Dear Asian filmmakers, the Berlin International Film Festival is accepting feature films (until November 2), short films (until November 16), and series (until November 23, 2022).

About the festival:
The Berlin International Film Festival (hereafter referred to as the “Berlinale”) is organised by the Kulturveranstaltungen des Bundes in Berlin GmbH (the Federal Organisation for Cultural Events in Berlin). The Berlinale is a major public cultural event. Each year, it typically sells over 330,000 tickets and comprises around 350 films, making it a unique event for interaction with a film-loving public. With the participation of around 20,000 professional visitors from over 100 countries, including more than 3,800 journalists, it is one of the international film industry’s most important events.

The Berlinale is a FIAPF (International Federation of Film Producers Associations) accredited festival and is subject to its guidelines.

Films can be submitted to the following sections and programmes: Competition, Encounters, Berlinale Shorts, Panorama, Forum, Generation, Perspektive Deutsches Kino, Berlinale Series and Berlinale Classics.

*Note: We will only give information about sections were international (non-german) films can apply.

General Rules for all sections:
– All sections accept fiction films, documentary forms, animation as well as experimental films but no industry films or commercials.
– World premieres are given priority, however, the sections have different requirements
– Films should have been completed 12 months prior to the festival.
– While feature-length films need a minimum running time of 60 min, Berlinale Shorts accepts films up to 30 min, short films for Generation will be accepted up to 20 min. Films for Perspektive Deutsches Kino (German productions only) need a minimum length of 30 min.
– Documentary forms can be submitted to all sections.
– The Artistic Director of the festival reserves the right to rule on any cases not provided for in these guidelines individually.
– Every submitter will receive a written notification about the result of the selection screening.
– Re-submissions are NOT eligible.
– Submitters must fill the online form at the Berlinale’s website (see link below).
– One entry form must be filled out for each film.
– Accepted formats for selection: File upload or DCP.
– Accepted formats for festival presentation: DCP or QuickTime ProRes. 35 mm and other formats only upon request.

Competition and Encounter Section eligibility:
– Accepts feature films and documentaries of at least 60 minutes.
– Films that haven’t participated at any international film festival. A presentation in the country of origin will be tolerated. A presentation at an online festival is permitted if the streamings were only accessible in the country of origin (geoblocking).
– Films that haven’t been released theatrically or presented publicly other than in their country of origin.
– Films that haven’t been presented on television nor on the internet/VOD.
– Films that are intended for theatrical release.
– World Premieres are preferred. German films have to be world premieres to be eligible for Competition.
– All films invited to participate in Competition are screened in their original language with German and English subtitles. The film’s producer is responsible for meeting the costs of subtitling and providing the subtitled version on time.

Berlinale Shorts Competition:
– Accepts fiction, documentary, animation, hybrid and experimental shorts.
– Films should not exceed the 30-minute mark.
– Shorts that haven’t participated at any international film festival. A presentation in the country of origin will be tolerated. A presentation at an online festival is permitted if the streamings were only accessible in the country of origin (geoblocking).
– Films that haven’t been presented on television nor on the internet/VOD.
– World Premieres are preferred. German films have to be world premieres to be eligible for Competition.
– All films, including German-language films, are shown in their original version with English subtitles. The producer is required to meet the costs of subtitling.

Panorama Competition
– Accepts feature films and documentaries of at least 6 0minutes running time.
– Films that have not been screened at any other German or European film festival. A presentation at festivals in the country of origin (except for German films) will be tolerated. A presentation at an online festival is permitted if the streamings were only accessible outside of Europe/in the country of origin (geoblocking).
– Films that have not been released in Europe other than in their country of origin.
– Films that haven’t been presented on television nor on the internet/VOD other than in their country of origin (except German films).
– Films that are intended for theatrical release.
– World Premieres are preferred. German films applying for Panorama need to be an European premiere as minimum requirement and may not have been presented publicly in Germany (festival, theatrical release, TV, Internet, VOD).
– All films invited to the festival are screened in their original version with English subtitles. The costs of subtitling are at the responsibility of the producer.

Forum Section
– Accepts feature films and documentaries of at least 6 0minutes running time.
– Films that have not been screened at any other German or European film festival. A presentation at festivals in the country of origin (except for German films) will be accepted. A presentation at an online festival is permitted if the streamings were only accessible outside of Europe/in the country of origin (geoblocking).
– Films that have not been released in Europe other than in their country of origin.
– Films that haven’t been presented on television nor on the internet/VOD other than in their country of origin (except German films).
– World Premieres are preferred. German films applying for Forum need to be a European premiere as minimum requirement and may not have been presented publicly in Germany (festival, theatrical release, TV, Internet, VOD).
– Films selected for the Forum are shown in their original version with English subtitles. A second version with German subtitles would be appreciated but is not obligatory.

Generation Section
– Accepts feature-length films of at least 60 minutes running time as well as short films with a maximum running time of 20 minutes.
– Films that have not been screened at any German or European film festival. A presentation at festivals in the country of origin (except for German films) will be tolerated. A presentation at an online festival is permitted if the streamings were only accessible outside of Europe / in the country of origin (geoblocking).
– Films that have not been released in Europe other than in their country of origin.
– Films that haven’t been presented on television nor on the internet/VOD other than in their country of origin (except German films).
– World Premieres are preferred. German films applying for Generation need to be a European premiere as minimum requirement and may not have been presented publicly in Germany (festival, theatrical release, TV, Internet, VOD).
– All selected films are screened in their original version with English subtitles. The producer is required to meet the costs of subtitling. The version released or planned for release in the country of origin is regarded as the original version.

Series Section
– Accepts first seasons of series with at least 75 minutes running time.
– Series should have world or international premiere status (international premiere means the series can be broadcast/streamed in the country of origin only). German series must be world premieres.
– Series should consist of four or more episodes.
– All selected films are screened in their original version with English subtitles. The producer is required to meet the costs of subtitling. The version released or planned for release in the country of origin is regarded as the original version.

Berlinale Classic Section
– Accepts premieres high-quality restorations of feature films and documentaries of at least 60 minutes running.
– Films should have their premieres before 2004 and were released internationally in cinemas.
– Restores versions have have been screened outside its country of origin at festivals, in cinemas, on TV, on the internet, or streaming platforms, or released on DVD/Blu-ray. World premieres are given priority.
– Films has to be available in the formats DCP or 35mm. Other formats only upon request.
– All selected films are screened in their original version. English subtitles are required for non-English language films; additional German subtitles are welcomed, but are not mandatory. The submitting entity is responsible for meeting the costs of subtitling and providing the subtitled version on time.

– Submission Fees:
* Feature Films and Series – € 175
* Short Films – € 75 (regardless of the number of sections you apply for)

– Deadlines:
* Feature Films – November 2, 2022
* Short Films – November 16, 2022
* Series – November 23, 2022

We recommend filmmakers to read the full Rules and Regulations here: https://www.berlinale.de/en/film-entry/guidelines/general-guidelines.html

To submit to the festival please visit: https://www.berlinale.de/en/film-entry/submission/start.html

We remind readers that the 73rd Berlin International Film Festival will take place from February 16 – 26, 2023.

To see other Calls please follow the next link: “Call For Entries”.