WEST SIDE MOUNTAINS DOC FEST (5)

Festival start: 06 August 2022      Festival end: 11 August 2022

The 5th International Documentary Festival of Epirus or as it became known WEST SIDE MOUNTAINS DOC FEST started in 2017 with its first edition in 2018 and the second in 2019 in the Municipality of Karaiskaki of Orini Arta. The main thought and intention of those of us who were involved in the establishment of the Festival, was the creation of an important cultural event, in one of the poorest, but also most inaccessible areas of Europe. An area of ​​incredible natural beauty, which starts from Agrafa and the valley of Acheloos and reaches almost to Arta. The festival completely achieved its goals and so its third edition in 2020 was the one that established it, that developed spatially and spread throughout almost all of Epirus. A spread that became a reality with the participation of the Municipalities of Karaiskaki, Central Tzoumerka, North Tzoumerka, Pogoni, Preveza and Arta. The support of the Society of Greek Directors, many associations, Brotherhoods, local Federations, the Thessaloniki Documentary Festival, but also other organizations contributed to this, with the most important development being the granting of the Ministry of Culture for this fourth period.

So we can be proud that in four seasons our Festival has managed to attract more than a thousand films from more than 120 countries. And we still have a lot to do. Finally, it should be noted that with hard work and minimal resources we managed to make the festival loved by the people and every day more and more, to be established as an internationally renowned cultural event, away from the big urban centres. We have managed to strengthen the view that even the most remote areas could appropriate and integrate the culture of cinema and especially documentaries. We managed to prove that on the occasion of this festival, opportunities can be created for the development of cultural institutions, as well as alternative tourism in our country. A place that needs to take a step forward and free itself from the degraded cultural "status" that haunts it and holds it hostage to bad taste and the commercialization of absolutely nothing.

The festival receives entries from all over the world and creators of all ages and nationalities. Films with extreme political or racist views are not accepted. The festival accepts entries regardless of the duration of the films. However, in case of a tie, films from 15 to 75 minutes will be preferred. All entries will be made through the international platform Festhome, or by e-mail through the festival website, so that we can send you the necessary entry forms. Participation in the festival implies the possession of all the property rights of each film, as well as that the applicant has all the required authorizations of the copyright holders of the film. Applicant acknowledges: Cantomed-WSMDF is a non-profit cultural organization and does not pay promotion fees. Cantomed can schedule up to three screenings at its discretion during the festival.

The selection committee of the films is appointed by the director of the Festival, who can replace its members, before the start of the selection, for a serious reason, as well as to modify points of the regulation for reasons of better operation of the festival. The mentioned replacement can be done, indicatively, for health reasons or another serious problem. The members of the committee will be four and together with the director of the festival five and they will come from the field of letters, arts and sciences and will be people of known value. If a film is selected as a finalist, you must immediately send us an mp4 or mov file without subtitles and an srt file in English for final screening. In this case please send us these files online (We transfer, MyAirBridge etc.).

The Commission will select 20 films, which will be included in 5 groups depending on their duration, which will be screened during the festival. On the sixth and final day, excerpts from all the films that will be awarded will be screened. The award ceremony for the winners and the farewell party will follow, with the participation of all the spectators. The festival will be free for all spectators. The festival will finally be able to use short excerpts from the films that will be submitted, for advertising purposes only. Also, if a creator wishes to show his film in some schools for educational purposes or in some institutions for the elderly and disabled, he should inform us about it.