FESTIVAL STATUS
I. BASIC INFORMATION
Zlín Film Festival – International Film Festival for Children and Youth
The mission and goal of the Zlín Film Festival is the presentation of contemporary world film for children and youth in the Czech Republic as well as an exhibition of Czech films. An important aspect of the festival is not only the effort to entertain young audiences, but to also – through film – to educate, expand their awareness of the outside world, and develop esthetic, social and moral perceptions.
Zlín Film Festival – International Film Festival for Children and Youth is being organized by the FILMFEST, s.r.o., registered at Filmová 174, 760 01 Zlín, Czech Republic.
64th International Film Festival for Children and Youth will take place in Zlín from May 30 to June 5, 2024.
II. PROGRAMME SECTIONS
A) Competitions:
International Competition of Feature Films in the Children’s Category
International Competition of Feature Films in the Junior Category (over 11 years of age)
International Competition of Feature Films in the Youth Category (over 15 years of age)
International Competition of Short Animations for Children (up to 12 year of age)
Competition of European Feature Documentaries for Young Audience
International Competition of Student Films Zlín Dog
B) Non-competitive sections:
Panorama
New Czech Films and TV Programmes
Virtual Reality
Retrospective and Profile Sections
III. CONDITIONS FOR SUBMITTERS
Only works with a production date after January 1, 2022 will be allowed to participate in the competitive sections. Animated films of up to a maximum of 15 minutes in length may participate in the animated film competitions. Festival doesn´t accept short live-action films (with exception of student films). In order to have a film screened at the Festival it is necessary to fill in the application form at www.zlinfest.cz and send a preview on DVD or an on-line screener with English subtitles by no later than March 1, 2024. The organizer will inform the applicants of their acceptance in writing by no later than April 1, 2024.
IV. TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
Required formats for films in competitions are DCP. The festival may grant exceptions. Short animated films and student films included in competition are accepted only in the formats Quicktime H.264 HD that can be uploaded at the online application. The Festival strongly prefers receiving non-encrypted DCP. For any encrypted DCP the festival will require a KDM for all playback servers in use at the Festival from May 25 to June 6, 2024.
V. LANGUAGE VERSIONS
Competing films must be provided with English subtitles by the applicant. Competing films for children, animated films and non-competing films for children of up to 10 years of age are screened in their original version with simultaneous interpreting into the Czech language provided by the organizer. Other competing films are screened in their original version with English subtitles and at the same time with Czech subtitles provided by the organizer. The organizer may allow exceptions – especially in the case of historical and archival films.
VI. SHIPPING INSTRUCTIONS
Copies of invited films must be delivered to the organizer's address or uploaded by May 8, 2024. This deadline must be met. Unless specified otherwise, expenses relating to the transport of films, preview of films, promotional materials, and insurance from the country of origin to Zlín will be covered by the participant. Expenses relating to the transport of films, preview of films, and insurance to the country of origin are covered by the organizer. The transport of films and other materials for which the organizer is responsible are always covered directly from the organizer’s bank account and it is the organizer’s right to choose the transport company.
The organizer does not cover any expenses for other transport of films and promotional materials unless it is approved by the organizer. Should a copy get lost or be destroyed during the festival, the organizer will be responsible only for costs relating to the making of a new copy in accordance with current price lists for the making of a standard copy.
VII. SCREENING AND ENTRY FEES
There are no entry fees. In case of a screening fee the organizer requires to agree on a particular amount ahead of time. The invoice must be sent to the organizer by June 30, 2024. After this date any other invoices won´t be taken into account – they won´t be paid by the organizer.
VIII. VIDEO LIBRARY
Selected films may be a part of the festival video library. It is accessible only to accredited film professionals – aquisitors, festival programmers and journalists. Participation of a film in the video library will be discussed with rights holder separately and it is organized under particular rules.
IX. DELEGATIONS
It is usual that a delegation of a maximum of 2 people is invited to accompany each feature film participating in the competition for a period of 4 days (3 nights). For other films taking part in the festival a 2-member delegation can be invited to stay for 3 days (2 nights). The organizer will cover accommodation. Only the festival management can make exceptions to these rules. If a single producer is going to present more than one film, the number of delegation members will be negotiated individually with the festival organizers. If the organizer covers the travel expenses of guests, it will be covered by the organizer only and according to the travel company chosen by the organizer. The organizer does not cover other travel expenses unless it is approved by the organizer.
X. JURIES
Competing films will be judged by the following juries:
Statutory juries:
a. International Expert Jury for Feature Films in the Children’s Category
b. International Expert Jury for Feature Films in the Junior and Youth Category
c. International Jury for Short Animations for Children
d. Children’s Jury for Feature Films in the Children’s Category
e. European Youth Jury for Feature Films in the Junior and Youth Category
f. Children´s Jury for Short Animations for Children
g. International Expert Jury for Student Films Zlín Dog
Non-statutory juries:
h. European Children´s Film Association Jury
i. Ecumenical Jury
The organizer reserves the right to appoint other expert juries.
XI. FESTIVAL PRIZES
1. Prizes awarded by the statutory juries:
International Expert Jury for Feature Films in the Children’s Category
Golden Slipper for Best Feature Film in the Children’s Category
Karel Zeman Award for Best Visual Concept in a Feature Film in the Children’s Category
International Expert Jury for Feature Films in the Junior and Youth Category
Golden Slipper for Best Feature Film in the Junior Category
Golden Slipper for Best Feature Film in the Youth Category
Special Jury Award for a Feature Film in the Junior and Youth Category
International Jury for Short Animations for Children
Golden Slipper for Best Short Animation for Children
Hermína Týrlová Award for Best Short Animation for Children up to 6 Years of Age
Children’s Jury for Feature Films in the Children’s Category
Children’s Jury Award for Best Feature Film in the Children’s Category
European Youth Jury for Feature Films for Youth
Youth Jury Award for Best Feature Film in the Junior and Youth Category
Children´s Jury for Short Animations for Children
Children´s Jury Award for Best Short Animation for Children
International Expert Jury for Student Films Zlín Dog
Zlín Dog Award for Best Student Film (with prize money of EUR 1000)
Jury Award in the Animated Films Category
Jury Award in the Live-Action Films Category
Jury Award in the Documentary Films Category
2. Prizes awarded by non-statutory juries:
European Children´s Film Association Jury
ECFA Doc Award for Best European Feature Documentary for Young Audience
Ecumenical Jury
Ecumenical Jury Award for Best Feature Film in the Junior and Youth Category
3. Audience awards:
Golden Apple – the City of Zlín Audience Award for Best Feature Film
ČT: D Audience Award for Best Short Animation for Children
4. Prizes awarded by the Filmfest:
Festival President’s Award for a significant contribution in the children´s and youth cinema
XII. CONCLUSION
The organizer pledges to show the films only within the scope of the festival including selected cities in the Czech Republic that are part of the festival programme.
By submitting the application, the applicant consents to the use of photographs and parts of competing films or their trailers free of charge, and for their use as part of festival promotional material, on any Czech TV station, festival TV and on the internet. The trailers must not exceed three minutes for feature films and two minutes for animated films.
Participants of all selected films are required to use the laurels of the Zlín Film Festival in their film’s publicity and promotional materials.
By submitting an application to the festival, participants express their consent to these Festival Regulations and commit themselves to comply with their provisions. In unclear or unaccounted-for cases, decisions will be made by the artistic director of the festival.
Markéta Pášmová, Artistic Director, 63rd Zlín Film Festival