We encourage the submission of international film or video entries, but all entries must be in English or have English dubbing or subtitles.
All entries must be available for screening during the festival. We welcome Feature Films, Short Films, Documentaries and Music Videos.
You may submit as many entries as you like. Each entry requires its own entry fee. Fees are not refundable.
We accept online submissions. Please submit a film using FilmFreeway.
In order to select the films for screenings we watch the online screeners. We select films for a number of reasons and we watch all films which are submitted (however we are not obliged to watch all films to the very end).
If your film is chosen to show at the Vienna Independent Film Festival, you must send a full quality DCP file no later than 2 weeks prior to the festival screening for screening in the cinema.
All films should have been completed within these past three years.
All awards are based on the overall merit of the entry. Decisions by the judges are final.
Festival does not deal with any copyright issues. All copyright issues should be resolved by the film authors before festival.
Filmmakers and screenwriters retain 100% all of the rights to their projects and materials that they submit to the Vienna Independent Film Festival.
Festival organizers have the right to use extracts of the film for promotional purposes.
All nationalities, minorities, genders and members of the LGBT community are welcome at our festival. Our festival supports women's voices in cinema.
You agree to indemnify and hold harmless us, our officers, affiliates, employees, and partners from any and all claims and liability arising out of entering or transmitting your film to the Vienna Independent Film Festival. If the participant harasses film festival officials, spreads lies or malicious slander with the intent to damage the reputation of the festival, we can cancel the film screening by such filmmaker, disqualify his film and withdraw their film from the selection.
We usually screen feature films or films longer than 30 minutes if someone from the crew presents the film at the festival. In case no-one is present from the film it is up to the organizers whether to screen the film or not.
Filmmakers are not paid for screening at the Vienna Independent Film Festival and the festival does not provide submission fee waivers, accommodation or any other financial assistance.
The Golden Sphinx Award may not be presented every year. The timing and selection are based on specific criteria, so there could be occasions when the award is not given.
