you have questions regarding your film statuses, please email us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

5) I submitted a work‐in‐progress and would like to submit an updated copy. Will you accept it?

No. Unfortunately, due to the volume of submissions we receive, our programmers are only able to watch one version of each film.

6) If my project includes non-English dialogue, do you require English subtitles?

All projects that contain significant non-English dialogue MUST include on-screen English subtitles at the time of submission. A translated list of dialogue on paper will not suffice. Please do not send us an un-subtitled foreign-language project with the intention of providing a subtitled version at a later date. If your project is mostly in English and you wish to intentionally leave out subtitles for any non-English dialogue included as an artistic choice, you do not need to provide subtitles for those particular sections. If you are submitting a physical disc, we prefer that all subtitles are hardcoded to your video file as opposed to including discreet subtitles that need to be turned on to display on the screen.

7) What happens if you are unable to get my film to play?

We will make every effort to view your disc or online screener, but if we are unable to watch your film, we will attempt to contact you to request another copy using the primary contact information that you provided on your application. However, there is no guarantee that we will get your replacement disc in time, and we must give preference to those who sent in a working copy, to begin with. For this reason, we ask that you make sure that your disc or online screener plays all the way through BEFORE you send it to us! If your drive arrives broken, we will also make every attempt to contact you for a replacement.

ODDS & ENDS

 1) When will I be notified of the decision regarding my film?

You will receive an official decision by October . Please avoid emailing us and requesting a decision. You will receive one by October through your submitter contact, to the email address associated with the Festival Contact on your Submission Form. Please make sure to provide an email address that is frequently checked. Decisions will not be released via phone or email. We appreciate your patience.

2) If my film is not chosen, may I speak with a programmer for notes or feedback?

Unfortunately, No. While we would love to speak with each filmmaker about their films, it just isn’t viable for us to correspond with all applicants every year. We view far more worthy than we can include in the Festival, so please don’t be discouraged if your film is not accepted.

3) I have been accepted to another festival and haven’t received a decision from Duhok IFF yet. Can I email you about this?

Yes, you can email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to inform us, but unfortunately, we are not able to help you decide on participating in other festivals.

4) Can you return my Blu-ray or DVD to me once you’re done watching it?

Upon the completion of our selection process, all physical discs are recycled at a secure facility. We take the security of this process very seriously! If you wish to have your disc returned to you, please include a self-addressed, stamped envelope along with your initial submission.

NOTE: These FAQs are to assist you with your submission, and to help you understand the 2023 Terms & Conditions for Submission of Films Through our online submission application form.    

We encourage you to read through these terms and conditions in full. In the case of any conflict between this FAQ document and the terms and conditions, the terms and conditions will prevail.