INTRODUCTION

In the framework of the 26th European Film Festival in Lebanon, organized by the European Union Delegation in Lebanon in partnership with the Member States of the European Union and the Metropolis Association, a Call for Short Films is organized.

 

Throughout its previous editions, the European Film Festival has been keen on supporting the talents of young audio-visual and cinema students in Lebanon. Among the exciting changes offered in the upcoming 26^th edition of the festival, we are happy to open the participation in the Short Film Competition, in addition to university students also to all up-and-coming directors with short films produced in Lebanon in the last two years.

 

An international jury will oversee this competition to award four winners the opportunities to attend an international film festival or an international co-production platform.

 

Note: We are currently monitoring the situation and will continue to do so. We hope to be able to offer the festival in 2020 in a few months’ time.

 

 

ABOUT THE EUROPEAN FILM FESTIVAL

In 2020 the European Film Festival in Lebanon will reach its 26^th edition. It has become one of the most awaited events for the cinema-going audience in Lebanon, and has played a pivotal role in providing access for the public to preview the latest European film productions, which rarely have any other chance of screening in a regular commercial cinema hall. The festival for example has traditionally been a platform to present films from European countries not represented in the actual cinema circuit, and to show on the big screen restored masterpieces of European cinema, subsequently inspiring upcoming Lebanese talents.

 

In recent years the festival annually has attracted at least 13,000 people.

 

Following the 25^th anniversary of the European Film Festival in 2019, the European Union Delegation in Lebanon embarked in a self-assessment and evaluation exercise to identify lessons learnt from many years of festival history in Lebanon. On the basis of this the European Union Delegation has decided to introduce some changes and innovations as of the 2020 edition of the film festival.

 

The 2020 edition offers an expanded programme in the regions. The Short Film Competition will be open for all young filmmakers up to the age of 35, residing in Lebanon, to participate with their films produced since November 2018. Additionally, the timing of the festival has changed from January to September. The new timing will enrich the programme and hopefully allow us to offer multiple outdoor/open-air film screenings and cine-concerts.

 

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

 

WHO CAN APPLY

The competition is open to filmmakers residing in Lebanon, up to the age of 35.

 

DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION

All applications must be submitted electronically by midnight, July 13, 2020.

 

ELIGIBILITY

- The film should have been produced after November 2018.

- The run time should not exceed 30 minutes.

- The competition accepts submissions in Arabic, English or French. Film submissions in Arabic must be subtitled in English or French.

- The film must not have been already published in full online.

- It is preferable that the submitted films have not yet participated in other festivals in Lebanon.

 

THE JURY

- A jury composed of representatives of the European Union, EU Member States offering the awards, international and local industry professionals and the Metropolis Association will review and evaluate all submissions received and select the winning short films.

- The jury will select four winning short films.

 

AWARDS

In the framework of the 26th European Film Festival a total of four awards will be offered in collaboration with EU Member States. The awards are made possible thanks to the generous support of the following partners: Goethe-Institut Libanon, Institut français du Liban, the Polish Embassy in Lebanon and the Embassy of Sweden in Beirut.

 

The directors of the four winning short films will be offered the opportunity to participate in a key international cinema event. The awards include attendance in an international film festival or an international co-production platform. Below are details of the awards offered under this call:

 

• 1 award to attend the International Short Film Festival Oberhausen in Germany, in partnership with the Goethe-Institut Libanon;
• 1 award to attend the FIDCampus in France, in partnership with the Institut français du Liban and the FIDMarseille International Film Festival;
• 1 award to attend one of the major International Film Festivals in Poland in 2021, in partnership with the Polish Embassy in Lebanon;
• 1 award to attend the Malmö Arab Film Festival in Sweden, in partnership with the Embassy of Sweden in Beirut.

 

HOW TO APPLY AND IMPORTANT INFORMATION TO APPLICANTS

- All applications should be submitted online via this entry form.

- Please note that by joining the competition, you agree with the competition guidelines. Your entry cannot obtain abusive, harassing, discriminatory, racist or pornographic content.

- Your entry must not infringe upon the rights, trademarks or any other intellectual property rights of any third person or entity.

- It is imperative that the applicant provides a copy of the film’s shooting permit issued by the General Security Directorate.

- Directors of shortlisted films will be contacted privately to provide the screening copy of their film (accepted screening formats: DCP, Blu-ray, HD file), with technical information (synopsis, biography of the director, credits) and promotional materials (1 film still, 1 photo of the director).

- Shortlisted films will be announced publicly in the framework of the 26th European Film Festival.

 

For any additional inquiries, please contact info@metropoliscinema.net