{"id":11453,"date":"2016-10-03T12:04:23","date_gmt":"2016-10-03T10:04:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ismaelmartin.com\/7-documentary-film-festivals-with-open-submissions\/"},"modified":"2016-10-03T12:04:23","modified_gmt":"2016-10-03T10:04:23","slug":"7-documentary-film-festivals-with-open-submissions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ismaelmartin.com\/en\/7-documentary-film-festivals-with-open-submissions\/","title":{"rendered":"7 documentary film festivals with open submissions"},"content":{"rendered":"

These days I have been reviewing documentary film festivals with open submissions<\/strong>. Premiere requirements vary greatly between them, so they need to be studied carefully in order to plan the festival strategy<\/strong>. <\/p>\n

In the vast majority, the production date must be after January 2016<\/strong>, and they usually have two deadlines<\/em> depending on the stage of the documentary\u2019s production.<\/p>\n

If you are currently in post-production (whether feature, short or medium-length) or you are starting to plan festivals, you need to take these seven festivals into account<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

#1 Vision du R\u00e9el <\/a>Festival Internacional de Cin\u00e9ma de Nyon<\/a><\/h3>\n

It is the most important festival in Switzerland and one of the leading ones worldwide. In the international competition, documentary shorts, medium-length films and feature films can take part<\/strong>. Although documentaries with a world, international or European premiere can participate, world premieres are given priority<\/strong>. The first deadline<\/em> is now open until October 10<\/strong>; the second deadline<\/em> ends on January 10, 2017<\/strong>. <\/p>\n

The festival takes place from April 21 to 29 in the Swiss city of Nyon.<\/p>\n

#2 CPH:DOX Copenhagen International Documentary Film Festival<\/a><\/h3>\n

It is one of the most prominent festivals worldwide, along with Vision du R\u00e9el<\/strong>. The first deadline<\/em> was on September 15, and the second (for the most recent documentaries) is December 15<\/strong>. The production date must be after April 1, 2016. <\/p>\n

The competition is reserved for feature films<\/strong>. Short and medium-length films<\/strong> can take part in the New:Vision Award<\/strong>, with a more experimental focus. The minimum premiere requirement is a Danish premiere, but world premieres are preferred<\/strong>. <\/p>\n

For submissions, there is a \u20ac15 fee except for experimental films and short films<\/strong>. The festival\u2019s new dates are March 16 to 26, 2017. <\/p>\n

#3 Krakow Film Festival<\/a><\/h3>\n

It is the only festival on this list that is not exclusively documentary<\/strong>, as it accepts short films of both fiction and animation. The minimum premiere requirement is a national premiere in Poland<\/strong>, but they give preference to an international premiere<\/strong>. <\/p>\n

It accepts films produced after June 1, 2016. The next deadline<\/em> is November 30<\/strong>, and the second, for the most recent production, is January 31, 2017<\/strong>. <\/p>\n

In principle, the festival has no fees unless more than 5 films are submitted; in that case, a \u20ac10 fee is charged<\/strong>. The festival takes place from May 28 to June 4, 2017. <\/p>\n

#4 Festival Cin\u00e9ma du R\u00e9el<\/a><\/h3>\n

It takes place at the Centre Pompidou<\/strong> in Paris. The minimum premiere required is a national premiere. Today, October 3 is the first deadline<\/em><\/strong> for documentaries completed before August 31. For the rest of the documentaries, with more recent production, the next submission deadline is November 21<\/strong>. <\/p>\n

It takes place from March 24 to April 2.<\/p>\n

#5 Zagrebdox<\/a> Festival Internacional de Cine Documental de Zagreb <\/a> <\/h3>\n

Zagrebdox<\/strong> has a first submission deadline until October 15<\/strong> for documentaries made from January 2016 onwards. The second deadline closes on November 15 for the most recent production. The only premiere requirement is a national premiere in Croatia.<\/strong> <\/p>\n

The festival dates are February 26 to March 5, 2017.<\/p>\n

#6 Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival<\/a><\/h3>\n

The next November 16 is the first submission deadline<\/strong>, with an early deadline<\/a><\/em> of $25 for short films (up to 40 min.) and $55 for feature and medium-length films<\/strong>. The final deadline<\/em> is January 9. The minimum premiere requirement is Toronto<\/strong>, although a Canadian premiere<\/strong> is preferable, and they must have a production date after January 1, 2016. <\/p>\n

It takes place from April 27 to May 7, 2017.<\/p>\n

#7 Thessaloniki Documentary Festival<\/a><\/h3>\n

The first deadline<\/em> was on September 4 for documentaries produced before June. Now the submission deadline is November 27<\/strong> for the most recent production. They must premiere at least in Greece<\/strong>. For submission, they ask that the documentary be sent in DVD format. <\/p>\n

It takes place from March 3 to 12, 2017.<\/p>\n

In summary, the premiere requirements and festival dates are:<\/strong><\/p>\n