1. The following authors are eligible to participate in the competition programme:
a) In the Animated, Fiction and Documentary Film categories, authors who live and/or work in one of the Mediterranean countries and who were under the age of 20 at the time their film was completed.
b) In the Open Category (Experimental Film) and the Thematic Category, authors who were under the age of 20 at the time their film was completed, regardless of where they live, work or come from. The festival invites films for the Thematic Category that explore the sense of belonging — where, how, and why we feel that we belong.

2. The competition programme is divided into two age groups (up to 15 years of age and 16–20 years of age) for the Animated, Fiction and Documentary Film categories, while the Open Category and the Thematic Category are open to all eligible participants regardless of age group.

3. The Festival accepts film submissions from individuals, film clubs, and schools. Each author or organisation may submit a maximum of two films in the same category. Participation in the Festival is free of charge.

4. The maximum running time of each film is 15 minutes, including the end credits.

Films must not have been completed before 1 September 2024.

6. Film submissions must be made exclusively through the platform https://filmfreeway.com/DUff-cro

7. All films must include English subtitles. The Festival will also accept films with embedded subtitles; however, we prefer subtitles to be submitted as a separate .srt file by uploading them to the designated section on FilmFreeway. Applicants are also required to upload two film stills in the Files & Attachments section on FilmFreeway.

8. Film(s) may be submitted by the author(s), their teachers, mentors, or production organisation. However, the film’s author(s) must have been under the age of 15 or 20, respectively, at the time the film was produced.

9. In exceptional cases, if there are valid reasons why a film cannot be submitted via FilmFreeway, please contact the Festival organisers at duff@kinematografi.org to arrange an alternative submission method.

10. Films and submission forms must be submitted no later than srpnja 215 September 2026.

11. Films that do not meet the above criteria will not be considered for selection.

12. The Festival reserves the right to use submitted films for the promotion of filmmaking by screening them in the media and at other public events, as well as to make archival copies for the Festival’s non-commercial archive.

13. The official selection will be announced in early September 2026. on the website duff.kinematografi.org, and all authors will also be individually notified via Filmfreeway and email.

Awards will be presented in the following categories:

Best Animated Film (Age Group: Up to 15 / Age Group: 16–20)
Best Fiction Film (Age Group: Up to 15 / Age Group: 16–20)
Best Documentary Film (Age Group: Up to 15 / Age Group: 16–20)
Best Film – Open Category
Best Thematic Film – Belonging (for films exploring the theme of belonging)
Audience Award
Festival Grand Prix

The awards are non-monetary.

The Festival will provide complimentary accommodation and meals for participants whose films are selected for the Official Selection. This includes one young filmmaker and one accompanying adult per selected film.
Additional participants may be accommodated during the Festival at a subsidised rate, subject to availability. Travel expenses are not covered by the Festival.

Dube Mikulić, +38520638640 / 417107, Festival Office Manager
Đive Galov, +38520638640 / 417107, Festival Director
Miro Bronzić, +385992167653, Technical Director
Andrea Bagarić / Ružica Dodig – Festival Coordinator