Statute of the International Film Festival “Water – Sea – Oceans”

Name and character of the festival

The International Film Festival “Water – Sea – Oceans” (hereinafter referred to as the “Festival”) is a competitive showcase of documentary films that deal with the theme of fresh and salt water and life around them. The Festival aims to:

• to present and appreciate film works about the world of watercourses, lakes, seas and oceans,
• to stimulate the creation of new documentaries on this subject internationally,
• to increase knowledge and public interest in environmental protection and sustainable issues

The festival is announced by the Crystal Planet Foundation and organized by Diversionpromotion s.r.o.

Steve Lichtag is the president of the International Ocean Water Film Festival.

Date and venue

The IFF “Water – Sea – Oceans” is held annually in September in Hluboká nad Vltavou. The exact date is always announced no later than the end of the previous year.

Conditions of participation

• Registrants
  The competition is open to professional and amateur filmmakers, film and television companies, private producers or other film festivals.
• Thematic focus
  Documentary films are accepted that correspond to the thematic focus of the festival (fresh and salt water, nature conservation and ecology, events around water bodies and streams including marine areas, sustainability).

• Submission of films
  Films can be submitted even if they have already been presented at other festivals. However, they must meet all the conditions set out in these Statutes.

Technical requirements and delivery format

• Format and quality
  Submitted films must be delivered in at least HD resolution in digital format (e.g. mp4, mov, avi) with sufficient bitrate (at least 15 Mb/sec for mp4).
• Method of dispatch

Submission of films is only possible through the FilmFreeway platform

• Upon agreement with the festival organizers (Diversionpromotion s.r.o.), it is possible to negotiate the submission of films in another way, provided that the other conditions of entry and agreement with the festival statutes are respected.

Required and recommended application materials

• Required materials
  1. Completed application form on the FilmFreeway portal (for each film separately).
  2. Dialogue list in English with timecodes (digital form) – only if the film is in a language other than Czech or Slovak.
• Recommended materials
  1. Photos from the shoot or screenshots (for possible promotional purposes).
  2. Information about the filmmaker (portrait of the filmmaker, biography), or the film’s own promotional material (poster, etc.).

• Acceptance and closing date of applications
  All films for the current edition of the festival must be submitted by 15 June of the current year. The opening date for submissions is announced by the organiser on the festival website during March.

Selection of films in competition

• Selection Committee
  The festival organizer appoints a selection committee, which, based on the viewing and evaluation, selects the films to be entered into the competition. This committee also determines the classification of the films in the individual categories..
• Out-of-competition films
  The Festival reserves the right to include selected films also out of competition (e.g. films of exceptional value in retrospective or informative sections).

Competitive categories

Grand Prix (main prize of the festival)
Salt Water
Fresh Water
Document
Environmental film
Film Story
Free work
Short Film

1. 1. Other special prizes may be awarded by agreement between the awarding authority and the jury.
   2. A separate non-competitive award is a special prize awarded by the Crystal Planet Foundation. This prize does not have to be awarded to a film work and is an integral part of the festival.

Evaluation of the competition films

• Expert Jury
  The films in competition are judged by an expert jury appointed by the President and the festival organisers.
• Jury decision
  The jury’s verdict is final and cannot be appealed.

Reasons for non-acceptance of the film

• Poor technical or artistic quality
• Conflict with the mission of the festival (e.g. promotional and advertising films unrelated to the theme)

• Films by members of the jury (direct conflict of interest)

Distribution and broadcasting rights, archiving and promotional use

• Applicant’s warranties
  The applicant submits the film with the understanding that he/she holds all rights necessary to participate in the festival, including the copyrights to the music used, archival footage and other components of the film.
  By submitting a film, the applicant assumes full legal responsibility for any infringement of copyright or other intellectual property rights of third parties. The festival organiser shall not be liable for any legal or financial obligations arising from such infringement.
• Consent to non-commercial screening
  The applicant agrees that the festival may screen the selected film non-commercially within the festival programme and any accompanying events organized by the organizer, in three reruns.
  Unless otherwise specified in a separate agreement, the applicant grants the Festival the right to such screenings without royalties or other fees.

• Archival copies
  The organizer may keep a digital copy of the film in an internal archive, exclusively for educational purposes, internal study and non-commercial presentation.
  If the applicant does not wish the copy to be archived after the festival, he/she must notify the organiser in writing no later than 30 days after the festival. Failure to do so will be deemed to be consent to archiving.

1. 1. Use of excerpts from the film for promotion
      The organizer is entitled to use short excerpts from the submitted films (usually up to 2-3 minutes) for festival promotion in the media, on social networks and in other promotional materials.
      These excerpts are for the sole purpose of presenting the film and the festival and will not be used for commercial purposes.
   2. Other Arrangements
      The Organiser undertakes that all promotional and archival use of the film will be made in accordance with the applicable legislation for the protection of copyright and other intellectual property rights.
      In the event of any ambiguity or dispute, the wording of these Statutes and the applicable law of the country in which the Festival is held shall prevail.

Privacy Policy (GDPR)

• The organizer processes personal data in accordance with applicable law (in particular GDPR) only to the extent necessary to ensure the organization of the festival and related communications. By submitting a film, the applicant confirms that he/she provides the data voluntarily and understands that it will be processed. Each participant has the right to access, rectify or delete the data, restrict processing, object or request data portability.
• The Organiser shall take appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect this data. Enquiries and requests for the exercise of rights may be sent to the organiser’s e-mail address listed in the statutes or on the festival website.

Additional provisions

• Promotion
  All submitted films and attached materials may be used to promote the festival. The organizer undertakes that they will not be used for commercial purposes.
• Public screening
  Competition films will be screened for the public in the halls designated by the festival organizer.

• Agreement to the Terms and Conditions
  A duly completed application form and submission of the film via the FilmFreeway platform shall be deemed to be acceptance of all the terms and conditions of this Statute.

1. Programme changes
   The festival organiser reserves the right to change the programme schedule.

 

ENTRY FORMS