We are the only film festival in Germany to set our focus on innovative and humorous film productions of all genres, new formats (web series included) and cinematographic narratives, emerging talents, and the active involvement of inter/national but also local film and media makers.

The international competition Humour/Satire brings films from all over the world to the screen and spotlights the different facets of this genre. Dark humour or romantic comedy, slapstick or real satire, at Filmfest Bremen, comedy may be grotesque or light, tragic or feel good, it may scratch our taste buds or simply make us laugh. The focus lies on feature films but documentaries are also welcome.

Awards

Jury award: Best Feature-length Film (over 45 minutes), 5,000 EUR, funded by the Senator of Culture

Jury award: Best Mid-length Film (15-45 minutes), 2,500 EUR, funded by the Senator of Culture

Jury award: Best Short Film (under 15 minutes), 1,500 EUR, funded by the Senator of Culture

From unusual and surprising narration, forward use of special effects to extraordinary technology like VR or 360° cameras, creative and sometimes unconventional composition and themes that open to new worlds… that is what the international competition in innovation stands for. Beyond all borders of genre and formats, films in this category experiment with their artistic, technological and narratological substance and surprise their audiences.

Awards

Jury award: Best Narrative Innovation, 1,500 EUR

Jury award: Best Visual Innovation, 1,500 EUR

Jury award: Best Technical Innovation, 1,500 EUR

Films by filmmakers from Bremen and Lower Saxony and productions made in Bremen/Lower Saxony of all kinds are a central element of Filmfest Bremen. This category includes features and documentaries that are set all around the world but where produced with participation from Bremen or Lower Saxony. On the other side, it also includes productions that engage directly with Bremen/Lower Saxony and tell stories connected to it.

Awards

Best Film Bremen: Audience award, 1,500 EUR, funded by the Senator of Culture

Best Film Lower Saxony: Audience award, 1,500 EUR, funded by the Senator of Culture

Films of all genres in a foreign language are welcome in this international competition, whether drama, comedy, thriller, sci-fi and fantasy, biopic, mystery, action/adventure or documentary. The only requirements are a length of at least 60 minutes and the condition of a German premiere.

Awards

Best German Film: 1st Audience Award, 7,500 EUR

Best German Film: 2nd Audience Award, 2,500 EUR

Best International Film: 1st Audience Award, 7,500 EUR

Best International Film: 2nd Audience Award, 2,500 EUR

Regulations and Submission

Films must be submitted via filmfreeway.com, which will issue a confirmation via e-mail when the submission is successful. Filmfest Bremen cannot pay a screening fee in case the submitted film will be selected for our programme.

Submissions must meet the following criteria:

• Year of production: 2020/2021/2022
• Screening formats: DCP (Digital Cinema Package), 35mm (exceptions can be made for specific web productions among other things)
• Please provide English subtitles in any case, even if your film is in English

Deadline for submission: October 31, 2022

Only complete online submissions via filmfreeway.com will be accepted.

In addition to the film, two high-resolution film stills, a short synopsis (English, preferably also in German), a picture and a short biography of the director which may be used for the festival programme as well as for press releases related to Filmfest Bremen (print and online) have to be provided.

Selection

A committee watches all submissions at private screenings and selects the films for the programme. All submissions are watched by at least two independent members of the committee. There is no legal claim to participate in the festival.

Notification and screening copy

Every submitter will receive a positive or negative reply via email at the beginning of February 2023. We kindly ask you not to inquire in written form or by phone. Every submitter is obligated to provide the Filmfest Bremen with a screening copy, should their film be chosen for the programme. The screening copy has to reach the festival by End of March 2023. Every screening copy must be subtitled in English.

Rights of use

With the submission to the festival, the holder(s) of the rights for the submitted film automatically give permission for (a) public screening(s) of their film at the Filmfest Bremen. Furthermore, they grant the Filmfest Bremen the right to use film stills, the film trailer and short excerpts of the film free of charge for promotional purposes in regards to the Filmfest Bremen. Maybe there will be a streaming option in 2023 by a VoD platform. Conditions can be negotiated.

Film transport

The costs of sending the screening copy to the Filmfest Bremen must be covered by the sender. The costs of returning the screening are covered by the Filmfest Bremen.