26. IFF New Horizons – film submissions regulations
§1.
GENERAL INFORMATION
1.1
The New Horizons Association, with its registered office in Warsaw (00-153), ul. Zamenhofa 1, entered in the register of associations, other social and professional organizations, foundations, and independent public healthcare institutions, as well as in the register of entrepreneurs maintained by the District Court for the Capital City of Warsaw, 12th Commercial Division of the National Court Register, under KRS number 0000162000, NIP 525-22-71-014, REGON 015503904 (hereinafter referred to as the Organizer), is the organizer of the 26th New Horizons International Film Festival (hereinafter referred to as the Festival), including the New Horizons International Competition (hereinafter referred to as the Competition).
1.2
The Festival will take place in Wrocław, at venues designated by the Organizer, from July 23 to August 2, 2026, and online from July 23 to August 9, 2026.
1.3.
Detailed information on the Festival's profile and program sections is available on the Festival's official website: nowehoryzonty.pl
1.4
Pursuant to the Organizer’s decision, feature films, documentaries, animated films, experimental films, and innovative audiovisual works may be submitted to the Festival, provided that they were completed after March 1, 2025.
1.5
Films selected for the New Horizons International Competition must be delivered to the Organizer in DCP format. In exceptional cases, and only upon prior consultation with and approval of the Organizer, an HD file or Blu-ray disc may be accepted.
1.6
The Festival prefers Polish premieres. The Organizer reserves the right to refuse films that have previously been publicly screened in Poland for inclusion in the Competition. Within the Competition, world, international, and European premieres are preferred.
1.7
The selection of films and invitations to participate in the Festival are entrusted to the Festival Selection Committee, which reserves the right to assign a selected film to an appropriate program section.
1.8
A film whose participation in the Festival has been confirmed may not be withdrawn from the program after June 15, 2026.
§2.
INTERNATIONAL NEW HORIZONS COMPETITION
The Competition serves as a platform for presenting bold artistic cinema that seeks new forms of expression and transcends the boundaries of conventional filmmaking. It showcases innovative feature films, creative documentaries, experimental works, and animated films by authors pursuing distinct and uncompromising artistic visions.
2.1. A film may be eligible for the Competition if it:
• has a running time of over 60 minutes,
• was completed after March 1, 2025, in accordance with §1.4.,
• has not been previously publicly screened in Poland, with preference given to world, international, and European premieres.
2.2. The following awards are granted within the Competition*:
• Grand Prix for the director of the highest-rated film, awarded by the International Jury, together with a cash prize of €10,000;
• Audience Award for the best film, awarded by the Festival audience.
The Organizer reserves the right that none of the above prizes may be awarded ex aequo. The Jury may award only one distinction per prize.
§3.
FESTIVAL STRUCTURE
- COMPETITIONS -
3.1.1 INTERNATIONAL NEW HORIZONS COMPETITION (organized since 2002)
The main competition section of the Festival, featuring twelve films by filmmakers exploring new forms of cinematic expression and expanding the language of film. The section will feature innovative projects by filmmakers often overlooked by the world's largest festivals due to the formal risks they take and the controversial nature of their themes. Two awards are granted:
1/ GRAND PRIX – cash prize (€10,000),
2/ AUDIENCE AWARD.
3.1.2 SMART 7
A competition for emerging cinema, organized in cooperation with partner festivals from six European countries: Iceland (Reykjavik IFF), Portugal (IndieLisboa IFF), Romania (Transilvania IFF), Spain (FILMADRID IFF), Greece (Thessaloniki IFF), and Lithuania (Vilnius IFF Kino Pavasaris). The international jury convenes in autumn of 2026. A cash prize of €5,000 will be awarded before the final festival in the network, in Thessaloniki.
- NON-COMPETITIVE SECTIONS –
3.2.1 VISUAL FRONT – this section focuses on film in confrontation with the visual arts. It shows how visual artists work with film and how filmmakers introduce means of expression from the visual and performing arts into cinema. The section is a space for experimentation in representing art on screen.
3.2.2 GALA SCREENINGS – hits straight from the most prestigious festivals in Venice, Berlin, Sundance, and Cannes.
3.2.3 MASTERS – new films by established directors who have been setting trends for years and proving the power of auteur cinema.
3.2.4 DISCOVERIES – this section focuses on debutants who are just starting their film careers.
3.2.5 WAVES – films by creators on the rise, who are developing their distinctive voices after notable debuts.
3.2.6 MIDNIGHT MADNESS – the latest films that deconstruct genre cinema patterns, play with conventions, and cross formal boundaries.
3.2.7 SEASON 2025/2026 – a selection of notable films previously screened in Polish cinemas or at domestic film events.
3.2.8 THIRD EYE – a section devoted to the work and representation of women in cinema.
3.2.9 OSLO / REYKJAVIK – a focus on contemporary Nordic cinema. Presented in cooperation with Poland’s Ministry of Development Funds and Regional Policy, which coordinates the use of Norwegian and EEA (European Economic Area) Funds from Iceland, Norway, and Liechtenstein.
3.2.10 YOUNG HORIZONS – a section for young audiences, featuring feature and animated films for children and families.
3.2.11 SHORTLIST – a selection of Polish short films (fiction, documentary, animation) by directors under the age of 30. The Zuzanna Jagoda Kolska Award is granted by a jury appointed by the Foundation and the Organizer.
Films eligible for the Shortlist section:
• maximum duration of 30 minutes,
• completed after March 1, 2025, in accordance with §1.4.,
• produced in Poland.
There is no requirement for a Polish premiere in the Shortlist section.
3.2.12 LOST LOST LOST – films rediscovered by the Festival’s audience and granted a second screening life.
3.2.13 SPECIAL SCREENINGS – unique film presentations of rare classic works and unconventional recent titles. Presentation of the most interesting film phenomena, both from Poland and abroad.
3.2.14 RETROSPECTIVES – dedicated to major figures in cinema history and lesser-known auteurs. During the previous editions of the festival, 116 director retrospectives have been presented.
3.2.15 REVIEWS – sections devoted to socially relevant phenomena and issues. Here, cinema acts as a keen observer and a tool for critical reflection on changes in political and social reality.
§4.
DATES, MATERIALS, AND PRESENTATIONS
4.1
Submission period: January 7 – March 15, 2026.
4.2
Submissions must include all required materials, in particular a link to an online preview copy with English subtitles. The access password must remain valid throughout the selection process. If it is necessary to change the password during the selection process, the password must be changed immediately after the change and communicated to the festival organizers.
4.3
The Organizer will notify only Applicants whose films have been selected. The Selection Committee is not obliged to provide justification for its decisions.
4.4
The Festival presents films in their original language with English and Polish subtitles. Applicants are required to provide dialogue lists and English subtitle files.
4.5
For each selected film, the Applicant must provide promotional and informational materials, including stills, synopsis, director’s biography and filmography, and a basic credit list.
4.6
Each film may be screened no more than three (3) times.
4.7
The screening schedule is determined by the Festival management.
§5.
PROMOTION
5.1
Applicants of selected films shall provide promotional materials upon request (including posters, trailers, etc.).
5.2
The Organizer may use excerpts from selected films (up to 3 minutes) and related materials for Festival promotion (including on the Festival website, in the catalog, program, press releases, etc.).
5.3
The organizer reserves the right to use promotional materials both during and after the Festival.
§6.
TRANSPORT AND LIABILITY FOR COPIES
6.1
Screening copies of films selected for participation in the Festival shall be delivered electronically.
6.7
The Organizer will make every effort to ensure that screening copies do not fall into the hands of third parties and undertake to remove it from its servers after the end of the Festival.
§7.
FILM RIGHTS
7.1
The Applicant declares that they hold all rights necessary to submit the Film to the Festival and to enable its screening during the Festival, including copyrights, related rights, and image rights. In particular, the Applicant declares and warrants that:
1) they hold the copyright to the submitted Film (including the rights to all works incorporated therein) or possess the relevant licenses authorizing such use;
2) they hold the related rights to the submitted Film or possess the relevant licenses authorizing such use;
3) the dissemination of images of individuals in connection with the submission of the Film to the Festival or its screening during the Festival does not infringe the personal rights or image rights of the individuals concerned.
7.2
The Organizer may refuse, suspend, or withdraw a film if third-party rights are infringed.
7.3
The Applicant shall indemnify the Organizer against all claims arising from rights infringements, pursuant to Article 392 of the Polish Civil Code.
7.4
The above provisions apply accordingly to promotional materials referred to in §5.
§8.
PERSONAL DATA
8.1
The Applicant entrusts the Organizer, within the meaning of Article 31 of the Personal Data Protection Act of 29 August 1997 (consolidated text: Journal of Laws of 2002, No. 101, item 926, as amended), with the processing of personal data.
8.2
This entrustment covers the personal data of individuals indicated in the application form and in the payroll, in particular filmmakers and performing artists. The entrustment includes the processing of the following categories of personal data:
1) first name and last name,
2) email address,
3) telephone number,
4) profession.
8.3
The Organizer may process the entrusted personal data for the purpose of qualifying the film for the competition, as well as for the purpose of screening the film.
8.4
The Organizer is authorized to further entrust the processing of personal data to third parties where necessary.
§9.
FINAL PROVISIONS
Submission of a film constitutes acceptance of these Regulations. Matters not regulated herein shall be decided by the Festival Director.
* Competition prizes are subject to taxation, pursuant to applicable Polish tax law.
i.e. Article 13, Section 2 of the Personal Income Tax Act, for participation in competitions in the fields of science, culture, art, and journalism. Prizes will be paid after deduction of an advance tax at the rate of 18%, taking into account the costs of obtaining income at 20%. In the case of winners who are artists or creators who are not Polish residents, the Association, in accordance with Article 29, Section 1, Section 1 of the Personal Income Tax Act, will collect an advance tax at the rate of 20%, excluding the costs of obtaining income. If a non-resident presents a certificate of tax residence, the Association will collect an advance tax in the amount specified in the relevant double taxation treaty.