Send us your films

Categories and awards

Best Nordic Narrative Feature
Best Nordic Narrative Short

Best Documentary Feature
Best Documentary Short

Best International Short

Best Nordic Music Video

All films in our Official Selection are automatically nominated for Best Film in their respective category.

NIFF Terms and Conditions

Rules and Terms

Thanks for your interest in submitting your film project to the Nordic International Film Festival (“NIFF,” “We” and “Us”). We are delighted that you have chosen to share your film with us. Please carefully review the following terms and conditions (the “Terms”) before proceeding with your submission. By submitting your film, you agree to be bound by these terms and conditions. If you do not agree to these Terms, please do not submit your project. 

These Terms apply to all who submit a film to NIFF (“You”).

Should you have any questions or need further clarification, please do not hesitate to contact us. We appreciate your interest in NIFF and look forward to experiencing your film.

Thank you for your interest in submitting your film project to the Nordic International Film Festival.

Categories

Short documentaries and narratives short films are preferably programmed if under 22 min and no longer than 45 min.

Feature films are 45 min and up.

International short films compete against other international short films.

Nordic films are films shot in the Nordic countries or if the majority of the spoken language in the film is from any Nordic or Scandinavian country. You can also qualify for the Nordic submissions if the Director or Producer is from a Nordic or Scandinavian country, please e-mail us for more details. If you are unsure, please submit in the Nordic category and our programmers will make the judgment of moving it to a different category if needed. We reserve the right to alter the category to reflect our programming.

All categories in the official selection are in competition and consideration for awards.

Qualifications and premiere status

NIFF does not demand a world or national premiere status to qualify for the festival, however it is prioritized.

We accept qualifying films completed after January 1, 2023.

Films that have debuted online or been officially released outside of a festival are ineligible. For Nordic Feature Films, a limited release in the nordic country of origin will be considered on a case to case basis. We do not accept animated projects.

Subtitles are required on all work except English narratives.

Work in progress or rough cuts

Rough cuts of films will be considered as long as the completed version will be ready by the final deadline. If your film is a rough cut, please label it as such and list what needs to be completed.

Review policy

All film submissions require accompanying Filmmaker Forms, which is only available in digital form and appears as a prompt during the submission process via FilmFreeway.

All films are viewed by the festival programmers and/or the jury. Each film is viewed and rated by an industry professional and will move on to the next stage based on those ratings. Our programmers and jury will make final decisions and notify filmmakers accordingly.

All decisions are final and feedback for individual films is not available.

We will nominate according to categories listed and select the winning film in each category in the official selection. The festival approaches a non-gendered awards system, meaning all awards will be based on merit only, and not assigned by gender. The winner is entitled to use laurels on the poster and all marketing material.

NIFF reserves the right to make any necessary changes in regulations or scheduling.

- Films selected may not be withdrawn from the festival program after its announcement.

- All submission fees are non-refundable. We will not return your screening and exhibition copies. Upon acceptance of your film by NIFF, you agree not to withdraw your film from the festival. If you withdraw your film after it has been accepted, you understand and accept that NIFF will not refund your submission fee.

- The festival Directorate may deny participation to any film unable to meet the technical requirements for a public screening of good quality.

- NIFF reserves the right to screen or not screen the films selected in the Official Selection.

- Regardless of their winning status, winning filmmakers who can't attend the Awards Ceremony in New York will only receive laurels and the award. We reserve the right to decide which nominated films will be a part of the screening program. Winners will be announced online and in the press. The festival has the right to work with any institution and partner festivals for all kinds of cooperation, including joint events or promotions.

Liability

By submitting, you agree to indemnify us and hold NIFF and our employees, owners, affiliates, and partners harmless from all claims and liability associated with your participation or entry to the NIFF.

Reproduction agreement

Submission of an entry gives the festival permission and license to have the submitted work exhibited, displayed, photographed, locally telecast, and reproduced either in part or whole, for educational or festival purposes. NIFF reserves the right to use FilmFreeway stills and trailers for the purpose of promotion. Filmmakers can request in writing that their material not be used for such purposes after the festival, by emailing us such request at info@nordicfilmfest.org. 

By submitting your film to NIFF, you do not transfer or assign any ownership rights of your film or other related intellectual property to NIFF. You retain all rights to your film and associated intellectual property

Changes and alterations

The festival management reserves the right to make changes in the profile of the festival if it becomes necessary to do so due to circumstances beyond our control. 

Legal notice

The duration of this agreement shall commence as of the date of your submission to NIFF

Dispute Resolution

In the event of a dispute arising out of or relating to your film's submission to NIFF, both parties agree to attempt to resolve the matter amicably before resorting to legal proceedings. If a resolution cannot be reached, both parties agree to settle the dispute through arbitration in the State of New York, and shall be governed by the laws of the State of New York.