Sintonie short film festival (2)

Festival start: 28 May 2026      Festival end: 28 May 2026

Sintonie Short Festival is a free competition open to schools, associations, and filmmakers of all ages and
countries.

There are three categories in which you can participate:

• Short films themed "THE COURAGE TO BE HAPPY"

The film's subject must aim to raise public awareness of stereotypes, prejudices, and the most common
racist, discriminatory, and homophobic attitudes. The element that will truly make the difference
will be the type of language used to convey the above message; irony, for example!

• Off-topic short films

Cash Prizes: 1,500€

Awards:

• Best Themed Film Award: €500

• Best Off-Theme Film Award: €500

• Loudest Applause Award: €500

PRESENTATION

The Apri le Braccia Foundation was born from the thirty-year experience of the volunteer association Noi come Voi, with the aim of promoting assistance, social, cultural, and employment inclusion activities for people with disabilities.

At present, the Foundation supports 30 people with psycho-physical disabilities and operates thanks to its accreditation with the local health authorities (ASL) and municipalities.

At its day-care and residential center, educational, rehabilitative, and sports activities are carried out. In addition, the Foundation provides psychological and financial support to disadvantaged families and those at risk of social exclusion, helping to improve their well-being and social inclusion.

The Foundation has expanded its mission by integrating art as a tool for awareness-raising, promoting cultural initiatives that combat discrimination and foster civic awareness.

Among the Foundation’s flagship projects, “Sintonie” aims to promote artistic and cultural activities throughout the Piedmont region through the creation of a territorial network. Its goal is to encourage opportunities for social gathering, enhance human creativity in all its forms, and spread its expression.

The Sintonie project is carried out in collaboration with the UAP Un Altro Pianeta ETS Cultural Association, which will organize the event on May 28, 2026, in collaboration with the Municipality of Novara.

FIL ROUGE SHORT FESTIVAL

The word “courage” comes from the Latin cor, meaning “heart.” This connection with the heart offers us a powerful key to interpretation: courage is the beat that gathers fears, desires, and hopes, transforming them into action. It is a living, organic movement that leads us to do what we did not even think was possible. And in doing so, it opens the way to another fundamental dimension: happiness.

Happiness is not just a passing emotion, but a conscious choice, a daily construction. It is not a distant ideal reserved for a few, but a journey made of small steps, authentic relationships, and shared moments. We need courage to embark on this journey, to face the difficulties that stand between us and our well-being. But not only that: courage helps us redefine what it means to be happy.

Happiness is never only personal, but also collective. We live in relationship with others, and our most authentic joy comes from feeling part of a community, from bonds that enrich our lives and the lives of others. For this reason, happiness is also an act of participation and shared responsibility. It means caring for others, building bridges between different identities, and valuing diversity as a resource.

REGULATIONS

Sintonie Short Festival is a free competition open to schools, associations, and filmmakers of all ages and countries.

There are three sections in which participants may take part:

• Short films on the theme “THE COURAGE TO BE HAPPY”
The subject of the film must aim to raise public awareness about the most common stereotypes, prejudices, and racist, discriminatory, or homophobic attitudes. The element that will truly make the difference will be the type of language used to convey this message, for example, irony.

• Short films outside the theme

Participants wishing to take part may send their video via Festhome.com

In addition to the video, it is important to send the entry form and the signed release form. Without these documents, the film cannot be screened.

Films must be downloadable and include Italian subtitles if the dialogue is in another language.

All films must have a maximum running time of 15 minutes. In the case of participants under 18 years of age, parental consent is required.

Submission deadline for films: Tuesday, April 7, 2026

The Artistic Committee of the Sintonie Short Festival, at its sole discretion, will choose the films that will become part of the Official Selection and will compete for the listed awards. During the evening, the 4 best films in each category will be screened.

Only the Authors of films included in the Official Selection will be notified by email at the email address indicated in the entry form. Authors whose films are not included in the Final Official Selection list will not be notified.

The list of films in the Final Official Selection will also be published on the Instagram page and on the website of the Apri le Braccia Foundation: www.fondazioneaprilebraccia.it

The selection of finalist short films is entrusted to the Artistic Committee of the Sintonie Short Festival, composed of five members.

Awards:
• Best Themed Film Award: 500 EURO
• Best Non-Themed Film Award: 500 EURO
• Loudest Applause Award: 500 EURO

Final provisions:
• Submitted works will not be returned.
• The Festival Direction accepts no responsibility for any theft, loss of material, or damage.

JURISDICTIONAL NOTES

The Festival Organizers reserve the right to make changes to these regulations.

Pursuant to Privacy Law 196/2003 and the new European Privacy Regulation 679/2016, participants are informed that their personal data will be used solely for the purposes of the competition and will remain in the Festival archive.

The Festival Organizers decline all responsibility in the event of failure or incorrect receipt of entry documents caused by their transmission by any means to the Festival addresses, for any reason whatsoever.

At the discretion of the Organizers, in cases of extreme necessity or any other valid reason, the event may be suspended or cancelled.

RESPONSIBILITY OF THE AUTHOR AND/OR PRODUCTION COMPANY AND/OR RIGHTS HOLDER

The Author or Production Company of the submitted Work, or whoever holds the rights to it, by signing these Regulations:

• DECLARES that they have read and understood them and therefore fully accept all their contents;

• ACCEPTS FULL RESPONSIBILITY for the content of the submitted work;

• DECLARES that they have cleared all copyright obligations towards third parties in accordance with Law 633/1941 and subsequent amendments;

• DECLARES, pursuant to Art. 10 of Law 675/96 and by effect of Art. 13 of Legislative Decree 196/03 and subsequent amendments, as well as the new European Privacy Regulation 679/2016, that they are informed about the purposes and methods of processing the data indicated in the entry form and give their consent to its use, including through IT tools;

• GRANTS explicit authorization to the Festival in question for the free disclosure, without any compensation, through public screening of the Work itself and for its free use exclusively for educational and cultural purposes for a period of up to three months after the end of the Festival.

For information:
Artistic Director: Sandro Vanzan
Tel.: 0321863004
Email: festivalcortometraggi@gmail.com

Veo una pequeña incoherencia en el original: dice “Tre le sezioni” pero luego solo aparecen dos secciones enumeradas. Puedo dejarte una versión pulida en inglés de reglamento de festival, más natural y profesional, manteniendo todo el contenido.