Joutseno Art Summer International Film Festival, together with our partners and a team of internationally recognised judges, hopes to bring various enriching experiences of the “silver screen” and its related fields to highlight message of sustainable development.

We encourage submissions of a variety of genres and lengths, released in or after 2021. However, artists whose works concentrate on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are welcome to submit their work using the special track and fees offered. UN Sustainable development Goals 4, 5, 13, and 15 will get registration discounts. We are excited to review and showcase feature films, social impact documentaries, and films with a focus on education and human rights.

There are three stages to the process:

Nominations – Nominated films in each category will be contacted on the notification date.  Nominated filmmakers are invited to join the event. However, only films from the Official Selection will be screened.

Official Selection – The films that will be screened at the festival are selected from among the films that are in the official selection. The number and distribution of films that will be screened is decided by the festival organiser within the framework of the arrangements and schedules. The organizer will request the necessary materials and other additional information, as well as provide more information about the event. (Text format clarified 6/2023)

Winners – Award winners will be selected from the Nominations & Official Selection List, and they are announced at the festival opening. 

submission deadlines and fees
 

Earlybird deadline: March 4, 2023,

Regular Deadline: April 2, 2023

Late Deadline: May 6, 2023

Notification Date: May 24, 2023 (note the new date)

Check the subimission fee for each category from FilmFreeway.

Planning to submit your movie? That's fantastic! Remember to read the rules and terms (under) before finalising your submission.
Filmmakers can submit their projects to the festival using FilmFreeway or click on the logo under.

Rules and Terms

✓ All films must be submitted in English or with English subtitles (if in a different language).

✓ All films must not have been made before 2021.

✓ Films must adhere to the time specified for the category they sign up for.

✓ We place no restrictions on your work in terms of premiere status or it has been shown earlier.

✓ Filmmakers can submit their works in more than one category

✓ Filmmakers are responsible for sorting out the copyright on their own materials.

✓ We do not accept partial screeners, trailers, or screener links that require any access other than password protected links.

✓ By submitting your project, you give us consent and right to screen your film in front of live audience, and, under special circumstances, online screening.

✓ Nominations: These are all the films that have been nominated for an award in one of the categories. Showing all nominated films is a matter of future stipulation depending on programming and logistics. The festival organiser decides, how many and which movies will be chosen for the official selection, and which of these films will be shown at the festival. The number and distribution of films that will be screened is decided by the festival organiser within the framework of the arrangements and schedules. (Text format clarified 6/2023)

✓ We may promote clips from your film on social media, based on the press kits you provide us with.

✓ We retain the right to change the date and venue of the festival under special circumstances. All filmmakers will be informed about any such changes through email and on our online platforms.

✓ Any technical issues with the submitted films are 100% the responsibility of the filmmakers. If, at the time of judging, your video file does not work or does not have English subtitles (if in a language other than English), it will be automatically rejected, without a refund. Please contact the festival team in good time if there are any issues with the submission process.

✓ We cannot provide refunds.

✓ We do not offer visa assistance; however, we can provide a letter if your submission has received the "Nomination" status. This letter could be presented to the Finnish immigration authorities as part of your application material. We, however, bear no responsibility of the final decision made by the concerned parties.

✓ By submitting to us, you agree to our terms and conditions and to receiving marketing newsletters about film festival in the form of emails. We will never sell your information to third parties.

✓ We reserve the right to update our terms and conditions.