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Welcome to the sixth edition of the International Short Film Competition at the Film O’Clock International Festival, taking place between April 16–19, 2026. The festival celebrates cinematic artistry across twelve countries that share two time zones: Lithuania, Poland, Germany, Ukraine, Moldova, Romania, Serbia, Bulgaria, Greece, Cyprus, Egypt, and South Africa.
To ensure a seamless and enriching experience for all participants, please adhere to the following guidelines:
General Information:
Submission Process:
Short films can be submitted individually for the competition via the Festival’s website (www.FoC-IFF.com) until February 16, 2026.
The selection committee will choose up to 20 short films for the International Short Film Competition from the following countries: Lithuania, Poland, Germany, Ukraine, Moldova, Romania, Serbia, Bulgaria, Greece, Cyprus, Egypt, and South Africa.
Eligibility:
Selected short films must have completed production after January 1, 2025 and must not exceed 25 minutes in length, including credits.
Q&A Sessions:
Each film will be followed by a Q&A session with the creative team and special guests, streamed online and through the Festival’s communication channels. Attendance of at least one crew member is mandatory.
Communication:
Preselection notifications will be sent to the distributor or film producer by the end of February 2026.
Disclosure of preselection and final selection to third parties is prohibited until the official announcement on the Festival’s website.
Film Withdrawal:
Once confirmed in the public schedule, a film cannot be withdrawn from the competition, special projections, or the festival database.
Screenings:
Projection Schedule:
The Festival will establish the projection schedule and film order, to be announced at the beginning of March 2026.
Screening Venues:
Screenings will take place in physical venues in one location within each participating country. Technical specifications must adhere to the Festival’s guidelines.
Submission Deadline:
The screening copy in the film’s original language, along with English subtitle files in .srt format, must be submitted online by the deadline specified by the Festival.
Promotional Material:
The Festival reserves the right to use film stills and video excerpts (up to 3 minutes) for promotional purposes.
Awards:
Audience Choice Award & Jury Award:
The audience will select the recipient of the Best Short Film prize, valued at 5,000 RON (approximately 1,000 Euros), awarded to the film director (gross value).
The Festival Jury will award the Jury Prize, valued at 5,000 RON (approximately 1,000 Euros), awarded to the film director (gross value).
The Festival Jury may also award special honorary mentions. No additional financial compensation will be provided, except for the specified prizes.
Participant Responsibilities:
Acceptance of Regulations:
Confirming participation implies acceptance of these regulations, including confirmation of distribution rights for all participating territories — Lithuania, Poland, Germany, Ukraine, Moldova, Romania, Serbia, Bulgaria, Greece, Cyprus, Egypt, and South Africa — as well as cleared image rights of all individuals featured in the film.
Regulation Changes:
The Festival reserves the right to modify these regulations without prior notice.
The sixth edition of the Film O’Clock International Festival is produced by Creatrix Fama and co-financed by the Administration of the National Cultural Fund (AFCN) in Romania. The project does not necessarily represent the position of the National Cultural Fund Administration. AFCN is not responsible for the content of the project or for how the project results are used. These are entirely the responsibility of the funding beneficiary.
Thank you for your cooperation. We look forward to celebrating the art of cinema with you at the Film O’Clock International Festival 2026!
Download Festival Rules & Regulations 2026 (EN)