Welcome to the fifth edition of the International Short Film competition at the Film O’Clock International Festival, a celebration of cinematic artistry spanning eleven countries that share two time zones: Lithuania, Poland, Ukraine, Moldova, Hungary, Romania, Serbia, Bulgaria, Greece, Egypt, and South Africa.

To ensure a seamless and enriching experience for all participants, please adhere to the following guidelines:

              General Information:

1. Submission Process:
   • Short films can be submitted individually for the competition via the Festival’s website (www.FoC-IFF.com) until February 2, 2025.
   • The selection committee will choose up to 20 short films for the International Short Film Competition, from the following countries:  Lithuania, Poland, Ukraine, Moldova, Hungary, Romania, Serbia, Bulgaria, Greece, Egypt, and South Africa.
2. Eligibility:
   • Selected short films must have completed production after January 1, 2024.
3. 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.
4. Communication:
   • Preselection notifications will be sent to the distributor/film producer by mid February 2025.
   • Disclosure of preselection and final selection to third parties is prohibited until the official announcement on the Festival’s website.
5. Film Withdrawal:
   • Once confirmed in the public schedule, a film cannot be withdrawn from the competition or special projections.

              Screenings:

1. Projection Schedule:
   • The Festival will establish the projection schedule and film order, to be announced by the end of February 2025.
2. 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.
3. Submission Deadline:
   • The screening copy in the film’s original language, along with subtitle files in English in srt format, must be submitted online by the deadline specified by the Festival.
4. Promotional Material:
   • The Festival reserves the right to use film stills and video excerpts (up to 3 minutes) for promotional purposes.

              Awards:

1. Audience Choice Award & Jury Award:
   • The audience will select the recipient of the Best Short Film prize, valued at 1000 Euros, awarded to the film director (gross value).
   • The Festival Jury will award the Jury Prize, valued at 1000 Euros, to the film director (gross value).
   • No additional financial compensations will be provided, except for the specified prizes.

              Participant Responsibilities:

1. Acceptance of Regulations:
   • Confirming participation implies acceptance of these regulations, including confirmation of distribution rights for all participating territories – Lithuania, Poland, Ukraine, Moldova, Hungary, Romania, Serbia, Bulgaria, Greece, Egypt, and South Africa – and cleared image rights of individuals featured in the film.
2. Regulation Changes:
   • The Festival reserves the right to modify these regulations without prior notice.

              The fifth 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 Administration of the National Cultural Fund. AFCN is not responsible for the content of the project or 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 2025!