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Submissions for short films are now open.
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Eligibility requirements
- Must have been completed within the 12 months prior to the date of the Festival (between May 2024 and Cannes 2025).
- For foreign short films: must not have participated in any festival outside its country of origin (whether it is in competition or out of competition) or film event (excluding film markets).
- For French short films: must not have participated in any festivals (in or out of competition )or film event (excluding film markets) anywhere in the world, including France.
- Must not have been shown on the Internet or broadcasted on TV, or commercially released.
Deadlines
The short films' online submissions and uploads have to be completed between November 25th, 2024 and March 14th, 2025.
Viewing requirements
Short films competing for La Semaine de la Critique are uploaded online during the submission process and will only be considered by the selection committee accordingly.
It is important to note that the selection committee will watch a sole version of the submitted film. Presenting a work-in-progress version of your film is possible but prevents you from presenting a final version later on.
The selection committee is able to watch a film without subtitles if the original language is either French or English, and with subtitles (French or English) for all other original languages.
Upload a film
It is possible to fill in the submission form, and upload the film later on. Once the video is validated once and for all by its user, it is not possible to upload a new version anymore. Validating your video finalizes your submission and enables your film to be considered for preselections.
Most source files are accepted. If your file is already on your computer, the upload will be very easy.
File features:
- Requested files: We only accept multiplexed files (audio, video and subtitles in one film file). We also recommend to upload only progressive or de-interlaced footage.
- Subtitles: For subtitled films, the subtitles have to be integrated (burned in) into the image.
- Preparation of your film file: Make sure that your film has no color bar or any black sequence before and after your film (apart from a a model for opening and closing credits).
- Upload: There is a maximum file size of 8 GB for each film. If your upload cannot be completed 100%, try to upload a version of your film with smaller file size and/or go online using an ethernet cable. Duration of your upload depends on your film file size and your internet connection, it can take several hours. For instance: with a 2,5 GB film file and an internet connection with an upload speed of 1 Mbit/s, upload can take approximately 6 hours. For 1 Mbit/s upload speed, a high speed internet connection of approximately 16 Mbit/s is needed. Test your upload speed here.
Technical specifications:
- Accepted formats: .mp[e]g / .vob / .avi / .mov / .mp4 (m4v)
- Recommended codecs: MJPEG, Apple ProRes, H264 (bitrate if possible) > 2MBit/s and uncompressed (very large file)
- Resolution: PAL and NTSC (as well as SECAM) from 720x400px up to HD material of 1920x1080px
- Audio: 48kHz sound PCM (only uncompressed) / MP3 / AAC (if possible > 160 kBit/s)
Browser & Internet Connection:
- Please note, that the successful upload of your film file depends on a stable and proper high-speed internet connection with minimum 2 Mbit/s.
- We recommend the use of the latest versions of Google Chrome or Safari Browser.
Fee payment
The registration fee is mandatory for any short film’s submission (up to 59’) and is not refundable. The payment is processed by debit card during the online registration (American Express is not accepted). The amount of the fee is 30 euros (without taxes). VAT applies accordingly to the category of your company.
VAT doesn’t apply for the following categories:
- Company based outside the European Union.
- Company based inside the European Union with an Intra-community VAT identification number to provide during the online registration.
VAT (20%) does apply for the following categories:
- Company based inside the European Union WITHOUT any Intra-community VAT identification number
- Company based in France
- Private individual without any company
Preselection results
The results will be communicated by mid-late April 2025 by email only. No result will be announced over the phone.
Contact
In charge of short films | Film department: Juliette Canon
Tel. +33 1 45 08 81 56