9th ZSIGMOND VILMOS INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
Call for Application
Venue: Szeged, Hungary
Date: 27 – 31 May 2025
‘Making a film makes you happy. This is what I wish you all, see it through, don’t ever stop!’
(Vilmos Zsigmond)
Vilmos Zsigmond (1930-2016), the world-famous, Academy Award-winning cinematographer was born in Szeged. With his words in mind, our festival invites cinematographers to compete and focuses on the quality of the film image.
The honorary patron of the festival: Susan Zsigmond
Festival goals:
The Zsigmond Vilmos International Film Festival draws 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 innovative cinematography, but will also consider the overall artistic quality.
APPLICANTS SHOULD BE AWARE THAT THE DIFFERENT AWARDS OF THIS FESTIVAL 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 films in four categories, each completed after the 1st of January 2023:
FEATURE FILMS,
SHORT FILMS (with no restrictions on genre or technical aspects, but max 60 min long)
DOCUMENTARIES and
MUSIC VIDEOS
Part of the competition program of the festival is
a section called HUNGARIAN CINEMATOGRAPHERS' WEEK, the films of which are selected from the submitted works by the selection jury. The winner in this category is awarded by the Hungarian Cinematographers Association (HCA).
One filmmaker can submit more than one film.
Each and every submission is subject to a registration fee of 10 euros – for short films and music videos – or 15 euros for works longer than 60 minutes. Please apply, upload and pay on our FILMFREEWAY (https://filmfreeway.com/) interface.
Technical requirements
For viewing purposes we 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: https://filmfreeway.com/ZSIGMOND_VILMOS_INTERNATIONAL_FILM_FESTIVAL
Application deadline: 15 January 2025, midnight (CET)
The competition programme of the festival will be announced on the 31st of January 2025.
An integral part of the Call for Application is our Submission Policy.
Evaluation:
The films submitted will be pre-selected by a jury of cinematographers, film directors and film professionals.
The awards will be voted by a professional jury chaired by Gábor Szabó, Béla Balázs Award-winning cinematographer, Vilmos Zsigmond’s former colleague. The main festival prize, the Zsigmond Vilmos Award for Best Cinematography, will be given to the best cinematographer. The best films in each category will also be awarded, as well as the City of Szeged, the Association of Hungarian Film Directors )AHD), the Film critics’ jury, the Student jury and the aforementioned Hungarian Cinematographers Association (HCA) will hand out an award respectively.
The jury reserves the right not to present every award.
