7th ZSIGMOND VILMOS INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
Venue: Belvárosi Cinema, Szeged, Hungary
Date: 24 – 28 October 2023
‘Cinematographers are a rare species: they like one another. We try to hold together wherever we are in the world’, Vilmos Zsigmond described his own professional community in an interview in 2004.
Besides the professional goals, our festival keeps his words in mind when we invite cinematographers to take part in our competition, with a focus on the quality of the film’s image.
Vilmos Zsigmond (1930-2016), the world-famous, Academy Award-winning cinematographer was born in Szeged, where he often returned in his life. In 2004, he was named honorary citizen of the town. A year later, on his 75th birthday, the largest auditorium with 500 seats in the more than hundred-year-old Belvárosi Cinema, one of the most beautiful cinemas in Hungary, was named after him, which made Vilmos Zsigmond extremely proud.
Festival goals:
The Zsigmond Vilmos International Film Festival focuses on drawing attention to cinematographers, one of the most important co-creators of a film, together with giving an opportunity to young artists to show their art. The festival jury will evaluate the films submitted to the festival primarily on the basis of the cinematography, but will also consider the overall artistic quality.
Applicants should be aware that the festival is for professionals, where the different awards go to the cinematographers.
The festival pays neither rental fees nor copyright fees for the films screened within the festival programme.
Applicants:
The call is open to individual filmmakers and artistic communities without age restriction, and the festival organisers also look forward to receiving films made by students majoring in film studies, directing or cinematography.
The call is open to FEATURE FILMS, SHORT FILMS, DOCUMENTARIES and EXPERIMENTAL FILMS (including animations and films made with mobile phones) completed after the 1st of January 2020.
One filmmaker can submit more than one film.
Technical requirements:
For viewing purposes we can only accept online screeners, and if applicable, with a password that will expire after the festival. All films should be subtitled in English. Please note that the viewing copy should be the final cut of the film submitted.
Submissions selected for the competition programme will be accepted only in DCP format.
Application deadline: 16 April 2023, midnight (CET)
The competition programme of the festival will be announced on the 3rd of May 2023.
An integral part of the Call for Application is our Submission Policy.
Evaluation:
The films submitted will be pre-selected by a jury of six cinematographers, film directors or film professionals.
The main awards will be voted by an international jury chaired by Gábor Szabó, Béla Balázs Award-winning cinematographer, university teacher, director of photography of The Long Shadow (1991), the only film directed by Vilmos Zsigmond.
The honorary patron of the festival is Susan Zsigmond.
Festival awards:
Lifetime Achievement Award
Zsigmond Vilmos Award for Best Cinematography
Best film in each category for cinematography and overall artistic qualities
Vision Team and Special Grip Hungary Award for the best young cinematographer
Szeged City Award
Critics’ Choice Award
Student Jury Award
The jury reserves the right not to present every award.
