I Festival Internacional Goitacá de Cinema (1)

Festival start: 19 August 2025      Festival end: 24 August 2025

These guidelines establishes the rules for the selection of Brazilian and international short and feature films to be screened in the competitive programs that will comprise the program of the 1st Goitacá International Film Festival, organized by Quiprocó Filmes, taking place from August 19 to 24, 2025, in Campos dos Goytacazes.

1. OBJECTIVE

The Goitacá International Film Festival aims to promote and disseminate Brazilian and international independent cinema through film screenings, debates, and the exchange between audiences, filmmakers, producers, industry professionals, curators, exhibitors, distributors, and critics. The event includes the International Competitive Program, the Brazilian Competitive Program, the Zezé Motta Program (focused on racial and gender diversity), the Olhares da Planície Program (showcasing films produced in the countryside of Rio de Janeiro), and the Kbrunquinho Program (focused on youth and children's content).
The program also includes a Training Program (workshops and labs), the Goitacá Cine Market (a space for developing new audiovisual projects and networking opportunities), and the North and Northwest Fluminense Cinema and Audiovisual Seminar, featuring panels, lectures, and roundtables.

2. PROGRAMS

2.1. The festival will consist of the following programs:

a) Brazilian Competitive Program:
For short and feature-length fiction and documentary films, whether previously released in Brazil or not. The curatorial team will prioritize contemporary themes, narrative innovation, and strong artistic voices.

b) International Competitive Program:
For short and feature-length fiction and documentary films, whether previously released in Brazil or abroad or not. The curatorial team will prioritize contemporary themes, narrative innovation, and strong artistic voices.

c) Zezé Motta Program:
Dedicated to showcasing and encouraging new distribution windows for Black Brazilian cinema. This section features fiction and documentary short and feature films addressing racial and gender diversity, with priority given to works directed and/or written by Black creators. Named in honor of actress Zezé Motta, born in Campos dos Goytacazes.

d) Kbrunquinho Program:
A competitive section for short and feature films aimed at children and young audiences (Rated: All Ages). Open to all genres, including fiction, documentary, action, animation, and more. A space for young viewers to experience a film festival environment.

e) Olhares da Planície Program:
A competitive section for short and feature films produced in the countryside of Rio de Janeiro state. The curatorial team will value local filmmakers and support the emergence of new talent.

5. AWARDS

5.1. The festival will award winning films with the “Kbrunco Trophy”, including films in the competitive programs and special categories.

5.2. There will be no cash prizes.

3. ELIGIBILITY

3.1. Brazilian and international filmmakers may submit films free of charge.

3.2. Each filmmaker may submit an unlimited number of films, provided they:
- Were completed from January 2024 onwards;
- Include Portuguese subtitles (mandatory for all films);
- Feature films: minimum duration of 70 minutes, including credits;
- Short films: maximum duration of 30 minutes, including credits.


3.3. For the purposes of these regulations, an international film is any work produced outside Brazil by a non-Brazilian director.

3.4. Black Brazilian filmmakers submitting to the Zezé Motta Program must include a signed self-declaration of racial identity (Appendix I).

3.5. Films submitted to the Olhares da Planície Program must include proof of residence in the countryside of Rio de Janeiro state (Appendix II) from at least one of the film's directors.

3.6. The following types of content are not eligible:
- Institutional or corporate promotional content;
- Content aimed at political campaigns, rallies, or partisan interests;
- Content that violates third-party rights, including intellectual property;
- Content that promotes hate speech, public disorder, or harm to people, animals, or the environment;
- Content associated with child labor, degrading conditions, or slavery;
- Content promoting personal or political agendas of government representatives.


3.7. The festival reserves the right to disqualify any project containing racist, misogynistic, transphobic, ableist, fatphobic, or any discriminatory or violent content, or content violating human rights.

3.8. Film and trailer links must be uploaded to file-sharing platforms (e.g., Vimeo, Google Drive, YouTube) with viewing and download permissions enabled. Include password if needed.

3.9. The person submitting the film will be considered the main contact and responsible for all communication with the festival.

3.10. No screening fees or royalties will be paid for selected or invited films.

4. SELECTION PROCESS

4.1. Films will be selected by the festival’s Organizing Committee, composed of professionals with recognized experience in the audiovisual field who have no ties to the films under evaluation. The final selection will be announced by July 27, 2025.

4.2. All Brazilian films selected must provide the following for public screening at festivals:
- Age Rating Certificate issued by the Ministry of Justice (DEJUS);
- Brazilian Product Certificate (CPB) issued by ANCINE.


4.3. Selected filmmakers must authorize the donation of a copy of their film to the collection of Cine Darcy UENF, to be used exclusively for non-commercial cultural purposes, with prior consultation with the film’s representatives.

4.4. Accepted screening formats include H264 (mp4) and Movie HD, with resolution up to 2K, and audio in Stereo AAC, AAC 5.1, or Stereo Codec. All files will be tested by the festival’s technical team before screening.

4.5. If the submitted file fails technical inspection, the participant must provide a new version within 72 hours of being contacted by the festival team.

4.6. The festival will notify selected films by official email (festivalgoitaca@quiprocofilmes.com.br), including technical specifications for final delivery, promotional materials to be submitted, and any other administrative requirements.