COME ON DOC

About

Dear filmmakers,

Welcome to COME ON DOC, a festival dedicated to short-form documentary films and emerging directors.

Come on, doc! focuses exclusively on short documentary works and presents them in a curated screening program, followed by public discussions and awards. The festival is built around theatrical screenings of finalist films and a shared space for professional exchange.

Our selection principle is simple and intentional.
Each submitted film should represent a single, focused work by its director at this stage of their career. We do not require a world or national premiere at Come on, doc!. Instead, we ask that this film is the only project the filmmaker is actively submitting to festivals during this period.

The festival is designed as a concentrated entry point — offering filmmakers a proper screen, attentive viewing conditions, and a clearly defined context in which their work can be seen, discussed, and taken seriously.

We look forward to discovering your films and welcoming you to Come on, doc!

Festival timeline

• January – July 2026 - Film submissions and selection process.
• August 2026 - Notification of shortlisted films and finalists.
• September 27, 2026 - Offline screenings of finalist films and awards ceremony in Belgrade, Serbia.

The festival day brings filmmakers, audiences, and industry guests together — to watch films properly, talk about them, and meet peers at the beginning of their documentary journey.

Awards

Best Short Film

Rules

• 1. Submission Eligibility

  Filmmakers of all ages, nationalities, and levels of experience are eligible to submit their films.

  The submitted film must be a short documentary debut and the only project the filmmaker is currently submitting to festivals.

  For the purposes of this festival, a debut film is defined as the first completed documentary film made by the director as an author, regardless of whether it has previously been submitted to or screened at other festivals.
  A debut film refers to the filmmaker’s first documentary work, not their first festival submission.

  Films must be submitted in English or with English subtitles.

  2. Film Category

  Open Theme
  There are no thematic restrictions.

  3. Film Length

  The festival accepts short documentary films only.

  • Short films: 3–39 minutes
  (Films exceeding 39 minutes are not eligible.)

  4. Submission Fees

  A submission fee applies.

  Early-bird rates are available for a limited period.

  All fee details and payment information are available on the festival’s FilmFreeway page.

  5. Submission Deadlines

  Submission opening dates and deadlines are published on the festival’s official website and FilmFreeway page.

  6. Submission Format

  Films must be submitted digitally via FilmFreeway.

  Technical specifications and screening requirements will be published on the festival’s official website.

  7. Rights and Permissions

  Filmmakers must hold all necessary rights for the submitted film, including music and any third-party content.

  By submitting a film, filmmakers grant the festival the right to use excerpts, stills, and trailers from the film for promotional purposes related to the festival.

  8. Selection Process

  All films are reviewed by the festival’s selection committee.

  Selection decisions are final and not subject to appeal.

  9. Awards

  The festival presents the following award:

  • Best Short Documentary Award — €800

  Additional awards or special mentions may be announced separately.

  10. Screening Rights

  Selected films will be screened offline during the festival on
  September 27, 2026, in Belgrade, Serbia.

  Filmmakers are encouraged to attend the screening and participate in post-screening discussions and Q&A sessions.

  11. Distribution Rights

  Filmmakers retain full rights to their films and are free to pursue further distribution after the festival.

  12. Code of Conduct

  All participants — filmmakers, guests, and festival staff — are expected to maintain a respectful, inclusive, and professional environment.

  13. Updates and Announcements

  Participants are responsible for following updates published on the festival’s official website and official social media channels.

  14. Premiere Requirements

  There are no premiere requirements.
  However, the submitted film must be the filmmaker’s debut documentary work and the only project the filmmaker is presenting to festivals at the time of submission.

Premiere Requirements

No premiere requirement