Regulations

Zlín Film Festival – International Film Festival for Children and Youth in Zlín

The mission and goal of the Zlín Film Festival is the presentation of contemporary world film for children and youth in the Czech Republic with an overlap to the confrontation of Czech fims for children and youth. An important aspect is to expand the horizons of young viewers to the field of education – i.e. building knowledge, education and awareness of the outside world, with an emphasis on the aesthetic, social and moral perception. In addition, the purpose of the festival also entertain and bring joy.

I. Zlín Film Festival – International Film Festival for Children and Youth in Zlín is being organized by the FILMFEST, s.r.o. company, registered at Filmová 174, 761 79 Zlín, Czech Republic.

54th International Film Festival for Children and Youth will take place in Zlín from May 30 to June 5, 2014.

II. The programme of the festival will include:
a. International Competition of Feature Films for Children
b. International Competition of Feature Films for Youth
c. International Competition of Short Animated Films for Children
d. International Competition of European First Films
e. Zlín Dog - International Competition of Student Films
f. Informative Sections
Days of Polish Cinema

New Czech Films and TV Programmes
Panorama

Documentary Films

Night Horizons
One Thousand and One Nights
Young Stars
g. Rainbow Marble - (guided by own regulations)
h. Supporting programme, charity events, expert seminars, filmmakers profiles

III. Only works with a release date after January 1, 2012 will be allowed to participate in the competitive sections. Films which are part of a series but can be judged separately may also compete. Animated films of up to a maximum of 15 minutes in length may participate in the animated film competitions. Required formats for films in competitions are DCP or 35 mm print.The festival may grant exceptions. Other films are acceptable on media formats: 35 mm, DCP, HD Cam, Digital Betacam and Blu ray.

Student films included in the Zlín Dog competition are accepted in the format Quicktime H.264 HD that can be uploaded at the online application. 

Short animated films can be also accepted in the format Quicktime H.264 HD that can be uploaded at the online application.

IV. 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 12 years of age are screened in their original version simultaneous interpreting into 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. Non-competing films (with the exception of films for children up to 12 years of age) are screened in their original version and Czech subtitles provided by the organizer.

V. 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 with English subtitles no later than by March 15, 2014. The organizer will inform the applicants of their acceptance in writing no later than April 20, 2014.

VI. Copies of invited films must be delivered to the organizer's address by May 15, 2013. This deadline must be met. When delivering the films, participants must follow the delivery instructions received together with the letter of acceptance of the films.

VII. 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 laboratory price lists for the making of a standard copy.

VIII. It is usual that a delegation of a maximum of 2 people be invited to accompany each feature film participating in the competition for a period of 3 nights/4 days. For other films taking part in the festival a 2-member delegation will be invited to stay for 1 night/2 days upon agreement with the organizer. The organizer will cover accommodation. The festival 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 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.

IX. Competing films will be judged by the following juries:
Statutory juries:
a. International Expert Jury for Feature Films for Children and Youth
b. Joint International Jury of Children and Adults for Short Animated Films
c. International Children’s Jury for Feature Films for Children
d. International Youth Jury for Feature Films for Youth
e. International Expert Jury for European First Films
f. International Expert Jury for Student Films (Zlín Dog)

Non-statutory juries:
f. ECFA - Jury
g. International Ecumenical Jury

The organizer reserves the right to appoint other expert juries.
Judges are obligated to attend together with all other judges all first screenings of films in a given category, according to a schedule compiled by the jury's secretary. Should a judge for serious reasons not be able to attend the first screening, he/she can ask for the screening to be repeated. Screenings can only be repeated once and only in exceptional and legitimate cases. Should a judge not attend screenings of all films competing in a given category (i.e. he/she does not see all films at their regular or approved repeated screenings), he/she will not be allowed to adjudicate and then he/she loses his/her right to be remunerated.

X. Festival prizes:
a. Prizes awarded by the statutory juries:
International Expert Jury for Feature Films:
Golden Slipper - for Best Feature Film for Children

Golden Slipper - for Best Feature Film for Youth

The Town of Zlín Award - for Best Children Performance in a Feature Film for Children

The Miloš Macourek Award - for Best Youth Performance in a Feature Film for Youth
Joint International Jury of Children and Adults for Animated Films:

Golden Slipper - for Best Animated Film

The Hermína Týrlová Award - Award for Young Artists aged under 35
International Children’s Jury for Feature Films for Children:
Main Prize of the Children’s Jury - for Best Feature Film for Children
International Youth Jury for Feature Films for Youth:

Main Prize of the Youth Jury - for Best Feature film for Youth
International Expert Jury for European First Films:
The Europe Award - The Czech Minister of Culture Prize
Special Recoginition
International Expert Jury for Student Films (Zlín Dog)

Main Prize for the Best Film in each category – animation, feature film, document, film of new form

Main Prize for the TOP Film of Zlín Dog with prize money of EUR 1000,-

Special Jury Award
b. Prizes awarded by non-statutory juries:
EFCA - Jury

ECFA Award
International Ecumenical Jury

Ecumenical Jury Award
Audience Awards:
Golden Apple - for Best Feature Film

Golden Apple - for Best Animated Film
c. Prizes awarded by the Filmfest company:

Recognition of Creative Contribution in Filmmaking for Children and Youth

XI. The organizer pledges to show the films only within the scope of the festival. 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. The applicant also acknowledges that winning films will be provided in DVD format to the Film Festival Zlín archive.

XII. 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.

Regulations here.