18º Seville European Film Festival
1. INTRODUCTION
1.1. Objectives
The Seville European Film Festival (SEFF) is a project carried out by the Seville Institute of Culture and Arts (ICAS), which is part of the Seville City Council. Its main objective is to serve as an international forum for the highest quality European cinema, with a particular focus on new talent and emerging films.
One of the major objectives of the Festival is the preservation and dissemination of film culture. Therefore, SEFF organizes educational activities and film programs throughout the year dedicated to increasing the visibility of all genres and nationalities.
1.2. Dates
The 18th edition of Seville European Film Festival will be held in the city of Seville from November 5th to the 13th, 2021.
1.3. Festival Head Office
Seville European Film Festival
C / Torneo 18.
Seville, CP 41002. Spain
Telephone: (+34) 955 473 199
E-mail: info@festivalcinesevilla.eu
1.4. Participation
The submission of a film implies the acceptance of the above-mentioned rules and regulations, and the festival’s administration is the only competent entity to decide on its interpretation.
2. FILM SUBMISSIONS
There is no charge for submitting films to the festival. In order to participate, it is necessary to correctly fill in the online registration form, which is available at the following link ONLINE FORM.
Short films are eligible to participate only within the focus sections, cycles, special programmes and the Andalusian Panorama Short Film section.
2.1. Registration deadlines
The deadline for spontaneous film submissions to the festival is September 10th, 2021.
2.2. Screener sending
Registered films can be submitted via a link for permanent reproduction, providing a password if necessary, and which must be specified on the registration form.
3. SECTIONS AND AWARDS
3.1. Competitive sections
Films included in competition must meet the following requirements:
- Full-length feature films of European (co)production.
- Produced after January 1st, 2020.
- Non-exhibited previously in the Spanish territory (with the exception of EFA Selection and Andalusian Panorama).
Official Section
A selection of European-produced or co-produced films of outstanding cinematographic quality and potential circulation.
The New Waves · Official Selection
Pioneering values and/or unique perspectives on contemporary European cinema.
The New Waves /Non_Fiction · Official Selection
European (co-)produced documentary feature films in the non-fiction sphere with innovative perspectives on reality. The works selected for competition will have a minimum duration of 50 minutes.
Endless Revolutions · Official Selection
Endless Revolutions is a selection of feature films made by independent filmmakers of the European scene, whose work is notable for its bold and daring spirit. The works selected for competition will have a minimum duration of 50 minutes.
Extraordinary Stories · Official Selection
The space of the festival for an open, warm, direct cinema, composed of European (co)productions that narrate universal stories through a fresh visual style.
EFA Selection 2021(European Film Academy)
This section, in collaboration with the European Film Academy (EFA), features films that have been shortlisted for the European Film Awards in 2021.
Andalusian Panorama Feature Films and Short_Films
A selection of recent full-length or short films (30 minutes maximum) audiovisual works (co)produced by Andalusian companies, or directed by Andalusian filmmakers.
Cinephiles of the future
Feature films of European production or co-production of special interest for a young audience.
Europa Junior
Feature films of European production or co-production of special interest for children.
3.2 Non-Competitive Sections
Focuses, seasons and special screenings
Sections specifically dedicated to reviewing and highlighting the work of specific creators, as well as schools or trends whose creative work is considered relevant.
Cinephile Frame
An online section made up of films for the younger audiences and aimed at stimulating the cinephilia of the future. Curated and developed by PROFESTIVALES21 (Málaga Film Festival, Valladolid International Film Festival (SEMINCI) and Huelva Film Festival). Introduced through the VOD platform FILMIN.
EFA Shorts on Tour
A program composed of short films previously selected and nominated by the European Film Academy for the European Film Awards 2021.
3.3. Awards
‣ Official Section
GOLDEN GIRALDILLO for the Best Film of the OFFICIAL SECTION, with an economic endowment of €35.000 in the case that the film is registered by a Spanish distribution company. Otherwise, the amount allocated will be €20,000 awarded to the company which entered the film in the competition. Additionally, a prize of €15,000 will be attributed to the distributor which acquires the commercial exhibition rights in Spain, as long as the commercial release takes place within twelve months of the closing date of the competition.
GRAND JURY Award of the OFFICIAL SECTION, with a prize of €25.000 if the film is submitted by a Spanish distribution company. Otherwise, the amount granted will be €15,000 for the company that has registered the film in the competition.
Additionally, an award worth €10,000 will be allocated to the distributor which acquires the commercial exhibition rights in Spain, subject to the commercial release taking place within twelve months of the closing date of the competition.
The Awards for Best Direction, Best Script, Best Editing, Best Actress, Best Actor and Best Cinematography of the films in the Official Section have also been established. These awards will have no monetary endowment.
‣ The New Waves · Official Selection
The NEW WAVES Best Film Award comes with a prize of €20,000 if the film is entered by a Spanish distribution company. Otherwise, the amount allocated will be €10,000 for the company that has entered the film in the competition. In addition, a prize of €10,000 Euros will be awarded to the distribution company that acquires the rights to commercial screening in Spain, subject to the commercial release taking place within twelve months of the closing date of the competition.
The NEW WAVES Special Award is worth €10,000, to be allocated to the production or distribution company which entered the film in the competition.
‣ The New Waves/Non_Fiction · Official Selection
The NEW WAVES/NON FICTION Best Film Award grants €10,000 to the production, distribution company or Director which entered the film in the competition.
‣ Endless Revolutions · Official Selection
The Official Competition ENDLESS REVOLUTIONS Best Film Award comes with an economic endowment of €10,000, to be allocated to the director, production or distribution company which entered the film in the competition.
‣ Extraordinary Stories · Official Selection
The EXTRAORDINARY STORIES Best Film Award is worth €10,000, to be allocated to the production, distribution company or Director which entered the film in the competition.
‣ Awards for Best Direction
In collaboration with Acción Cultural Española (AC/E), the following prize is presented:
AC/E Award to the Best Spanish Film Director, that celebrates the world or Spanish premiere in Seville, with an economic endowment of €10,000 that will go to the director of the awarded work. In addition to the economic endowment, AC/E will internationalize the film by programming it, with the prior agreement provided by the production company, at ibero-american film festivals or cultural centers abroad.
Films participating within our Official Selection will be eligible for this prize (Official Section, New Waves, New Waves/Non Fiction, Endless Revolutions, Extraordinary Stories).
Award for Best European First or Second Feature Film, having its national or world premiere at the Seville Film Festival, with an economic endowment of €5,000 that will go to the director of the winning film.
‣ EFA Selection 2021 (European Film Academy)
The GRAND AUDIENCE AWARD for the Best Film of the EFA SELECTION 2021 grants a prize of €12,000, dedicated to the film’s distributor in Spain. Films that have been theatrically released in Spain will not be eligible for the cash prize.
‣ Andalusian Panorama
The prize for The Best Film in the Andalusian Panorama Feature Film is worth €5,000 and will go towards the director, production company or distributor who has registered the film in the festival. Films that have been theatrically released in Spain will not be eligible for the cash prize.
Andalusian Panorama Shorts Films. In collaboration with the Pablo de Olavide University the following awards are established:
The Rosario Valpuesta Award to the Best Short Film of the ANDALUSIAN
PANORAMA/SHORT FILM Section is worth €2,000, to be allocated to the person or
production company which entered the winner short film in the competition.
The Rosario Valpuesta Special Prize for the artistic contribution, in any of its forms, of the Andalusian Short Film Panorama section, with an economic endowment of €1,000.
‣ Cinéphiles of the Future and Europa Junior
CINEPHILES OF THE FUTURE AWARD for films for the over-12s
EUROPA JUNIOR AWARD for films for under-12s
These prizes will not be accompanied by a cash prize.
‣ EPAC/MEDIAPRO/ECIB/UVIC Master’s Degree in Film Production and Distribution Award
Awarded with the tuition free of charge for enrolment in the 2022 edition of
EPAC/Mediapro/ECIB/UVIC Master's Degree in Film Production and Distribution organised by the Cinema and Audiovisual School of Catalonia (EPAC) in collaboration with Mediapro and the Barcelona Film School (ECIB) and approved by The University of Vic - Central University of Catalonia (UVIC-UCC).
The Master's Degree programme lasts 9 months (January-September 2022) the various classes and sessions of which take place in Barcelona.
The Spanish feature films participating within our Official Selection will be eligible for this prize (Official Section, New Waves, New Waves/Non Fiction, Endless Revolutions, Extraordinary Stories).
The prize will be awarded to the leading production company of the winning feature film, which will designate a member of its team to complete the Master's degree. The jury panel will be formed by a representative of the Master's Degree and a representative of the Seville European Film Festival.
‣ Projects Awards
The company Deluxe Spain will award two special prizes in the form of a DCP (Digital Cinema Package) Master for the filmmaker’s next feature film project, up to a maximum value of €6,000.
- 1 DCP will be awarded to one of the Spanish directors who participate in the following sections: Official, New Waves, New Waves/Non_Fiction or Special Screen section.
- 1 DCP will be awarded to the director of the winner film within the Endless Revolutions Official Competition.
III European Coproduction Meeting. Guest country: Germany.
Dedicated to German or Spanish fiction or non-fiction films in development that seek or have co-production potential. The project must have a main producer associated with it. The financing of the project must be guaranteed at least 30% at the time of registration.
A maximum of 10 projects will be selected, 5 German and 5 Spanish. Details and regulations will be published early August. The following prizes will be awarded:
- THE SEVILLE EUROPEAN FILM FESTIVAL PRIZE: €5,000 in cash for the development of the winning project.
- ARTE SONORA SOUND DESIGN PRIZE: €5,000 in post-production services (editing and sound mixing).
Short Film Script
The University of Seville, through its Center for Cultural Initiatives (CICUS), in collaboration with the Seville European Film Festival, announces the XIV European Film-Screenwriting Award University of Seville - 2021, granting €1,500 for the best short film script in the fiction category and €1,500 for a short film script in the non-fiction category.
The submissions period will end on September 15th. The terms and conditions of this call for entries are available at https://cicus.us.es/plandecultura2021guionenglish/
3.4. Jury
The Juries of the Official and New Waves/Non-Fiction sections, as well as the juries of the AC/E Award for the Best Spanish Film Director and the Award for Best European First or Second Feature Film, will be formed by prominent figures of the film and culture scene.
The CampUS Jury, made up of university students, is established to award the two best feature films in the New Waves section.
The Endless Revolutions prize will be awarded to the chosen film by the International Film Critics (FIPRESCI) jury.
The Extraordinary Stories prize will be decided by popular vote of those attending the sessions, and will go to the film with the highest score after the vote count.
Within the section EFA 2021 Selection, there is a Grand Audience Award, decided by popular vote, for the film obtaining the highest score after the scrutiny of the votes.
The Best Film within the Andalusian Panorama Feature Film and Short Film section will be awarded by a jury composed by members of the Writers Association of Andalusia (ASECAN) and members of the different Film Academies of Spain.
The Europa Junior & Cinephiles of the Future Awards will be awarded by popular vote of the students attending the screenings specifically designated as "competitive screenings", and will go to the film with the highest score after the votes have been counted.
No person with an interest in the production or exhibition of the films on which they are to give their verdict may participate as a jury member. The decisions of the Juries of the competitive sections shall be final.
3.5. Requirements for Award Winners
Producers and distributors of the awarded films of all sections undertake to include a visible mention of the Seville European Film Festival award in all future publicity and promotional materials, both in Spain and abroad, as an essential condition for the award.
The mention shall use the exact name of the award granted, accompanied by the official logo of the Seville European Film Festival and must be approved by the festival prior to publication. This reference to the award granted must also appear in the header of Video on Demand, DVD and Blu-ray marketing, as well as in the initial credits of the film in all its possible reproduction media. Similarly, they undertake to provide at least 10 copies of the DVD and/or Blu-ray that will be marketed and a physical poster with the image of the Seville European Film Festival, for the
festival’s archives.
The awards will be settled with those who have registered the film at the festival, who are recognized with the legal authority to participate in it, and assuming that the participation is known and agreed by all the parties involved (distributor, producer, director…etc.).
3.6. Award Payment
Cash awards included within these regulations will be paid throughout 2022, prior to the submission of supporting documents for the compliance of the requirements described below:
Prizes awarded to the Spanish distribution companies
1.- Certificate accrediting the rights to the film or contract signed for the acquisition of the distribution rights.
2.- Certificate of release in commercial theatres or online, issued by the Institute of Cinematography and Audiovisual Arts (ICAA). Ministry of Education, Culture and Sports of the Spanish Government.
3.- Accreditation of credit titles and all advertising initiatives with the mention of the Seville Festival.
Prizes awarded to the non-Spanish distribution companies
In the event that the awarded company is not Spanish, it should provide the undersigned contract of acquisition of the distribution rights for the film.
Payment procedure
At the request of the interested parties, the festival can make the payment in advance of the 50% of the cash award for the Spanish premiere, if the following requirements are met:
1.- Having acquired the rights to the film, providing certification or a signed contract for the acquisition of distribution rights.
2.- Accreditation of the film and all the advertising initiatives with the mention of the Seville Festival.
3.- A statement signed by the distributor who has acquired the rights that the film will be released in Spain within 12 months from the end of the festival (November 13th, 2021). Failure to comply with the above mentioned condition will result in the loss of the prize, and proceedings will be initiated for the refund of the amount paid plus the legal interest accrued.
The remaining 50% of the prize amount will be paid once the festival is provided with the Certification of the theatrical release, issued by the Institute of Cinematography and Audiovisual Arts (ICAA). Ministry of Education, Culture and Sport of the Spanish Government.
Awards for Best Direction granted to the director of the winning film or short film*
1.- Throughout 2022, the winners will receive their payments in the indicated modalities. The festival management will send the data of the winners who registered the films to the administrative department of ICAS having requested previously all the necessary financial and bank details for the procedure as well as a certificate confirming their role as a producer company, distributor or director of the awarded film.
2.-The entities awarded in this modality must include in their credits and all the advertising materials the mention of the Seville European Film Festival, according to the logos provided by the festival organization and that must be accredited for the processing of the award.
* The Rosario Valpuesta Award for the Best Short Film of the Andalusian Panorama Short Films section will be paid by the Pablo de Olavide University and the festival will provide the winner's contact details. The Rosario Valpuesta Special Award for Artistic Contribution in the Andalusian Panorama Short Film category will be paid and processed through the Institute of Culture and the Arts of Seville, the information described in this section being provided.
4. SELECTED FILMS
Selected films must fulfill the festival entry form before the deadline established by the festival, making the selection in the SEFF programme confidential until the official festival announcement.
Selected films can in no case be unilaterally withdrawn from the festival programme by the person or production company that has entered the film in the festival, and the requirements of the section in which the film is included must be met until the presentation of the film in the SEFF.
The festival recognizes the person signing this confirmation as the only one to negotiate all the aspects of the participation of the film within this edition of the Festival and as the only responsible person among others that might have taken part in the production of the film.
4.1. Screening copies requirements
Screening copies in Digital Cinema Package (DCP) must follow the DCI standards, and will be kept in possession of the SEFF until the end of the last screening programmed within the festival.
Before the screening copies are sent to Seville, proper functioning (color, audio/video synch, subtitles, etc.) must be certified by the company which has entered the selected film, in a DCP server following DCI standards.
The company will also provide the SEFF Technical Department (tecnica@festivalcinesevilla.eu) with the necessary number of KDMs (or, alternatively, a DKDM) for each of the servers of the venues in which the film is screened. The company will also cover all costs of the generation of the KDMs (or
DKDMs), and will be responsible for generating new ones in case they are needed.
All screening copies must be submitted in Original Version with Spanish or English subtitles. If necessary the film will be requested in a clean original version In the case the film is submitted with English subtitles a dialogue list of the subtitles must be provided, along with a permanent downloadable link of the final version, prior to September 30, 2021.
The SEFF reserves the right of rejecting copies which, after the necessary technical inspections, are not appropriate for screening, and will provide the film representatives with a technical report before requesting a new screening copy.
4.2. Screening copies shipment
All screening copies of the selected films must be received by the festival before October 12th, 2021, in order to enable the technical tests and inspections previous to their screening at the SEFF.
Reception of the prints can be made in two different ways:
1.- Ideally, the DCP should be sent digitally by uploading it to the Festival's platform. The costs derived from sending via any other DCP transfer platform other than the one provided by the festival will be covered by the participant.
2.- DCP sent on a Physical drive (hard drive 2.5, CRU or similar). In this case the prints must include the return shipping details. If these details are not properly displayed the festival will not take care of any delays or losses that may happen. Inbound and outbound shipping costs as well as the insurance during the transport of the film will be covered preferably by the participant.
The Seville European Film Festival will only send/receive screening copies to/from other organizations which, as the SEFF, do hold insurance in force covering possible damage of the copies during their transportation between the two festivals.
5. Miscellaneous
5.1. Documentation & Promotional material
Once the film is confirmed, in order to optimize the promotion of the film participants shall provide sufficient documentation and advertising materials before September 30th 2021. For films selected within the Official Section, The New Waves, Europa Junior & Cinephiles of the Future and EFA Selection, will be required the sending of pressbooks, director's portrait, stills of the film, posters and promo (EPK).
The festival is entitled to distribute promotional materials to any interested television channel or any other media, upon request.
5.2. Programming requirements
The festival management will decide on the screening venue, order, date and time for each selected film, as well as the stipulated number of screenings within the festival frame. The SEFF also reserves the right to schedule simultaneous screenings of the same film in different rooms, in case this would be necessary due to limited capacity in some festival venues.