Film Festival Cologne

About

FILM FESTIVAL COLOGNE is an important industry event and one of the leading festivals in Germany. We present the major global trends and showcase outstanding works of audiovisual storytelling.

FILM FESTIVAL COLOGNE will take place from October 17-24. For eight days, we create spaces for exchange, celebrate exciting talents and focus on viral trends and urgent issues of our time. The festival week culminates in the presentation of the Film Festival Cologne Awards on October 24: In Colognes E-Werk, we celebrate our winners and award prize money totalling 75,000 euros.

The FILM FESTIVAL COLOGNE is supported by the Minister for Federal and European Affairs, International Affairs, and Media of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia, the Head of the State Chancellery, the City of Cologne, and the Film and Media Foundation of North Rhine-Westphalia.

Festival sections:

• Best of Cinema Fiction
• Best of Cinema Documentary
• Top Ten TV
• NRW-Competition
• Benelux
• Look

Awards

Showing now what will be important tomorrow - with this claim our sections will again present outstanding works of cinematic storytelling. The following prizes reward the strongest submissions:

Film Award Cologne

The Film Award Cologne is endowed with 25,000 euros by the Film- und Medienstiftung NRW and the City of Cologne.

The Hollywood Reporter Award

The Hollywood Reporter Award honours the best fictional film in the Top Ten TV and Best of Cinema Fiction competition series. The prize is endowed with 10,000 euros.

International Actors Award

The International Actors Award honours personalities who have achieved prominence and recognition in international film and TV in an outstanding way through their acting achievements.

phoenix Award

phoenix Award of 10,000 euros for the best documentary entry in the sections Best of Cinema Documentary, Top Ten TV and Look.

Film Award NRW

The Film Award NRW has been awarded since 2016. The award is endowed with 20,000 euros and honours the best entry in the NRW competition. The award is sponsored by the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, the city of Cologne and the Film- und Medienstiftung NRW.

Manfred Stelzer Award

On the initiative of Network Movie, the FILM FESTIVAL COLOGNE has been awarding the Manfred Stelzer Prize since 2020. The award is endowed with 5,000 euros.

Rules

All categories and genres are allowed except for short films with a running time under 45 minutes.

This includes feature films, TV films, series, mini-series, documentaries, and innovative cinematic projects. The classification into the competition series is at the discretion of the jury.

Submission

• To submit a film, the online submission process can be completed through the website. In addition, a DVD copy of the submission can be sent. The sender is responsible for the shipping costs. Screening DVDs cannot be returned. The organizer is not liable for any loss or damage during shipping. A DCP version of the film must be available for presentation at the festival. The FILM FESTIVAL COLOGNE does not charge any registration or submission fees.
• The project must have been completed no earlier than October 2023.
• The submitted programs must not have been released in Germany before the FILM FESTIVAL COLOGNE 2024.
• Potential German, European, or World premieres will be given priority in the program selection process.
• Submissions that are not in German or English language must carry English subtitles.

Application deadline

July 31, 2024.

Other agreements

If a submission is selected by the jury, the organizers will have the right to screen it during the FILM FESTIVAL COLOGNE 2024 as part of a festival program determined by the jury in consultation with the submitter. By submitting their work, the submitters agree to the free use of film clips (limited to a maximum length of three minutes) and images from the submitted work for the festival trailer, festival advertising, all print materials, and the digital platforms of the FILM FESTIVAL COLOGNE. Submitters agree to coordinate the festival presentation with other parties involved in the production and distribution of the selected program. By submitting a work, submitters acknowledge and agree to these guidelines. Submissions may be rejected without explanation. Legal recourse is excluded.

Premiere Requirements

Regional premiere required.

Jury and Organizers

Festival Direction: Martina Richter.