SHNIT WORLDWIDE SHORTFILMFESTIVAL 2021

Bern–Buenos Aires–Cape Town–Cairo–San Jose-Hong Kong–New York - Switzerland

From October 21, 2021 to October 31, 2021

SHNIT WORLDWIDE SHORTFILMFESTIVAL SHNIT ASSOCIATION FINKENRAIN 5A CH-3012 BERN SWITZERLAND

41 (0)76 572 14 92 / 0041 76 572 14 92 entry@shnit.org www.shnit.org

INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION(S)

shnit Worldwide Shortfilmfestival is a premier venue for the exhibition and promotion of short films. The festival is an exceptional twelve-day event with a unique concept – a transnational film festival simultaneously taking place in eight cities on five continents worldwide. The festival includes three main segments:

shnit EXPANDED
shnit FINALE
shnit PLAYGROUNDS

The shnit Worldwide Shortfilmfestival includes five award categories with cash prizes of $24.000* and attracts award-winning short filmmakers from around the globe. As a result, shnit presents a competition program of exceptional quality and density.

In its seventeen years of existence, shnit has become a major international short film festival that reinvents itself in ever new forms. What started as a local initiative is now an exceptional transnational event that connects and inspires makers and fans of short films across the globe. shnit embraces diversity, originality, and exchange between creators and an audience from different cultures and backgrounds. It is the main goal to actively increase the perception of short filmmaking by creating a multi-platform event for high-quality short films. With its cinematic treats, the popular festival fascinates more than 35.000 visitors and therefore belongs to the leading short film festivals in the world.

shnit is a non-profit organization. The annual festival is created and centrally coordinated by the shnit ASSOCIATION in cooperation with the executives. The organization is built on principles of excellence and professionalism, enabling the global expansion of the festival possible.

Opening submissions: June 21, 2021
Regular deadline: July 1, 2021 40 EUR
Final deadline: August 1, 2021 45 EUR
Notification of results: October 15, 2022

Preview format:
-Uploaded file (1 stamp)

Requirements:
1) Films completed after: June 1st, 2019
2) Maximum duration: 40min (including credits)
3) Country of production: All countries
4) Screening format: FULL HD
5) Accepted genres: All genres
6) Language: if the dialogue language is not English the film must provide English subtitles.

The shnit Worldwide Shortfilmfestival includes five award categories with prizes of USD 24.000 (cash or in-kind prizes)** and attracts award-winning short filmmakers from around the globe. As a result, shnit presents a competition program of exceptional quality and density. The prestigious award THE FLAMING FAUN is granted to the winners during shnit FINALE* in New York.

AUDIENCE AWARD – INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION & WORLDWIDE COMPETITION

The audience decides by voting in all INTERNATIONAL COMPETITIONS (INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION & WORLDWIDE COMPETITION) the following award (will be given to the film director(s)):

• shnit AUDIENCE Award: Festival trophy THE FLAMING FAUN and cash prize for the best film in this competition

WORLDWIDE COMPETITION

The organizers will nominate an international Jury of three members. Films with PLAYGROUNDS* premiere status will be considered primary. The following prizes will be given to the film directors:

• shnit JURY Award: Festival trophy THE FLAMING FAUN and cash prize for the best film in this competition

INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION

The organizers will designate a president of the shnit TRIBUTE to elect the three winners out of the nine nominated films. Nominations are done by the shnit TRIBUTE members. The members of the shnit TRIBUTE are former participants of INTERNATIONAL and NATIONAL COMPETITIONS who can give their vote on the shnit TRIBUTE platform. The following prizes will be given to the film directors:

• shnit TRIBUTE Award | Category up to 10 minutes: Festival trophy THE FLAMING FAUN and cash prize for the best film in this category
• shnit TRIBUTE Award | Category up to 20 minutes: Festival trophy THE FLAMING FAUN and cash prize for the best film in this category
• shnit TRIBUTE Award | Category up to 40 minutes: Festival trophy THE FLAMING FAUN and cash prize for the best film in this category

NATIONAL COMPETITION(S)

The organizers nominate one national jury per PLAYGROUND*. The kind of honoring per NATIONAL COMPETITION varies and is specified in the letter of confirmation. The following films are eligible for a NATIONAL COMPETITION:

• Origin of the film production from one of the PLAYGROUND* countries
• Origin of the film director from one of the PLAYGROUND* countries

Submissions for a NATIONAL COMPETITION automatically qualify as entries for all INTERNATIONAL COMPETITIONs. Double submission is not necessary.

*shnit PLAYGROUNDS: shnit Worldwide Shortfilmfestival takes place simultaneously in the following cities, shnit PLAYGROUNDS, on five continents: Bern [Switzerland], Buenos Aires [Argentina], Cairo [Egypt], Cape Town [South Africa], Hong Kong [China], Moscow [Russia], San José [Costa Rica]. The shnit FINALE in New York is held annually, as long as the contributions of the partners and sponsors make this possible.

**Any prizes (cash or in-kind prizes) awarded by shnit are not transferable, exchangeable, or redeemable for cash. The Festival reserves the right to change, add or suppress awards according to the circumstances.

NATIONAL COMPETITION(S)

The organizers nominate one national jury per PLAYGROUND*. The kind of honoring per NATIONAL COMPETITION varies and is specified in the letter of confirmation. The following films are eligible for a NATIONAL COMPETITION:
• Origin of the film production from one of the PLAYGROUND* countries • Origin of the film director from one of the PLAYGROUND* countries
Submissions for a NATIONAL COMPETITION automatically qualify as entries for all INTERNATIONAL COMPETITIONs. Double submission is not necessary.

*shnit PLAYGROUNDS
shnit Worldwide Shortfilmfestival takes place simultaneously in the following cities, shnit PLAYGROUNDS, on five continents: Bern [Switzerland], Buenos Aires [Argentina], Cairo [Egypt], Cape Town [South Africa], Hong Kong [China], Moscow [Russia], San José [Costa Rica].

Opening submissions: June 22, 2021
Regular deadline: July 1, 2021 22 EUR
Final deadline: August 1, 2021 25 EUR
Notification of results: October 15, 2021

Preview format:
-Standard DVD
-Uploaded file (1 stamp)

Requirements:
1) Films completed after: June 1st, 2019
2) Maximum duration: 40 minutes (including credits)
3) Country of production: ARGENTINA, CHINA, COSTA RICA, EGYPT, RUSSIA, SOUTH AFRICA, SWITZERLAND.
4) Screening format: FULL HD
5) Accepted genres: All genres
6) Language: if the dialogue language is not English the film must provide English subtitles.

PRO ENTRY [INCL. FEEDBACK]

The submitter gets with «PRO ENTRY» the following three extra add-on package: [1] Preselection will be made by the core curators or artistic director (Short-list|final round of selection). [2] Personal individual feedback for every film you enter by core curators or the artistic director. [3] Free online access to two film programs of the international competition 2020. With the «PRO ENTRY» the shnit festival provides a feedback system which is rare within the scope of film festivals. The aim is to give filmmakers valuable feedback on their work to enhance their artistic potential for future projects and for other festival submissions. There is a submission fee to enter your films to the «PRO ENTRY»–category. These costs equate to the administration of these entries in order to guarantee individual treatment for the feedback system. Eligible entires: All countries of production, all genre accepted, maximum of 40 minutes (including credits).

Opening submissions: June 22, 2021
Regular deadline: July 1, 2021 79 EUR
Final deadline: August 1, 2021 89 EUR
Notification of results: October 15, 2021

Preview format:
-Uploaded file (1 stamp)

Requirements:
1) Films completed after: June 1st, 2019
2) Maximum duration: 40min (including credits)
3) Country of production: All countries
4) Screening format: FULL HD
5) Accepted genres: All genres