DOC[iN] - Viana International Documentary Film Festival (1)

Festival start: 02 March 2027      Festival end: 07 March 2027

DOC[iN] - Viana International Documentary Film Festival is organized by AO NORTE in partnership with the Viana do Castelo Municipality.

DOC[iN] is a festival that promotes cinema as an aesthetic and artistic experience, creating a space for reflection and critical thinking through documentary film. Dedicated to non-fiction cinema, the festival brings together films that explore major contemporary challenges, such as democracy, memory, social justice, identities, labor, and climate change.

More than just a film screening event, the festival seeks to be a place for gathering, debate, and social transformation, promoting intercultural dialogue and universal values. It serves as a bridge between different peoples and cultures, reinforcing Viana do Castelo as a territory of cultural sharing and innovation.

The program highlights films recognized for their artistic quality and the power of the author's vision. Through multiple perspectives, the festival invites audiences to reflect on the human condition, global challenges, and forms of resistance, transformation, and hope in the contemporary world.

Cash Prizes: 5,500€

The Official Jury confers the awards, comprising a trophy and a monetary prize distributed as follows:

• Best International Feature Length Film – 3.000 euros

• Best International Short or Medium Length Film – 1.500 euros

• Best Portuguese Documentary - 1.000 euros (Portuguese producing and/or directing of films)

1. The Awards are granted as part of the DOC[iN] - Viana International Documentary Film Festival (running from March 2nd to March 7th, 2027).

2. DOC[iN] selects documentaries that manifest the author's point of view on aspects related to the human condition, global challenges, and forms of resistance, transformation, and hope in the contemporary world. The festival accepts non-fiction films recognized for their artistic quality and the strength of the authorial vision.

3. Films will be eligible for competition only if completed after January 1st, 2026.

4. The submission deadline for films is December 15th, 2026.

5. To submit your film, use the online entry platform.

6. The films should have English subtitles, except for English-speaking films.

7. Feature length films (duration equal to or longer than 60 minutes) and short or medium length films (duration shorter than 60 minutes) may compete.

8. DOC[IN] will inform all the participants of decisions made by the film selection committee. Upon notification of acceptance to the festival, you have the next week to send us the following:

By email at ao-norte@nortenet.pt:

• A screening link (YouTube or Vimeo) with English subtitles, which does not require immediate download and must remain available until the festival concludes;
• Two film stills;
• A director's head shot;
• Director's short biography and filmography;
• Technical specs, cast and crew;
• Dialogue lists in English for translation and subtitling purposes;
• Trailer (or excerpt) of the film;
• Synopsis;
• Press kit (if available);
• Film’s previous festivals and awards.

Screening Copy:

• The screening copies of the selected films must be provided in DCP format.
• The need to send the screening copy in any other format must be communicated to the festival well in advance so that this possibility can be evaluated.
• The screening copies must be submitted with English subtitles, with the exception of English-language films and films without dialogues.
• The copy of the selected film (in its exhibition format) must be delivered using one of the following shipping methods:
o Digital delivery of the DCP by uploading it to the festival's official platform, which will be specified after selection.
o Digital delivery of the DCP by providing download options via other secure online data-sharing platforms.

9. It is the responsibility of the contact person to inform the festival of any editing changes made to the film after the version used during the selection process, as the translation process is based on the copy the festival has access to at the time of selection.

10. The texts used to promote the different films across the various communication materials (catalog, program, website, social media) are the sole responsibility of the festival, based on the information provided by the rights holders of the selected films.

11. In cases where the film does not have a trailer, and/or no video materials dedicated to its promotion are submitted, the festival is authorized to create an excerpt of up to three (3) minutes for promotional purposes.

12. The Official Jury confers the awards, comprising a trophy and a monetary prize distributed as follows:

• Best International Feature Length Film – 3.000 euros

• Best International Short or Medium Length Film – 1.500
euros

• Best Portuguese Documentary - 1.000 euros (Portuguese producing and/or directing of films)

13. The prizes are awarded to the directors of the films.

14. The Portuguese films competing in the festival are also in the running for the DOC[iN] award for Best Portuguese Documentary.

15. The Jury will not award joint prizes.

16. After selection, the festival will reserve the rights to use three (3) minutes of footage for the purpose of promoting DOC[IN] on TV, radio, internet, as well as the promotional materials for the film in the promotion of the festival.

17. All decisions reached by the jury are final and may not be contested or appealed.

18. All entries of films made to DOC[iN] presuppose knowledge of and acceptance of this regulations.

19. The festival board will decide on all matters not covered by this regulation.