RULES AND REGULATIONS 2020
Α. GENERAL INFORMATION
Α1. “Cyprus Film Days” International Festival is the official international film festival of Cyprus. It is co-organised by the Ministry of Education and Culture of the Republic of Cyprus and the Rialto Theatre.
The selection of films and the programming of screenings and parallel events are undertaken by a three-member Artistic Committee, appointed by the Ministry of Education and Culture and the Rialto Theatre.
Α2. The Festival aims at:
– contributing to the development, promotion and mobility of the art of Filmmaking in Cyprus and the wider region;
– screening the work of filmmakers from across the world and introducing their work to the audience of Cyprus;
– serving as a hub for films originating from the three neighbouring continents of Cyprus.
Α3. The Festival is annual and takes place in both Limassol and Nicosia. The 18th edition of the Festival will take place from the 3rd until the 11th of April 2020.
Α4. For 2020, the Festival includes the following sections:
– Glocal Images – International Competition Section: this competition section includes fiction feature films. The Artistic Committee selects international and national films giving emphasis on films originating from the neighbouring continents of Cyprus, which promote cinema as an art form and a tool for intercultural dialogue. Moreover, Glocal Images seeks to attract films highlighting the diverse “colours” of local filmmaking in their country of origin and drawing on themes and styles of contemporary international filmmaking. Each film participating in this section is screened once in Limassol and once in Nicosia.
– Viewfinder – A Close-up of Contemporary International Cinema: this section includes fiction feature films that have received awards and distinctions at major international film festivals during the festival year. They are selected and invited by the Artistic Committee based on criteria set by the Committee. The main objective of this programme is to showcase to the audience of Cyprus a selection of films from important festival centres.
– Parallel Programmes: these includespecial screenings, thematic sections and tributes to the work of renowned filmmakers from across the globe.
– Parallel Events: these include workshops and masterclasses for film professionals.
Β. REGULATIONS OF PARTICIPATION IN “GLOCAL IMAGES – INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION SECTION”
Β1. All films participating in “Glocal Images – International Competition Section” are selected and invited by the Artistic Committee of the Festival upon submission of the entry form.
B2. The number of films selected is determined by the Artistic Committee according to the needs of the programming.
B3. Selection Criteria
All films participating in “Glocal Images – International Competition Section” must:
- be fiction feature films;
- be screened in Cyprus for the first time;
- be a 2019 or 2020 production, which means that it should be completed after the 1st of January 2019;
- be available in either one of the following formats: Digital Cinema Package (DCP) or 35 mm print. No other format shall be acceptable;
- have a running time of at least 60 minutes.
Β4. Procedure
Entry forms for all films applying to this section shouldbe submitted via www.filmfreeway.com. Films must be submitted with secure online screeners and remain available to be viewed until the end of February 2020. All films must be subtitled in English.
– The entry fee for each submitted film is €20 (twenty) euros.
Β5. Conditions
Films selected for screening at the “Glocal Images – International Competition Section” must be in their original version with English subtitles on print.
The Festival undertakes the translation and preparation of electronic subtitles in Greek. Therefore, a dialogue list in English must be submitted for translation purposes within ten days from the selection of a film. Any other arrangement in relation to the subtitling of the film must be made in consultation with the Festival. Any other informative material regarding the film such as posters, photographs, press kit, trailers etc. must be sent together with the dialogue list in English.
Β6. The Jury
The Artistic Committee of the Festival appoints a five-member Jury consisting of personalities from the international film industry, who decide the awards.
The Artistic Committee of the Festival also appoints the president of the Jury. The decisions of the Jury are made by simple majority. Persons related professionally, financially or in any other relation or involved in the films participating in this section cannot be members of the Jury.
Β7. The Jury awards the following prizes:
– BestFilm Award: this Award is accompanied by the amount of €6,000 (six thousand euros), which is paid in half (ex aequo) to the Producer (€3,000 euros) and the Director of the film (€3,000 euros).
– Special Jury Award: this award is accompanied by the amount of €3,000 (euros), which is paid in half (ex aequo) to the Producer (€1,500 euros) and the Director of the film (€1,500 euros).
– Best Director Award: this award, which is paid to the Director of the film, is accompanied by the amount of €1,000 (euros).
– The Jury may also give up to three Honorary Distinctions. These distinctions are not accompanied by a monetary prize.
– Each prize is awarded to one film only.
– Monetary prizes may be sponsored by other organisations.
– The payment of the monetary prize accompanying the award is made in euros.
Β8. The deadline for the submission of entry forms to the “GlocalImages – International Competition Section” is Monday the 6th of January 2020. Applicants shall be informed about their selection by no later than Friday, the 31st of January 2020. The prints of the selected films shall be returned within two (2) weeks after the end of the Festival screenings (11th of April 2020).
Β9. During the Festival days, no public screening of a film participating in this section is permitted in Cyprus.
B10. The Festival reserves the right for an extra screening in Cyprus for each of the three awarded films. The additional screenings will take place at a location chosen by the Festival and within a timeframe that does not exceed the period of 7 days after the end of the Festival.
B11. The sender bears the shipping cost and postage insurance for the print of the film participating in the International Competition Section. The Festival bears the cost for returning the print to the sender. Standard procedures are followed when the print is sent by or sent to another festival. The Festival bears any cost related to the insurance of a print of a film against damage or loss for the period after it has been received by the Festival until the time it is delivered to the post office or courier (transport agent) for return or given directly to a representative of the film. Any damage to the print of a film must be reported in writing within one week from its receipt and before its next screening. Any claims will be dealt with on the basis of the relevant report of the complainant. In case of loss or complete damage of the visual material, the Festival only bears the cost of its replacement.
B12. The organizers of the Festival reserve the right to decide upon any subject or issue that is not mentioned in these Rules and Regulations of the “Glocal Images” Competition Section of Cyprus Film Days International Festival 2020, where applicable.
B13. The Festival may cover part of the travel and accommodation expenses of the director or any other member of the cast and crew of the selected films. The amount of the covered expenses may vary according to the number of the interested parties, the country of origin, the ticket price and the duration of accommodation.
B14. Participating in the “Glocal Images” Competition Section of the Cyprus Film Days International Festival 2020 implies that the applicant has read and fully accepted these rules and regulations.
C. REGULATIONS OF PARTICIPATION IN “VIEWFINDER – A CLOSE-UP OF CONTEMPORARY WORLD CINEMA”
C1. There is no procedure for film submission in this section. All films participating in this section are selected and invited directly by the Artistic Committee of the Festival. Each film in this section is screened once in Limassol and once in Nicosia.
C2. A film participating in this section must:
a) be a fiction feature film;
b) be screened for the first time in Cyprus;
c) be a 2019 or 2020 production, which means that the production should be completed after the 1st of January 2019;
d) have a running time of at least 60 minutes.
Exceptions in relation to the above may be made at the discretion of the Artistic Committee.
C3. Any matters related to the participation of a film in this section such as postage, screening, subtitling etc. shall be arranged in direct consultation between the Festival and the holder of the film rights.
C4. During the Festival, no public screening in Cyprus of a film participating in this section is permitted.
C5. The organizers of the Festival reserve the right to decide upon any subject or issue that is not mentioned in the rules and regulations of the “Viewfinder – A Close-Up of Contemporary World Cinema” Section of Cyprus Film Days International Festival 2020.
C6. Participating in the “Viewfinder – A Close-Up of Contemporary World Cinema” Section of Cyprus Film Days International Festival 2019 implies that the applicant has read and fully accepted these Rules and Regulations.
D. PARTICIPATION OF CYPRIOT FILMS
D1. The participation of Cypriot films in the Festival’s sections is subject to the rules and regulations of the Festival as described above.
D2. The Artistic Committee may, in addition to the two official sections of the Festival, introduce a National Competition Section for Cypriot films. The minimum number of films required in this section is three (3).
D3. Cypriot Films participating in the National Competition Section must meet the six following criteria:
- they must be directed by a filmmaker who is a Cypriot Citizen. Films directed by Cypriot filmmakers that are not Cypriot productions or co-productions are only eligible for the Best Cypriot Director Award;
- they must be Cypriot productions or co-productions with Cyprus being the main production country. If Cyprus features as a secondary co-producing country, the final decision regarding its eligibility for the Best Cypriot Film Award remains at the discretion of the Festival’s Artistic Committee. This decision depends on the extent of the Cypriot creative contribution, the frequency of use of one of the official languages of the Republic of Cyprus and the use of filming locations in Cyprus;
- they must be 2019 or 2020 productions, which means that the production should be completed after the 1st of January 2019;
- they must be screened in Cyprus for the first time;
- they must be available in either one of the following formats: Digital Cinema Package (DCP) or 35 mm print. No other format is acceptable;
- they must have a running time of at least 60 minutes.
D4. Procedure
See B4.
D5. Conditions
Films selected for screening in the National Competition Section are also subject to the conditions outlined in B5.
D6. The Jury
The Jury that decides for the awards of the films participating in the National Competition Section is the same five-member international jury, appointed by the Artistic Committee of the Festival that decides for the Glocal Images International Competition Section awards. See B6.
D7. The Jury awards the following prizes:
– Best Cypriot Film Award: this award is accompanied by the amount of €4,000 (euros), which is paid in half (ex aequo) to the Producer (€2,000 euros) and the Director of the film (€2,000 euros).
– Best Actor/Actress Award (National Competition Section): This award is accompanied by the amount of €500 and is offered by Limassol Municipality.
Cypriot Films participating in the Glocal Images International Competition Section automatically participate in the National Competition Section (where applicable in accordance with these regulations), namely for the Best Cypriot Film, Best Cypriot Director and Best Actor/Actress Awards. Cypriot Directors whose films participate in the Glocal Images International Competition section but are not Cypriot productions according to the Festival’s criteria (see D.3) are only eligible for the Best Cypriot Director Award.
– Each prize is awarded to one film only.
– Some of the monetary prizes may be sponsored by other organisations.
– The monetary prizes are paid in euros.
D8. The participation of Cypriot films in the National Competition Section is subject to the rules and regulations of the Festival as described in B8-B13.
D9. Since one of the Festival’s objectives is to promote and screen local films, Cypriot fiction feature films that have been previously screened in theatres or other festivals in Cyprus, may be showcased as part of out of competition special screenings. Τhe selection of these films shall be made by the Artistic Committee.
Any Cypriot films showcased as special screenings – out of competition are subject to the following terms:
- they must be Cypriot productions or co-productions with Cyprus being the main production country;
- they must be 2019 or 2020 productions, which means that their production should be completed after the 1st of January 2019;
- they should be screened at the Festival for the first time;
- they must be available in either one of the following formats: Digital Cinema Package (DCP) or 35 mm print. No other format is acceptable;
- they must have a running time of at least 60 minutes.
Ε. AUDIENCE AWARD
Ε1. Films participating in the two official competition sections, the “Glocal Images – International Competition Section” and the National Competition Section (where applicable), are automatically eligible for the audience award.
Films participating as special screenings may also be eligible for the Audience Award provided that they have not been commercially screened in Cyprus and that they were produced after the 1st of January 2019. The final decisions regarding their eligibility remains at the discretion of the Festival’s Artistic Committee.
F. MISCELLANEOUS
F1. The organisers of the Festival shall decide on any matters not prescribed by these rules and regulations in accordance with international practices and on a case-by-case basis.
F2 Participation in the “Cyprus Film Days International Festival 2020” implies that the applicant has read and fully accepted these rules and regulations.