RULES AND REGULATIONS FOR FILM SUBMISSIONS
1. DEADLINES AND CONDITIONS
1.1. About the festival:
CPH:DOX – Copenhagen International Documentary Film Festival – (also referred to as “the festival” below) is a part of The Foundation of the Copenhagen Film Festivals. The next edition of CPH:DOX takes place in cinemas from March 19 – 30 and online from March 28 – April 13, 2025.
1.2. Submission formats:
The festival is open to films of any duration as well as interactive formats such as VR and AR.
1.3. Deadlines for submissions:
CPH:DOX 2025 will be open for submissions from May 15, 2024. Films that have premiered after April 1, 2024, are eligible to apply. The deadlines are:
* September 1 for films completed before that date.
* November 25 for films completed after September 1.
It is not possible to apply for a specific section or competition. The selection and placement of a film in a specific section is entirely at the discretion of the festival.
Films selected for the festival are notified immediately, and all submitted films will be notified by mid-February 2025. Please note that the festival is not able to respond with reviews and feedback to individual films.
1.4. Entry fees:
An entry fee of 300.00 DKK (approx. 40.00 EUR) applies to all film submissions of more than 50 minutes. The entry fee for films of less than 50 minutes and for interactive works is reduced to 150.00 DKK (approx. 20.00 EUR).
The entry fee may be waved for countries from the DAC list. Please contact programme@cphdox.dk to request a fee waiver. Up to two projects may be submitted per production company with a fee waiver.
1.5. Premiere policy:
For the competition sections (see 2.1.), CPH:DOX gives priority to World Premieres and, secondarily, International and European Premieres. For the non-competitive sections, only Danish premieres are required. Films that have already been shown in Denmark or on national Danish television, or have been available on VOD platforms accessible from Denmark, are not eligible for selection unless specific authorisation has been given by the festival.
1.6. Number of screenings
As a standard, the festival has the rights to up to 5 screenings of all selected films. The number of screenings may vary depending on the size of screening rooms, jury screenings, and other factors.
1.7. Transfer of rights and conditions
If the rights for a film already confirmed for CPH:DOX are transferred from one rights holder to another before the festival, the original rights holder with whom the festival has confirmed the film is obliged to inform the new rights holder of the participation of the film in the festival, including any conditions under which the film was originally confirmed. Any legal uncertainties and possible sharing or transfer of screening fees, accreditations or other valuables must be negotiated between the former and new rights holders. Additional conditions on the part of the festival cannot be added by the new rights holder without the approval of the festival.
1.8. Promotion:
The festival’s laurels are available on request for films confirmed for the festival. Producers and distributors of participating / winning films are requested to include in future promotional material the mention of participation in / winning of an official competition at CPH:DOX, along with the festival’s laurels.
1.9. Withdrawal:
A confirmed film cannot be withdrawn from the programme after January 1, 2025. Films confirmed after January 1, 2025, cannot be withdrawn from the festival upon confirmation.
2. SECTIONS AND COMPETITIONS
2.1. Competitions and awards:
The festival selects films for seven competitions in which all nominated films are screening as World, International or European premieres (see 1.5):
* DOX:AWARD (10,000 EUR): International main competition (features)
* NEW:VISION AWARD (5,000 EUR): Experimental and artists’ films (shorts, midlength films and features)
* F:ACT AWARD (5,000): Investigative and journalistic films (features)
* NEXT:WAVE AWARD (5,000 EUR): Innovative films by emerging filmmakers and artists (features)
* NORDIC:DOX AWARD (5,000 EUR): Films from the Nordic countries (features)
* HUMAN:RIGHTS AWARD (5,000 EUR): Films about human rights (features)
* AUDIENCE AWARD (5,000 EUR): All films that take part in the online festival (see 2.4) are also nominated for the Audience Award
The winning film in each competition is selected by appointed juries. The awards go to the directors of the winning films. In addition to the prize, the juries are free to hand out Special Mentions in the relevant competition categories.
2.2. Non-competitive sections:
CPH:DOX presents a string of non-competitive and thematic sidebars including:
* SPECIAL PREMIERES: High-profile premieres out of competition
* SCIENCE: Science films
* HIGHLIGHTS: Festival hits and audience favourites
* ARTISTS & AUTEURS: New work from established artists and filmmakers
* SOUND & VISION: Music documentaries
* URGENT MATTERS: Activist and social issue films
* BACKSTORY: Films about modern history
* DANISH:DOX: New Danish films including shorts and artists’ films
* INTER:ACTIVE: Virtual Reality works and interactive installations
* Various thematic sections specific to a particular edition of the festival
2.3. Nation-wide festival:
CPH:DOX selects and invites a number of films from the programme to be a part of its nation-wide festival activities (Dox:Danmark), which are held in cinemas in Denmark within the festival period from March 19-30. Invitations are confirmed individually with the rights holders in advance, who will be contacted with further details along with the official invitation.
2.4. Online festival:
All films selected for CPH:DOX are also invited to be a part of the nation-wide online festival which takes place from March 28 – April 13 on the festival’s platform paradox.dk, and which is geo-blocked to Denmark. Invitations are confirmed individually with the rights holders in advance, who will be contacted with further details. All films that take part in the online festival will be nominated for the Audience Award which is a cash prize of 5,000 EUR.
3. SELECTED FILMS AND MATERIALS
3.1. Screening formats:
The festival is able to screen DCP, 35mm and 16mm film.
3.2. Requested materials:
The festival must receive a completed entry form as well as the materials requested below for all selected films in order to prepare the festival catalogue and website. The requested materials should be submitted as soon as possible upon acceptance of the invitation, but no later than February 1, 2025. The festival accepts no liability for inaccuracies in submitted materials. The written programme notes are entirely at the discretion of the festival.
3.3. Catalogue and website credits:
The international festival catalogue and festival website will include the following credits: original title, international title, director, running time, country(ies) of production, premiere year, premiere status, subtitles, production company, producer, and sales contact including email address. For films in competition, the director’s portrait photo and filmography will be published in the international catalogue (PDF).
3.4. Stills:
All submitted films are requested in the entry form to provide a selection of stills in high resolution (print quality) which the festival will be free to use for promotional and press purposes.
3.5. Trailer and video files:
Films selected for the festival are requested to provide a trailer and a downloadable video file of the final version of the film (preferably in the h.264 format) for internal and press use, and for CPH:MARKET (see 4.6.). All submitted films are asked to provide a trailer which the festival will be free to upload to its own channels and embed on its website. If a trailer is already publicly available, the festival will be free to upload and embed it in order to promote the film and its selection. The festival has permission to use excerpts from selected films, with a maximum of 3 minutes, nationally and internationally for promotional purposes (for short films, the total duration of the excerpts is not to exceed more than 10% of the film’s running time).
3.6. CPH:MARKET:
Titles selected for the festival’s official programme are included in the online digital screening platform CPH:MARKET, unless otherwise indicated on the entry form or by the rights holder. CPH:MARKET is accessible for professional guests with valid festival accreditations during the festival, as well as for 30 days after the festival.
3.7. Subtitle policy:
All films are screened in original language versions with English subtitles, including films with English dialogue. All films are requested to be delivered as screening copies with English subtitles (optional or hardcoded).
3.8. Screening schedule:
Scheduling of the public screenings and Press & Industry screenings is entirely at the discretion of the festival.
4. DELIVERY OF SCREENING COPIES OF SELECTED FILMS
4.1. Upload of screening materials:
All digitised screening materials should be sent via online transfer and should arrive no later than February 20, 2025. Online delivery is mandatory unless delivery of a physical screening copy has been authorised by the festival (see point 4.2 below if applicable).
Approved digital transfer methods include the festival’s dedicated Filemail inbox, or by Aspera transfer. The festival cannot accept DCP transfers by Google Drive or Microsoft Dropbox.
Any expenses related to the digital transfer of a screening copy must be approved by the festival in advance.
Detailed upload/shipment information will be provided upon selection of the film.
4.2. Physical delivery of screening materials:
If authorised by the festival, physical screening copies must be made available for the whole festival period and must arrive no later than February 20, 2025. The sender is requested to inform the festival on the means of dispatch, date of shipment and Airway bill number. The festival offers to cover inbound and outbound shipments of screening prints, unless the print is being forwarded to another festival which is then expected to cover the outbound shipment from Copenhagen. A proforma invoice must accompany the screening print stating the name of the sender and the film’s title, format, and running time. Please state: “Temporary export. For cultural purpose only. No commercial value. Insurance value for custom purpose only. No commercial transaction involved.”
All physical screening copies will be returned within four weeks after the festival. It is the responsibility of each participant to inform the festival in due time about (any changes in) the details of the return address as well as the desired date of arrival at the return address.
5. DATA POLICY
By submitting a film, you accept our Data Policy in accordance with the GDPR.
6. CONCLUSION
Entry and participation of films implies unconditional acceptance of these rules and regulations. In unspecified cases, any final decisions are at the discretion of the festival.