The deadline for short film submissions for the 2013 Goya Awards is approaching, remaining open until October 17, 2012. This is a good time to review some of the key submission requirements, especially since they have undergone several changes in recent years.
Any digital format is accepted; unlike many festivals that require DCP, the Goya Awards have no limitations in this regard. In terms of format, any short film can participate regardless of its quality (which is not specified). However, according to point 7, the following must be delivered for final participation:
Digital Betacam, HD, or a digital format of equivalent or higher resolution
and in point 10:
The owners of the short films selected by the Board of Directors are required to provide the Film Academy with a copy of the film in 35mm or digital format
Therefore, according to the regulations, a digital file in .mov or .mkv at 720p or 1080p could be submitted for participation in the Goya Awards.
This means that the real filter for the submission of fiction short films lies in participation in international and national festivals:
- The list of international festivals has changed every year since 2010. Initially, it was enough to be selected for any festival outside our country; later, participation was restricted to festivals accredited by the European Film Academy (EFA), which includes only 12 festivals. This year, a balance has been reached, and the list of festivals that pre-select for the Oscars has been adopted. Although the list has been copied into the Goya regulations, the original list published this year by the Hollywood Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences can be downloaded here. Being selected for just one of these festivals is sufficient.
- In the case of national festivals, the list has remained more stable over the years, although some are still missing and others have unconfirmed dates. In this case, it is necessary to receive a main award, such as the Jury Prize or the Audience Award.
One of the most notable changes this year has been the change in the date of the rating license, which has been pushed back a year. Consequently, short films with a rating date after January 1, 2011, can be submitted. This change is related to the festivals and is one of the most anticipated improvements. This means that if our short film is dated 2012 and has not won an award or been selected for any of these festivals, we can wait a year to submit it. Furthermore, if we produced the short at the end of this year, it is advisable to wait until January 2013 to apply for the rating license to gain an extra year; this way, we could be eligible for the 2013 or 2014 Awards.
Documentary and animated short films do not need to pass through this festival filter and can be registered directly.
The registration process must be carried out by the producer, requesting registration in the Film Academy database and filling out the online form that generates the Official Credits Form mentioned in the regulations.