IFF Ekotopfilm - Envirofilm with its 51-year tradition seeks to inspire and alter people's attitudes and relationships towards the environment, and provide space for open discussion on the sustainability of life on our planet. The 51st annual Ekotopfilm - Envirofilm will be held in Bratislava and Banská Bystrica. We welcome documentary films on topics related to the natural world and sustainability, providing a space for open discussion on the sustainability of life on our planet.

Submission Categories

A | Explore Nature - Nature and Natural Science (max. 60 min) Informational and entertaining nature films that creatively explore ecosystems and their inhabitants (people, flora, fauna). They mainly point to the relationship between the inhabitants of the Earth and their environment.
B | Success stories (max. 60 min) Films represent activities, projects, or new technologies improving the environment or sustainability. They inspire and encourage a change in thinking and behavior toward our planet.
C| Current Affairs (max. 60 min) The films point to current environmental problems or crises and their impact on the environment and culture on a global or local scale. Problems can be the result of natural phenomena, e.g. climate changes, drought, storms, floods, or earthquakes. They can be the result of human activity, e.g. population growth, destruction of the environment, plundering of natural resources, or poor waste management.
D | Short (max 15 min) Short films for thought and inspiration focused on ecology, natural sciences, environmental problems, and sustainability. We do not accept advertising spots and films.
E| Junior (max 15 min) Films aimed at children and youth and environmental education (e.g. collection and recycling, endangered animal and plant species, environmental protection, etc.), which develop a loving and respectful relationship with our planet Earth.
F | Debut (max. 60 min) Directorial debut focusing on the topic of ecology or environmental protection. It may have penetration into other categories.

- Grand Prix – Prize of the Slovak Government
- 6 Main category prizes
- Prize of the International Jury
- other prizes and acknowledgments

I. BASIC PROVISIONS

• International films festival about sustainable development Ekotopfilm – Envirofilm is organized by MFF Eko, s.r.o. (hereinafter only the organizer) in cooperation with the Slovak Environmental Agency and other partners. The festival aims to change society's behavior toward the environment in an inspiring way and to create space for an open discussion on issues of sustainable development.
• The 51st year will take place in parallel in Bratislava and Banska Bystrica on 21. -25. October 2024.
• Part of the festival is the Junior festival for children and youth, which cooperates with primary and secondary schools. Its main goal is environmental education and the education of pupils and students.
• ADMISSION to all events of the festival program is FREE.

II. TERMS OF PARTICIPATION

• Films made after January 1st, 2023, elaborated on topics arising from the competition categories. Participation in other festivals does not prevent participation in the current year.
• Registration for the Ekotopfilm – Envirofilm 2024 festival is possible from March 10th, 2024 exclusively through online applications on the FilmFreeway.com application platform. Without a filled-out application, by May 31st, 2024, the film will not be accepted for international competition.
• There is a fee for submitting films to the festival.
• The application fee is €10 for standard applications. The organizer does not cover the fees associated with the screening of the film.
• The applicant may not withdraw the film from the festival program after having officially confirmed its inclusion by submitting the film.
• Transport and insurance fees in the case of sending materials are paid by the applicant.
• The applicant honestly declares that he is capable and entitled to such a legally binding act, or is the holder of film copyrights to the submitted films and that this submission does not infringe the property rights of other persons or the personal and property copyrights of the author or authors of the given film. The organizer is not responsible for possible infringements of rights resulting from the unauthorized submission of films to the competition.

III. REQUIREMENTS FOR SUBMITTED FILMS

• Submitting a film means properly filling out and submitting the form with the film on the FilmFreeway.com platform.
• A dialogue list with a time code (time-code) in the English language version must be sent to the submitted film.
• Films in a language other than Slovak, Czech, or English must contain integrated English subtitles.
• Movies with dialogue, if possible provide an international copy (version with dialogue as a separate track for dubbing the film).
• The applicant undertakes to upload promotional materials – synopsis, information about the director, and direct contact for the director of the film as well as poster, photos from the film, and trailer, as part of the FilmFreeway application if available. The mentioned materials remain in the festival archive and the organizer reserves the right to use them in its promotional materials and to provide them to the media to inform about the festival.
• Technical requirements for films: Online Screening Format
Video format: High-quality and web-friendly video encoding like H.264 or HEVC in specific resolutions (e.g., 1080p)
Audio format: Stereo or multi-channel audio formats commonly used for online platforms (e.g.HD 1080p, codec H.264 or HEVC)
Container format: Common online video container formats like MP4 or MOV, AVI, DCP.
• All selected films must provide an exhibition copy of the film by August 18, 2023, in a Theatrical Screening Format (DCP).
• The applicant agrees that the organizer can use a maximum of 3 minutes of the total length of the film to promote the Ekotopfilm – Envirofilm festival in any medium.
• Failure to meet the stated requirements entitles the organizer not to include the film in the competition.

IV. INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION

• Admission to the international competition is decided by the selection committee. The selection committee is entitled not to include a film whose technical quality or content does not correspond to the status of the festival and its mission.
• The selection committee selects a limited number of films. It reserves the right to move the submitted film to another competition section.
• Films included in the international competition are evaluated by an international jury.

• The international jury awards:
Grand Prix – Slovak Government Prize,
6 main Prizes in individual categories (A-F),
International Jury Prize,
other prizes and honorable mentions.
• The international jury has the right to not award a winner in a category in which not enough films are submitted, or their quality is not sufficient.
• Competition films will be screened within the current edition of the festival.

• Films submitted to the competition will be evaluated in the following categories:
A | Explore Nature - Nature and Natural Science (max. 60 min) Informational and entertaining nature films that creatively explore ecosystems and their inhabitants (people, flora, fauna). They mainly point to the relationship between the inhabitants of the Earth and their environment.
B | Success stories (max. 60 min) Films represent activities, projects, or new technologies improving the environment or sustainability. They inspire and encourage a change in thinking and behavior toward our planet.
C| Current Affairs (max. 60 min) The films point to current environmental problems or crises and their impact on the environment and culture on a global or local scale. Problems can be the result of natural phenomena, e.g. climate changes, drought, storms, floods or earthquakes. Or they can be the result of human activity, e.g. population growth, destruction of the environment, plundering of natural resources, or poor waste management.
D | Short (max 15 min) Short films for thought and inspiration focused on ecology, natural sciences, environmental problems, and sustainability. We do not accept advertising spots and films.
E| Junior (max 15 min) Films aimed at children and youth and environmental education (e.g. collection and recycling, endangered animal and plant species, environmental protection, etc.), which develop a loving and respectful relationship with our planet Earth.
F | Debut (max. 60 min) Directorial debut focusing on the topic of ecology or environmental protection. It may have penetration into other categories.

V. FESTIVAL TOURS

• By submitting a film, the applicant consents to its inclusion in the Ekotopfilm – Envirofilm Tour program without entitlement to a royalty or fee for screening rights in the territory of the EU for a limited time until October 2026. Ekotopfilm – Envirofilm Tour organizes film screenings of selected films with free entry on the territory of the European Union.
• Selected films can be used free of charge for non-commercial purposes, such as in the educational and educational process.

VI. PERSONAL PARTICIPATION

• The festival budget is limited. If you are interested in personal participation in the festival, please contact us: program@ekotopfilm.sk
• Personal participation, which is not connected to the accompanying program, is paid for by the participant himself.

VII. FINAL PROVISIONS

• Submitting a film to the festival means agreeing to the wording of the statute. Program change reserved.
Copyright © Ekotopfilm 1974-2024
We thank the partners of the Ekotopfilm | festival Envirofilm

Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • David Diperstein

    IFF Ekotopfilm was a wonderful festival to participate in. They provided several opportunities for our film to be seen and promoted it very well. The festival feels very professional and they had great communications overall. We are honored to be selected by them and look forward to sending future environmental films their way. Thanks Ekotop!

    October 2023
  • Michal Gálik

    Amazing festival with amazing people! Looking forward to participate again :)

    October 2023
  • Vicky Markolefa

    It was a privilege to be a part of such a prestigious festival. Thank you for selecting our films Indigenius Loci and My Name Is Blue.

    October 2023
  • Eren Aybars Arpacik

    Gone like the wind. I sent them materials after my documentary selected then I saw a mail from filmfreeway “write a review” I don’t know how was the festival.

    October 2023
  • JEAN EVANGELISTA

    I wish we were there to see the festival! It was so fun! Thank you so much for awarding us the shorts prize - Ministry of Agriculture and Rural development of the Slovak Republic. We hope that this festival would grow more and be seen more internationally.

    October 2022