Skip to content
Iraq International Youth Film Festival
AR

Submit your film

Terms and conditions of participation

3rd edition – Iraq International Youth Film Festival

The Iraq International Youth Film Festival welcomes young directors, producers and filmmakers from around the world to take part in its third edition, in the belief that cinema strengthens cultural dialogue, discovers new talent and supports young creative voices.

Read the full terms, then accept them at the bottom to continue to the registration form.

  1. 1. Eligibility

    • Films produced after 1 January 2025 are accepted.
    • A film that took part in a previous edition of the festival may not be submitted.
    • Narrative, documentary, animation, experimental and student films are accepted.
    • Television programs and single episodes of series or shows are not accepted.

  2. 2. Registration and submission

    • Registration is through the festival's official entry form.
    • The deadline for entries is 31 December 2026.
    • The participant must provide a complete, final screening copy of the film.
    • Please state the film's premiere status (world, international, regional, Iraqi) if any.
    • All applicants are notified of the selection results by the email registered in the form.

  3. 3. Screening and selection

    • The festival welcomes films screening for the first time, and also considers films previously shown at other festivals in line with its programming policy.
    • After the official announcement of a film's selection, an entry may only be withdrawn with the festival management's approval.
    • The festival management reserves the right to place the film in the most suitable section: official competition, parallel programs, student sections or special screenings.
    • The festival pays special attention to directors' first works and to films offering new artistic visions and outstanding young experiences.

  4. 4. Technical requirements

    Film categories

    • Short film: up to 30 minutes.
    • Feature film: 62 minutes or more.

    Screening files

    • Provide a working, secure viewing link to the final version.
    • HD quality or higher is preferred.
    • Maximum viewing file size: 15 GB.

    Subtitles

    • Arabic-language films must include English subtitles.
    • Non-Arabic films must include Arabic or English subtitles.
    • The participant is responsible for the accuracy and quality of the subtitles.

  5. 5. Screening copies of selected films

    If the film is selected for official participation, the film's owner undertakes to provide:

    • A high-quality screening copy: MOV, ProRes or high-quality MP4.
    • A DCP for films nominated for theatrical screening, whenever the festival management requests it.
    • KDM keys for encrypted films within the set dates.
    • Any additional technical material that guarantees screening quality.

    The festival reserves the right to request an alternative copy if a technical problem affecting the screening is found.

  6. 6. Press materials

    For publication and promotion, please provide the festival with:

    • The film poster.
    • Five stills from the film.
    • A recent photo of the director.
    • The trailer, if available.
    • The press kit, if available.

  7. 7. Rights and responsibilities

    • The participant declares that they hold all legal rights required to register and screen the film.
    • The participant bears full responsibility for the rights to music, archive material, images and content used in the film.
    • The participant declares that they have obtained the consent of all producers, partners and rights holders concerned.
    • The participant bears legal responsibility for any claims relating to intellectual property or third-party rights.

  8. 8. Festival rights

    • The festival may use excerpts of the film not exceeding 90 seconds, as well as stills, posters and trailers, for media promotion.
    • The festival may archive a copy of selected films for documentation, study and non-commercial research, with the rights holder's consent.
    • The festival may reject any entry that does not meet the technical or legal conditions.
    • The festival management reserves the right to interpret these regulations and to decide on cases not covered by them.

  9. 9. Priority criteria

    The festival pays special attention to:

    • First or second films by young directors.
    • Films produced or co-produced by Iraqi entities.
    • Films having their premiere.
    • Works offering innovative visions and human stories of artistic and cultural value.

  10. 10. General provisions

    • Selected films must mention their participation in, or award from, the Iraq International Youth Film Festival in their future promotional material.
    • Jury members may not enter films in the competition they are judging.
    • The festival management reserves the right to change screening times, programs or venues when necessary.
    • Sending the entry form constitutes full acceptance of all the terms and conditions in these regulations.