Curtas Vila do Conde IFF (29)

Festival start: 16 July 2021      Festival end: 25 July 2021

Curtas Vila do Conde - International Film Festival is one of the most prestigious film festivals in Portugal, reaching its 29th edition in 2021.

Assuming as main objective the promotion and diffusion of cinematographic and audio-visual works, selected according to a quality criteria, Curtas Vila do Conde focus on the discovery of new films and filmmakers and also on the recognised legacy of Cinema.

Short film competitions with animations, documentaries, fiction films, experimental films and music videos, produced in 2020 or 2021, no longer than 60 minutes (exception made, under 30 minutes duration limit, for Curtinhas – youth and children; My Generation – competitive section aimed for teenagers Take One! – student films; and music videos), preferably with subtitles in Portuguese or English, are admitted to the various competitions.

Side programs, to be progressively announced, will highlight not only a selection on worldwide contemporary short films but also the relations between shorts and features, music and film or art and cinema.

Jury of Portuguese and International Competition
The jury of Portuguese and International competitions, composed by a maximum number of 5 recognized professionals to be designated by the festival board, will attribute the following prizes:

INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION
- Great Prize (for the best film in competition);

- Animation Award (to distinguish an animation film in competition);

- Manoel de Oliveira Award (to distinguish a documentary in competition);

- Fiction Award (to distinguish a fiction film in competition).

PORTUGUESE COMPETITION
- Best Portuguese Short Film Award (for the best film in the Portuguese competition);
- Best Director Award (to distinguish a director in Portuguese Competition).

The films of the Portuguese Competition also run for the International Competition Awards.

Vila do Conde Short Film Candidate for the European Film Awards
One of the films awarded in international or national competitions will be a candidate for nominations for the European Film Awards da European Film Academy.

Audience Awards
In addition to the prizes awarded by the jury of Portuguese and International Competitions, the festival’s audience will award two films through ranked voting, choosing the best film of the International Competition and the best film of the Portuguese Competition, in both cases corresponding to the highest average:
- Audience Award – International;
- Audience Award – Portuguese.

EXPERIMENTAL COMPETITION
This competition is dedicated to experimental films, particularly those that will reveal new approaches to moving images and the development of the language of Cinema. The jury of this competition, composed by a maximum number of 3 recognized professionals, to be designated by the festival board, will attribute the:
- Best Experimental Film Award.

MUSIC VIDEOS COMPETITION
Dedicated competition to music videos of bands or artists of Portuguese origin or produced by Portuguese authors, up to 30 minutes, with a specific jury also composed by a maximum number of 3 recognized professionals to be designated by the festival board, will attribute the prize for:
- Best Music Video.

TAKE ONE! COMPETITION
Dedicated to films up to 30 minutes, directed by Portuguese students, enrolled in Portuguese Universities or in cinema schools or filmmaking courses abroad. The jury of this competition, composed by a maximum number of 3 recognized professionals to be designated by the festival direction, will attribute the:


- Take One! Award.

MY GENERATION COMPETITION
Competitive section aimed for teenagers, with films up to 30 minutes, where a group of students from schools in the region will make the final selection of films, promotion, writing texts and the presentation of the screenings. The films of this competition will be pre-selected and suggested to the group by the various selection committees of the other competitions. During the event, another group of 12 teenagers will be the jury that will award the:
- My Generation Award.

CURTINHAS COMPETITION
This competition is dedicated to children’s films rated over 3 years old, and up to 30 minutes. The jury is composed of a large group of children aged from 7 to 13 years old, which will attribute the:
- Curtinhas Award.

Until the announcement of the final program of the 29th Curtas Vila do Conde, in June 2021, the amounts in cash or in kind attributable to each award require confirmation.

COMPETITIONS
REGULATIONS 2021

ENTERING A FILM IN THIS FESTIVAL IMPLIES THE ACCEPTANCE OF THESE REGULATIONS!

1. MAIN OBJECTIVE AND SCOPE
The 29th Curtas Vila do Conde - International Film Festival, organized by Curtas Metragens CRL – Cooperativa de Produção Cultural CRL, based in Vila do Conde, Portugal, will be held from 10th to 18th of July 2021. Assuming as main objective the promotion and diffusion of cinematographic and audio-visual works, selected according to a quality criteria, the event will put on focus not only on the discovery of new films and filmmakers but also on the recognized legacy of Cinema.

2. ELIGIBILITY
Animations, documentaries, fiction films, experimental films and music videos, in film (16mm and 35mm) or digital (DCP), produced in 2020 or 2021, no longer than 60 minutes (unless noted exceptions), are admitted to the various competitions.

3. COMPETITIVE SECTIONS AND AWARDS


Jury of Portuguese and International Competition
The jury of Portuguese and International competitions, composed by a maximum number of 5 recognized professionals to be designated by the festival board, will attribute the following prizes:

INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION
- Great Prize (for the best film in competition);

- Animation Award (to distinguish an animation film in competition);

- Manoel de Oliveira Award (to distinguish a documentary in competition);

- Fiction Award (to distinguish a fiction film in competition).

PORTUGUESE COMPETITION
- Best Portuguese Short Film Award (for the best film in the Portuguese competition);
- Best Director Award (to distinguish a director in Portuguese Competition).

The films of the Portuguese Competition also run for the International Competition Awards.

Vila do Conde Short Film Candidate for the European Film Awards
One of the films awarded in international or national competitions will be a candidate for nominations for the European Film Awards da European Film Academy.

Audience Awards
In addition to the prizes awarded by the jury of Portuguese and International Competitions, the festival’s audience will award two films through ranked voting, choosing the best film of the International Competition and the best film of the Portuguese Competition, in both cases corresponding to the highest average:
- Audience Award – International;
- Audience Award – Portuguese.

EXPERIMENTAL COMPETITION
This competition is dedicated to experimental films, particularly those that will reveal new approaches to moving images and the development of the language of Cinema. The jury of this competition, composed by a maximum number of 3 recognized professionals, to be designated by the festival board, will attribute the:
- Best Experimental Film Award.

MUSIC VIDEOS COMPETITION
Dedicated competition to music videos of bands or artists of Portuguese origin or produced by Portuguese authors, up to 30 minutes, with a specific jury also composed by a maximum number of 3 recognized professionals to be designated by the festival board, will attribute the prize for:
- Best Music Video.

TAKE ONE! COMPETITION
Dedicated to films up to 30 minutes, directed by Portuguese students, enrolled in Portuguese Universities or in cinema schools or filmmaking courses abroad. The jury of this competition, composed by a maximum number of 3 recognized professionals to be designated by the festival direction, will attribute the:


- Take One! Award.

MY GENERATION COMPETITION
Competitive section aimed for teenagers, with films up to 30 minutes, where a group of students from schools in the region will make the final selection of films, promotion, writing texts and the presentation of the screenings. The films of this competition will be pre-selected and suggested to the group by the various selection committees of the other competitions. During the event, another group of 12 teenagers will be the jury that will award the:
- My Generation Award.

CURTINHAS COMPETITION
This competition is dedicated to children’s films rated over 3 years old, and up to 30 minutes. The jury is composed of a large group of children aged from 7 to 13 years old, which will attribute the:
- Curtinhas Award.

Until the announcement of the final program of the 29th Curtas Vila do Conde, in June 2021, the amounts in cash or in kind attributable to each award require confirmation.

4. DEADLINES AND SUBMISSION FEES
For all competitions, the deadline for submissions for the festival is 30th of April 2021.
Submission Fees (except Take One!):
- completed and paid entries till 31st December 2020 – 11 EUR;
- completed and paid entries from 1st of January till 28th February 2021 – 13 EUR;
- completed and paid entries from 1st March till 30th April 2021 – 15 EUR.

Take One! Competition
- Free submission.

The festival does not guarantee viewing and appreciation of films received after these dates.

5. SUBMISSION
The submission of films may proceed with the following submission platforms:

FESTHOME
https://festhome.com/festival/curtas-vila-do-conde

Submitters should proceed following all steps and instructions. Costs associated to the use of the mentioned platforms, as well as the complete guidance and filling of submission forms are on the responsibility of the submitter.

Any questions should be addressed to Submissions Manager SÉRGIO GOMES, submissions@curtas.pt or by telephone +351 252 638025/646516.


6. SELECTION 

The festival board will inform the directors of the selected films and the respective copy contacts until 31st May 2021.

After notification of selection, upon request, it is required to send to the festival via e-mail or download link, the following materials:
- at least, one high-resolution digital format image of the film;
- the dialogues list of the film (in Portuguese and/or English) for subtitling;
- a written permission from director/producer/distributor to screen the film during the event;
- EPK’s (Electronic Press-Kit) and other promotional materials of the film are optional but equally important.

The absence of notification of film selection from the festival board by the above-mentioned dates, will mean that the respective film was not selected for the competitions of the 29th Curtas Vila do Conde. However, efforts will be made so that all candidates are informed via e-mail of the status of their films.

7. SELECTION CRITERIA
The selection committees will consider all submitted films that meet the eligibility criteria described in section 2 of these regulations and correctly submitted, namely regarding section 4 and 5.

For the International Competition, the selection committee will consider a quality criteria and the preference for world premieres. The films already included in programs of other Portuguese film festivals or that have already had its public presentation in Portugal will not be considered.

In the Portuguese Competition, the selection committee will consider, above all, a quality criteria. The films already included in programs of other Portuguese film festivals or with commercial distribution in Portugal will not be considered.

For the Take One! Competition, the selection committee will also consider a quality criteria, the preference for national premieres and will take into account a maximum diversity of represented schools.

8. EXHIBITION COPIES
Deadline for reception at the festival of the screening copy of the selected films is 10th June 2021.

The screening copies of the selected films must be provided in the following formats:

- film: 16mm or 35mm;
- digital: DCP 2K;

If you do not have a screening copy with any of the above formats, please contact us immediately after selection notification.

If a DCP screening copy is KDM protected, it is necessary that a valid KDM key to be provided between the 8th and the 21st June 2021.

The screening copy should be provided with a backup media, either blu-ray or a h264 video file.

Compliance with these characteristics of digital files is important to ensure the screening of the film in the best conditions. The festival is not responsible for the possible need to convert files whose characteristics differ from those above.

In the Portuguese and Take One! Competition, the screening copies must include English subtitles. In the case of films with english dialogues, screening copies must include Portuguese subtitles. Any other languages, please, contact us.

9. TRANSPORTS AND OTHER IMPORTANT ARRANGEMENTS

Candidates must cover transportation costs of the screening copies. A clearly visible inscription of “SEM VALOR COMERCIAL / NO COMMERCIAL VALUE “ is necessary on the packages. Any film sent on the festival charge will have its reception refused and automatically returned to the sender.

Curtas Vila do Conde will exclusively pay the return transport costs of screening copies, after exhibition at the festival.

All screening copies will remain covered under insurance from reception until return.

The festival board reserves the right to display excerpts and ‘trailers’ of the selected films in TV channels or broadcast through its website for festival promotion, at most 10% of the total length of the film.

The festival won’t pay for any screening rights of films in competition.

10. VIDEO LIBRARY
All the submitted films in the festival, selected or not for the all competitions, may be included in the VIDEO LIBRARY, attended exclusively by the accredited professionals, from 12th to 17th July 2021. It is on the festival board to decide which films will be available in the Video Library, not being assured the inclusion of all submitted films.

11. FESTIVAL EXTENSIONS
The festival organizes extensions in various Portuguese cities from 19th July to 31st March 2022. Please state on the online entry form whether to authorize the participation of your film in such sessions, as well as continued care of the copy at the festival during the mentioned period.
If you do not agree, please contact us.

12. VOD PLATFORM
The festival maintains as main objective the promotion and diffusion of films through its projection in cinema rooms, respecting the technical and aesthetic characteristics of each film. However, in face of unforeseen situations, as happened in the 28th edition, it may use online platforms to diffuse the film program. In this case, the festival will request prior authorization for the participation of the selected films in online programs and what are the possible limitations.

13. NONSPECIFIC CASES AND EXCEPTIONS
The festival board reserves the right to consider and decide on any matter omitted in these regulations.


VILA DO CONDE, OCTOBER 2020