General registration and participation guidelines

Introduction

The NaturVision Film Festival (hereinafter referred to as ‘NaturVision’) is a thematic festival focusing on wildlife, nature, the environment and sustainability. Films dealing with these topics are eligible to participate. Traditionally started as a documentary film festival, NaturVision accepts all types of visual realisation, including fictional formats and animated films.

Please read the general registration and participation guidelines before you start.

International Competition

• Date of completion: after 01.01.2024
• Closing date: until 16.02.2025

International Short Film Competition (films up to max. 20 min. length)

• Date of completion: after 01.01.2018
• Closing date: until 31.01.2025

Children's Jury Competition

• Date of completion: after 01.01.2022
• Closing date: until 31.01.2025

Premiere status
Premieres are favoured in all sections. However, they are not a requirement.

Screening media
To view a film for the International Competition, please send us a viewing link with a password. The link must be available for at least 6 months.
Submission of viewing copies for the Children's Jury Award (upload via OneDrive) and the Short Film Award (via Shortfilmdepot) vary from the International Competition.

Festival screening formats
DCP or Quicktime ProRes, MP4.

Guidelines for registration

1. General information

• Films can be entered for one or more categories.
• The jury has the possibility to change the chosen submission category.

2. Processing fee

• The fee is charged to cover administrative costs; a refund is therefore excluded in any case.
• Processing fee: 60 euros for the first category and 10 euros for each additional category. The amounts are inclusive of VAT.
• Early Bird: Up to and including 31.12.24 the submission fees are 25% reduced.
• The submission fee is to be paid per film and is payable with the film submission.
• For pupils and students: The submission fee for the category ‘NaturVision Newcomer Film Award’ is waived upon presentation of a certificate of education.

3. Form Category Short Film Award

• Please note the separate submission form for the NaturVision Short Film Award.
• The submission fee for the short film award is 30,00 Euro. The amounts are inclusive of VAT.

The entry form must be completed and submitted by the closing date for entries at the latest.

4. Material for film submissions:

For submissions, the following material must be submitted by 23 February 2024 at the latest:

• Screener link with password (validated for at least 3 months). Screener link must already be included within the film submission.
• Film description / synopsis: Text length of 50 to 100 words. The description also serves as the basis for the texts in the programme catalogue.
• Filmmakers Intention/Producers Intention: Text length of 50 to 100 words.
• Cast and crew: A complete and verified list of all contributors, which serves as the basis for the filmographic information for all publications.
• Photos: at least three meaningful film photos (1500 pixels on the long side). By submitting the photos, the publication rights for these photos are granted for advertising and/or illustration purposes (print and web).
• Trailer: Entry if available
• Press clippings and press kits: if available
• Wettbewerbssektion Filmmusikpreis: Bei Einreichungen für die Sektion „NaturVision Filmmusikpreis“ ist die Einreichung der Musikliste mit Angabe Musikwerk, Komponist*innen sowie der jeweiligen Filmszene (Time Code) erforderlich.

The documents must be submitted in digital form by e-mail or via data transfer, for example via WeTransfer, stating the film title to festival@natur-vision.org. The submitted documents will not be returned.

The submission of the above-mentioned documents is obligatory and part of the complete registration.

Shipping conditions:

Delivery is always digital without postal dispatch.

In the event of dispatch by post, all documents must be sent carriage paid. Cash on delivery shipments will not be accepted. NaturVision will not accept any consignments for which shipping charges, duties, taxes or customs fees are payable and accepts no responsibility for any returned consignments.

Legal matters

1. Screening authorisation, special events, Best Ofs

• By submitting the film, the submitting party consents to the inclusion of their production in the NaturVision archive.
• By submitting the film, the submitting party agrees to the screening of the submitted film at the NaturVision Film Festival. Furthermore, they agree to make excerpts of up to three minutes from the submitted film available free of charge for promotional purposes for the festival (radio/television/web).
• The NaturVision Film Festival includes the NaturVision school programme and events at which individual films are shown to promote the festival. In cooperation with various institutions, ‘Best Of NaturVision’ events (‘NaturVision Film Days’) take place at which films from the festival programme are shown.
• Like the festival itself, these events are non-commercial.
• When submitting the entry form, the party submitting the film agrees or declines that the submitted film may also be shown at these events.
• Online use: If the film is made available via a NaturVision online platform, prior agreement must be reached with the rights holders.
• No remuneration will be paid for the projection of the films within the above-mentioned events.

2. Rights

• NaturVision undertakes to use the submitted films only for the purposes stated in the regulations. Any other use not mentioned in these conditions of participation will be agreed with the submitting party.
• With the official submission of the film, the submitting party confirms that it is in possession of all rights required for the screening of the film within the framework of NaturVision. It is assured that no copyrights or performance rights of third parties are infringed by the utilisation. Likewise, the submitting party confirms that it has assured all other persons involved in the production that they agree to participate in the festival.

3. Implementation of the competition / prizes

• If a submitted film is selected for the programme or the competition, you will be informed and a screening copy will be requested from you.
• Within the ‘NaturVision Competition’, prizes are awarded in various categories by an independent jury of experts. The jury is newly appointed each year. Appointments are made at the suggestion of the festival management. The jury's decisions are final.
• Prize money is awarded in varying amounts. The respective amounts and the endowed categories may vary and depend on the funds raised in the current year. The prize money honours the creativity of the people involved (director, author, camera, music). For this reason, it is not possible to make payments to television broadcasters or production companies.

The submission of a film constitutes acceptance of the above regulations. In the case of exceptions and unspecified cases, the festival management will make the final decision.

In case of doubt, the German version of the regulations shall apply.

The exclusive place of jurisdiction is Ludwigsburg.

NaturVision reserves the right of judgement in all cases not expressly regulated in this document.

For further information please contact:

NaturVision Filmfestival

NaturVision Ludwigsburg gGmbH

Organisation and film competition: festival@natur-vision.org
Contact person: María Vallecillos Soldado

Tel + 49 - 7141 992248-02
Fax +49 - 7141 992248-18

Ludwigsburg, 25 October 2024