International Animation Film Festival (IAFF) Golden Kuker- Sofia (14)

Festival start: 25 May 2023      Festival end: 29 May 2023

CHECK OUT NANCY DENNEY-PHELPS' ARTICLE ABOUT
THE GOLDEN KUKER FESTIVAL HERE
https://www.awn.com/blog/11th-golden-kuker-international-animation-festival-1-6-september-2020-sofia-bulgaria

The International Animation Film Festival (IAFF) Golden Kuker- Sofia run for the first time in October 2010 in Sofia. Named after Proyko Proykov (legendary Bulgarian animator) it is the first animation festival from the new century. One of the most attractive events in the arts calendar of Bulgaria takes place every spring in May. It is organised by the Bulgarian Association of The Independent Artists and Cartoon Animators an NGO chaired by Mrs. Nadezhda Slavova (cartoon artist, director, filmmaker and author of numerous animation films). The Association aims to connect animators, support their networking and create long lasting relationships within the cartoon industry.

The mission of the IAFF Golden Kuker-Sofia is to contribute to the development of Bulgarian art, to help Bulgarian and foreign animators get in touch and to support young professionals and students. The animation festival attracts not only children but large audience from different generations. IAFF Golden Kuker-Sofia has achieved high-level of professional performance, large number of international appearances, and variety of great animation works. Throughout the whole year people have the opportunity to attend master classes led by world known directors and animators, visit contemporary art seminars and exhibitions, and join interactive lectures. Environmental contest, Sofia’s children day and travelling festival are other festival’s post- events. After the festival international guests have the possibility to travel around Bulgaria, to discover wonderful spots and explore historical places with the tourist packages offered by IAFF Golden Kuker-Sofia.

IAFF Golden Kuker has been supported by the Ministry of Environment and Waters (Operational Programme Environment 2007-2013), Sofia Municipal Council, Sofia Municipality, National Culture Fund, National Film Center, Bulgarian National Television, Bulgarian National Radio, American Embassy, Czech Cultural Centre, Hungarian Cultural Centre, Polish Institute – Sofia, French Cultural Institute and many others who became our partners.

The juries will award the following prizes:

Grand Prix “Golden Kuker” for Best animated film
Special award “Proyko Proykov”
Best Super short animated film award (about 1 min)
Best Short animated film award (up to 10 min)
Best Short animated film award (from 10 to 45 min)
Best Feature animated film award (over 45 min)
Best Student animated film award
Best Short film made for kids award
Best Episode from TV series
Best Music video award
Best Animated eco film
Best Animated advertisement film


At its own discretion, the International Jury may award other specialized prizes on behalf of professional organizations, public institutions, companies, etc.
The International Jury has the right to withhold an award in any category where no entries, in the Jury's view, meet its standards for recognition.

RULES AND REGULATIONS FOR PARTICIPATION

1) Organisations
The International Animation Film Festival „Golden Kuker – Sofia” is organised by Animation studio and advertising agency ANIMART and BAICAA – Bulgarian Association of Independent Cartoon Animation Artists “Proyko Proykov”. The festival's Organising committee is in charge of the specifications related to the organisation and execution of IAFF Golden Kuker – Sofia.

The festival has been supported by the Ministry of Culture, Ministry of Education and Science, Ministry of Environment and Waters, Sofia Municipality Council, Sofia Municipality, National Film Centre and National Culture Fund and many Bulgarian municipalities.

2) Official languages

The official languages of the festival are Bulgarian and english. All Bulgarian films submitted must have english subtitles. Animation films made for kids are dubbed into Bulgarian and they also require english subtitles. All films must be accompanied by a script and/or dialogue list in english.

3) Participation

Any frame by frame animated video or film made for cinema, television and/or the Internet may be entered. Any frame by frame or computer-assisted animated film made for public broadcast, television or Internet may enter. As The International Animated Film Association (ASIFA) definition applies: The art of animation is the creation of moving images through the manipulation of all varieties of techniques apart from live action methods.

Completed and polished films after January 1st, 2019 and never previously entered at IAFF Golden Kuker – Sofia will be accepted. Works must be registered in one of the following categories in order to compete:

a) short films (up to 1 min, 1 - 10 min, 10 – 45 min)
b) feature films (over 45 min)
c) student films
d) animation eco films
e) music videos
f) film for kids
g) TV series (episodes that have not previously been screened at the festival)

4) Technical requirements

Films submitted for selection will be used for both pre-selection screenings and screenings in the festival (if selected). Therefore, all works submitted must be in the proper format and they MUST NOT contain watermarks or anything else imprinted. Once selected for official screening, the film will be screened in the format you have provided (unless, the required format is DCP, in which case the distributors of the selected films will be required to send the films in DCP or the films will be converted into DCP by the technical team of the festival).

Animation films which take part in the festival will be screened simultaneously in indoor and outdoor theatre to give wider distribution.

Accepted formats:

VIDEO: (preferred aspect ratio - 16x9)
a) HD (High-definition): 720p, 1080i/1080p or other
AVI files with AVC, MJPEG, H.264 codecs or uncompressed
Quicktime movies (.mov) with AVC, MJPEG, h.264

b) SD (Standard-definition): PAL or NTSC
MPEG 2 files (.mpg or .vob or .mpeg or .ts)
MPEG 4 files (.mp4 or .m4v)
AVI files with MJPEG, h.264, XviD codec
Quicktime movies (.mov) with MJPEG, h.264

AUDIO:
The audio shall always be either uncompressed, AC3, MP3 or AAC.

5) Submissions

As of this year there is an entry fee - 15 USD Standard fee and 10 USD for students. All films must be sent no later than April 1st, 2023. You can submit your work through the Golden Kuker page in Festhome.com or through our website - https://2021.animationfest-bg.eu/en/home/ (SOON)

Only correctly completed and signed entry forms will be accepted.

All received materials will remain a property of the archive of the Festival Committee, irrespective whether the film was selected for participation in the competition or not. In the event that the film is included in the competition program, they will be used in the festival publications.

If a film is selected for competition, the producer must provide an adequate supply of promotional material.

Film copies remain property of the festival.

All selected feature film directors must provide a high definition poster preferably (50/70 cm; 300 dpi)

6) Jury

The Organising Committee of IAFF Golden Kuker – Sofia will appoint the members of the Selection Committee and the International Jury. The Jury will be made up of 60% foreign personalities. 60% of the committees must be animation film professionals. None of the members should be in any way involved in the production or distribution of works submitted for selection.

The Selection committee and the Jury are responsible for choosing works presented in the official selection for films included in the competition program according to the various categories.

Films will be chosen according to their quality and interest. Producers whose films have been submitted for selection and were selected will be informed by mail before the festival. After written notification of the Selection committee's decision to the producers and directors, no request for the withdrawal of a film presented for the Official selection will be accepted.

7) Invitations / Accreditation

The conditions for covering expenses for film directors are the following:

Competition:
Festival accreditation for all directors and producers of short films and features selected to compete.

Out of competition:
Directors and producers of short films and features will receive Festival accreditation
In no case will IAFF Golden Kuker – Sofia cover travel and accommodation expenses.

8) awards

The jury will award the following prizes:

Grand Prix “Golden Kuker” for Best animated film
Special award “Proyko Proykov” - For best Bulgarian animated film
Best Super short animated film award (about 1 min)
Best Short animated film award (up to 10 min)
Best Short animated film award (from 10 to 45 min)
Best Feature animated film award (over 45 min)
Best Student animated film award
Best Short film made for kids award
Best Episode from TV series
Best Music video award
Best Animated eco film

At its own discretion, the International Jury may award other specialized prizes on behalf of professional organizations, public institutions, companies, etc.
The International Jury has the right to withhold an award in any category where no entries, in the Jury's view, meet its standards for recognition.

9) Rights and permissions

Each entrant declares to be the author or rights owner of the film(s) in competition and to own all the literary, dramatic and musical rights. The simple fact of each entrant taking part in the competition confers on the organisers the right to present the work and the accompanying materials for promotional purposes (in full or as an extract) on any media or public screening, and for non-commercial purposes; i.e. thematic screenings following the festival such as “Best of IAFF Golden Kuker” and “IAFF Golden Kuker On the road”. Award-winning films and films screened at IAFF Golden Kuker – Sofia may be shown in other theatres in Bulgaria as part of “IAFF Golden Kuker on the road”. A specific screening information will be published on the website of the festival.

The materials sent for participation in the festival cannot be returned or loaned during the festival. Extracts of films in the official selection will be put online on the official website of the festival.

10) Advertising and exhibition materials

The organisers are happy to receive any available advertising materials (posters, brochures, etc.), as well as a selection of original material used for the making of the film (storyboard, sketches, backgrounds, puppets, etc.). They will be showcased at the Festival's locations.

11) Non specified cases

The festival's Organisation Committee will settle any cases that fall outside the terms of the present regulations.

12) Data Protection

The information requested, including photos, is required for electronic or paper media linked to the festival. This information will also be used in the festival's promotional materials and on the official website and social network page of the festival.

13) Acceptance of terms

By submitting the Entry Form for the International Animation Film Festival Golden Kuker – Sofia, the participant accepts, without reservation, the terms of the present regulations as stated in this document. By the same token, the participants declare also that they are the copyright and distribution rights owners of the films.