Which documents have to be submitted for participation in the competitions?

Each entry must be accompanied by a preview copie (DVD), a black & white or colour still of the film or video, a list of text audible or visible in film in English or German for foreign language films, and a list of festival screening, and a complete and legible entry form. For more detailed information see the Festival regulations and the entry form.

Is there an entry fee?

The International Short Film Festival Oberhausen does not charge for the submission of films and videos.

Which formal criteria should an entry fulfil?

An entry in the International Competition must not exceed 35 minutes; in the German Competition the maximum length is 45 minutes. For the Children's and Youth Film Competition the regulations for the International or the German Competition apply, depending on the country where the film was produced. For the MuVi Award the maximum length is 15 minutes. In well-founded cases the committees may choose to make an exception to this rule. The contributions are selected irrespective of nationality or genre. Works in the International Competition must have been produced not more than two years, works in the German Competition not more than one year before the year of the festival.

How are works assigned to competitions or the Theme?

Entries can participate in all competitions and the Theme insofar as, in the case of the competitions, they meet the requirements specified in the regulations, or, in the case of the Theme, they are considered thematically suitable. The selection committees and the festival direction examine suitability on an individual basis.

Does the International Short Film Festival Oberhausen accept productions that have already been shown at other festivals?

One of Oberhausen's priorities is to screen as many German premieres as possible. Sumissions to the International Competition are only eligible if they have not been shown at any other German festival before Oberhausen.

May films that have already won awards at other festivals be submitted?

Yes, but the Short Film Festival reserves the right to show such films in its "Award-Winners" programme. For International Productions, a german festival premiere has to be guaranteed.

Can a work that has already been submitted to the International Short Film Festival Oberhausen be submitted again in subsequent years?

It is not possible to submit a work more than once. For this reason the Festival recommends submitting only final versions of films and videos. In isolated and justified cases, replacing a preview tape already submitted with an updated version is possible, but only up until the time previewing is begun.

Does the International Short Film Festival Oberhausen hold any rights to the films submitted?

The Festival does not hold any rights to any of the entries apart from the right to screen the selected contribution up to three times as part of the festival programmes. With the submission of an entry, the copyright holder grants the Festival the right to screen such entry in the competitions for that Festival year. The Festival regulations and entry form, formulated in adherence with FIAPF guidelines, exclude all uses not specifically stipulated therein. Following the Festival, however, the Short Film Festival Oberhausen will in some cases endeavour to obtain the rights for non-commercial distribution, subject to the conclusion of a special contract agreement with the copyright holder.

What happens to entries that are rejected?

All preview copies submitted are made available in the Film Market for individual viewing by an expert audience, as long as no instructions to the contrary have been given by the copyright holder. Preview copies will only be returned to the sender upon receipt of explicit written instructions before the end of the respective year. If no such instructions are received, the author's right to have the film stored by the Festival expires at the end of the year. The costs for the return of preview copies will be charged to the submitting party.

Since 2009 rejected films can participate in the Open Screening.