Rules & Regulations

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES
Rules & Regulations

1-ORGANIZERS

The Duhok International Film Festival is a Non-profit Organization in Duhok, Kurdistan Region of Iraq, supported by the Duhok Governorate in cooperation with the Kurdistan Regional Government's Ministry of Culture and Youth and the General Directorate of Culture and Arts of Duhok City and cooperation with Mîtosfilm – Berlin as a service company.

 

2-FESTIVAL DATES

The 10th Annual Duhok International Film Festival will occur in Duhok, Kurdistan Regional Government, from 9th to 16th December 2023.

 

3-PROGRAMS

The Festival is composed of several programs, accepting films shot in any format for the following sections:

 

  • The World Cinema section presents a selection of fiction feature films, documentaries, and shorts from all over the world. This panorama of contemporary auteur cinema includes films by young talents alongside work by established filmmakers.
  • The Kurdish Cinema Section presents a selection of Kurdish films, Features, Documentaries, and shorts, made in a Kurdish-speaking region (Iraq, Iran, Turkey, Syria) or Diaspora Kurdish filmmakers.
  • Country Focus, each year, the Duhok International Film Festival brings specific talent from different countries into focus, aiming to create a network with the country in the spotlight.

 

4-CATEGORIES

Submissions should fall into these categories:

 

  • World Cinema
  1. Feature films: narrative fiction features from around the world with a minimum length of 60 minutes.
  2. Documentaries: documentary films from around the world with a minimum length of 60 minutes.
  3. Short Films: the short film with a maximum length of 30 minutes can be narrative fiction or documentary.

 

  • Kurdish Cinema
  1. Feature Films: narrative fiction features a minimum length of 60 minutes.
  2. Documentaries: documentary films with a minimum length of 30 minutes.
  3. Short Films: a short film with a maximum length of 30 minutes.

 

5-ELIGIBILITY & ENTRY CONDITIONS

  • All films selected for the Festival must be screened in their original language with English subtitles. English-speaking films do not need to be subtitled.
  • Films completed within the years 2021, 2022, and 2023 are eligible for submission and can be part of the program.
  • Films selected in the Kurdish Cinema Competition Section must not have been previously released in the Kurdistan Regional Government of Iraq in any format, including online screenings, or shown on Kurdish television before December  20th, 2023.
  • The submitter also has to provide the Festival with an English dialogue list after his film is selected.
  • A Selection Committee made up of film experts will assist the Artistic Directorship in scouting and selecting films for the Festival.
  • Press kits are requested only upon acceptance into the Festival.
  • Previously submitted films are not eligible for submission and cannot be part of the program.
  • Entrants are permitted to submit works-in-progress (without final color correction or sound mixing), but please note that updated versions can only be sent when requested by the programming committee. The film has to be completed by November 1st , 2023.
  • All rights, permissions, and clearances must be obtained before the submission. Applicants must ensure that they have the right to submit the work concerning third parties connected with the film's production in question. By submitting your film, you agree to this and the responsibilities involved. The Duhok International Film Festival assumes no responsibility for violation of copyright law.

 

6-OFFICIAL PRIZES

The Festival presents the following awards:

 

World Cinema Competition

  1. Yilmaz Güney Award for the Best International Feature-Length Film.
  2. New Talent Award for the Best First or Second International Feature-Length Film.
  3. Award for Best International Documentary Film.
  4. Award for Best International Short Film.

 

Kurdish Cinema Competition

  1. Award for Best Kurdish Feature Film.
  2. Jury Award for the Best Kurdish Director of a Feature Film.
  3. Award for the Best Kurdish Script.
  4. Award for the Best Actor of a Kurdish Feature Film.
  5. Award for the Best Actress of a Kurdish Feature Film.
  6. Award for the Best Kurdish Documentary Film.
  7. Award for the Best Kurdish Short Film.
  8. Jury Award for a Short Film.

 

Other Awards

  1. Duhok City Award for the Best Feature-Length Film shot in the Bahdinan Region sponsored by Duhok City Government.
  2. FIPRESCI Award for the Best Kurdish Feature Film.

 

 7-FILM SUBMISSION

  • The submission of Feature Films, Documentaries, and Shorts are free.
  • Films must be submitted through the online registration procedure on our website. Filled in online and must reach our Festival no later than the established closing date.
  • DVDs accompanied by an incomplete entry form (or by annexed material not giving all the information required) will not be considered.
  • Each entry form must be accompanied by DVDs of the film in the original version with English subtitles or an online screener associated with the Online Submission Form.
  • The submission and participation of a film in the Festival imply accepting the Rules and Regulations for participation. In any unforeseen eventuality, the decision of the Festival Directorship is final.

 

 

8-CLOSING DATE FOR SUBMISSION AND DELIVERY OF PRESELECTION MATERIAL

  • Submissions will be accepted from June 10, 2023.
  • Entry forms, screeners, as well as the required accompanying material for the selection of the film must be sent no later than November 1st, 2023, to the following addresses:

 

KURDISH CINEMA SECTION

WORLD CINEMA SECTION

Duhok IFF Center

Azadi Panorama Park

Barzan St. AA1007

Duhok 42001

Kurdistan Region of Iraq

Mobile: +964 0750 742 2996

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Mîtosfilm

Oranienstraße 191

10999 Berlin

Germany

Telephone: +49 (30) 54 71 94 62

Fax: +49 (30) 54 71 95 08

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

 

With the following customs declaration: "Of no commercial value, for cultural purposes only."

 

  • The participant is liable for all costs of transportation and customs clearance. The Festival management reserves the right to refuse any shipments entailing additional expenses. DVDs and documentation submitted to the Festival will not be returned.

 

 

9-SHIPMENT OF SCREENING COPIES OF SELECTED FILMS

  • Screening copies of films invited to the Festival must arrive in Duhok by November 1st, 2023, after which date the presentation of a film at the Festival cannot be guaranteed. Exceptions to this deadline may be granted in writing by the Festival management.
  • Please be aware of the fact that shipments to and from Kurdistan may involve delays.
  • Our Digital Cinema screenings are only on a server basis. Films will have to be shipped on a physical drive containing just the DCP (Digital Cinema Package) of the selected film, encoded following DCI or SMPTE standards. To assure the best handling of the DCP and the distribution of the KDMs of your movie, you have to provide the D-KDM (Distribution Key) to our partner lab: they will generate the KDMs for all playback servers in use at the Festival, open from the 25th November until the 20th of December 2023. We strongly suggest shipping the DCP to our festival lab for a Quality Check to avoid problems during the festival screenings.
  • The participant is liable for all costs of transportation and customs clearance for both outward and returns shipment. If the return shipment of the selected films entails costs, these will be billed to the participant before the end of the year. The Festival reserves the right to refuse any shipments entailing additional costs.

 

 

10-SELECTION

  • The Festival reserves the right to decide which section the selected films will be programmed in.
  • We aim to inform successful applicants before November 1st, 2023. Unfortunately, we will be unable to offer individual feedback or enter into any discussion about your work.
  • All successful submissions will be listed on our website, and successful applicants will be notified by e-mail. Please make sure that we can reach you in August to confirm your film's inclusion in the festival program. We will also request that you arrange print transport and additional material during that period.

 

 

11-FESTIVAL SCREENINGS AND SCHEDULING

  • All screenings during the festival period will take place in Duhok and be scheduled for the Festival. We reserve the right to make changes to the published schedule at any time for given reasons and will not accept liability for any costs incurred as a result of such changes.
  • No film may be withdrawn from the Duhok International Film Festival program after its selection/participation has been confirmed.
  • The film must be available to screen in at least one of the following formats: DCP or Blu-Ray.
  • Prints of selected films must be received by the Festival not later than November 1st, 2023.
  • Duhok International Film Festival will accept responsibility for technical damage to prints of selected titles while they have the Festival and only reimburse the print stock value.

 

12-INFORMATION AND PUBLICITY MATERIAL

All documentation, material, entry forms, and any other correspondence must necessarily be addressed to:

Duhok IFF Office

Panorama Azadi

42001 Duhok

Kurdistan Region – Iraq

 

E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

 

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